COVID-19 Issues Tracker & Top-Tier Coverage

NEWS UPDATES Friday, April 3, 2020 Notable Updates U.S. News • According to national COVID-19 trackers, there are currently over 217,263 cases of coronavirus confirmed by lab tests in all 50 states with over 5,151 deaths reported. Notable new cases include: o New York sees biggest single-day death toll with 562 people dead in the last 24 hours o The U.S. economy cut 701,000 jobs in March, the worst report in over a decade o 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week alone o Louisiana coronavirus cases rise rise 42% in a single day • Notable new companies announcing layoffs/furloughs in the U.S. are: Walt Disney Company, Boeing, Sotheby’s, SoulCycle and Sephora. • USNS Comfort Navy ship docked in NYC was supposed to treat 1,000 patients, it's only 2% full • Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer says that their hospital system is already at capacity • The stock market opens lower amid grim job reports show how the coronavirus is impacting the economy • Small businesses flooded lenders with emergency loan applications on Friday morning as the spigot opened on $350 billion in relief money. • After much debate, White House will recommend Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. • Google will help public health officials use its vast storage of data to track people’s movements amid the coronavirus pandemic, in what the company called an effort to assist in unprecedented times. • Amazon has stopped the sale of N95 masks to the public, deciding to only sell the essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and government agencies amid the coronavirus outbreak • According to the White House task force briefingThursday evening: o SBA administrator Jovita Carranza says that they will be helping small businesses first o Donald Trump says 100,000 ventilators and face masks are in production with companies General Motors and 3M o Conducting well over 100,000 coronavirus tests per day, more than any other country o The FDA approves the first coronavirus antibodies test o Nursing homes have suspended all non-medical personnel o Treasury Secretary Mnuchin promises that they will be sending the coronavirus stimulus checks out within two weeks

International News • According to global COVID-19 trackers and official counts, there are more than 1,000,000 cases confirmed globally in over 172 countries with at least 53,000 deaths. Notable new cases include: o Europe to face longer lockdown with over 31,000 deaths, accounting for over half of the global death toll o Spain’s coronavirus cases surpass Italy as deaths near 11,000 o New coronavirus cases in Italy have been slowing since March 8 o The U.K. death toll rises by 684, the biggest daily increase to date with the death roll at 3,605 • Prince Charles is out of isolation and opened a new London coronavirus field hospital via videolink • U.S. intelligence officials claim that China has vastly underreported their actual coronavirus totals • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concerned that medical supplies for have been diverted to the U.S. • Germany, like Singapore to launch a coronavirus tracking app in the next few weeks • South Korea is successfully tackling the coronavirus without a nationwide shutdown • Mexican and Central American officials demand halting deportations and increased security along the US border to stop the spread of the coronavirus • North Korea claims to have no coronavirus cases, fueling skepticism

