Virus Outbreak, ADVISORY
With states lifting their coronavirus restrictions according to their own timetables, Americans are facing a bewildering multitude of decisions about what they should and should not do to protect themselves and their fellow citizens. Is it safe now to join the crowds at the beach or go out to eat at a favorite restaurant? To visit the elderly parents you haven’t seen in nearly two months? To reopen a struggling business? In many cases, the less-than-satisfying answer from the experts is: It depends.
AP’s coronavirus podcast, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” today looks at the AP’s “Lives Lost” feature, an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from the coronavirus around the world. Listen to the podcast at https://appodcasts.com/category/ground-game/. Embed code is available on AP Coverage Plan.
The AP plans the following coverage. For up-to-the minute information, visit AP Newsroom’s coverage hub at https://newsroom.ap.org/page/Coronavirus Find AP Virus Alerts here
ONLY ON AP:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL: Workers who had been exposed to the coronavirus at Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital were given test kits by people without gloves and told to swirl a swab inside their noses. The method was designed only for people showing symptoms, but the staffers said none of them did. Many told The Associated Press that the flawed testing process this month likely produced inaccurate results and exposed them to the virus again. SENT: 920 words, photos.
SENT/DEVELOPING:
VIRUS-OUTBREAK: With states lifting their coronavirus restrictions piecemeal and according to their own, often arbitrary, timetables, Americans are facing a bewildering multitude of decisions about what they should and should not do. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST and VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING.
FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks are ending lower on Wall Street after an early gain evaporated. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS FALLOUT
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LABOR: Front-line workers are staging job action after job action in their quest for protection from the coronavirus. SENT: 1080 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-KIDS RARE SYNDROME: Doctors in Britain, Italy, and Spain have been warned to look out for a rare inflammatory condition in children that is possibly linked to the new coronavirus. SENT: 720 words, photos
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COMPANIES LIABILITY: Business groups are pushing Congress to limit liability from potential lawsuits filed by workers and customers who were infected by the coronavirus. SENT: 970 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NOWHERE NEAR NORMAL: As some governors across the United States begin to ease restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, hopes are soaring that life as Americans knew it might be returning. But plans emerging in many states indicate that “normal” is still a long way off. SENT: 1100 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOW SOME BUSINESSES ENDURE: Some U.S. companies have positioned themselves to withstand, even thrive, in the crisis. SENT:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL PRISON RELEASES: The federal Bureau of Prisons has begun releasing hundreds of inmates to home confinement in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus behind bars. But their methods are murky and contradictory, despite criteria from the attorney general on who is eligible. SENT: 990 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMIRATES-NEW NORMAL: In a Dubai industrial park, workers weld, drill and build what one entrepreneur sees as key to the near future of this desert city-state amid the coronavirus pandemic: disinfection gates. SENT: 910 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-POLL: With some states gearing up to lift coronavirus restrictions, a new poll finds that nearly 1 in 10 U.S. adults say cost would keep them from seeking treatment if they thought they were infected. SENT: 620 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-RURAL-REOPENING: Parts of the U.S. are starting to lift closures, and some of the quickest to reopen have been rural states like Montana, Vermont and Alaska. SENT: 910 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA-INFECTED DOCTORS: Reports of Russian medical workers becoming infected with coronavirus are emerging almost daily as the country copes with a growing number of patients. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-DREAMERS: For millions of people around the world dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, sleep brings no relief. SENT: 1,050 words, photo, graphic.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAVEL INSURANCE: The limitations of travel insurance have been brought into stark relief during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 880 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SAD SUMMER: From Cape Cod to California, festivals are being canceled, businesses in tourist havens are looking at empty reservation books, and people who have been cooped up through a dismal spring are worrying summer will bring just more of the same. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS DELAYS: Banks trying to submit applications for thousands of small businesses seeking coronavirus relief loans have hit a bottleneck for a second day at the Small Business Administration. SENT; developing.
