Updates
Stuck-At-Home Moms: The Pandemic's Devastating Toll On Women-NPR
In September, an eye-popping 865,000 women left the U.S. workforce — four times more than men. The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on households, and women are bearing the brunt of it. Not only have they lost the most jobs from the beginning of the pandemic, but they are exhausted from the demands of child care and housework — and many are now seeing no path ahead but to quit working. NPR, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
US Should Consider National Mask Mandate For The Winter, Former FDA Commissioner Writes In Op-Ed-CNN
As the US reports its second-highest day of new Covid-19 cases amid the continuing fall surge, a former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration says it may be time for a national mask mandate. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Scott Gottlieb wrote the mandate could be "limited and temporary." CNN, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
AstraZeneca Says Its Coronavirus Vaccine Triggers Immune Response Among Adults-CNBC
British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Monday said its potential Covid-19 vaccine has produced a similar immune response in older and younger adults. AstraZeneca, which is developing its potential Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford, said adverse responses to the vaccine among the elderly were also found to be lower. CNBC, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
The Philippines Has A Policy Against Home Births. It's Not Playing Well In A Pandemic-NPR
Risa Calibuso, 34, wanted to give birth to her second child at home. In the Philippines, where she lives, that's against the law. In 2008 the country passed the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy policy — referred to as the "no home birth" policy. The pandemic of 2020 has made the policy even more controversial. In the past, women who live in remote areas have had to arrange for transportation to the nearest appropriate health-care facility. Now matters are even more … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
US Stocks Tumble Toward Worst Day In A Month Amid Virus Woes-The Associated Press
Stocks are slumping sharply in midday trading on Wall Street Monday and deepening last week’s losses, as a troubling climb in coronavirus counts threatens the global economy. The S&P 500 was 2.1% lower and on track for its worst day in more than a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 717 points, or 2.5%, at 27,618, as of 11:18 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was down 1.7%. Stocks also weakened across much of Europe and Asia. In another sign of caution, Treasury yields … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Second COVID Wave Swells Across U.S. And Europe As Winter Looms-Reuters
The United States, Russia and France set new daily records for coronavirus infections as a second wave swelled across parts of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing some countries to impose new curbs. Reuters, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Roll Out Of Rapid Testing Could Be A 'Game Changer' For Africa-Devex
African nations are planning to ramp up the use of rapid diagnostic tests as part of their national strategies for testing for COVID-19, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization regional director for Africa. Throughout the pandemic, African nations were advised to use polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests, to identify COVID-19 cases because they are considered the most accurate. But following WHO’s recent approval of rapid diagnostic tests for use in surveillance, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
How Coronavirus Is Reshaping America's Job Market-Politico
The coronavirus recession is forcing a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. workforce, triggering permanent job losses at an extraordinary rate and forcing millions of Americans to seek employment in entirely different industries. Just two-thirds of Americans were working for the same employer in September as they were in February, with the rest either landing new jobs or unemployed. Politico, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
US Regulators Seek Advice On Thorny Issues As Vaccines Near-The Associated Press
The Food and Drug Administration may have to decide by year’s end whether to allow use of the first vaccines against the coronavirus. Facing growing public fears that politics may override science, the FDA took the unusual step of assembling more than a dozen independent scientists to review if its standards are high enough to judge the shots. The panelists generally supported guidelines for the vaccines that the FDA recently issued, over White House objections. The Associated Press, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
U.S. Records Second-Highest Single-Day Rise In COVID-19 Infections Since Pandemic Began-Reuters
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States on Thursday was the second highest on record, coming in just short of a midsummer peak as the spread of the novel coronavirus accelerates in nearly every region of the country. Reuters, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Universal Mask Use Could Save 130,000 U.S. Lives By The End Of February, New Modeling Study Says-STAT
Back in April, President Donald Trump picked out a single computer model of coronavirus spread as his oracle of choice. Unsurprisingly, that simulation initially had rosier estimates than other algorithms, projecting many fewer Covid-19 deaths — and its unconventional calculations and fluctuating estimates drew sharp criticism from epidemiologists. But the statisticians behind it have since changed their methods, and their new numbers, published Friday, bolster what scientists have long been … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
US Jobless Claims Drop To 787,000, But Layoffs Remain High-The Associated Press
The number of laid-off Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 787,000, a sign that job losses may have eased slightly but are still running at historically high levels. Last week’s figure was down from 842,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The Associated Press, … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
In WHO Overhaul Push, EU Urges Changes To Handling Of Pandemics-Reuters
The European Union wants the World Health Organization to become more transparent about how states report emerging health crises, a draft proposal on reforming the U.N. agency says, following criticism of China’s initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper, drawn up by the German government after discussions with other member states, is the latest to outline the EU’s months-long plans to address the WHO’s shortcomings on funding, governance and legal powers. Reuters, … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
World Bank Aims To Maintain Momentum Of Digital Infrastructure Partnerships-Devex
The COVID-19 pandemic could help fast-track the partnerships needed to spread broadband internet access, Makhtar Diop, World Bank vice president for infrastructure, said at last week’s World Bank annual meetings. Recent months have seen a surge of initiatives to boost affordable connectivity. Telecom companies, for example, are increasing internet speed and capacity at no added cost to their consumers. Devex, … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
As Covid-19 Intensifies, Shortages Of Staple Drugs May Grow Worse-STAT
You can add a new worry to the health concerns caused by Covid-19: a sustained shortage of medicines needed to combat the coronavirus and countless other illnesses. Across the U.S. and Europe, 29 out of 40 drugs used to combat the coronavirus are currently in short supply. And those shortages are expected to grow even worse as the number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations surge in the coming winter months. STAT, … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'-NPR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has broadened the definition of what it means to be a "close contact" of a person with COVID-19. Previous language defined a close contact as someone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case. The CDC now defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. NPR, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
European Nations Mixed In Their Response To Virus Spikes-The Associated Press
Countries across Europe are battling coronavirus infection spikes with new lockdowns, curfews, face mask orders and virus tracking smart phone apps. In a small indication of success, Spain’s government said it won’t extend a state of emergency in the Madrid region when it expires Saturday, but will look to more local measures. But as a resurgence of the global pandemic sweeps across the continent, local and national governments also are facing swelling opposition to the new measures. The … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
How The Pandemic Is Forging A New Consensus On Globalization-Politico
The coronavirus crisis did what President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade wars could not for years. It did what anti-globalization advocates could not for decades. The pandemic threw a harsh spotlight on the shortcomings of globalization, one so intense that it set off an urgent search for new approaches across the political spectrum — from Washington to Brussels to Beijing. Politico, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
White House, Democrats Face Senate Republican Opposition On Coronavirus Aid-Reuters
The White House and congressional Democrats kept up negotiations on Wednesday on a fresh coronavirus relief bill, though their effort faced opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate, where conservatives object to the trillion-dollar-plus price tag. Reuters, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Covid-19’s Wintry Mix: As We Move Indoors, Dry Air Will Help The Coronavirus Spread-STAT
It’s not just the cold, it’s the humidity.Winter in the northern United States will soon drive even the most diehard outdoor diners and backyard socializers indoors, bringing with them heightened risk for contracting and spreading Covid-19. The worry is not just that people might mingle more closely inside, but that the air they breathe will make the virus more dangerous. STAT, … Continue Reading