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Daily Archives: March 25, 2020

WaPo Live Coronavirus Updates – US and around the world

Access to these Washington Post updates is free – Live updates: Confirmed coronavirus cases approach 500,000 worldwide; Senate passes stimulus, but new U.S. jobless claims shatter decades-old record – “Much of the world’s population is now living under some sort of coronavirus-related restrictions as the total number of confirmed cases worldwide approaches 500,000. In Washington, the Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion emergency relief package late Wednesday [H.R. 748 – Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019], concluding a grim day in which health departments around the country reported more than 200 coronavirus-related deaths. Meanwhile, the weekly U.S. tally of new jobless claims was historically bleak, with a record 3.3 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits. That shattered the old record of 695,000, set in 1982. Here are some significant developments…”

Note – the link to the full text of the House bill – H.R. 6321 – Financial Protections and Assistance for America’s Consumers, States, Businesses, and Vulnerable Populations Act is here

 

Trump team failed to follow NSC’s pandemic playbook

Politico – “The 69-page document / PDF [and embedded in this article], finished in 2016, provided a step by step list of priorities – which were then ignored by the administration. “The strategies are among hundreds of tactics and key policy decisions laid out in a 69-page National Security Council playbook on fighting pandemics, which… Continue Reading

Earthwatch Institute concluded that bees are the most important living being on the planet

The Bee Is Declared The Most Important Living Being On The Planet  – “Earthwatch Institute concluded in last debate of Royal Geographical Society of London that bees are the most important living being on the planet, however, scientists have also made an announcement: Bees have already entered into extinction risk. Bees around the world have… Continue Reading

Governments could track COVID-19 lockdowns through social media posts

CNET – A research group scrapes more than 500,000 Instagram profiles in Italy to see if people are abiding by the quarantine. “Your posts on social media have been harvested for advertising. They’ve been taken to build up a massive facial recognition database. Now that same data could be used by companies and governments to… Continue Reading

COVID-19 Pushes Up Internet Use 70% And Streaming More Than 12%

Forbes: “The first internet streaming and usage figures are coming in as the coronavirus pandemic places a quarter of the world’s population under lockdown. As millions of people go online for entertainment and more, total internet hits have surged by between 50% and 70%, according to preliminary statistics. Streaming has also jumped by at least… Continue Reading

How to choose a free videoconference app

The Verge: “Most people are currently relying on videoconferencing to keep in touch with work colleagues, family, and friends — and if they’re facing financial difficulties, free is best. While Zoom seems currently to be the most popular videoconferencing app, there are several applications out there that will allow people to meet online for free.… Continue Reading

Check out these virtual tours of museums around the world

TimeOut – Take a trip through some of the world’s greatest collections on these virtual museum and gallery tours: “Our much-loved museums and art galleries may be closing their doors due to the coronavirus outbreak, but don’t despair. Tech-savvy curators are getting creative with how the public can access their collections, and many are catering to an online… Continue Reading

National Emergency Library to Provide Digitized Books to Students and Public

Internet Archive Blogs: “To address our unprecedented global and immediate need for access to reading and research materials, as of today, March 24, 2020, the Internet Archive will suspend waitlists for the 1.4 million (and growing) books in our lending library by creating a National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners. This suspension… Continue Reading

Kaiser COVID 19 Latest News on the Coronavirus Outbreak

KHN Morning Briefing Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations. COVID-19 Latest News On The Coronavirus Outbreak – “Several states are reporting only positive COVID-19 test results from private labs, a practice that paints a misleading picture of how fast the disease is spreading. Maryland, Ohio and others are posting the numbers of… Continue Reading