Christians the world over are celebrating a solitary Easter amid a global virus pandemic. Pope Francis has called for solidarity. At the Vatican, Francis celebrated Mass in a largely empty St. Peter’s Basilica.
Italy had its lowest number of new deaths in three weeks.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from a London hospital where he was treated in intensive care for the coronavirus, as the U.K. becomes the fourth European country to surpass 10,000 virus-related deaths.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., says the economy in parts of the country could be allowed to reopen as early as next month.
Here are some of AP’s top stories Sunday on the world’s coronavirus pandemic. Follow APNews.com/VirusOutbreak for updates throughout the day and APNews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak for stories explaining some of its complexities.
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THE FIGHT FOR NEW YORK: Listen to AP’s coronavirus podcast, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” for an interview with three AP reporters who worked on “24 Hours: The Fight for New York,” a multiformat package following 10 New Yorkers as they negotiate life in a city transformed by the virus.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY:
— President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus may be a case of too little, too late.
— OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations finalized an unprecedented production cut of nearly 10 million barrels, or a tenth of global supply, in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war.
— Retailers, like Macy’s and Gap, that sell nonessential merchandise, are struggling to survive. According to one estimate, 15,000 U.S. stores will close for good.
— States with older populations carry special worries during the deadly pandemic: Loneliness takes an emotional and physical toll on fragile residents.
— Despite some hopeful signs that the infection rate is plateauing, New York has had its deadliest week since the coronavirus outbreak began.
— Israel has approved a tight quarantine in parts of Jerusalem to try to stop spread of the coronavirus.
— Deaths from COVID-19 in U.S. nursing homes and long-term care facilities have surpassed 3,600.
— The $2.2 trillion relief package that Congress approved excludes millions of immigrants who do not have legal status in the U.S. but work and pay taxes.
— A federal judge rules that Alabama cannot ban abortions as part of the state’s response to coronavirus.
— People in Guam are nervous as hundreds of sailors from a coronavirus-stricken Navy aircraft carrier isolate in hotels.
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Trump over the past week has been attacking the credibility of inspectors general, suggesting they were loyalists of Democratic President Barack Obama out to get him. But his recent targets have a records that include service under Republican President George W. Bush.
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Have tips for the AP Fact Check team? Contact FactCheck@ap.org
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death. The vast majority of people recover.
Here are the symptoms of the virus compared with the common flu.
One of the best ways to prevent spread of the virus is washing your hands with soap and water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends first washing with warm or cold water and then lathering soap for 20 seconds to get it on the backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails before rinsing off.
You should wash your phone, too. Here’s how.
TRACKING THE VIRUS: Drill down and zoom in at the county level to see the situation where you are or where loved ones live.
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ONE NUMBER:
70+: The number of companies creating antibody tests for the coronavirus. Health officials worry about the lack of FDA oversight.
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IN OTHER NEWS:
— RUSSIANS RECREATE THE MASTERS: Russians beat the isolation blues by recreating famous artworks and posting their creations on social media.
— RESTAURANTS AS GROCERS: U.S. restaurants switch to selling groceries to fill needs and stay afloat.
— VIRTUAL WINE TASTING: Wineries offer wine tasting to online viewers.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
