Coronavirus News Items: Wed 1.Apr.2020 — Final edition
Last update: 1.Apr.2020 23:42 EDT
Miscellaneous News
- Twitter: @kottke: You Probably Should Be Wearing a Face Mask if You Can [updated]
- Twitter: @guardian: Wimbledon 2020 cancelled in response to coronavirus pandemic
- WashPo: Anthony Fauci’s security is stepped up as doctor and face of U.S. coronavirus response receives threats
- projections are to pass 1 million cases globally tomorrow, 50,000 deaths
Items
The Nation: The Military Knew Years Ago That a Coronavirus Was Coming
…the Pentagon was well aware of not just the threat of a novel influenza, but even anticipated the consequent scarcity of ventilators, face masks, and hospital beds, according to a 2017 Pentagon plan obtained by The Nation.
“The Intelligence Community has warned about the threat from highly pathogenic influenza viruses for two decades at least. They have warned about coronaviruses for at least five years,” [Denis] Kaufman explained in an interview.
NYT: Covid-19 Changed How the World Does Science, Together
But trying to sew a “Made in the USA” label onto scientific research gets complicated.
Dr. Duprex’s lab in Pittsburgh is collaborating with the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Austrian drug company Themis Bioscience. The consortium has received funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, a Norway-based organization financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a group of governments, and is in talks with the Serum Institute of India, one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world.
The Guardian: UK banks agree to scrap £8bn dividends amid recession fears
Britain’s largest banks have agreed to scrap nearly £8bn worth of dividends in light of the coronavirus crisis, giving banks an additional cushion to weather an economic downturn.
The Bank of England has also ordered lenders to cancel plans for cash bonuses for executives, as it asked financial institutions to boost their strength ahead of a likely recession.
This will have a huge impact on “widows and orphans” and pensioners.
CBC (9:19am): Ontario confirms 426 new COVID-19 cases, including 4 more deaths
The newly reported instances bring the provincial total to 2,392, including at least 37 deaths and 689 cases that are resolved. Another 3,135 people are awaiting test results.
A hospital in Burlington is building a temporary COVID-19 unit in anticipation of a surge of patients. Joseph Brant Hospital says the structure being built on hospital grounds will have 93 beds.
Daily Charts
Macleans: Canadian & International Rates
CBC: Canadian & International Rates
The Guardian: Coronavirus map of the US: latest cases state by state (includes world growth curves)
Aatish Bhatia: Trajectory of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases (animated)
Yesterday’s Stories
the micro.blog: Coronavirus News Items: Tue 31.Mar.2020