Coronavirus Update: Record cases, the growth of screening technology, and more

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] 11.06.20 This is a special edition of our Coronavirus Update newsletter. To receive this email three times a week, [sign up here](. [SIGN UP]( Cases rise as election results come in, vaccines and treatments advance, and the reach of screening and tracing technology grows. Here’s what you should know: Headlines Cases soar to new highs as Americans await election results In a dizzying confluence of events, this week’s days-long election has coincided with [record-high coronavirus numbers]( in the US. There were 121,888 new cases Thursday, marking the third time this week that America topped its previous record. The number of hospitalizations and deaths is also increasing, especially in the South and Midwest. Regardless of the election outcome, Donald Trump will remain in the Oval Office until January 20, and given his track record on the pandemic, [public health experts are concerned]( that 100,000 more American could die during that time. Whoever the next president is, he will [face the monumental task]( of getting the coronavirus pandemic under control. Cases are surging, [face masks are again in short supply](, and a bleak winter is ahead. But there are still things the country’s leaders can do now. Mitch McConnell adopted a new stance on coronavirus aid earlier this week, saying that Congress should [approve a relief package]( before year’s end. And the director of the CDC has said that [now is the ideal time]( for the US to develop a better strategy for identifying asymptomatic cases if this surge is to be controlled. Vaccine and treatment development continue to move forward AstraZeneca has announced on Thursday that its [vaccine could be available]( at the start of the new year. The drug company plans to analyze Phase III trial data over the next two months. Provided those results look good, it will increase production and seek government approval. Moderna has said its vaccine won’t be ready until the spring, while Pfizer could seek emergency use authorization as soon as later this month. A CDC adviser confirmed yesterday that when vaccines are available in the US, they will almost certainly [go to health care workers]( first. In order for a vaccine to gain widespread approval, experts are also working hard to [drum up public trust](, especially within communities of color, who have long been subjected to medical racism. Research published yesterday also showed that a nasal spray developed at Columbia University [successfully blocked SARS-CoV-2]( from getting into the lungs and noses of ferrets. The study hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, nor has the spray been tested on humans. But researchers say it’s nontoxic and, if effective, could function like a daily vaccine. It’s also relatively cheap to make and requires no refrigeration. In the UK, [aspirin is being investigated]( as a potential treatment for Covid-19. Researchers believe the inexpensive and widely available drug could lower the risk of blood clots. Covid-19 screening and tracing technology expands, but not without hitches Dozens of US school districts have purchased new technology to help [fight the spread of Covid-19]( using funds from the pandemic aid CARES Act. The devices use thermal cameras to screen students’ temperatures and facial recognition technology to tell whether they are wearing masks. While some see the facial recognition capabilities being useful even after the pandemic has ended, others are concerned that bringing this into schools could jeopardize the security and privacy of children’s biometric data. Meanwhile, tracing technology in the UK hit a snag last week when software engineers working on the [NHS’s Covid-19 app]( discovered that thousands who may have been exposed to the virus were not told to quarantine due to an error. The UK government has reportedly been in talks with the [controversial US company Palantir]( about using its software to boost its struggling national test-and-trace program after a string of IT issues. Daily Distraction In the middle of a truly terrible year, WIRED’s Elena Lacey began fostering an aging, one-eyed chihuahua named Radish. Turns out, each was [just what the other needed](. Something to Read The smell of excrement is gross, yes. But it’s also “a reminder of the inescapable reshuffling of matter and energy that keeps the great game of complexity going.” And how humans learned to deal with it actually [tells us a lot]( about how we’ve evolved. Sanity Check Whether you’re in the market for a new skateboard or a new pair of shoes, there’s an option out there that’s good for you and the planet. We rounded up [a few of our favorite]( upcycled and recycled products. One Question What is Covid-19 brain fog? [Mental fuzziness, or “brain fog”](, is a symptom many Covid-19 patients experience while recovering. Some patients say they have trouble remembering things like basic traffic rules, or struggle to find the right words to express what they’re thinking. This isn’t surprising to doctors; mental fatigue can be common post-infection. But questions remain about what causes brain fog, who is most affected, and how it can be treated. Some hypothesize that the virus itself could damage neurons. Others point out that anxiety, depression, and PTSD are all common in patients who have been in the ICU, and could all impair brain function. Either way, doctors affirm, the most important thing is that people are patient with themselves while on the long path to recovery. 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 an updated look at 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](. [trump and biden on theatre screen ]( [OK, You've Just Won the Election. Now Fix Covid]( [The next president, whoever it is, should start by convening a brand-new Coronavirus Task Force.]( [thermal camera screen]( [Schools Adopt Face Recognition in the Name of Fighting Covid]( [A WIRED investigation finds dozens of districts have purchased thermal cameras to monitor fevers that can also identify students and staff.]( [Radish the dog]( [I Fostered a One-Eyed Goblin. She Changed My Life in Lockdown]( [Radish is technically a chihuahua (but I’m not convinced). And after a year of misery, she was everything I needed.]( [brain]( [Confused About Covid Brain Fog? Doctors Have Questions, Too]( [Physicians have seen this recovery symptom before, but they still don’t know why so many coronavirus survivors are being affected.]( [a poll worker wearing a mask while counting votes]( [An Election Week Case Surge, Vaccine Progress, and More Coronavirus News]( [Catch up on the most important updates from this week.]( [Image may contain: Light, Electronics, Speaker, and Audio Speaker]( [iPhone 12 Pro Max]( [N/A]( [(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. 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