When COVID-19 began spreading in the United States, it was sometimes called “the great equalizer”—reflecting the belief that the virus threatened all of us similarly, regardless of our demographics. But as more data emerge, it’s clear that hasn’t been the case. As my colleague Sanya Mansoor wrote in yesterday’s newsletter, it is obvious, even from the insufficient data we have, that black Americans are getting sick and dying at disproportionately high rates—likely not because of a biological susceptibility to the virus, but because of socioeconomic consequences tied to systemic racism.
Age also plays a factor. Elderly people are more likely to suffer a severe case of COVID-19, a risk that drops among younger people so much that many experts once thought children were all but immune from the worst effects.
That changed about six weeks ago, when hospitals began reporting unusual numbers of children suffering from a mysterious illness and also testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies. The condition appeared similar to Kawasaki disease, a syndrome characterized by inflammation throughout the body. But unlike Kawasaki, which is usually fairly harmless when treated, many of the affected kids had heart damage so severe it was sending them into shock. Some did not survive.
Some experts now believe those patients didn’t have Kawasaki at all. Instead, they think they suffered from a similar but distinct immune response triggered by the same virus that causes COVID-19. These reports are very rare—there are only about 200 in all of New York State, the U.S.' COVID-19 epicenter—but they were sobering for doctors and parents who believed kids would be mostly spared from the pandemic. Now, emerging research suggests that some children are more susceptible to this illness than others.
A small, preliminary study published today in the medical journal BMJ suggests children of African and/or Caribbean ancestry are at higher-than-average risk of developing this unusual inflammatory response. Out of 21 kids treated for the Kawasaki-like illness at a French hospital from April 27 to May 11, a dozen had at least one parent of African or Caribbean ancestry. That suggests “an effect of either social and living conditions or genetic susceptibility,” the researchers report.
Scientists still have plenty to learn about both COVID-19 and the pediatric inflammatory condition described here. But one thing is clear: It’s not enough to look at the whole population in the same way. We need more and better-quality data about who is affected and why, for every facet of this pandemic.
More than 6.3 million people around the world had been sickened by COVID-19 as of 11 PM eastern time last night, and more than 380,000 people had died.
Here is every country with over 90,000 confirmed cases:
People around the world are joining American demonstrators in protesting racism and police brutality after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer last week. In many cases, protesters flouted coronavirus restrictions to show their support. Thousands of Parisians flooded the streets yesterday to protest the deaths of Floyd and Adama Traore, a black man who died in police custody in France in 2016. Similar protests broke out in the U.K., Germany, New Zealand and countries across the globe.
In hard-hit Italy, protesters filled a Roman piazza for a very different type of demonstration: Hundreds of coronavirus deniers gathered to oppose measures like wearing masks and social-distancing, both of which have been shown in studies to slow the spread of the virus.
European countries are split on how to handle tourism as they continue to reopen. Italy and Greece are welcoming travelers back, while the U.K. is asking travelers who arrive from other countries to self-isolate for 14 days to avoid a second wave of cases.
Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, is barring citizens from making the holy Hajj pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, citing health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mecca, considered Islam’s holiest city, remains under a 24-hour coronavirus curfew.
Finally, officials in Wuhan, China said they tested nearly 10 million residents for coronavirus over 19 days, and found only 300 positive results—all of which involved asymptomatic people. Chinese officials say the results are a sign that Wuhan can start to “feel at ease” months after the pandemic began there.
The Situation in the U.S.
The total number of COVID-19 diagnoses in the U.S. surpassed 1.8 million as of 11 PM eastern time yesterday, and the death toll climbed to more than 106,000.
On June 2, there were 20,801 new cases and 1,031 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
A Minnesota National Guard member deployed to intervene in protests has tested positive for coronavirus, and nine others are showing symptoms, CNBC reports. The Minnesota National Guard is now working to test all 7,000 people it deployed in response to the protests. Law enforcement officials in cities across the country have been criticized for not wearing masks to help prevent viral spread.
As anti-racism demonstrations continue across the U.S., a group of infectious-disease specialists are circulating a petition that calls on the police to stop using tear gas to disperse crowds. The agent causes people to cough, which could hasten the spread of coronavirus among protestors, the doctors say.
Months into New York City's COVID-19 crisis, and less than a week before it plans to begin reopening, the city finally has the capacity to offer free testing to all residents, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that the state’s hospitalizations have hit an all-time low since the outbreak began, though many fear continued protests will contribute to a second wave of infections.
As tensions between China and the U.S. sparked by coronavirus continue to escalate, the Trump Administration announced today that Chinese airlines will no longer be able to fly to and from the U.S. starting June 16.
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of June 2, 11 PM eastern time. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
What Happened At the CDC?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), long considered the world’s preeminent public-health institution, hasn’t risen to the challenge demanded by COVID-19. Antiquated data-collection systems, imperfect leadership and sloppy lab practices contributed to its fumbled response, according to a New York Times investigation. Read more here.
Doubts Circulate About Major COVID-19 Studies
A company that helped produce two recent, high-profile coronavirus studies is under scrutiny after researchers pointed out a number of red flags in its data. One of the studies examined the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine, while the other looked at the use of blood-pressure drugs as a COVID-19 treatment. Read more here.
WHO Hydroxychloroquine Study Resumes Despite Concerns
Speaking of hydroxychloroquine: the World Health Organization (WHO) is once again investigating the anti-malarial drug as a potential COVID-19 treatment after initially pausing study enrollment due to safety concerns, STAT reports. Read more here.
What We Miss When Our Smiles Are Hidden
In this essay, TIME editor-at-large Belinda Luscombe grapples with the changing ways we communicate with one another when our smiles are hidden behind masks. Read more here.
A Timely Look At the Heroism of Doctors
It may have been filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but the new Netflix documentary Lenox Hill, which focuses on the New York City hospital of the same name, is a well-timed look at America’s health care professionals. 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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