Business • Reuters, TD CEO says bank has approved over 60,000 loan deferrals • The Daily Mail, Kroger is introducing a 'hero bonus' for employees - as Amazon, Whole Foods, GE and Instacart workers threaten revolt over unsafe working conditions • CBS, Jeff Bezos donates $100 million to U.S. food banks • Barron’s: Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on Putting Employees First • Bloomberg: Apple Tells Staff U.S. Stores to Remain Closed Until Early May • Bloomberg: U.S. Retail Furloughs Poised to Exceed 1 Million From Shutdown • : 'I'm scared to go to work': Grocery store workers describe what it's like to be on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic • BusinessWire: Ross Stores Provides Additional COVID-19 Business Update • CNBC: Coronavirus: NYC Mayor de Blasio urges New Yorkers to cover face with scarves or bandanas while outside • CNN: Trump says new recommendations on face masks are coming • Engadget: Apple Stores in the US will remain closed until early May • Fortune: Coronavirus will pummel already weak retailers long after it’s been contained • Fox News: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos donates $100M to food banks as unemployment soars during coronavirus outbreak • Fox News: Walmart to take employees' temperatures, add one-way aisles as part of latest coronavirus-prevention protocols • LA Times: 'The $2 is insulting': Retail workers fight for more pay amid coronavirus crisis • MarketWatch: Bank of America CEO Moynihan on dealing with coronavirus: ‘Nickel-and-diming is a dumb thing right now’ • MarketWatch: Ross Stores implements furloughs, salary cuts as stores remain shuttered indefinitely • NBC News: FedEx drivers say they're not getting coronavirus protections other delivery workers receive • : Does wearing a face mask really help prevent coronavirus? • Politico: Yes, We Need to Measure Lives Against Money. Here’s How. • Press release: CVS Health to open a pop-up pharmacy inside temporary COVID-19 recovery hospital at New Orleans Convention Center • : Trump Administration Officials Weigh How Far to Go on Recommending Masks • : U.S. Expected to Recommend Cloth Face Masks for Americans in Coronavirus Hot Spots • The Wall Street Journal: What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Face Mask? • The Washington Post: Amazon vowed to crack down on coronavirus profiteering. Some sellers have figured out loopholes. • The Washington Post: Google taps vast trove of location data to aid global effort to combat coronavirus • The Washington Post: White House expected to urge Americans to wear face coverings in public to slow spread of coronavirus • Yahoo! Finance: Lowe's Temporarily Increases Hourly Wages And Implements New Safety Efforts In Response To COVID-19 • NPR, Slammed By Trump, 3M Says N95 Mask Exports From U.S. Should Continue • , Instacart to provide face masks for workers as part of COVID-19 safety kit

Food • Washington Report, Chicken Industry Gives Back • USA Today, Is it safe to go grocery shopping? Helpful tips during the coronavirus pandemic • , Coronavirus: San Diego orders grocery workers to cover faces • RFD TV, Agriculture organizations say they must be included in disaster relief • Washington Post, What to know about the risks of restaurant takeout and delivery — and how to minimize them • The New York Times, As Supermarkets Feel Hazardous and Sparse, Small Farms Deliver • CNN International, Jeff Bezos is donating $100 million to American food banks

Health • New York Times, Warning of “D-Day,” pleads for doctors. • CNN, How to properly wipe down your groceries • STAT, Americans are underestimating how long coronavirus disruptions will last, health experts say • Money Web, Vodacom/Discovery partnership to allow free online Covid-19 screenings • NPR, As Coronavirus Strains Hospitals, Cancer Patients Face Treatment Delays, Uncertainty • Washington Post, A border city is handing out $1,000 fines for those who don’t cover their faces. The mandate has led to confusion. • The Hill, Fauci warns there's no 'strong' evidence anti-malaria drug works on coronavirus • CNN, Now's the time to quit smoking: It could increase your odds of beating Covid-19 • Fierce Biotech, FDA officially authorizes its first serological antibody blood test for COVID-19

International • Bloomberg, Europe Faces Longer Lockdown With Over Half of Global Deaths • U.S. News & World Report, Spain Coronavirus Cases Surpass Italy, Deaths Near 11,000 • Time, Italy Appears to be Flattening the Curve. What Did the Country Do Right? • Yahoo!, UK death toll rises by 684 in biggest daily increase yet to 3,605 • CNN, Prince Charles opens new London coronavirus field hospital via videolink • CNN, C.I.A. Hunts for Authentic Virus Totals in China, Dismissing Government Tallies • Chicago Sun Times, Trudeau: Supplies for Canada diverted to U.S. • The New York Post, Germany aims to launch coronavirus tracking app in weeks • Yahoo!, How South Korea is successfully tackling COVID-19 without shutting down the country • ABC News, Mexico, Central America urge action to stop coronavirus spreading from US • Yahoo!, North Korea claims to be 'totally free' of virus • Forbes, Coronavirus takes out Corona beer • CNN, Shocking video shows 'morbid new reality' in Ecuador • The Daily Mail, Iconic Australia brand R.M. Williams could create medical equipment for hardworking doctors and nurses after the bootmaking company was forced to close its doors due to coronavirus • CNBC, Lacking beds, masks and doctors, Europe’s health services struggle to cope with the coronavirus • Washington Post, The U.K. vowed a national effort to produce ventilators. Is it working?

