There are over 2.5 million global cases. Cases have grown by over 500,000 since this time last week. The US has over 800,000 cases with over 45,000 deaths.
Wealthy Americans have bugged out to bunkers. New Zealand is a prime location, apparently. Many left before travel restrictions were enacted. There’s been a moratorium on non-resident land purchases in New Zealand since 2018, so don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking for a bunker of your own there.
For those lucky enough to be in New Zealand, they may see the outbreak’s actual elimination. It’s not just the luck of geographical isolation, it’s the nation’s policies that have made a huge a difference. The country went on a strict lockdown very early. There have only been 13 deaths. Lack of tourism has been economically destructive, and NZ will have to open back up to travel. New cases are likely to be reintroduced when that happens.
Trump plans to suspend immigration into the country. The executive order entails a 60-day temporary ban on green-card seekers. Seasonal farm workers will not be banned. The order is deemed necessary as a protective measure against the pandemic, but given that the US already has the highest case count in the world, it’s unclear how treating the virus as an external threat will help to ease an already established nation-wide outbreak.
This virus has been studied on an unprecedented scale. We know that it originated in bats and likely went through at least one other animal intermediary. There are over 100 different vaccine projects running or close to launch at the moment.
Shielding corporations from legal liability when their workers get exposed to COVID-19?—When policies prioritize profit over people’s lives. There’s a balance to be struck here that allows people to work safely. Perhaps prioritizing the manufacture and distribution of personal protective equipment to essential (and then non-essential) workers should come first.
Hurricane season is coming. How will we deal with it during a pandemic? It looks like hurricane season will be a rough one this year:
Here it is folks, the @weathercompany's official 2020 Hurricane Outlook…
We are calling for an ABOVE normal Hurricane season with:
🌀18 Named Storms
🌀9 Hurricanes
🌀4 Major HurricanesArticle: https://t.co/LEt4gGHwDR pic.twitter.com/9B2og5GXVX
— Mike Ventrice (@MJVentrice) April 16, 2020
61,000 chickens in Minnesota euthanized. Once again the precipitating factors involve a drop in demand from restaurants and school cafeterias.
The Federal Government might sue governors over lockdowns. Lawsuits against companies and even individuals are not off the table.
CIDRAP notes hot spots in Europe, Russia, and Africa.
Redfield says to expect a second wave in winter.
This doesn’t sound good:
The director of the agency responsible for leading the charge on the production and purchase of vaccines in the Trump administration is no longer leading the agency as of Tuesday, CNN has confirmed. Dr. Rick Bright had led BARDA since 2016.https://t.co/klsd5oPYhy
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 22, 2020
But this is good:
READ: After two weeks of negotiations, Republicans and Democrats agree on a nearly $500 billion deal to extend rescue programs for millions of small businesses which had run out of funding last week. https://t.co/u9f8ir4m3p
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) April 21, 2020
