Coronavirus Watch: Imagining a post-coronavirus America
What will a post-coronavirus world look like as America reopens?
As this tenuous phase unfolds, the Paste BN Network took a deep dive to get a sense of how things might look in the future for key facets of the economy.
The result is a portrait of a nation in the initial throes of a painful and high-risk rebirth. Read more here.
It's Friday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 2 p.m. ET:
- Relief for small businesses: The House passed a bipartisan bill that loosens restrictions for loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. It's aimed at helping small businesses like restaurants and nail salons.
- The Boston Marathon has been canceled for the first time in its 124-year history, but there are plans for a virtual race.
- Efforts to crack down on fraudulent 3M mask sales ended with a first criminal case this week when a used car salesmen was charged with trying to bilk New York City out of $45 million. (Looking for a mask? Here's where to buy the best online, and how to clean the one you have.)
- More than 1.7 million people have been infected and more than 101,000 have died in the U.S. Worldwide, there are more than 5.8 million infections and 362,000 deaths. See the numbers in your area here.
Your questions, answered: Heather asks us: Is it safe to swim in small lakes or ponds? Should one person wait to swim until the other is out of the water, or is it OK to swim with them but at least 6 feet away?
As with the pool and beach, the greatest risk to you at a lake or pond is other people, not the water itself. The CDC says there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to people through lakes, oceans and other recreational water.
The CDC suggests that, while in the water, swimmers should keep at least 6 feet from anyone they are not quarantining with.
Many of the CDC guidelines for pools and water parks also apply to swimmers at lakes and ponds. For example: Don’t share googles and snorkels, wear a mask when you’re out of the water, cover coughs and sneezes, and wash your hands regularly.
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– Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor, @raretakis, and Grace Hauck, breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck