September 29

In Texas, polling place closures, absentee ballot rules make it harder to voteIn Texas, barriers to the right to vote are strewn at every step of the process — with the coronavirus making everything worse this year.Public Integrity

Disney Parks Laying Off 28,000 Employees amid Ongoing Disneyland Closure Due to COVID-19People

U.S. Retail Store Closures Hit Record in First HalfWall Street Journal

Burger King eyes closure of 25 stores as Covid crisis hits fast foodThe fast-food giant is considering options that would allow it to expand its drive-through estate to compete better with McDonald'sTelegraph

COVID vaccine confidence requires radical transparencyPublic trust in a potential vaccine is under threat. Drug companies and their academic partners must disclose protocols and results data.Nature

False-positive COVID-19 results: hidden problems and costsThe Lancet

How do we mourn the growing number of deaths from COVID-19?Harvard scholars reflect on the death toll from the novel coronavirus.Harvard

How COVID-19 Has Affected Special Education StudentsTufts

The lockdown tweet that launched a COVID-19 ‘supertracker’Lukas Lehner wanted to capture how different economies are addressing COVID-19 challenges. His Twitter call-out helped to create a global directory of policy resources based on swarm intelligence, and led to a research project.Nature

Dr. Anthony Fauci says Americans should trust credibility of COVID-19 vaccine processFauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, blamed “mixed messages that have come out of Washington” for waning public trust.Texas Tribune

Germany Has Its Own Dr. Fauci—and Actually Follows His AdviceBloomberg

Florida's Miami-Dade Pushes Back On Loosening Of Coronavirus RestrictionsCounty Mayor Carlos Gimenez says the opening ordered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis comes too soon and he expressed concern that the number of coronavirus cases could shoot up.NPR

Video: Trump Downplays Masks and Mocks Biden for Wearing ThemPresident Trump said he wore masks “when needed” but mocked Joseph R. Biden Jr. for regularly wearing masks in public.New York Times

Florida reports spike in new coronavirus cases days after restrictions relaxed | CNNCNN

The next few months could get ugly. Here’s how to stay safe as the pandemic rages on | CNNCNN

Early data shows promising results from Regeneron’s antibody cocktail for coronavirus | CNNCNN

HHS ad blitz sputters as celebrities back awayThe $300 million, taxpayer-funded campaign to tout the administration’s response to Covid-19 falls behind schedule amid widespread criticism.Politico

How Pinterest beat back vaccine misinformationPinterest has taken a hardline strategy against health misinformation, and in particular, vaccine falsehoods.PBS

Coronavirus changed the 2020 money race — and helped Biden erase Trump’s massive cash advantageBy adopting a largely virtual campaign strategy this spring, Biden kept his costs down, while Zoom fundraisers helped him keep raising money during crucial months when Trump did little or no fundraising.CNBC

COVID-19 impact: Tracking Louisville's permanent business closures since MarchWLKY