Travel • Forbes, New Domestic Travel Restrictions For Canada During Coronavirus Pandemic • ABC News, Disaster in motion: 3.4 million travelers poured into US as coronavirus pandemic erupted • CNN, The US is not issuing new passports unless it's a 'life-or-death' family emergency • USA Today, Planning for life after coronavirus: When will we know it's safe to travel again? • The New York Times, Why Is Getting a Refund From an Online Travel Agency So Hard?

Sports • CBS, MLB players open to wearing masks to return to field after coronavirus shutdown, D-Backs infielder says • USA Today, Even as COVID-19 spreads, some sports stadium construction is 'essential' and the work goes • The New York Times, No Live Sports on TV? Consumers Want a Refund • The Wall Street Journal, Coronavirus Stopped Sports Gambling—But You Can Still Bet on Top Chef • The Hill, Tokyo considering using Olympics Athletes Village to house coronavirus patients

Politics • Politico, Oil execs, Trump meet at White House • The New York Times, World Bank Approves Initial $1.9 Bln in Emergency Coronavirus Funds • Washington Post, Commander of confusion: Trump sows uncertainty and seeks to cast blame in coronavirus crisis • The Hill, Former Obama adviser Plouffe predicts 'historical level' of turnout by Trump supporters • NBC News, Trump administration's lack of a unified coronavirus strategy will cost lives, say a dozen experts • Fox News, Dan Crenshaw slams Biden, ex-Obama aide for criticizing US coronavirus response • The Hill, Democrats say more unemployment benefits needed in wake of record unemployment claims • The New York Times,‘I’m Scared’: Wisconsin Election Puts Poll Workers at Risk of Virus • The Hill, Biden fights for attention in coronavirus news cycle • USA Today, Coronavirus goes to court: After lives and livelihoods come the lawsuits • The Hill, GOP senator calls for investigation into 'mismanagement' of strategic ventilators • CNN, Russian coronavirus aid delivery to US prompts confusion and criticism • Newsweek, Jared Kushner trends after Trump’s son-in-law speaks at the white house coronavirus task force briefing • Washington Post, Jared Kushner’s coronavirus briefing debut sparks outcry, confusion • The Hill, Trump ended program to detect potential pandemic-causing viruses before they spread: report

GENERAL INFORMATION: Key Dates (March 2020): • 3/1/20: U.S. reports first two deaths • 3/2/20: Number of cases reported in Italy spikes by nearly 50%; the E.U. raised its risk level to “high” • 3/6/20: Number of cases surpassed 100,000 globally • 3/9/20: Global stock markets plunged and oil prices dropped amid global anxiety • 3/10/20: Number of known coronavirus cases in the U.S. surpassed 1,000 • 3/10/20: Deadliest single day toll to date • 3/11/20: WHO declares a pandemic; U.S. bans travel from Europe, excluding the U.K. • 3/13/20: Trump declares a national emergency • 3/14/20: U.S. extends travel ban to include Britain, Ireland • 3/18/20: The EU announced it will seal its borders; the U.S. and Canada will close its border to “non-essential” traffic

Relevant Links: • WHO press briefings Monday/Wednesday/Friday (LINK) • White House Task Force briefing (11:30 AM ET, Twitter) • CDC COVID-19 travel advisories (LINK) • CDC report on situation in the U.S. (LINK) and Cases in the U.S. (LINK) • FDA updates related to COVID-19 (LINK) • Tips to prevent spread (CDC, WHO) • News outlets with LIVE running updates on COVID-19 (NYT, WSJ, CNN, BBC, The Guardian) • Outbreak Trackers: (NYT U.S., NYT World, Foreign Policy, Information is Beautiful) • Event Cancellation Tracker (AdAge, NYT) • Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) COVID-19 resource center (LINK) • A Guide to State Coronavirus Lockdowns (WSJ)

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