Reopening America

News that we did not want to hear… several states have seen an increase of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations following Memorial Day. Data from the states that are reporting some of their highest seven-day averages of new cases also suggests that the increases are not just due to more testing. What is more concerning is that some states are nearing hospital bed capacity. Jacqueline Dupree, who keeps track of coronavirus numbers for the Washington Post, joins us for more.

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This summer will be very important in the fight against COVID-19. Three coronavirus vaccine candidates will be entering phase 3 of clinical trials in the race for an effective treatment. Each of these trials will involve tens of thousands of people and researchers hope to get some results within six to eight months. Peter Loftus, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the race to a vaccine.

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One thing that has eluded the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic is accurate counting of cases and deaths. Every state counts the numbers differently, despite guidelines from the CDC to count both lab confirmed cases and “probable” cases of COVID-19. The goal is to get accurate national statistics that inform public health decision making. Beth Reinhard, investigative reporter at the Washington Post joins us for how cases are counted.

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The pandemic has led to the fastest rise in food prices in more than 40 years and consumers are on the hunt for more value. Shutdowns at meat processing plants, increased costs for labor and transportation, and a pullback on promotions at grocery stores all contributed to the price raises. Annie Gasparro, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why your grocery bill is so high.

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The country continues to make its way back from the shutdowns of the coronavirus pandemic. NYC, the hardest hit area in the U.S., began reopening Monday with construction, agriculture, and manufacturing sites opening including retail stores offering curbside and in-store pickup. Stephanie Yang, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the first day of reopening in NYC.

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As we continue to reopen the country after the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, one industry that has yet to formalize a plan to get back is the entertainment industry. What we do know, is that whatever the plan is that eventually comes out, it will be expensive to restart production. There will be shorter shooting days and longer shooting schedules, casts and crews will be put in quarantine, breaks for temperature checks and COVID testing, and new personnel dedicated to health and safety. Adam B. Vary, senior entertainment writer at Variety, joins us for the pricey plan to restart production.

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Right now there are over 100 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of testing and when one finally breaks through, it may not be as simple as one shot and you’re done. There is a high likelihood that an eventual vaccine could be a two-dose protocol given a month or two apart, with the first injection priming the immune system and the second strengthening the immune response. Elizabeth Weise, reporter at USA Today, joins us for why you might need two coronavirus shots.

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The coronavirus pandemic has reduced public education in the U.S. to a shell of its former self. A Reuters survey of several school districts found that students aren’t having enough facetime with teachers, some districts don’t even take attendance for online classes, and access to classes is also difficult at times. Michael Pell, reporter at Reuters, joins us for how schools have been affected.

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There have been over 40,000 deaths tied to U.S. nursing homes because of COVID-19 according to a USA Today analysis. It is about 40% of nation’s coronavirus death toll. Limited testing, a lack of personal protective equipment, and poor infection control at these facilities has hit this vulnerable population hard. Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative reporter at USA Today, joins us for how there is growing concern of more infection as states reopen.

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While COVID-19 was initially thought to be a respiratory disease, many of the symptoms have another thing in common, poor blood circulation and blood vessel damage. This is why 40% of deaths from coronavirus are related to cardiovascular complications. Dana Smith, senior writer at Elemental, joins us for how the disease is starting to look like a vascular infection instead of a purely respiratory one.

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