Key developments for Thursday, July 2, 2020

Welcome back to the revamped Key Developments, now published twice weekly and branching out beyond just COVID-19 news. While the focus remains heavily on the pandemic, we're working to diversify our coverage as we move forward.

Globally, we've surpassed 10.9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. The number of new cases is rising by over a million each week. In the United States, there are now more than 2.8 million cases, with over 131,000 deaths. Yesterday alone saw an additional 52,000 cases, which is alarming. Meanwhile, Brazil is quickly catching up to the U.S. in terms of daily case growth.

In Texas, there seems to be a slight shift in public health policy:

We can now add yet another grim side effect of COVID-19 to the list: prolonged erections caused by blood clots in the penile blood vessels. It’s horrifying how many complications this virus can cause.

A California party-goer expressed regret for not maintaining social distance, only to pass away from COVID-19 the next day. This serves as a stark reminder of the virus’s deadly potential.

Healthcare workers worldwide are facing increased violence and aggression during the pandemic. These incidents are vastly underreported. In some cases, healthcare workers have been attacked simply for stepping outside their homes.

US farmers are struggling to harvest crops due to a shortage of seasonal workers, largely caused by travel restrictions during the pandemic. As one chef and humanitarian put it, “Food security is national security.” This issue demands serious attention, particularly during a crisis that disproportionately affects agricultural workers:

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Tennessee:

Nearly 80% of community fireworks displays have been canceled across the U.S., leaving many feeling sad and restless as Independence Day approaches. It’s likely that many people will resort to using illegal fireworks and avoid wearing masks, creating a volatile situation.

Herman Cain tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized after attending the Tulsa rally. Reports suggest he did not wear a mask at the event, nor likely during his stay in Arizona before the rally.

Arizona, Florida, and Texas are experiencing outbreaks under conditions that are less dire than those faced in New York earlier this year. Although these outbreaks are significant, they were somewhat anticipated. The reproduction rate (R) is lower than it was in New York during the spring, and we now have access to more treatment options. Testing has also improved. These factors may help mitigate the severity of the outbreaks. However, this assumes communities are willing to follow safety measures like mask-wearing and self-isolation if necessary. If compliance is lacking, the situation could worsen rapidly.

Oregon State Police officers should make full use of the personal protective equipment (PPE) they receive. Perhaps surplus supplies could be donated to local hospitals to ensure medical staff can protect themselves while treating infected individuals:

https://twitter.com/shanedkavanaugh/status/1278691367636439043?s=20

Mexico’s positivity rate for COVID-19 tests stands at 50%, which is concerning. However, given that only the most severe cases are being tested, this figure does not reflect the true seroprevalence.

There is hope that a vaccine could be ready by the end of the year, though challenges remain.

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