Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: · Brazil now world’s fourth-most infected nation · China faces demands for virus answers · Obama says U.S. dropped ball on response Our take on the latest developments As even hard-hit states begin to reopen, the last thing anyone wants to hear about is the possibility of closing back down. Unfortunately, it’s something governors need to consider. As rules are relaxed, more new infections are inevitable. Given Covid-19’s ability to spread undetected and America’s limited ability to test, isolate and trace contacts of infected individuals, there will be opportunities for those infections to multiply into fresh outbreaks. The risk of deadly surges will grow as people grow more comfortable, and activity expands. States and cities need to watch the data and design circuit breakers that prompt new restrictions if infections start snowballing. Other countries have set a precedent. China has imposed new lockdowns and dramatic testing efforts in several regions in response to relatively few untraced cases. Singapore managed to control an early outbreak with intensive testing and tracing efforts. Still, it tripped a circuit breaker and imposed significant new restrictions in April after a rash migrant worker infections. It recently extended many of those measures into June. Germany, as it reopens, is watching to see whether any region exceeds 50 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days; if so, limits on movement and behavior will be reinstated there. America is in a more precarious state without a consistent plan. Several states reopened quite broadly without meeting the Trump administration’s guidelines like a 14-day downward trajectory in new cases or positive test rates. Contact tracing programs are forming amid widespread community transmission that’s well above Germany’s line for further restrictions.  America’s high rate of infections only amplifies its need to draw lines. States and cities need circuit breakers in place well before autumn, when a possible surge in Covid-19 could combine with an emerging flu season to produce especially dangerous new outbreaks. An outbreak large enough to threaten hospital capacity is the worst-case scenario, but states shouldn’t wait until then to act. Rapidly escalating spread should also trigger targeted restrictions, giving hospitals and contact tracers a chance to catch up. As New York City and other profoundly affected areas have demonstrated, hospitals take longer to empty than they do to fill, and a great deal of suffering occurs long before all the beds are full. Any renewed restrictions are likely to be both disruptive and divisive. But early, targeted, and data-driven closures are likely to be far more popular than the broader shutdowns that may be required if severe new outbreaks aren’t successfully interrupted.—Max Nisen Something to watch How Zoom Became Go-to Social Network Months ago, Zoom was just a fast-growing startup in the somewhat boring enterprise communication space. Today, Zoom has become a household name. Here’s how it happened.  What you should read Masters of a $1 Trillion Fund Reap Rewards Norway’s finance minister may break the spending record he just set. Hedge Fund Luminaries Line Up Behind Gold Forget plunging oil prices and a collapse in consumer spending. Johnson Warns of Long Virus Battle The admission highlights tough task of persuading people to return to work. Coronavirus Lucrative for Some People Traffickers Libya’s southern border is getting busier, setting off alarms in Europe. Lockdown Fatigue Spreads in Africa Some are deciding it’s not worth the economic cost. Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022 |
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