Thursday, March 19th, 2020
“Wartime President,” Utah Earthquake & New Apple Devices
(+ Social Distancing FAQs)
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
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Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...
Coronavirus Relief
Lawmakers passed a bi-partisan bill to provide economic relief to the nation as people everywhere deal with the fallout of COVID-19. President Trump already signed it into law. It guarantees paid sick leave to American workers who may need to be quarantined. It also offers free coronavirus testing. It boosts unemployment insurance, food assistance, and Medicaid. Just after approving that plan, lawmakers started negotiating the larger package, which could end up costing $1 trillion.
Meanwhile, President Trump is responding by invoking the Defense Production Act, which mobilizes businesses to speed up the production of certain emergency medical supplies, like masks and ventilators. Trump also ordered the U.S. Navy to deploy two massive hospital ships. One will go to New York. The other will be set up somewhere on the West Coast.
Aid packages: Axios, AP, The Hill
Supply Shortages: CNN, Fox News, NBC News, NPR, Wired, WaPo
Doctors Refocus: AP, Washington Examiner
Economic Fallout
There were more wild swings on Wall Street. The Dow fell below the level it was when President Trump was inaugurated. It’s likely in response to more major businesses closing. Big automakers Ford, GM and Fiat-Chrysler are shutting down all U.S. factories until the end of March. Also the largest owner of American shopping malls is closing about 200 malls until at least March 29. Chase is the first mega-bank to announce significant closures. About 1,000 branches, 20% of them, will be shut down for now to slow the spread of the virus. In entertainment, Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee is postponed. It was supposed to happen in mid-June, but was just pushed back until late September.
Stock Market Updates: Politico, WSJ, The Hill, Washington Post
Business Closures: USA Today, TechCrunch, CNBC, Fox News, The Hill, Business Insider, CNBC
Bonnaroo Postponed: Variety, Rolling Stone
Kids' Coronavirus Risks
So far, doctors have said children aren’t the most vulnerable to the new coronavirus. While that's still thought to be true, new data is now clarifying it a bit. The largest study of kids and the virus so far found it is possible for kids to get a severe reaction, even though it’s just a small percentage of them. Researchers looked at more than 2,000 cases of COVID-19 in Chinese children. More than 94% of them had mild symptoms or none at all, but about 6% had critical cases. The new study was published this week in the journal Pediatrics.
Read More: NBC News, NYT
Earthquake Hits Utah
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Salt Lake City, Utah. That’s the largest quake that area has seen in nearly 30 years. It knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. It even forced an airport to temporarily shut down. Fortunately, there haven’t been any reports of injuries, but some buildings reportedly have serious damage, like deep cracks and crumbling bricks.
Read More: ABC News, Salt Lake Tribune
Spring Weather
A big storm is moving into the central and southern parts of the country today. Blizzard warnings are in effect for places like Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. The same storm is causing problems from Texas to Indiana, where tornadoes, thunderstorms, and flash flooding are possible. This is all happening on the first day of spring. It’s the season’s earliest start in 124 years.
Severe Storms Forecast: USA Today, The Weather Channel
First Day of Spring!: CBS News
Bernie Sanders Campaign Future
Sen. Bernie Sanders won’t talk openly about the next step in his presidential run, but there are signs he could be backing out of the race. The Sanders campaign sent supporters an email after losing three more primaries Tuesday, and the email was the first not to ask for donations. Also, the campaign suspended Facebook ads. The Sanders campaign is reportedly in contact with his main democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. Aides to the candidates have been talking to one another, mostly about coronavirus response.
Read More: Reuters, CNN, WaPo
Apple Unveils Newest Products
Apple’s new Macbook Air and iPads are available now. The new Macbook has an updated keyboard since previous versions had keys that would stick over time. It also has twice the storage. The price starts at about $1,000. As for the new iPads, they're supposed to have better cameras, high-quality microphones, motion sensors and a scanner. They cost at least $800.
Read More: Axios, WSJ
Community Outreach
Communities are stepping up to help people who are sick or missing paychecks in the coronavirus crisis. For example, the Nextdoor app rolled out a new interactive map that lets you mark yourself available to help with anything from grocery shopping to childcare. Meanwhile, several colleges are offering empty dorm rooms to house coronavirus patients in case hospitals need the overflow space. Also, volunteers in Italy figured out how to 3D-print a crucial medical device that’s in low supply. They gave it to a hospital in need. Back in the U.S., the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees to inspire people to get outside, as long as they practice social distancing.
Nextdoor Adds Feature: The Verge, Adweek
U.S. Colleges Offer Dorms: AP
Volunteers 3D Printing Valves: The Verge, The Hill
Free Entrance at National Parks: Mashable, CNN
Thing to Know Thursday:
Social Distancing During COVID-19
Read more: STAT News, Business Insider, The Guardian
Guest: Malia Jones
Malia Jones is a social epidemiologist at UW-Madison's Applied Population Laboratory. Her research focuses on the social and spatial determinants of health at the population level. She is especially interested in the social dynamics that lead to infectious disease outcomes, and how people are located in geographic space. She holds both a doctoral and a master’s degree in Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.