Researchers work toward 'immunity passport'

In Germany, researchers are working to figure out who is immune to COVID-19. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pass 800,000, German researchers are working to track who is immune to the virus and how that could get some people back to work. Refugee resettlement has been suspended due to the pandemic, leaving many in limbo. And, are international calls to lay down arms being heard? Coachella and Glastonbury are canceled, but one arts festival is embracing the opportunity to connect across the globe — via the internet. --------------------------------------------------------------- Our coronavirus coverage has never been behind a paywall. No paywalls, ever. Many of you have stepped forward and shown your support for The World including some with thoughtful messages like this one: "Thanks for broadcasting trustworthy news and information." Your donations help us make our nonprofit journalism available to everyone. [donate]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today German researchers work towards 'immunity passports' [Employee Philipp Hoffmann, of German biopharmaceutical company CureVac, demonstrates research workflow on a vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease at a laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany, March 12, 2020.]( Credit: Andreas Gebert/Reuters Spain [reported]( a record jump in coronavirus deaths, as more than [12,000 medics]( on the front lines have been infected. In places around the world, [heath care workers feel powerless]( in choosing who to treat for the disease. In Germany, researchers are preparing a study to understand who is immune to COVID-19. It could allow officials to issue "[immunity passports](," exempting some key workers from coronavirus restrictions. And in when it comes to beating the odds, Mr. P is your man. The 101-year-old Italian citizen survived the Spanish Flu and World War II. Now, [he's beaten COVID-19 as well](. Also: ['They are leading us to catastrophe': Sweden's coronavirus stoicism begins to jar]( And: [Your coronavirus grocery questions, answered by experts]( [Families in limbo as refugee resettlement is suspended due to COVID-19]( Four years ago, Deman Abshir made a difficult choice. She and her husband, Ibrahim, were living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia when they finally got approval to be resettled in the United States. Ibrahim was sick and needed medical treatment, so rather than delay getting their newborn daughter Nimco’s paperwork in order, they left the girl behind with her grandmother. A few weeks ago, everything seemed to finally be in order for Nimco to join her parents in Columbus, Ohio. [Then the coronavirus hit](. And: [Cyprus pushes Syrian refugees back to sea due to coronavirus]( Also: [‘We find ourselves afraid’: The Pope confronts coronavirus]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion: Addressing weaknesses in the medical supply chain amid the coronavirus pandemic Today, The World's Elana Gordon will take your questions and moderate a live conversation with Dr. Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Mina will discuss the scope of the pandemic and the intersection of research and supply chains — along with hopes for treatments and vaccines. The conversation will [stream live here]( and on [Facebook](, Tuesday, March 31 at 12 p.m. ET. Email your questions for Mina to [theforum@hsph.harvard.edu](mailto:theforum@hsph.harvard.edu?subject=The%20World%20discussion%20with%20Michael%20Mina) or post them on [The World's Facebook page](. [Combat in the world’s biggest conflict areas not slowing down despite COVID-19]( International organizations such as the United Nations and the Arab League have called for warring parties across the globe to put down their guns so that locals can deal with the coronavirus pandemic. [But are their calls being heard?]( The coronavirus has now reached most major conflict areas in the world, including Syria, Afghanistan and Libya. Years of fighting has decimated the health care systems in these embattled countries. And that leaves large numbers of people vulnerable to something like COVID-19. And: [Former anti-Nazi Greek resistance fighter and MEP Manolis Glezos dies]( [Artists flock to the only ‘festival’ still on during COVID-19]( [Louise Pitre and Joe Matheson were set to perform "The Times They are a Changin'" at the Segal Centre before COVID-19 measures closed the theater. They created this video for the Social Distancing Festival website.] Credit: Screenshot via YouTube Music festivals around the world, including Glastonbury in the United Kingdom and Coachella in California, are part of the long list of events canceled due to the coronavirus. But [one festival is continuing forward]( in spite of — and in fact, because of — the pandemic. The Social Distancing Festival is an online space for artists to showcase their work when a performance or exhibition has been impacted by COVID-19. “My dream is to hear the story of two artists that have met through my site and collaborate on some really profound piece of art,” said Toronto-based playwright Nick Green, who created the festival. “And they live across the world and never would have met, otherwise." More entertainment: [London's National Theatre will stream a free play every week]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Morning meme This UK family has found a way to make staying at home [a little Les(s) Miserable](. --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it on The World - [How to improvise when making music online]( - [Artists submit gigs to virtual festival]( - [The role of the WHO]( - [Nigeria’s shutdown]( - [Coronavirus in Russia]( - [Europe’s ‘tree of the year’]( - [When social distancing means living among animals]( - [Refugee resettlement suspended]( - [Pausing war amid coronavirus]( - [Rationing medical care]( Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. 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