Coronavirus Watch: WHO walks back comments on asymptomatic spread

Statewide shutdowns across the country may have prevented millions of coronavirus infections in the U.S., according to a new study.

Researchers found the U.S. may have been able to avoid an additional 4.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases, which translates to about 60 million more infections, as a result of statewide lockdowns and mandated social distancing restrictions, according to the report published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature.

It's Tuesday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 12:30 p.m. ET:

• A World Health Organization official clarified comments made at a media briefing Monday that suggested coronavirus transmission by asymptomatic individuals is "very rare." Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead, said in a video that she was referring to a small subset of studies and unpublished information from member states when making the comments.
• It's official: The United States is in a recession. The National Bureau of Economic Research says the U.S. economy peaked in February, ending the longest expansion in U.S. history at 128 months, or about 10½ years.
• Reopening in Texas: The Lone Star state, which reopened early, is seeing a spike in cases of COVID-related hospitalizations, CNBC reports.
• World leaders won't be seeing one another in New York at the United Nations annual September meeting, the first time in its 75-year history.
• More than 1.9 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 111,000 have died. Worldwide, more than 7.1 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 407,000 have died. See the numbers in your area here.

How to clean: Many businesses promise to "deep clean" offices before reopening, but what does that mean?

Do you have questions about the coronavirus? Submit them through this form. Arlene from Sarasota, Florida, asks: Is it safe to go to the dentist?

Many dental offices began reopening last month for elective procedures, like teeth cleanings, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising dentists to prioritize urgent and emergency visits and delay elective visits and procedures to protect staff and preserve personal protective equipment and patient care supplies.

The CDC also suggests that dental staff: call patients prior to the scheduled appointment to ask questions about their current health status, advise patients to wear a face covering when entering the dental practice, limit the number of people who accompany a patient to the appointment and more.

As a patient, it's important to continue taking care of your health and wellness, but you need to weigh the risks you may face by going to the dentist. Is the virus spreading in your community? Are you particularly vulnerable to severe disease? Is this appointment necessary? Remember that health experts believe the main way the coronavirus spreads is through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.

As always, thank you for subscribing! We appreciate you trusting the Paste BN Network with this important information.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck