This article is a good summary of anything that has been learned about the virus. There are still a lot of questions.

Prognosis
Coronavirus Testing in China Finds More Symptom-Free Cases

 

Some headlines for the last couple days:

Friday,  Apr 3rd, 2020

Shenzhen bans eating cats and dogs in reaction to the outbreak. (Reuters)

American rapper 6ix9ine is released early from prison due to coronavirus concerns. (Complex)

Ford Motor Company extends the suspension of vehicle and engine production at most of its manufacturing sites in Europe to May 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)

Unemployment climbs to 4.4 percent as economy loses 700,000 jobs  The U.S. economy lost 701,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate rose from 3.5 percent to 4.4 percent amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. This ended a record 113 straight months of gains, as this is the first decline in payrolls since September 2010. Economists have warned the worst is yet to come in the next report, as this data is based on a survey conducted during the week ending on March 14, before many businesses had to close due to pandemic. According to CNBC, “some two-thirds of the drop came in the hospitality industry, particularly bars and restaurants forced to close during the economic shutdown.” The Labor Department reported Thursday that 6.6 million initial unemployment claims were filed last week, the highest weekly number ever recorded. Source: NBC News

Dr. Birx says it’s clear not all Americans following social distancing guidelines Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, emphasized on Thursday how important it is for all Americans to practice social distancing, saying this is the best way to slow down the spread of coronavirus. It’s not enough to use masks, Birx said during a press conference, and even small gatherings of just a few people need to be avoided. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise, and Birx said it is imperative that “we change that slope. We have to change the logarithmic curve that we’re on. We see country after country having done that, what it means in the United States is not everyone is doing it.” Source: The New York Times

CDC reportedly set to recommend everyone wear face masks outside  New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a recommendation Thursday to wear face coverings when going outside, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly set to do the same. The public should use homemade cloth face coverings when outside and reserve medical-grade masks for health-care workers, a draft CDC document obtained by Stat News reveals. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told his city to wear masks on Wednesday. The White House’s top coronavirus doctor, Anthony Fauci, said Tuesday that the CDC would consider issuing a mask recommendation once they were more widely available, and that the coronavirus task force would be discussing the proposal that day. Source:  CNBC

 

Thursday, Apr 2nd, 2020

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reaches more than one million worldwide. (Sky News)

United States President Donald Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to clear up supply-chain issues encountered in the manufacturing of ventilator machines. (CNN)

Taiwan donates 10 million masks to countries hardest hit by COVID-19. (ABC News)

Spain records its deadliest day with 950 deaths, exceeding 10,000, as employment falls by 834,000 jobs in 15 days. (El Periódico) (La Vanguardia)

France reports 1,355 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the country’s death toll to 5,387, the new figures include deaths in retirement homes for the first time. (Reuters)

The Department of Health and Social Care reports 4,244 new cases and 569 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the United Kingdom’s death toll to 2,921 and 33,718 confirmed cases. (The Guardian’)

The Mayor of Guayaquil, Cynthia Viteri, herself infected with COVID-19, condemns the federal government’s response to the pandemic as the virus rapidly spreads inside the city. A joint military and police task force has collected at least 150 bodies off the streets. The government’s spokesman Jorge Wated apologizes in a message broadcast on state television. (France 24) (CBS News)