A COVID-19 update from The North Star

COVID-19 Update: April 24

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Good afternoon,

As COVID-19 and its ramifications impact more and more people, we have decided to transform the normal, weekly newsletter to something that can help students and parents in the midst of this crisis. This update should act as your one-stop shop to find info on the disease and how it’s affecting North. Expect to see them Wednesday and Friday.

COVID-19 Case Updates:

Global totals as of 4/24, 2 a.m. CEST

Cases: 2,631,839

Deaths: 182,100

Pictured: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte

-Italy is no longer the country with the highest death toll — the U.S. now leading the world in both confirmed cases and deaths. Lower rates of death and infection have allowed discussion of plans to ease restrictions on May 4, but the Italian government still emphasizes caution. Yesterday, the country reported 189,973 cases and 25,549 deaths. Its lockdown is still in effect until May 3.

–Spain, the second country to surpass China’s death toll, has 22,524 deaths. The country’s 219,764 cases make it the country with the second most cases. The government allowed some factory and construction workers to return to work and the government plans to ease its strict restrictions — notably allowing children outside.

-Medical equipment is in short supply for Africa, which saw an over 40% jump in cases in the past week. The continent has been a focus in international aid, as many countries have severe shortages of personal protective equipment and ventilators amid global competition to secure gear. Separately, the World Health Organization warned that the fight against malaria could be set back 20 years by the disruption of treatment due to COVID-19. 

-The global oil market is recovering from its worst price drops in history earlier in the week, with the U.S. benchmark falling into the negatives (meaning that someone would have had to pay to transport barrels of oil) on Monday. The industry continues to suffer as the world economy’s shutdown has all but froze demand for fuel. Despite an agreement to cut almost a tenth of global production by May, there is too much oil with no one to buy it.

Last week:

-Last Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would halt all government funding towards WHO as his administration investigates the U.N. health agency’s response to the coronavirus. The administration previously accused WHO of being “China centric” and criticized its early recommendations on travel restrictions, which Trump touted as an effective measure that saved lives despite pushback against his decision. The U.S. is the undisputed leader in individual countries’ contributions to the organization’s over $4 billion budget, giving around $553 million. WHO helps coordinate the international response to health emergencies and also provides support to countries with weak health care infrastructure. 

-The International Monetary Fund, a global economic group composed of 189 countries, predicted that the global economy will suffer some of its worst decline since the Great Depression, forecasting a 3% drop overall. The IMF also predicted subsequent jumps in the economy after 2020 and emphasized the unknowns of the predictions due to varying government responses to the disease and its economic consequences.

U.S. totals as of 4.24, 11:21 a.m. EST:

Cases: 868,954

Deaths: 44,572

 

-The U.S. leads the world in confirmed cases and deaths.

-President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday suspending the entry of immigrants applying for green cards for 60 days, a move that he cast as a “suspension of immigration” to protect American jobs. The proclamation has exceptions, like for any medical professional entering to combat COVID-19  and anyone who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen. It does not include temporary workers in restrictions. 

-Today, Trump signed a $484 billion relief package after the House passed the bill despite disagreements around the small business loan funds part of the legislation. Beside the funds for loans, which depleted last week, the bill also puts money towards hospitals and increased testing. 

-Tuesday, a National Institutes of Health panel released guidelines recommending against the use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin to treat COVID-19, citing potential toxicity. Today, the Food and Drug Administration warned against hydroxycholoroquine’s use outside of hospitals or clinical trials, mentioning potential heart problems and that the drug was not proven to work for the coronavirus. Trump had praised the combination as “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.” The White House also previously supported the use of hydroxychloroquine.

-At yesterday’s coronavirus task force press briefing, the president expressed interest about if light and disinfectants could be used to kill the coronavirus on and inside the human body after hearing from officials about several weather conditions that could kill it on surfaces. Disinfectant producers clarified that disinfectants shouldn’t be used internally.   

Pictured: William Bryan, Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science and Technology, at yesterday’s briefing.

-42 states have issued stay at home orders. 41 states have closed schools — or recommended closure — statewide for the rest of the year.

–New York is the state hit the hardest by the disease, with 271,590 confirmed cases. School and non essential business closures have been extended to May 15 and residents are required to cover their faces in public. 

Last week:

-Some protests formed across the country against state government stay at home orders, with many protests voicing frustration with the orders’ impact on business and questioning their constitutionality. Trump tweeted support for protests in Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia, seemingly criticizing their state governments and contrasting his approach of releasing federal guidelines that governors would use to influence their decisions to lift state orders. Participants for the gatherings range from conservative groups to the recently unemployed — Chinese agents reportedly amplified some of the protests.

State totals as of 4/23:

Cases: 36,934

Deaths: 1,688

DuPage cases: 2,075

DuPage deaths: 118

Naperville cases: 146

Pictured: A model of potential deaths without mitigation efforts, released by the state

-Yesterday, citing models that showed a peak in COVID-19 deaths between late April and early May, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced plans to extend the state’s stay-at-home order, with modifications, through May 30. Starting May 1, masks or face coverings will be required — for those over two years of age and medically able — when in public and six-feet of distance can’t be maintained. Greenhouses and other plant centers will open, retail nonessential businesses can start pick-up and delivery, some state parks will open, and some surgeries will be allowed. 

-Tuesday, the Illinois High School Association announced that it would cancel its spring state series for all sports. The IHSA said that the decision was made in conjunction with Pritzker’s announcement last Friday that the remainder of the academic year would be completed via remote learning. IHSA also suspended summer contact days, although left open the possibility of resuming them and even some spring competition following state or federal guidance. 

–Naperville Park District playgrounds, athletic facilities and restrooms are still closed through April 30, although parks and trails remain open as long as visitors practice social distancing. Several parking lots were also closed as a response to groups continuing to gather at parks. 

-In Tuesday’s virtual meeting, Naperville City Council unanimously voted to extend the city’s state of emergency and disaster through May 19. The original declaration was made March 17. Read the full story explaining the declaration here.

Quarantine tips and information:

You probably have some extra time on your hands. For a detailed list of activities to keep your boredom at bay, click here.

For more tips on stopping the spread of COVID-19, check out our recent infographics on the debunking of five COVID-19 myths and on general tips to stay healthy.

We want to hear from you:

We want to hear how the coronavirus is affecting you. The North Star will be publishing an open forum of student experiences regarding event cancellations and lifestyle changes. In our most recent piece in the series, senior Mikayla Giehler reflects on her time cut short in the winter guard season. Click here to read her story.

Tell us your story at the “Contact Us” page on our website, or click here. 

For exclusive social media content and new COVID-19  developments, follow our Instagram and Twitter @nnhsnorthstar. 

Useful Links:

The governor holds daily press briefings on COVID-19 at 2:30 p.m. : Link

The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund raises money for nonprofits serving those impacted by the pandemic : Link

Naperville restaurants available for drive-thru and take-out orders : Link

As always, thanks for reading. Stay safe this week Huskies.