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New York had its worst coronavirus day yet. 731 people died in the state on Tuesday, with the death toll in New York City surpassing 4,000 to date—more than the number of people who died on 9/11. State officials are cautiously optimistic that hospitalizations are levelling off.
Donald Trump threatened to pull funding from the WHO. The US president yesterday accused the global health body of being “very China-centric.” Trump also removed an official who was to oversee the government’s $2.3 trillion coronavirus response.
Zoom is being sued by one of its own shareholders. Michael Drieu accused the company yesterday of damaging its own stock by overstating privacy standards. The video conferencing tool, suddenly the most important app of all, has faced weeks of criticism over security.
Americans are hoarding cash. New data reveals that the amount of benjamins in physical circulation are up, with the growth at a level not seen since the Y2K frenzy. Balances in checking and savings accounts are also up by double digits, as fears of a recession mount.
Democrats in Wisconsin queued for hours. Thousands risked their health yesterday to cast their ballots in the primary. Results are due on Monday, and many voters are furious about the state’s decision not to postpone.
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Around the world
Boris Johnson spent a second night in intensive care. The UK prime minister is receiving oxygen support but isn’t on a ventilator, and remains in “stable” condition, Downing Street said yesterday. In Britain and elsewhere, the emergency line of succession isn’t clear.
Wuhan emerged from its lockdown. For the first time since January, its 11 million residents can now travel in and out of the city if they have an all-clear on a government-sanctioned health app. Schools remain shut, and people are still advised to stay home as much as possible.
WeWork sued SoftBank. The Japanese investor had abandoned a $3 billion deal, citing the pandemic and ongoing criminal and civil investigations, as reasons for pulling out. The office rental company is in even bigger trouble now that nobody needs new work space.
We heard you
Does hydroxychloroquine treat Covid-19? As with all potential coronavirus drugs, only a small number of studies have been done, some showing an effect, some not.
It’s hard to do good research this quickly: A French study with seemingly positive results—the one Trump has been referring to—was undermined by the scientific society whose journal published it. The study failed to meet the “expected standard.” Until there is more reliable information, it’s hard for doctors to make a responsible call on a drug.
Quartz membership
Each generation is shaped by its formative years. The era of coronavirus will profoundly affect Gen Z’s political attitudes, trust in institutions, and approach to spending.
Indeed, the pandemic seems poised to leave its mark not just on how consumers live and spend their money—but even on how they dress.
Quartz daily obsession
A record with an out-of-this-world following. Humanity’s letter to the universe explaining who we are and where we come from left Earth in 1977, accompanying the Voyager spacecraft on their mission to the outer planets and beyond. The Quartz Daily Obsession is ready to drop the needle.
Matter of debate
The internet is doing just fine. Web traffic in major American cities is way up, as we increasingly depend on it for work, school, socializing—just about everything, really. Though there have been some slowdowns, researchers say they’re mostly minor. And that’s thanks to years of massive investments by Big Telecom in capacity, speed, and performance.
Surprising discoveries
Two birds of prey made rare hybrids. The common black hawk and the red-shouldered hawk are not even from the same genus.
Microsoft bought corp-dot-com. It’s an attempt to keep the domain name from hackers.
Belgian bibliophiles are digitizing 100,000 historic texts. A library and a museum, both in Antwerp, have partnered with Google Books for the initiative.
Astronomers captured an image of a black hole spitting fire. It’s the first time scientists have seen a jet of plasma powered by a distant quasar.
Archaeologists discovered ancient artworks in a mummy’s coffin. Two well-preserved paintings of a goddess were found lining the base of the casket in a Scottish museum.
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