The COVID-19 History Project

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This Day in COVID: July 2, 2020

Details

‘Sad and tragic:’ Federal nursing home data show at least 3,400 staffers infected, 14 dead

The data show at least 3,400 workers have contracted COVID-19 or were presumed to have the disease during the pandemic.

Connecticut Mirror

The coronavirus may have mutated to become more infectious, Dr. Anthony Fauci says

'The data is showing there's a single mutation that makes the virus be able to replicate better and maybe have high viral loads,' Fauci said in an interview.

CNBC

Don’t ‘balance lives against the economy’ in unprecedented pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns

'You don't want to balance lives against the economy,' Dr. Anthony Fauci said during an interview with the JAMA Network.

CNBC

Rep. Andy Biggs wants to fire Drs. Fauci and Birx beause they make Trump look bad?

AZ Central

Dr. Fauci’s wake-up call to my med school class

CNN

COVID-19 vaccines to enter late-stage trial by end of July, Fauci says

Reuters

Fauci says being 'at a bar, inside, is bad news' during the coronavirus pandemic. Here are 7 reasons why he's right, according to science.

Going outside with your drinks is a lot safer than being in a bar, but it's important to keep a distance whenever, and if ever, you imbibe.

Business Insider

In Arizona new coronavirus cases fall, hospitalizations continue to rise

The Hill

Coronavirus continues to spike amid mixed messages from Trump administration

The president and vice president signaled optimism, while health officials warned of worsening conditions.

Politico

Confirmed coronavirus cases are rising in 40 of 50 states

LA Times

Who’s having this tense coronavirus conversation: ‘You’re going where? Not me.’

As the summer blossoms and new case numbers grow, different people have different views of what’s safe, even if they all say they’re social distancing.

Whyy

As US coronavirus cases skyrocket, daily deaths are staying flat. The key is 'to keep the young people away from the old people,' one expert says.

The coronavirus is surging among young people. To prevent daily deaths from rising, we need to keep at-risk older people away from young people.

Business Insider

‘Covid Parties’ Are Not a Thing

No, Alabama frat boys aren’t doing snot shots and betting on who can get sick first. Why does the media keep suggesting otherwise?

Wired

Despite pandemic, Trump promoting July 4th fireworks in DC over mayor's objections

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, President Trump is set to host a 4th of July event from the South Lawn on Saturday. As many as 300,000 could attend.

ABC

Latino, Black people dying and becoming infected with COVID-19 at staggering rates, data shows

While it’s true that anyone could contract COVID-19, growing data shows the virus is infecting and killing people in Latino and Black communities across the country at a disturbing rate.

KSAT

In the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, do brown lives matter?

The Lancet

The WHO’s risky communication strategy created confusion around COVID-19

The Conversation

Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safe To Dine Indoors — Or Outdoors?

We look at the risks to consider (and precautions to take) before a restaurant meal. Also: How risky is it to fly on fully booked flights?

NPR

How coronavirus self-isolation fatigue may lead to more beach drownings this summer

The Conversation

How Hong Kong beat coronavirus and avoided lockdown

Hong Kong is one of the world's densest cities. Public transit is often packed. There are even direct flights from Wuhan. Yet, the city managed to handle the outbreak with a combination of factors.

CNBC

Can our immune system 'remember' the coronavirus? Scientists hope so

'We know that, somehow, not all immune memory is created equal,' said Shane Crotty, a virologist and vaccine scientist.

NBC

Seriously, Just Wear Your Mask

New York Times

Trump says he looks like Lone Ranger in a mask and likes it

Jacksonville

Face Masks Mandatory In Most Of Texas, Starting Friday

With COVID-19 cases setting records, Gov. Greg Abbott is requiring most Texans to wear face coverings in public. The order takes effect Friday and applies to counties with 20 or more cases.

NPR

We don't live in a communist country!': battle over masks rages in Texas

Coronavirus cases are rising, but despite the exhortations of public health experts, many Texans just don’t want to wear a mask

The Guardian

Kansas governor signs order mandating face masks in public

The order requires Kansans to wear masks indoors, in most cases, or outdoors where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.

KWCH

People are still not wearing masks? It’s time to start enforcing the rules

LA Times

Man rips face mask off employee at beer store: ‘You don’t need that’

Marni Magaro was in a beer cooler in Central Pa. when two maskless customers came in. One of them grabbed her mask and pulled it off.

Pennlive

Gov. DeSantis: Wear a mask, avoid the 'Three Cs' as Florida enters Fourth of July weekend

On Thursday, Florida smashed its record for the highest daily increases yet, reporting over 10,000 new cases overnight.

Fox 35 Orlando

Trump administration calls for masks throughout air travel, other guidelines for Covid-19 era

The Trump administration issued a series of air travel safety guidelines for the Covid-19 era but stopped short of requiring social distancing onboard

CNBC

As coronavirus surges, Fox News shifts its message on masks

However haltingly and incompletely, the president’s favorite news outlet has started to acknowledge that the coronavirus is a far graver threat than even Trump will acknowledge.

Yahoo

5 Reasons Why the George Floyd Protests Did Not Increase COVID-19 Spread

D Magazine

Herman Cain treated for COVID-19 after attending Trump rally

The 74-year-old was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The statement says Cain was hospitalized Wednesday after he developed 'serious' symptoms but he is 'awake and alert.'

PBS

51-year-old who posted regret about going out died of coronavirus a day later

'Because of my stupidity I put my mom and sisters and my family's health in jeopardy... This is no joke,' Thomas Macias wrote.

