KQED's Forum

Back in the 14th century, the bubonic plague affected every part of society, from the economy to religion, to the arts.  And because communities had to reorganize in order  to fight the disease, the pandemic also played a role in centralizing authority, and ultimately helped shape the modern state. Medical historian Frank Snowden writes about the cultural shifts that have been caused by infectious disease in his recent book “Epidemics and Society”. We'll talk with Snowden about where the novel coronavirus stands in history, and what societal changes the pandemic could bring.

Governor Gavin Newsom released his "Road Map for Recovery" in a press conference Tuesday outlining the factors that would allow the state to reopen. The criteria include increased testing for Covid19, more tracking and monitoring of patients, and expanded hospital capacity to absorb a potential surge in cases. The governor's plan comes the day after President Donald Trump said that he has the power to make the decision of when shelter in place orders are lifted. We talk about what it will take to reopen the state and at what cost.

President Trump yesterday ordered that payments to the World Health Organization be stopped until an investigation is conducted over whether it mismanaged and covered up the spread of coronavirus. “So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” Trump said. We’ll talk about the move, which is drawing criticism from leaders worldwide, and  Trump’s handling of the pandemic.

Beginning on Friday, Sonoma County residents will have to wear facial coverings  when they’re out in public. The order comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month revised its guidance on masks, recommending that people wear them when in public spaces conducting essential tasks or jobs. We hear why the guidance changed, and take your questions about mask hygiene, homemade masks, and more.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors votes Tuesday on a plan to lease more than 7,000 vacant hotel rooms to house the homeless during the pandemic. Under the proposal, the city would also procure hundreds of additional rooms to house front line responders at risk of infection. The vote comes after a coronavirus outbreak last week prompted the city to close its largest shelter -- MSC South -- where more than 90 residents and staff tested positive for Covid-19. We'll discuss the plan and what it will take to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection among the city's homeless population.

The financial outlook for millions of Californians is uncertain as more workers lose their jobs -- or are at risk of losing their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic. A variety of resources, strategies and tools can help with navigating a layoff and preparing for a recession. We’ll talk with personal finance experts about how to keep up with debt, prioritize expenses, and deal with the emotional toil of an economic downturn.

As shelter in place mandates continue, many Americans are doing more home cooking, and sometimes with limited ingredients.  Bay Area star chefs Samin Nosrat and Tanya Holland join us to take listener questions and to share what meals and pantry ingredients are working for them during the quarantine.  And whether you’ve been learning how to cook or trying out adventurous new recipes, we want to hear from you.  What’s cooking at your house during the quarantine?

U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan told House Oversight Committee members Thursday that the postal service will "run out of cash" by September, unless the government provides $75 billion in aid to make up for devastating pandemic-related operating losses. The $2 trillion stimulus package signed by President Trump last month authorized a $10 billion loan -- but no direct grants -- to the USPS. We'll talk about what it will take to rescue the postal service, and why President Trump opposes emergency aid.

Record unemployment claims, stock market declines and global financial insecurity appear to be leading the economy into a recession. Are we experiencing a necessary pause in the economy, until it comes "roaring back," as President Trump says? If so, when will we emerge? And, will the stimulus packages and other efforts by the federal and state governments be enough to help? We talk with experts about the economic outlook for California and the rest of the nation.

Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield said last week said that “very aggressive”  contact tracing of individuals infected with coronavirus will be a critical step to reopening the economy. To that end, San Francisco plans to hire a team to track down people who test positive for COVID-19, and reach out to their contacts. And on Friday, Apple and Google announced they are teaming up to work on an smartphone app that could alert users if they have been exposed to the virus. In this hour of Forum, we’ll talk about the importance of contact tracing, how it works, and find out why some privacy experts are concerned.