Daily Update - April 29th I write a daily newsletter with verified statistics & interesting news about Covid. We only show data related to death tolls; data is provided by the John Hopkins University. My background is in statistical analysis & political science. If you like this email, take a second to forward it to people who would like it ( sign up here ) , or give us feedback by replying to it! 🗞️ SUMMARY ANALYSIS 🗞️ 🌎 Yesterday, the global death toll from Coronavirus reached 216,000.



France and Spain have announced detailed roadmaps for gradual, phased exits from their strict coronavirus lockdowns, with restrictions to be loosened progressively and varying from region to region. The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, told parliament the decision to confine the population to their homes six weeks ago had saved 62,000 lives but it was now time to start lifting the lockdown to avoid economic collapse. In Spain, the transition to a “new normality” will last six to eight weeks, explains Pedro Sánchez, with continuing restrictions on travel to other provinces and Spanish islands.



Germans have been advised to stay at home as much as possible and continue to apply physical distancing as official data appeared to indicate the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is once again accelerating. On Tuesday, the German government’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), announced the reproduction number for Monday 27 April had risen to 1, after having put it as low as 0.7 in mid-April.



China warns relationship with Australia could be damaged ‘beyond repair'. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has defied China and defended the “entirely reasonable and sensible” call for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19, as the international political fallout over the pandemic deepened. Austalia has urged its allies to back an overhaul of the WHO and suggested recruiting independent investigators akin to “weapons inspectors” to determine the source of major disease outbreaks.



US small business relief loans over $2 million will get a second look. Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin announced larger loans would get a full audit, and big companies that misrepresent their need could face criminal charges.



Texas is lifting its lockdown. It will let its stay-at-home order expire on Thursday and permit some businesses to reopen at 25% capacity, despite low coronavirus testing levels. Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Tennessee have also let go a little.



Britain will compensate families of deceased health care workers: The families of health care workers who die from the coronavirus in England will receive 60,000 pounds, or about $75,000.



In the UK, the virus crisis could lead to 18,000 more cancer deaths. Cancer experts claim that an extra 6,270 people in England who have been newly diagnosed with the disease could die from it over the next 12 months as a direct result of the disruption caused by coronavirus 📊 WORLD STATISTICS 📊 💡 GRAPH OF THE DAY 💡 Daily death of patients diagnosed with Coronavirus (7d rolling average) Few interesting things about this graph: First, it is clear that Europe is on its way to recovery, if de-confinement efforts are not rushed.

Second, the US's death toll is consistently high but seems to be taking the same path as Europe's at first glance. It may be that early de-confinement in several states affects this trend negatively.

Third, Latam & the Carribean could be the next center of the epidemic - assuming deaths are underestimated by a factor of 3/4x (as local reports show), this graph would look quite different.

Finally, even if we assume deaths are underestimated in Africa, the death toll seems encouraging compared to other regions. This raises hopes that the continent may be spared further. Source: FT 🔥 MUST READS 🔥 🔥 Virus likely to keep coming back each year, say top Chinese scientists. Chinese scientists say the novel coronavirus will not be eradicated, adding to a growing consensus around the world that the pathogen will likely return in waves like the flu.



🔥 San Francisco had the 1918 flu under control. And then it lifted the restrictions. Back during the Spanish flu, San Fransisco's failure to take swift action and the decision to ease restrictions after only a few weeks had huge ramifications. With 45,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths, the city was reported to have been one of, if not, the hardest-hit big city.



🔥 Why are smokers being hospitalized less often from coronavirus? A Greek cardiologist and French neuroscientist are trying to find out. While no conclusions can yet be drawn, Farsalinos' prevailing hypothesis is essentially that nicotine has certain anti-inflammatory effects. The most severe COVID-19 symptoms seem to come from an overreaction of the body's immune system known as a "cytokine storm." Link to article Chinese scientists say the novel coronavirus will not be eradicated, adding to a growing consensus around the world that the pathogen will likely return in waves like the flu. Link to article Back during the Spanish flu, San Fransisco's failure to take swift action and the decision to ease restrictions after only a few weeks had huge ramifications. With 45,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths, the city was reported to have been one of, if not, the hardest-hit big city. Link to article A Greek cardiologist and French neuroscientist are trying to find out. While no conclusions can yet be drawn, Farsalinos' prevailing hypothesis is essentially that nicotine has certain anti-inflammatory effects. The most severe COVID-19 symptoms seem to come from an overreaction of the body's immune system known as a "cytokine storm." 📚 GOOD READS 📚 📚 JetBlue Is the first major U.S. airline to require masks for passengers. The airline will require all passengers to wear a face covering from the beginning to the end of their trip. The policy takes effect Monday.



📚 Belgians urged to eat fries twice a week as coronavirus creates massive potato surplus. Link to article



📚 How do we rethink public space after the pandemic? Start With Rolls of Tape. Tape has become a low-tech weapon in COVID-19-induced urbanism. The challenge of the next chapter will be to make that flexibility permanent.



📚 There’s a big flaw with COVID-19 contact tracing apps. According to behavioral economics, most of us won’t cooperate with actions in the public interest—unless we’re convinced everyone else will too.



📚 To open the US Economy, you need a contact tracing workforce of 180,000. Today, along with 15 others, I published a detailed proposal to help the country move forward.



📚 China’s factories are back. Its consumers aren’t. The manufacturing giant is once again turning out steel and cellphones. But job losses and pay cuts have left its people reluctant to spend — a problem the U.S. and Europe may soon face, too.



📚Low Covid-19 death toll raises hopes Africa may be spared worst. Link to article



📚 Cannabis sales surge during pandemic. California has classified marijuana as an essential product, along with milk and toilet paper, under the state’s Covid-19 stay-at-home orders.



📚 Sweden’s very different approach to Covid-19. The Swedes brokered a different deal than the rest of the world: Citizens take individual responsibility for social distancing, and the government keeps most of society functioning. The airline will require all passengers to wear a face covering from the beginning to the end of their trip. The policy takes effect Monday. Link to article Start With Rolls of Tape. Tape has become a low-tech weapon in COVID-19-induced urbanism. The challenge of the next chapter will be to make that flexibility permanent. Link to article According to behavioral economics, most of us won’t cooperate with actions in the public interest—unless we’re convinced everyone else will too. Link to article Today, along with 15 others, I published a detailed proposal to help the country move forward. Link to article . The manufacturing giant is once again turning out steel and cellphones. But job losses and pay cuts have left its people reluctant to spend — a problem the U.S. and Europe may soon face, too. Link to article California has classified marijuana as an essential product, along with milk and toilet paper, under the state’s Covid-19 stay-at-home orders. Link to article (paywalled) The Swedes brokered a different deal than the rest of the world: Citizens take individual responsibility for social distancing, and the government keeps most of society functioning. Link to article Copyright © 2020 Daily Corona Virus Update, All rights reserved.





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