Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: AstraZeneca approaches Gilead about a merger China denies cover-up on Covid-19 casesBritish Airways fights U.K. quarantine rules The CDC’s troubling blindspot While the coronavirus pandemic appears to be affecting black and brown communities at a higher rate than others, official data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been sorely lacking. Representative Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, criticized CDC Director Robert Redfield during a hearing Thursday for a May report Congress required of CDC on race and Covid-19 that was two and a half pages long and amounted to a website link to “data that was outdated.” “I apologize for the inadequacy of our response, it wasn’t intentional” Redfield said. “We didn’t have the data that we needed to be able to answer that in a responsive way.”  Robert Redfield ahead of a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 4. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg CDC relies on state and local health authorities for its data and Redfield called on the lawmakers to provide additional public health funding to help the agency modernize its data collection. Some states are still collecting data “with pen and pencil,” he said. “Data is the roadmap. It’s fundamentally the key first step that we need to do to address the health disparities,” Redfield said. New guidance issued Thursday will standardize reporting of testing data in terms of factors like race, gender and zip code to give the CDC a better picture of the virus’s impact on communities of color. The changes come as demonstrators around the country protest systemic racism and social injustice in the face of George Floyd’s death while a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck. Redfield said the CDC has told the White House that demonstrators could be given masks and face coverings to help stem the spread of Covid-19. When pressed about whether he has recommended tear gas not be used since coughing can spread the virus, he said he would “pass on this comment” at the next coronavirus task force meeting. –Anna Edney Track the virus Brazil Deaths Surpass Italy’s Total  A gravedigger at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Brazil. Photographer: Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images The coronavirus is continuing to spread around the world, with cases and deaths rising at an especially steep rate in Latin America. Friday, deaths in Brazil surpassed those of Italy, one of the early epicenters of the pandemic in Europe. Track the disease’s global spread with our interactive graphic. What you should read India Again Reports Biggest 1-Day Jump in Cases Brazil stopped publishing some virus figures while Britain reopens churches. The Firm Caught Up in Hydroxychloroquine Storm Its anti-malaria drug is linked to heart disease but has Trump endorsement. Expat Life is Struggling to Survive Covid-19 The traditional overseas posting is looks less attractive with closed borders. Finding a European Vacation Spot in Lockdown Portugal and Austria are open now while Italy loosens restrictions. London University Startups to Boost Vaccine Work Imperial College has $51 million for human trials starting June 15. 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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