It was one thing to stay home in March, when the skies were gray and the air was chilly. It’s quite another to spend Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of beach and barbecue season, cooped up indoors.
Believe me, I get it. So I asked a group of public-health experts the question we’re probably all thinking: Is there any safe way to socialize face-to-face right now?
The answer, like most related to the coronavirus pandemic, was not black and white. Guidelines vary depending on your living situation, how extensively COVID-19 is spreading in your community and the specific risk factors that apply to you and your loved ones. But the experts’ responses boiled down to this: With coronavirus still a very real threat, digital socializing is the safest method, and almost any in-person interaction comes with the chance of catching or spreading COVID-19. (Remember: It’s possible for someone to carry and pass on the coronavirus without showing any symptoms.) If you decide to take that risk, it’s your responsibility to minimize the danger as much as possible—both for your sake, and in the interest of public health.
There are a few ways to socialize more safely. The best (albeit preliminary) research available suggests you’re less likely to catch or spread COVID-19 if you see someone outdoors, stay at least six feet apart and wear a mask the whole time. One-on-one hangouts are best, since the chances of transmission go up with each person invited to your gathering. And though surface contamination doesn’t seem to be the main way coronavirus spreads, it’s best not to take any chances—so bring your own everything, avoid touching the same objects as your companions and clean your hands regularly.
The reality is, there’s not really a safe way to throw the classic long-weekend cookouts and parties of your quarantine dreams right now. That may be difficult to accept, but it’s important to follow public health guidelines. Social distancing is meant to protect not only your health, but the health of those around you and in the larger community. If everybody does their part to minimize viral spread, we’ll get that much closer to returning to normal life safely.
More than 5.1 million people around the world had been sickened by COVID-19 as of 8 PM eastern time last night, and more than 332,000 people had died.
Here is every country with over 50,000 confirmed cases:
Researchers at Oxford University in the U.K. are expanding an experimental COVID-19 vaccine trial to immunize at least 10,000 people, they announced today. “It’s possible as early as the autumn or toward the end of the year, you could have results that allowed use of the vaccine on a wider scale,” the head of the research group said.
Meanwhile, some African countries are taking unorthodox approaches. Tanzanian President John Magufuli said his country defeated COVID-19 with prayer, though many believe he may be covering up the extent of the country’s outbreak. And after Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina touted an herbal remedy that he claimed could cure coronavirus, demand for the supplement spiked in several countries — but health experts have concerns about its efficacy.
Back in Europe, figures out of Sweden suggest that the country’s famously lockdown-free approach to coronavirus containment has not produced widespread immunity. Only 7% of Stockholm’s population tested positive for viral antibodies by late April, CNN reports. Sweden has one of Europe’s highest per-capita coronavirus death rates, with nearly 33,000 fatalities recorded as of today, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 tracker.
U.S. President Donald Trump also said yesterday that he expects the G-7 summit—an annual meeting of top world leaders—to take place in person next month, likely at the White House. Other world leaders invited to the event were noncommittal about whether they would attend.
The Situation in the U.S.
The total number of COVID-19 diagnoses in the U.S. rose to more than 1,577,000 as of 8 PM eastern time yesterday, and the death toll neared 95,000.
Even as states press forward with reopening, many Americans are hesitant to go out, according to a new Associated Press poll. Among respondents who said they used to go to public events weekly, only about 40% said they would do so in the next few weeks, even if they were legally allowed. About half of respondents expressed the same hesitation about going to restaurants or gyms.
That sort of uncertainty is on display across the country. Officials are split on whether spectators should watch the launch of SpaceX’s first crewed launch in Florida next week. NASA and SpaceX have urged people to stay home and maintain social distancing, while local law enforcement officials said people should “by all means” watch if they feel comfortable doing so.
In Michigan, the state Court of Claims ruled yesterday that Governor Gretchen Whitmer acted within her authority when extending statewide emergency and stay-at-home orders, after her decision was challenged by Republicans in the state legislature.
And in Mississippi, tensions took a frightening turn this week when a church whose leaders had been criticized for flouting coronavirus restrictions was burned to the ground in what authorities are investigating as arson. Graffiti at the site read, “Bet you stay home now you hypokrits.”
Meanwhile, San Francisco, a city that has long struggled to serve its large homeless population, will open a “safe sleeping village” to help shelter its most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The city will provide meals, water and trash pickup.
Finally, if any industry is booming during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s Las Vegas’ wedding business. With many traditional weddings canceled due to social-distancing guidelines, more couples are opting for Vegas elopements.
All numbers are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of May 21, 8 PM eastern time. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Large Study Finds Potential Harm in Using Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug President Trump says he’s taking to protect himself from COVID-19, provides no benefit to coronavirus patients and may actually lead to worse outcomes, according to a new study. Read more here.
The U.S. Should Not Take the ‘Wrong Lessons’ From Reopening
Just because U.S. states are beginning to reopen does not mean coronavirus is behind us, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb and former Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said during a TIME 100 Talk. Read more here.
How Remdesivir Works to Slow COVID-19 In the Body
You’ve probably heard of remdesivir, a promising COVID-19 treatment. But how does it actually work? See more here.
A New Way of Thinking About Humanity
Historian Rutger Bregman argues that coronavirus is proving what he’s long believed: humans are not inherently selfish. Read more here.
Why Politicians Should Lead Without Ego During the Pandemic
Iceland Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir says following the science, rather than bowing to politicians’ egos, has helped her country maintain one of Europe’s lowest coronavirus case counts. Read more here.
The CDC’s Big Mistake
Reporting from The Atlantic and other news outlets revealed that the CDC is mixing data about testing for active COVID-19 infection with data about testing for post-infection antibodies. The implications of that mistake could be huge, since many states are relying on the CDC’s data to make decisions about when and how to reopen. Read more here.
45 New Books You Need to Read This Summer
Here’s your list of essential summer books—even if you won’t be able to crack them open at the beach quite yet. Read more here.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com.
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Today’s newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Alex Fitzpatrick.
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