CBS

Pfizer Stock Rises as Company Unveils Aggressive Timeline for Coronavirus Vaccine

Barrons

Senate confirms Army general to lead vaccine effort

Perna, a logistician, was tapped by President Donald Trump in May to be chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, the administration's vaccine effort.

Politico

Reopening America: We shouldn’t reopen the economy without paid sick and family leave

Isabel V. Sawhill and Morgan Welch argue that paid sick leave will be crucial to reopening the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brookings

USC reverses robust fall reopening plans, asks students to stay home for online classes

LA Times

Our Mission

The COVID-19 History Project is a curated archive of the events and policy decisions surrounding the emergence of COVID-19.

The pandemic era of 2020-2022 saw massive increases in restrictions on daily life—enforced by the government and by social stigma—accompanied social protests that roiled cities worldwide

In the United States alone, trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government to offset the forced closure of businesses and the devastation of normal life.

The impacts of these policy decisions are still being felt today.

Some would like us to forget the actions and people that played a significant role during the pandemic.

But we of the COVID-19 History Project don't want to forget. Through our work, we hope there will always be an archive to learn from and interpret this fascinating, disturbing, time in world history.

The Timeline

In order to learn from the mistakes of the past, and give COVID-19 decision makers the credit—both good and bad—they deserve, we have compiled a media timeline from every day of the pandemic.

We have endeavored to make the timeline comprehensive without being duplicative, following the major trends as they unfolded.

We provided analyses for each month highlighting major events, but encourage readers to make their own conclusions about these events as well.

This Day in COVID: July 2, 2021

Details

2 Lake Station teens in ICU more than 12 weeks with COVID

Two teenage brothers in Lake Station, Ind., are struggling to recover from COVID-19.

ABC Chicago

How to Spend Your Weekend Outside (Published 2020)

The New York Times

All in the spike: How past virus research gave a head start to the COVID-19 vaccine | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

Research on MERS and the common cold helped Jason McLellan identify the COVID-19 spike protein.

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine (.gov)

Is coronavirus back in Israel?

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Yaakov Katz and Lahav Harkov

The Jerusalem Post

Germany recommends combining AstraZeneca, mRNA shots

Authorities are trying to increase the speed and effectiveness of vaccinations as the infectious Delta variant spreads.

Al Jazeera

What’s the ‘Delta plus’ variant? And can it escape vaccines? An expert explains

Delta plus might reduce the efficacy of the vaccines currently in use. But we can’t be sure because we’re yet to see good data on this variant.

The Conversation

Covid: Euro 2020 crowds ‘a recipe for disaster’, warns EU committee

Letting 60,000 fans into Wembley branded ‘utterly irresponsible’, as the WHO warns crowds will fuel rise in cases

The Guardian

Ghana: Government needs to answer for its handling of Coronavirus

The Africa Report.com

12 lessons COVID-19 taught us about developing vaccines during a pandemic

Experts weigh in on what we did right when developing the COVID-19 vaccine. And what we did wrong.

PBS

Michigan boy dies 3 days after getting Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, CDC is investigating

The CDC is investigating the case of a 13-year-old Saginaw County boy who died three days after getting his second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Detroit Free Press

Germany issues world’s strongest recommendation for mixing Covid-19 vaccines | CNN

CNN

Antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with lymphoma

The Lancet

What I Learned About Australia’s Lackluster Vaccination Effort From the Latest Covid ‘Hot Spot’ in Sydney

The New York Times

The delta variant: Everything you need to know

The coronavirus variant is on track to become the dominant version of the virus in the U.S. Here's what you need to know about it and the delta plus variant.

NBC News

Kids are struggling as they come out of pandemic isolation. Experts advise what may help | CNN

CNN

Kids Write About the Pandemic

We asked TFK readers and Kid Reporters to write about the pandemic. In this third part of our series, you’ll hear from Victoria, in Pennsylvania; Sophia and Valentina, in New Jersey; and Sammy, in Illinois. These kids sure know how…

TIME for Kids

The Pandemic Strikes: Responding to Colombia’s Mass Protests

Crisis Group

Should we raucously celebrate a football win in a pandemic?

Scenes of England fans celebrating beating Germany have delighted many - but raised some eyebrows.

BBC

Early and long term antibody kinetics of asymptomatic and mild disease COVID-19 patients - Scientific Reports

Nature

What to Know About the Delta Coronavirus Variant

The delta coronavirus mutation is now responsible for in 1 in 4 COVID-19 cases in the U.S, but vaccines are effective against it. Here's what to know.

AARP

Ivermectin to prevent hospitalizations in patients with COVID-19 (IVERCOR-COVID19) a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - BMC Infectious Diseases

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has changed our lives. The scientific community has been investigating re-purposed treatments to prevent disease progression in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. Objective To determine whether ivermectin treatment can prevent hospitalization in individuals with early COVID-19. Design, setting and participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in non-hospitalized individuals with COVID-...

BMC Infectious Diseases

COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I’ve worked out the science and how to spot it

There’s a way for parents to spot the fraud.

The Conversation

Frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of hospital readmissions of COVID-19 patients - Scientific Reports

Nature

Coronapod: the biomarker that could change COVID vaccines

Scientists get their first hint of a long-sought correlate of protection

Nature

Disparities in Learning Mode Access Among K–12 Students ...

Although access to in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning modes ...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (.gov)

UK pupils use orange juice to fake ‘positive’ Covid test results

Science teacher claims students say ‘it’s a great way to get two weeks off’, as experts criticise practice

The Guardian

A Crippling 3rd Wave Of COVID Adds To Afghanistan's Woes

The beleaguered nation is seeing a surge. The lack of testing means it's difficult to know the extent. One doctor says his Facebook feed is 30% to 40% of notices about those who died of the virus.

NPR