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Japan starts reorganizing the Tokyo Olympics. After yesterday’s unprecedented decision to postpone this summer’s games to next year, organizers will have to start grappling with complex logistical questions around venues, security, ticketing, and accomodation.
Hubei lifted its lockdown. With no new domestic cases reported, the province at the center of China’s coronavirus outbreak rolled back restrictions on more than 50 million residents, allowing those who are healthy to leave. The city of Wuhan will have its lockdown lifted on April 8. However, residents and analysts have disputed authorities’ claims of zero domestic case growth.
The US Congress reached a $2 trillion stimulus deal. It capped five days of intense negotiations over a massive package to rescue the economy from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. Among other measures, the bill will hand out $1,200 to many Americans, boost unemployment insurance, and create huge loan programs for small businesses and industries.
South Korea identified the suspect in the online sex blackmail ring scandal. A 24-year-old is the central suspect in the case, which involves pay-to-view chat rooms on messaging app Telegram live-streaming sexual abuse of minors.
New Zealand declared a national state of emergency. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern told the country to prepare to go into a full lockdown at midnight tonight, for at least four weeks, as 50 new confirmed cases brought the national total to 205. All non-essential services, schools, and offices will be closed.
Donald Trump said he’ll stop using the phrase “Chinese virus.” The US president said “everyone knows” the novel coronavirus came from China, so he no longer needs to belabor the point. Critics have said labelling SARS-CoV-2 as “Chinese” is both inaccurate and stigmatizing, and that it has further inflamed acrimony between the US and China.
Jair Bolsonaro again called Covid-19 “a little flu.” In a national televised address, the Brazilian president downplayed the threat posed by the pandemic and accused the country’s media of using the crisis to spread hysteria. He called for an end to mass isolation, even as confirmed cases continued to climb.
Pope Francis leads a global prayer. He has called on Christians worldwide to pray against the Covid-19 pandemic at noon Italian time. He will also deliver a special “Urbi et Orbi”—”to the city and the world”—blessing, normally only given at Christmas and Easter.
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Stepping up by stepping down. By the time many startup founders realize the importance of sound management, it’s often too late. This week, we explore why founders don’t typically make the best CEOs.
Italy is now key to China’s coronavirus misinformation campaign. China’s attempts to dissociate itself from the origins of the coronavirus outbreak got an apparent boost thanks to an interview given by an Italian doctor to American media.
Quartz daily obsession
Sitting in silence has been hot for at least a couple of millennia. Meditation retreats designed for visitors to sit, walk, eat, and work in silence for days on end are attracting not only celebrities, but Silicon Valley acolytes and other “performance optimizers” who aim to “defrag [their] hard-drive” or “hack the deepest layer of the mind and reprogram it.” Shhh…it’s the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matter of debate
Lockdowns might not be successful in India. The World Health Organization says that “the future of this pandemic” depends on how India handles the crisis. That’s cause for concern. Despite prime minister Modi’s announcement of a nationwide lockdown yesterday, India is not an “organized society,” one of India’s foremost epidemiologists explained to Quartz. Instead of isolation, Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil is proposing a response built upon community participation. The economy depends on it.
Surprising discoveries
Our butterfly photos could help conservation efforts. Researchers are asking the public to send in pictures of monarchs in order to piece together their migration patterns.
A mouse was found atop the 22,000-foot Llullaillaco volcano in the Andes. The yellow-rumped leaf-eared rodent set a new world record as the highest-dwelling mammal.
A Belgian company has created a 3D-printed hands-free door opener. The design for the simple contraption is free for anyone to download.
Sales of flashcards and activity books have soared. It’s one side effect of having millions of restless children cooped up at home.
A British vicar caught fire while delivering an online sermon. He leaned too close to a candle while awaiting God’s answer.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, high-altitude mice, and butterfly snaps to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.