SUPREME COURT-LAWYERS PREPARE: Because of the coronavirus pandemic the Supreme Court is holding arguments by phone for the first time in its 230-year history. Attorneys say the teleconference arguments in 10 cases over six days present a range of challenges. SENT: 890 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN: The U.K. held a minute’s silence Tuesday for all front-line workers who have died from the coronavirus, as official figures showed a new weekly high in the total number of deaths in England and Wales. SENT: 570 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PERU PRISON: Nine prisoners in Peru are dead following a riot over precarious living conditions that could put them at risk of contracting the coronavirus. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-EL SALVADOR: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele is the most popular leader in Latin America. But some critics say his harsh approach against the coronavirus and gang violence is putting the young democracy at risk. SENT: 1170 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRAZIL: As Brazil careens toward a full-blown public health emergency and economic meltdown, President Jair Bolsonaro has managed to add a third ingredient to the toxic mix: political crisis. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MAIDS: The coronavirus has upended the lives of Latin America’s household maids. SENT: 870 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON: The White House releases new guidelines aimed at answering criticism that coronavirus testing has been too slow, but there are still doubts from public health experts. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-MEAT: President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday meant to stave off a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on American supermarket shelves because of the coronavirus. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-REOPENING SCHOOL: President Donald Trump says states should “seriously consider” reopening their public schools before the end of the academic year. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: Facing fierce blowback, House Democratic leadership announced Tuesday the House will not resume session next week as planned because of risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. SENT; developing.
ELECTION 2020-BATTLE FOR SENATE: It’s only taken weeks for the coronavirus, the economic shutdown and President Donald Trump’s stumbles addressing the crises to scramble this fall’s battle for Senate control. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW YORK: New York City elementary school students will be graded “meeting the standards” or “needing improvement” for the remainder of this coronavirus-disrupted school year, while high school students will have a pass-fail grading option. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA-TESTING: Vice President Mike Pence has an appointment at Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic to learn about a new coronavirus testing “moonshot” that has the famed clinic partnering with the state and its flagship university to quickly boost the state’s capacity to 20,000 tests a day. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-PENCE MASK: Vice President Mike Pence chose not to wear a face mask while touring the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, an apparent violation of the world-renowned medical center’s policy requiring them. SENT: 190 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-REOPENING CASINOS: Things are likely to be much different for gamblers returning to U.S. casinos whenever they reopen. SENT: 690 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOLDIERS HOME: Nearly 70 residents sickened with the coronavirus have died at a central Massachusetts home for aging veterans, as state and federal officials try to figure out what went wrong in the deadliest outbreak at a long-term care facility in the U.S. SENT; developing.
TRIBES-CORONAVIRUS-RELIEF FUNDING: Tribal nations are urging the federal government to quickly disburse coronavirus relief funding after a judge handed them an early victory in a legal battle involving the money. SENT: 700 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AIRCRAFT CARRIER: The crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is sidelined in Guam with a coronavirus outbreak but is inching toward getting healthy and returning to sea duty. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-HUMAN TOUCH: Joy is visible during the pandemic, just not with the usual, recognizable cues. SENT: 280 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RADIO STORYTIME: A library in small-town Alaska is closed but keeping kids connected in even the most remote communities as they become further isolated during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 595 words, photos.
TOKYO-VACCINE: The medical community in Japan is moving toward a consensus that holding next year’s Tokyo Olympics may hinge on finding a coronavirus vaccine. SENT: 900 words, photos.
ALSO:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-TAKE-OUT: Is it safe to order take-out during the pandemic? SENT: 150 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SAVING POTATOES: While a coronavirus lockdown keeps restaurants, bars and many of Belgium’s 5,000 frites stands closed, the trade association for the national potato industry is calling on the population at large to do its part by keeping deep fryers fired up on the home front. SENT: 610 words.
