Coronavirus aid bill fails to pass, and Fauci issues a warning for fall

PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read. [View this email in your browser]( | [Manage newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) [(image) WIRED Coronavirus Update Logo] 09.11.20 This is a special edition of our Coronavirus Update newsletter. To receive this email every weekday, [sign up here](. [SIGN UP]( Fauci issues a warning for the fall, convalescent plasma remains in high demand, and the latest coronavirus aid bill fails to pass. Here’s what you should know: Headlines Fauci warns Americans [not to underestimate the pandemic]( as we enter fall As flu season approaches, no one knows exactly what that will mean for Covid-19—including Dr. Anthony Fauci. But the director of the NIAID recently warned that it would be a mistake to underestimate this pandemic even as many states press ahead with reopening. “We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy,” he said yesterday. Despite politics and the latest research, [demand for convalescent plasma]( is high Convalescent plasma has proven a somewhat controversial Covid-19 treatment: FDA officials call it “promising” even though data on its effectiveness has been inconclusive. In spite of this, demand for plasma has remained high for months, seemingly a response to rising case rates rather than the FDA announcement or politics. Blood centers are having a hard time keeping up, and they encourage anyone who has had Covid-19 to donate. [“Skinny” coronavirus aid bill]( fails to pass in the Senate along partisan lines Yesterday, the GOP’s “skinny” coronavirus aid bill was blocked in the Senate. The relief bill would have provided $300 in weekly federal jobless benefits through December 27, but fell far short of the aid Democrats were hoping to offer. Now it seems increasingly unlikely another aid bill will pass before Election Day. Daily Distraction From smart speakers to bluetooth lightbulbs, connected objects are becoming the norm. Check out [WIRED’s guide to the internet of things]( to learn more about what they are and how they work. Something to Read Scientists and public health officials are sounding the alarm over the possibility that the US will approve a coronavirus vaccine based on limited data. That's a legitimate concern. But it’s almost certainly going to happen. Instead of yelling about it, it's time to plan for it—[here's how](. Sanity Check Google Maps is easy to use, but it also collects lots of information about where you are. [Here are some more privacy-friendly alternatives](. One Question How can I make it easier to work from home? Even if you’re lucky enough to be working from home, staying productive out of the office is [an adjustment](. The [right gear]( and a [good internet connection]( make a world of difference. So does [mastering the art of Zoom](. Our recommendation: Commit to the home office and [invest in a standing desk](. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's [everything we know and advise about the coronavirus](. 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the surface. [Here's the research](. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the [best ones you can buy](, or how to [make one at home](. 🧼 It's not just your [hands that need washing](—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to [properly disinfect your stuff](. 💻 Some of you are [work-from-home pros](, but if you're new to it, here's how to [stay productive without losing your mind](. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can [protect yourself and your family without spiraling](, and how to [not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with](. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to [cut your hair at home](, plus other ways to keep yourself [lookin' fresh](. 🦠Read all of [our coronavirus coverage here](. [Medical tube with extracted plasma sitting at the top]( [Blood Centers Are Barely Meeting Convalescent Plasma Demand]( [Despite a lack of scientific studies on its efficacy for Covid-19, interest in the treatment has surged alongside case numbers.]( [gloved hands holding a vaccine ]( [Stop Yelling About a Rushed Vaccine, and Start Planning for It]( [Public health experts should spend less time criticizing emergency authorization and more time discussing how to ensure the process works.]( [aerial of a neighborhood]( [The Best Privacy-Friendly Alternatives to Google Maps]( [Google Maps is arguably the easiest mapping service to use, but that doesn't mean it's the most secure.]( [crowd of people outside at night]( [How Much Do Crowds Contribute to Covid? It's Complicated]( [That Sturgis coronavirus paper had flaws, but it's not useless. And it shows the US needs better data collection. Until then, better get used to stewing in uncertainty.]( [(image) Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. The most popular stories from Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Architectural Digest and more. STAY INFORMED]( [(image) WIRED Logo]( [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( or [Manage your newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir)