Face Masks 101; Can Testing Unlock A Return To Normal Life?

Plus, Ramadan callers in Gaza remind people to wash up. by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [A health worker dons protective gear at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site set up by the Los Angeles Fire Department in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday.]( Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Here's what we're following today. The Trump administration released a blueprint on Monday for the roles the federal government, states and the private sector should play in rolling out additional COVID-19 testing. Testing is [the key that will unlock normalization]( for millions of Americans. It's the doorway between the disaster response mode of the pandemic and confidence about returning to work, school and life. It's also still apparently weeks or more away from [scaling to a level that will make a big difference](. Nigeria's president has announced the country will begin easing the more than month-long coronavirus lockdown in the capital, Abuja, and its largest city, Lagos, even as he imposed restrictions on another city where COVID-19 has surged. President Muhammadu Buhari said [stay-at-home orders]( have come at a "very heavy economic cost," with many Nigerians left without enough money to eat. The spread of coronavirus behind bars is likely much more rampant than the numbers we are hearing indicate. In prisons, jails and immigration detention centers, [limited testing already shows widespread infection](. Inmates behind bars cannot practice social distancing, and soap and water may be in short supply. New York effectively canceled its presidential primary by removing every Democrat except the presumptive nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, from the ballot. The move generated significant backlash from Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign and supporters. [Voting is still set for June 23]( for congressional and state-level races. Saving jobs is at the heart of Congress’ coronavirus small business rescue program. But even when some businesses receive the money they borrowed from the CARES Act, [they may not know how to use it](. Some of the loans don’t have to be paid back, but there are conditions for forgiveness. One big one: 75% of the forgiven amount must be spent on payroll. Experts say the rest of the rules can be confusing and arcane. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen [Carmen Brown weeps as she walks away holding a paper restoring her right to vote during a special court hearing aimed at restoring that right in a Miami-Dade County courtroom on Nov. 8, 2019. ]( Nneka Myers/Random House Books for Young Readers When author Nancy Redd was a kid, she was embarrassed by the bonnet she wore over her hair every night. It's a "ubiquitous black experience that I grew up with, my mom grew up with, all my friends grew up with," says Redd, who wrote the book Bedtime Bonnet to celebrate black nighttime hair routines. In the story, a little girl enlists her whole family to help her find her lost bonnet before she goes to sleep. As the girl explains: "In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!" ([Listening time, 5:47]( or [read the story]( In the Gaza Strip this Ramadan, most mosques are closed because of the pandemic. But the man who bangs drums to wake people up for the early-morning meal has added rhymes to his songs to remind people to wash their hands and stay safe. ([Listening time, 1:56]( We have been told the best way to avoid catching the coronavirus is to stay home. But as parts of the country open up, more people may be venturing out. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been recommending that if you do, wear a face covering — maybe even an old T-shirt you fashioned into a face mask. Here are some reminders on how to wear — and remove — a mask safely. ([Listening time, 1:28]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Picture Show [Caspian Sea in Astara, Southern Azerbaijan, February 2018.]( Tom Marsden In Azerbaijan, you may find yourself behind the wheel of a Lada automobile. (Sorry about that, Talking Heads fans!). The first Ladas were intended as [a reliable and affordable solution for the average Soviet citizen]( — and one that could be produced for cheap. The brand, initially called Zhiguli, was later renamed Lada, since the original name was thought too difficult for non-Russian speakers to pronounce. In Lada Landscapes, photographer Thomas Marsden takes the viewer on a road trip between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea — all with the iconic Soviet-era cars. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [Actress Mindy Kaling.]( Richard Shotwell/AP - When nerds are depicted on screen, they are often bookworms and wallflowers who struggle to stand up for themselves. That's [not the type of nerd that actress Mindy Kaling wanted to focus on]( in her new Netflix series, Never Have I Ever. - Wait, what? While tiny businesses struggle to stay solvent, the Los Angeles Lakers got a [federally approved small business loan]( to tide them through the pandemic. They’re returning the cash, but more than 2oo other public companies are not. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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](. — Suzette Lohmeyer contributed to this report. --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow [The New Normal]( on Instagram! [Sign up for The New Normal]( NPR's daily coronavirus email. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [dailynewsletter@npr.org](mailto:dailynewsletter@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? 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