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This Day in COVID: June 11, 2020

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Washington Post

Which businesses should be open?

As businesses reopen in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which places represent the best and worst tradeoffs, in terms of economic benefits and health risks? A study by MIT researchers uses a variety of data on consumer and business activity to tackle that question, measuring 26 types of businesses by both usefulness and risk.

MIT

Vietnam could be a rare winner from the coronavirus pandemic

Axios

5 reasons the pandemic is so very far from over

No matter what else happens, the coronavirus isn’t going away.

Vox

Racism: the other pandemic

Racism is suddenly and at last everyone’s business, and acting against it is everyone’s responsibility. More so at this time than ever, we now realise, since we cannot tackle covid-19 unless we tackle racism. This realisation may be less obvious to some, who see the global outpouring of grief and anger at the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis as either a distraction from or in conflict with efforts to contain the virus. Commentators in The BMJ make it clear that these two things are deeply ...

BMJ

Coronavirus task force fades from view as Trump White House moves on

The nation's coronavirus task force had faded from view as the White House shifts focus, even as the pandemic persists and worsens.

ABC

Researchers urge 'widespread' wearing of face masks to slow coronavirus pandemic

As concerns about an expansion of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic crop up, a new study notes the 'universal adoption' of face masks could help bring down the number of infections and prevent additional waves.

Fox News

Orange County rescinds coronavirus mask mandate amid pushback, resignation

LA Times

Why children avoid the worst coronavirus complications might lie in their arteries

Evidence is mounting that healthy blood vessels protect children from serious effects of COVID-19, such as stroke.

Nature

American Indian tribes thwarted in efforts to get coronavirus data

The CDC has turned down tribal epidemiologists’ requests for data that it’s making freely available to states.

Politico

Have deaths from COVID-19 in Europe plateaued due to herd immunity?

The Lancet

A month into reopening, no clear turn for U.S. economy or pandemic

Reuters

Polio vaccine could give temporary protection against COVID-19, scientists hope

It’s unclear whether such an approach would work, and some experts are skeptical.

NBC

Nursing Homes Run Short Of COVID-19 Protective Gear As Federal Response Falters

At least 711 nursing homes reported running out of N95 masks at the end of May, and 1,963 said they had less than a week's worth. 'The federal government has got to step up,' says one advocate.

NPR

Public Health Experts’ U-Turn on Coronavirus, Mass Gatherings

Is the change in posture about the coronavirus based on science or political ideology?

The Intercept

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: June 11, 2021

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Pulitzers honor coronavirus pandemic, US protest coverage

Coverage of the global coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice protests in the U.S. dominated this year’s Pulitzer Prizes.

AP News

The unproven lab leak theory, Wuhan lab and virus origin: Reporting best practices

First Draft

Pandemic Habits May Fade—But the Wisdom You Gained Won’t

Humans are adaptable; when our surroundings and circumstances change, so do we

Time Magazine

Paraguay publishes names of the vaccinated to stop COVID cheaters

Paraguay’s public database lists the person’s name, place of vaccination, type of vaccine and doses to help stop cheats.

Al Jazeera

The politics of Japan’s Taiwan vaccine donation

Japan quietly shifts its stance on Taiwan amid growing concerns over Beijing’s economic and military might.

Al Jazeera

Suicide attempts rose among adolescent girls during pandemic, ER data suggest | CNN

CNN

Why coronavirus variants are named using the Greek alphabet

It is simpler, and less contentious, than the technical or colloquial appellations

The Economist

Who Remains Unvaccinated? A COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Analysis | KFF

As more people across the country get at least an initial dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, public health officials are increasingly trying to reach the shrinking pool of unvaccinated adults – now roughly a third of all adults. The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report explores this group’s demographic profile and finds that, compared to…More

KFF

Will we ever know the real death toll of the pandemic?

The past year has been a stark reminder of global inequalities—including the resources needed to collect timely and accurate data on deaths. These innovators aim to fix that.

National Geographic

Safeguarding dialysis services during the COVID-19 pandemic - Nature Reviews Nephrology

Interruptions to dialysis services in resource-limited settings, like India, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our ill-preparedness. We need alternative plans to safeguard the provision of this life-sustaining treatment and protect our vulnerable patients.

Nature

Youth suicide attempts soared during pandemic, CDC report says

Researchers, though, cautioned against drawing direct lines between the spike and conditions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

NBC News

What Did COVID Do to Friendship?

The pandemic reoriented our economy of attention, redefining the limits of who and what we could care about.

The New Yorker

Flying Overseas? There's A LOT You Need To Know. Here's A Guide

Interest in international air travel is rising. If you're want to fly out of or into the United States, there's a lot you need to know. Here are answers to key questions.

NPR

In Hawaii, Reimagining Tourism for a Post-Pandemic World Published 2021

The New York Times

Why Some Orthodox Jewish Women Won’t Get Vaccinated Published 2021

The New York Times

How ‘prebunking’ can fight fast-moving vaccine lies

Research shows false news spreads six times faster than the truth, and information about COVID-19 vaccines is not immune to this problem. That is why public health officials are exploring ways to get ahead of those lies through a social psychology tool called prebunking.

PBS

Coronavirus restrictions spark mutiny against GOP governor

Politico

Romanians queue for COVID-19 vaccine and free barbecue at bustling market

Reuters

Ed Yong Wins Pulitzer Prize for Pandemic Coverage

A reading list of his essential work

The Atlantic

‘My dream was buried’: the children of India orphaned by Covid

Officials and NGOs say orphans now face the double threat of neglect and being vulnerable to exploitation

The Guardian

Delta variant makes up 10% of new COVID cases in the US. Should Americans be worried?

USA Today

Perspective | The pandemic shed light on what it’s like to be a stay-at-home parent

The Washington Post

CDC: ER visits for suspected suicide attempts among teenage girls rose during pandemic

The Washington Post

G-7 leaders commit to donating 1 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines as summit begins

The Washington Post

Analysis | The Health 202: Andy Slavitt describes life on the White House coronavirus task force

The Washington Post