Coronavirus Watch: Happy World Mask Week!
It's Friday. Know what that means? It's the beginning of World Mask Week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pandemic Action Network are partnering with more than 40 organizations in an effort to increase the use of face coverings across the globe to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"If you're not masking, you're not just putting yourself at risk but you're putting other people at risk," said Dr. Ali Nouri, president of the American Federation of Scientists. "The more people understand that and realize that their well-being depends on other people doing the right thing, that's going to generate more pressure, more momentum and more acceptability of masks."
This is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here is the most significant news of the day, as of 2 p.m. ET:
- A Georgia high school has dropped its five-day suspension of at least one student for posting photos of a school hallway crowded with mostly maskless students on the first week of classes, according to media reports.
- All New York schools will be able to open this fall, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday. Among the top 10 largest U.S. school districts by enrollment, most are planning to start the year fully online.
- A new forecast warns that COVID-10 deaths could reach 300,000 by December without widespread use of masks. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says consistent use of a face covering would lower the figure by 70,000.
- The U.S. State Department has lifted its advisory on avoiding international travel, put in place five months ago. But the list of places where Americans can go isn't that extensive.
- Negotiations over another coronavirus stimulus tumbled into a state of uncertainty Thursday night. After a three-hour meeting, Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said the White House is still willing to do a short-term measure on unemployment if a broader deal cannot be reached.
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who had been set to meet with President Trump on Thursday, ultimately tested negative for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, a rapid test gave him a positive reading.
- Florida schools: As Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed this summer for schools to reopen, state leaders told school boards they would need Health Department approval if they wanted to keep classrooms closed. Then they instructed health directors not to give it.
- Jobs report: The economy added 1.8 million jobs in July while unemployment fell to 10.2%, the Labor Department said Friday.
Today's numbers: New case records were set Thursday in Hawaii, a Paste BN analysis of Johns Hopkins data shows. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Tennessee, and also Puerto Rico. The U.S. has reported more than 4.8 million cases and more than 160,000 deaths. See the numbers in your area here, and check out where cases are rising here.
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– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck