Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
The US House approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief package. This fourth round of emergency aid will go to small businesses and hospitals, capping off two weeks of intense talks between lawmakers and the White House.
Germany began putting Syrian regime officers on trial. Colonel Anwar Raslan is standing trial for crimes against humanity, for his alleged role in overseeing the torture of thousands of prisoners.
The EU agreed on a rescue plan. European leaders remain divided about key details, including if the cash will be delivered through loans or grants. Some countries blocked firms registered in tax havens from receiving aid.
The US barred big companies from getting small business loans. The Treasury’s decision follows a public uproar. Companies also deemed critical to national security must give the government an equity stake, should they want to receive funds.
Nestlé reported its strongest quarterly sales growth in about five years. The Swiss multinational posted a jump in sales of frozen food, instant coffee, and pet food as people around the world stockpiled goods amid the pandemic. Brands like Hot Pockets, Nescafé, and Purina got a boost.
Treating Covid-19
Doctors criticized Donald Trump for giving bad health advice. They warned that the US president’s suggestion to inject disinfectant as a way to treat coronavirus could have deadly consequences. Meanwhile, Facebook has scrapped “pseudoscience” as an ad-targeting option for companies.
Eighty countries have restricted the export of face masks and other protective gear. Only 13 of them notified the WTO about the export bans. The global trade body warned that a lack of transparency could harm efforts to combat the spread of the virus.
A coronavirus drug test seems to have flopped. A draft of a study accidentally published online by the WHO detailed that Gilead’s antiviral remdesivir treatment failed to improve the conditions of coronavirus patients. The US pharmaceutical giant disputed the report, which sent its stock tumbling 4%.
Game on?
🏈 The NFL draft last night was pretty “normal” or really “special,” depending on who you ask.
⚾️ Fans are staying up past their bedtimes for Taiwanese baseball.
⚽️ Germany’s soccer leagues said they’re ready to resume matches next month.
🏁 And these street racers aren’t waiting for anyone to start their engines.
Charting the price of Brent
West Texas Intermediate oil from US wells has received all the attention this week after its price went negative for the first time ever. But its international counterpart, Brent crude oil, has also seen a historic decline. In April alone, the price dropped around 35%. Unfortunately for some motorists, that has not translated to cheaper prices at the pump.
For Quartz members
Check out Quartz membership with a ✦ seven-day free trial.
- Just as Greece began to move out of a decade-long economic crisis, the coronavirus outbreak forced a nationwide shutdown. That has made delivery workers essential, but vulnerable.
- The world’s reliance on Chinese pharmaceuticals has long been a concern, albeit one that had largely been seen as an acceptable trade-off. Covid-19 could change that calculus.
We’re obsessed with typhoid mary
The original super-spreader. New York cook Mary Mallon was the source of multiple typhoid outbreaks and was detained due to misconceptions about asymptomatic spread. Her role in the early 20th-century epidemic illustrated the precarious balance between individual liberty and public welfare. The Quartz Daily Obsession thinks that sounds awfully familiar.
You asked about delivery safety
“How are we any safer exposing ourselves to delivery people who have exposed themselves to all the dangers of a grocery store?” – Ross C.
Because it’s delivery week at Quartz, this is a question that’s been on our hivemind. You’re absolutely correct, Ross, that delivery workers are at a higher risk of infection than those who are able to stay home. That’s one of the reasons we asked 10 of the most popular food-delivery services if their workers can take paid sick leave.
As to whether your delivery person can get you sick, the CDC says that coronavirus generally spreads through respiratory droplets, which is why masks are now recommended. When it comes to the goods they deliver, the CDC says that it may be possible that a person can get Covid-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, like a package, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
So while there’s no such thing as perfect safety, handwashing after handling delivered goods is probably a safe bet. And of course, tip your people well—after all, they’re putting themselves in harm’s way so you don’t have to.
✉️ Do you have a burning question about how coronavirus is changing the world?
Surprising discoveries
India’s released prisoners have to check in on WhatsApp and Google Maps. Those granted parole to ease overcrowding must share their live location with authorities.
Parks and Recreation is back to raise money for food banks during the pandemic. A special episode of the US series airs next week.
A city in Japan is sacrificing thousands of flowers. Authorities in Saitama are cutting them to deter crowds from gathering.
The collapse of coal could lead to a landscape of abandoned mines in the US. The pandemic is causing energy demand to plummet.
Quarantunes is Hollywood’s most exclusive party. It’s on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s on Zoom, and it’s password-protected.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cheap oil barrels, and Parks and Rec references 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 brought to you by Adam Rasmi and Luiz Romero.