The virus has managed to overwhelm health care systems in some of the world’s most developed countries. Its impact on nations without adequate health resources is hard to imagine.
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED
Q: How long does coronavirus stay “alive” on surfaces?
A: Up to three days, depending on the surface. According to a study funded by the US National Institutes of Health:
- The novel coronavirus was viable up to 72 hours after being placed on stainless steel and plastic.
- It was viable up to four hours after being placed on copper, and up to 24 hours after being put on cardboard.
- In aerosols, it was viable for three hours.
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY
How coronavirus stole our most meaningful ways to connect
Face masks, video chats and personal protective equipment make it harder to see facial expressions and body movements, while social distancing forces us to be unnaturally apart and the invisible presence of a virus has infused touch with a sense of danger.
Two hairstylists who had coronavirus saw 140 clients. None got infected
The two Missouri hairstylists worked at the same location in Springfield for more than a week in mid-May. The clients and the stylists all wore face coverings, and the salon had set up other measures such as social distancing of chairs and staggered appointments.
Questions mount over UK’s lockdown timing
Hispanics face higher Covid-19 risk
“We’re talking about people who, during this pandemic, have been essential in working in meatpacking plants and manufacturing. They have been involved in cleaning, maintenance, construction jobs,” Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, a primary care doctor and associate professor at Duke University, said. “While the rest of the country did quarantine or was able to stay home to flatten that curve … the Latinx community continued to go to work.”
Office life in coronavirus times
As some workers return to the office, companies are considering ways to track their employees to help prevent the spread of coronavirus among their workforce.
ON OUR RADAR
- The annual Coachella and Stagecoach festivals — two of the largest music events held in Southern California — have been canceled over concerns about coronavirus spread.
- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia has passed 500,000. According to the official count, 6,500 Russians have died. But observers have cast doubt on the country’s counting method, which permits ascribing deaths in patients who tested positive for coronavirus to other causes.
- Los Angeles County said residents who attended protests should self-quarantine for two weeks. The county is reporting an average of 1,300 new cases a day.
- A Ghanaian footballer who slept in an Indian airport for over two months during the country’s lockdown has finally left the hub.
- The European Union wants monthly audits from Facebook, Google and Twitter on how they’re handling misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic.
- A delivery container made of materials that inhibit the spread of the virus and a device that lets people make bleach at home are among the winners of a competition for designs to help manage the pandemic.
- The ‘Dogfather of Harlem’ is offering free grooming services to pet owners impacted by the pandemic.
TOP TIPS
It’s hot. You’re sweaty. You may have the impulse to forgo a face mask until the fall.
TODAY’S PODCAST
“Public health has been doing this for, for decades …. for food borne illnesses, for infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, so this is not something new.” — Epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad