In The News

Trump Threatens to Withhold Funding for WHO: NYT

Michael D. Shear April 8, 2020
Critics have blasted Donald Trump’s delay in recognizing COVID-19 as a crisis and failing to implement strong public health measures early on. In a press conference, he directed a similar charge against the World Health Organization and raised the threat of withholding US funding from the global group. The US contribution represents about 10 percent of the WHO budget. “They called it wrong,” the...

Global Pandemic Strategy: Project Syndicate

Josep Borrell April 5, 2020
The world confronts a common enemy in COVID-19, and choices made today will shape individual communities and the world in the months and years ahead, explains Josep Borrell for Project Syndicate. A natural instinct is to fend for one’s self. “Going it alone all but guarantees that the fight will last longer, and that the human and economic costs will be far higher,” he writes. “Although the enemy...

Face Mask Data: Ars Technica

Beth Mole April 5, 2020
East Asia quickly endorsed masks to fight spread of COVID-19, while the United States and Europe, following the lead of the World Health Organization, initially urged reserving such equipment for health providers. That thinking evolved, with health experts recommending cloth masks for citizens while maintaining social distance, washing hands, avoiding crowds and keeping a distance of six feet in...

Half of Humanity Confined by Pandemic: DW

April 3, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases exceed1 million worldwide, and the death toll is more than 50,000. Numerous economies imposed shutdowns of all but essential services like food, ordering citizens to shelter in their homes and avoid crowds. “Coronavirus prevention measures that include required or recommended confinement, curfews, and quarantines have been put in place in over 90 countries and territories...

Better Safe Than Sorry: National Post

Sten Vermund April 2, 2020
COVID-19 spreads rapidly, posing a threat to the vulnerable including the elderly and those with chronic conditions. Sten Vermund, dean of Yale School of Public Health, urges aggressive measures for a virus that is overwhelming hospitals and health care providers. The new coronavirus emerged in November 2019 and quickly spread around the world. Until more data is collected, communities should...

The Greatest Test: UN News

April 1, 2020
The United Nations urges the world to unite as COVID-19 spreads throughout communities, forcing people to isolate, ruining economic activity and livelihoods. Long-term effects could be dire, and Secretary-General António Guterres calls for shared responsibility. “This human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies – and...

India’s Tragic Pandemic Lockdown: BBC

Soutik Biswas March 31, 2020
India has more than 1.3 billion people, and about 20 percent live less than $2 per day. So after the government imposed a lockdown to top the spread of COVID-19, many Indians lacked shelter, food, savings or other protections. A government order turned most into refugees overnight, creating a humanitarian crisis and worsening the coronavirus threat. “Work and wages dried up after India declared a...