Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: Spain’s second wave swells, spurring concern across Europe Gold’s rally shows the world economy is in trouble with virusNorth Korea locks down city after a suspected virus case More of America is getting behind the mask The coronavirus pandemic has created a plethora of natural experiments. One of the most important is underway now, with a growing number of states requiring residents to wear masks. Alabama, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont governors all issued mandates in the past few days, while others, including in Florida and Georgia, recommend but don’t require them. It’s hard to overestimate the potential benefit if the move proves successful. With no natural immunity and no drugs or vaccines to help ward off infection, personal behavior is the only tool available to get the outbreak under control. While businesses and schools are trying to reopen, researchers predict there may be an even bigger surge of the virus when the weather in the Northern Hemisphere turns colder. Being able to limit its spread via masks, which are inexpensive, easy to use and cause few complications, would bolster reopening efforts. There is a growing amount of data showing masks work. Even in cramped quarters, like aircraft carriers and nursing homes, spread of the pathogen to those wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines is significantly less likely. States that mandated masks early in the outbreak or had policies supporting them had slower spread and fewer deaths. Still, success will require concerted and consistent effort.  President Donald Trump holds a face mask as he speaks during a news conference. Photographer: SARAH SILBIGER The political tension between protecting the public and allowing states and citizens to exercise their individual rights has complicated the situation. Some areas opened early, allowing restaurants, bars and businesses to resume services without mask requirements, particularly across the south. Many subsequently experienced a surge in cases. It’s unclear if a universal mask requirement would have averted it. Early in the outbreak, even infectious-disease experts advised people not to wear masks. There were two reasons: an effort to preserve the limited number available for high-risk health care workers and lack of definitive data showing they would offer any protection with low levels of circulating virus. Its exponential spread is now providing plenty of anecdotal, and some scientific, evidence of benefit. Times are changing, and we may soon get a definitive answer. President Donald Trump, who famously resisted wearing a mask and stressed that mask-wearing recommendations from his public health experts weren’t requirements, this week changed his tune. He tweeted an image of himself wearing one and saying it was patriotic, then urged Americans to get on board during a press briefing.“Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact,” he said. “We’re asking everybody when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask.” The politicians aren’t alone. Most major retailers, including Wal-Mart and Target, as well as airlines like Southwest, American and Delta, are now requiring masks. Exceptions aren’t honored. Even McDonald’s wants customers to cover their mouths and noses while picking up their food. The efforts now underway may broaden the path to reopening the global economy and getting the pandemic under control. We may all lament that we didn’t act sooner. — Michelle Fay Cortez Track the virus Watching Hospital Use and Deaths  A health care worker gives a nasal swab to a person to do a self administered test at a federally funded COVID-19 testing site in Miami. Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images There are signs that case numbers in the southern U.S. Sun Belt states are beginning to moderate, even as hospitalizations and deaths rise. Keep track of the latest developments with our interactive graphic. Sponsored Content by Siemens America’s factories, power plants, transportation and hospitals all need technology and our technology is only as powerful as the people deploying and maintaining it. Keeping America moving takes more than technology alone. It takes a human touch. Siemens Ingenuity for life. What you should read Elite Contact Tracers Show How to Beat Virus Fighting outbreaks is a new way of life in South Korea. Larry Summers Warns Economy is In Danger Former Treasury secretary says the U.S. can’t afford to let stimulus lapse. Korean Firm to Make 200 Million Vaccine Doses Microsoft’s Bill Gates backs SK Bioscience in effort to develop vaccine. Denmark Revisits Decision to Shun Face Masks The nation has kept Covid-19 at bay without strict rules. Bolsonaro Says His Latest Virus Test Is Negative Brazilian leader who had tested positive holds box of hydroxychloroquine. 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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