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION-GRANT: The North Carolina city slated to host the Republican National Convention has voted to accept a $50 million grant for security-related costs, despite concerns the event may not proceed as planned amid the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 290 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-MARYLAND: Maryland is holding a special election with just three polling centers open Tuesday in a race dramatically reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. SENT; developing.
ELECTION 2020-OHIO: The first major test of an almost completely vote-by-mail election during a pandemic is unfolding in Ohio. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDICAL STUDENTS: A fleet of medical students has been vital in Detroit’s response to the coronavirus and COVID-19. SENT: 550 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHICAGO-PARTY CITATION: Chicago police have issued a citation for disorderly conduct to a homeowner following a crowded weekend house party that was condemned by the city’s mayor and the Illinois governor. SENT: 170 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FORMER MAYOR: A former New Orleans mayor convicted in a corruption case has been released from prison early due to the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 200 words.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-IMPACT ON YOUTH: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that extremist groups are taking advantage of COVID-19 lock downs to intensify social media efforts to spread hatred. SENT: 690 words, photo.
GERMANY-CLIMATE TALKS: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to “rebuild our world for the better.” SENT: 745 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRICS: The New Development Bank will allocate up to $15 billion for loans to help Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa boost their economies amid the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 300 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SURVIVOR: A New York woman who was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic has survived COVID-19. SENT: 120 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-KENTUCKY-TUPAC: It’s no joke — Tupac Shakur lives in Kentucky and needs unemployment benefits to pay his bills. SENT: 275 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA CHINA: China’s embassy in New Delhi has denied allegations by the Indian government that coronavirus testing kits it ordered from China are faulty, calling the claim unfair and irresponsible. SENT: 340 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VATICAN OBEDIENCE: Pope Francis is wading into the church-state debate about virus-imposed lockdowns of religious services. He is calling for “prudence and obedience” to government protocols. SENT: 570 words.
SEA WORLD-FEDERAL LOAN: SeaWorld Entertainment is seeking a loan from a federal program meant to help businesses retain workers during pandemic-related shutdowns. SENT: 345 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-OPRAH COMMENCEMENT: Oprah will be the commencement speaker for a multi-hour graduation streaming event on Facebook and Instagram on May 15. SENT: 145 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SURFERS RETURN-PHOTO GALLERY: At Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach, hundreds of swimmers and surfers braved cool autumn weather to return to the water. SENT: 120 words.
INTERACTIVES/GRAPHICS:
-US cases county-by-county. Embed code can be found in Coverage Plan. A static graphic also will be available in AP Newsroom.
-Interactive breakdown of unemployment filings by state with time scale for each (going back as far as 2000)
-Virus Europe Spread (map): An auto updating European map tracking the total confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths from coronavirus.
Additional graphics and interactives include:
- Flattening the Coronavirus Curve (Chart): Chart compares the cumulative cases over time in some of the hardest hit countries by coronavirus.
-Virus Global Spread (table): Table of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Table also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.
-Virus Global Spread (Map): Map of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Map also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.
-Virus Cases Compared Inside and Outside of China (Chart): Chart shows the number of confirmed cases in China over time and compares them to cases confirmed outside of China.
-Virus US State Map: State by state count of confirmed cases in the U.S.
-Virus US State Table: Table tracks the number of cases, recoveries and deaths for the US including its territories.
-Status of Cases Worldwide: Auto-updating once a day, this chart tracks the levels of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 around the world over time.
-Hospitality Workforce in the US: Coronavirus precautions have struck many U.S. business industries hard, especially the hospitality and service industry, where more than 16 million Americans work for support their livelihoods. This U.S. map highlights the number of hospitality workers and their average annual income by county along with the number of hospitality businesses. It is helpful in illustrating the potential impact of job loss to so many across the nation.
PHOTOS:
AP photos have moved from Russia, China, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Italy, Serbia, India, Britain, Hungary, France, various US and Latin America locations.
VIDEO:
AP video has moved from China, Spain, Serbia, Bangladesh, Britain, Italy, Russia, Japan, various US and Latin America locations.