Friday, May 29th, 2020
The death toll from COVID-19 in the United States now exceeds 100,000. (CNN)
A manhunt is launched after hundreds of people, some with COVID-19, escape from quarantine centers in Zimbabwe and Malawi, with authorities worried that they will spread COVID-19 in countries whose health systems can be rapidly overwhelmed. (AP News)
More than 40 million Americans filed unemployment claims in 10 weeks The Labor Department on Thursday said another 2.1 million initial unemployment claims were filed last week, which brings the total over 10 weeks to 40.7 million. This was the tenth week in a row that weekly unemployment claims totaled more than one million. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, weekly unemployment claims had never passed one million before; the record was 695,000. The number of first-time claims has, however, declined for the past eight weeks. This unfortunate milestone comes less than 24 hours after another grim milestone, as on Wednesday, the United States hit 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. The U.S. unemployment rate in April reached 14.7 percent, the worst since the Great Depression. Source: NBC News
America passes a grim milestone: 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths The United States on Wednesday surpassed 100,000 reported deaths from COVID-19. The grim milestone comes after the U.S. passed 50,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths on April 24. In March, the White House had warned that the U.S. might be facing between 100,000 and 200,000 coronavirus deaths even if Americans did everything “almost perfectly,” as Dr. Deborah Birx said, although President Trump in April suggested the death toll could be between 50,000 and 60,000. Later, Trump said “we’re going to lose” up to 100,000 people total. Reported cases and hospitalizations are still on the upswing in many states. Every U.S. state has now begun the process of reopening their economies, even as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stands at over 1.6 million. Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
Minnesota governor activates National Guard as protests continue over death of George Floyd As demonstrators continue to protest the death of George Floyd, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Minneapolis and St. Paul and activated the Minnesota National Guard. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Monday after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Protesters have filled the streets of Minneapolis, demanding justice for Floyd and calling on authorities to arrest the officer, who was fired on Tuesday. On Wednesday night, the peaceful protests turned chaotic, with about 30 buildings set on fire and others damaged. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds, and some protesters threw bricks and bottles at squad cars. Walz said in a statement Floyd’s death “should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death and destruction.” Source: Star Tribune
Protests continue for a second day in Minneapolis and two other U.S. cities after an unarmed man, George Floyd, died while being arrested. Some of them have escalated into a riot, including looting and arson. A protester is shot dead by a man, who has been arrested. (CNN)
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-japan-tackled-coronavirus-without-a-lockdown-2020-5
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-did-not-jump-wuhan-market-chinese-cdc-says-2020-5