A Swimming Lesson; Future Of Schools; When Is It Safe To Ease Social Distancing?

Plus, how past pandemics have shaped the modern bathroom. by Jill Hudson and Suzette Lohmeyer [Schools will be different image]( Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Here are a few stories and podcasts you may have missed. Will it be safe for kids to go back to school in the fall? Maybe. Public health experts, education officials and educators around the country weigh in on [what it would take to reopen schools](. Plus, can colleges and [universities survive the pandemic]( The math isn't pretty. Governors across the country are trying to decide when to relax the social distancing restrictions that have helped keep COVID-19 in check. The consensus view is that [states shouldn't open businesses and schools unless]( there's a robust system to detect and quash new flare-ups. Unfortunately, there's widespread concern that most states will not be ready to launch such a system any time soon. Across Europe and in Canada, governments are easing the plight of workers idled because of the coronavirus pandemic by essentially paying part of their salaries, says Gabriel Zucman, a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. Zucman calls it a [humane way to deal with unemployment](. Why do humans swim? We aren't born knowing how to do it, but so many of us make sure we learn, and our children learn, this skill. In an interview with NPR, author Bonnie Tsui takes us [from ponds to pools and talks about surfers, racers]( and a few who have survived icy currents, in search of the answer. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen Up! [New York City Fire Department paramedic Elizabeth Bonilla (left) says she's been having a hard time sleeping in the dark since the coronavirus outbreak began.]( John Minchillo/AP Elizabeth Bonilla, a paramedic for the New York City Fire Department, said every scratch in her throat or sneeze has her worried. Bonilla said she can't help but wonder: "Could I be next?" The question gnaws at her, especially when she's at home in her apartment in the Bronx, trying to sleep between what are often 16-hour shifts. She has started leaving the light on in her bedroom. ([Listening time, 4:16]( or [read the story]( From toilets to toothbrush holders, bioethicist Elizabeth Yuko explains how infectious diseases like tuberculosis and influenza have shaped American bathroom design. And Short Wave explores how the current pandemic could inspire a new wave of innovation in the bathroom. ([Listening time, 12:16]( Confined to our homes, many of us are experiencing a newfound appreciation for our social relationships. What we may not realize is the importance of these connections to our physical health. Hidden Brain talks with former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about why he considers loneliness a matter of public health. ([Listening time, 49:46]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession [Faces of the recession image]( Courtesy of Perla Pimentel NPR checked in with a few people across the country whose livelihoods have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. - Perla Pimentel is [an event coordinator who suddenly]( found herself with no events to coordinate. - Beverly Pickering is [a dog walker who went]( from working 16 hours a day to working two because everyone is home. - Angelita Wynn is [a school bus driver who found out]( she lost her job over dispatch radio. - Jerome Gage is [a Lyft driver who now spends most]( days watching Netflix. --------------------------------------------------------------- How To, For You [How to spot fake news comic]( Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR You've probably come across a piece of bad information online, and you might not even know it. The Life Kit team has a fun comic to help you spot fake news. ([Listening time, 28:21]( or [read the story]( We're all looking a little shaggy these days. And after over a month of social distancing, some have become desperate enough to take hair care into their own hands. Help is here: Hair stylist Yene Damtew advises listeners on how to cut and style hair at home. ([Listening time, 8:09]( While it's impossible for most folks to grow everything we eat, now would be a great time to build yourself a COVID Victory Garden. Nurseries that sell seeds, plants and animal feed are open, as an essential service. Here are five tips to get started. ([Listening time, 19:17]( or [read the story]( NPR's Peter Sagal (of Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me! fame) is a passionate runner — so much that he wrote a book about the sport. Sagal takes a stab at persuading nonrunners to give it a try by explaining his favorite running advice — the 3 G's. ([Listening time, 15:05]( or [read the story]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Our Picture Show Pick [World's most unequal country image]( Tommy Trenchard for NPR In Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city, well-to-do suburbs sit side by side with sprawling, impoverished townships. Driving from one neighborhood to another can be a jarring experience in the best of times. But since the country went into lockdown in late March, the [city's social divisions have been brought into sharper focus]( than ever. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sign Up For The New Normal [The New Normal image]( So much has changed quickly and we're all feeling a little unmoored. We hope our new newsletter, [The New Normal]( can help you work through what's happening now and get through whatever is next. We're all in this together. If you are interested in seeing what it is all about, [please subscribe here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [bestofnpr@npr.org](mailto:bestofnpr@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](