Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: Trump wears a face mask on a visit to Walter Reed hospital Thailand will begin human trials of a covid vaccineU.K. set to tighten rules on wearing facemasks in public Taking a harder line on masks Leaving home without a mask can be an expensive business these days. Almost four months after the pandemic peaked in Germany, Berlin’s transport authorities were this week given permission to slap a 50-euro ($56) fine on passengers who don’t cover their faces. That’s just 10 euros less than the penalty for traveling without a ticket. Other European cities are charging miscreants even more. Since the end of June, unmasked travelers on the London Underground are threatened with a 100-pound ($125) penalty, while getting caught on the Paris Metro costs 135 euros. Like other countries, Germany is trying to reduce the chances of a second wave of infections later in the year. And when it comes to taking trains, buses and trams, an official recommendation may well go unheeded — despite the health risks to other passengers.  A traveler wearing a protective face mask buys a train ticket at Hauptbahnhof main railway station in Berlin Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe As a result, cities across Europe have been forced to take a harder line. In the French capital, for example, transport workers initially barred anyone who wasn’t protected from stations, a tactic that appears to have paid off. The Swiss have generally been less willing to play ball, judging from the government’s decision to tighten its rules on protective clothing earlier this month after infections accelerated. Even before the outbreak, face coverings were relatively common in Asian countries such as Japan, China and Hong Kong. Since the start of March, more than 50 nations around the world — from Vietnam to Venezuela — have made masks mandatory in at least some public areas. A notable exception is the U.S., where the government merely recommends that individuals wear face coverings, although some states have stricter face-covering measures. Wearing a mask “isn’t always a pleasure,” German Health Minister Jens Spahn has acknowledged, but he says it could make the difference in the battle to contain the virus. Paul Ziemiak, the secretary general of Angela Merkel’s party, is trying to increase its appeal. “Wearing a mask is sexy,” he tweeted last week. — Andrew Blackman The race for a vaccine  Photographer: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP Photographer: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP Watching the Race Companies large and small are engaged in a high-velocity race to find a way to keep people safe from the coronavirus. Keep track of the latest developments in the hunt for a vaccine with our interactive graphic. What you should read Heat Wave Moves More People Inside Virus hot spots like Arizona and Florida hard hit this summer. Bollywood Star’s Son Enters Hospital With Virus Amitabh Bachchan, 77, also tested positive along with 44-year-old son. Coffee Drinking Drops During Pandemic A quarter of demand is from cafes and restaurants, many of which shut. The Thai Massage Is Losing Its Charm Social distancing and face masks have cut customers at spas. Wall Street Obsesses Over Covid Data Metrics from restaurant bookings to hospital bed availability drive trading. 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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