August Archive: COVID-19 Daily Update

UPDATE FOR MONDAY AUGUST 31 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 128,229 (+199)
Deaths: 9,049 (+13)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 6,175,008 (+77,648)
Confirmed Deaths –187,227 (+1255)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 25,414,924
Deaths: 851,092
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Amherst Town-Gown Forum To Discuss Coronavirus Containment
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
More Than 20 Holy Cross Students Test Positive For Coronavirus After Off-Campus Party
(Boston.com)
Coronavirus Cases In US Top 6 Million
(New York Times)
Vaccine Rush Could Make Pandemic Worse Experts Say
(The Guardian)
Alarm As FDA Rushes To Release Coronavirus Vaccine Without Stringent Safety Testing
(The Guardian)
US Cornavirus Cases Increasing Faster In Children Than Among Adults
(New York Times)
Scientists Are Reporting Cases Of COVID-19 Reinfection But Implications Are Complicated
(Stat News)

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 30 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 128,030 (+446
Deaths: 9,036 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 6,139,828 (+41,468)
Confirmed Deaths –186,874 (+902)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 25,200,236
Deaths: 847,341
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
California Surpasses 700,000 Cases, Even As Its Outbreak Slows
(New York Times)
Universities Work To Control Coronavirus Spread
(CNN)
Over 1000 Students At University Of Alabama Test Positive For Coronavirus
(CNN)
Boston Superspreading Event Seeded Thousands Of COVID-19 Cases
(Science)

UPDATE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 29 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 127,584 (+460)
Deaths: 9,024 (+16)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 6,097,360 (+48,956)
Confirmed Deaths –185,972 (+1138)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 24,942,434
Deaths: 842,011
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Trump Program For Uninsured COVID-19 Patients Falls Short
(New York Times)
US College Town’s Close Bars As COVID-19 Cases Surge
(The Guardian)
87 Cases Of COVID-19 Linked To Maine Wedding
(Boston.com)
Iowa Now Worst State In Nation For COVID-19
(Quadcities.com)
Airborne Transmission Of COVID-19
(British Medical Journal)
US Buys Almost All Of Abbot’s $5 Rapid Tests
(Bloomberg News)

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 28 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 127,124 (+368)
Deaths: 9,008 (+21)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 6,048,404 (+47,301)
Confirmed Deaths –184,834 (+1157)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 24,660,552
Deaths: 836,327
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
New Study Confirms Staggering Racial Disparities In COVID-19 Cases In Massachusetts
(Boston Globe)
Trump Admin Pressured CDC To Weaken Coronavirus Guidelines
(Democracy Now)
School Ventilation Must Be Addressed In Reopening Plans
(NEA Today)
COVID-19 Complicates Response To Hurricane Laura
(NPR)
How China Controlled The Coronavirus
(The New Yorker)

UPDATE FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 27 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 126,756 (+336)
Deaths: 8,987 (+26)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 6,001,103 (+44,943)
Confirmed Deaths –183,677 (+1256)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 24,365,919
Deaths: 830,377
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Amherst Has New Hotline To Report Gatherings and Mask Scofflaws
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
College Campuses See Explosion Of COVID-19 Cases
(NBC News)
Tracking Coronavirus At US Colleges And Universities
(New York Times)
“This Change In Policy Will Kill”. Experts Troubled By New CDC Testing Guidelines
(USA Today)
Fauci Says He Was In Surgery When Task Force Changed Testing Guidelines
(CNN)
Just Five States Meet These Basic Criteria To Stay Open and Safe
(Vox)
Virus Ravages Navajo Nation
(The Guardian)

UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 126,420 (+398)
Deaths: 8,961 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,956,160 (+40,172)
Confirmed Deaths –182,421 (+1304)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 24,091,252
Deaths: 824,177
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Amherst Parent Group Pushes For In-Person Learning Despite Coronavirus Concerns
(MassLive)
Employee At UMass Blue Wall Cafe Tests Positive For COVID-19, Shutting Down Eatery For Two Days
(MassLive)
Do It Yourself Coronavirus Tests Spark Kudos, Caution
(Boston Globe)
Tracking Coronavirus At US Colleges And Universities
(New York Times)
53 of 65 Who Attended Maine Wedding Test Positive For Coronavirus. One Dead.
(NBC News)
Florida Judge Blocks Order Requiring In-Person Learning During Pandemic
(Washington Post)
Nearly 9000 Florida Children Test Positive For Coronavirus In Last Two Weeks As Schools Slated To Reopen
(Newsweek)
We Know That COVID-19 is Transmitted Through Aerosols. Now It’s Time To Act
(Time)
Why The United States Is Having A Coronavirus Data Crisis
(Nature)

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 25 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 126,022 (+850)
Deaths: 8,949 (+28)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,915,988 (+41,693)
Confirmed Deaths –181,117 (+512)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 23,837,346
Deaths: 817,619
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
UMass Cafe Shuts Down For Two Days After Employees Test Positive For COViD-19
(MassLive)
FDA Grossly Misrepresented Blood Plasma Data Scientists Say
(New York Times)
Flu Season Testing Delays Could Make It Easier For Coronavirus To Spread Undetected
(New York Times)
Live COVID Updates From College Campuses. U. Of Alabama Records Over 500 Cases of Coronavirus
(Chronicle of Higher Education)
RNC’s Big COVID Lie Refuted In One Chart
(Vox)

UPDATE FOR MONDAY AUGUST 24 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 125,172 (+316) NO NEW DATA
Deaths: 8,921 (+20) NO NEW DATA
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,874,295 (+32,233)
Confirmed Deaths –180,605 (+414)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 23,615,355
Deaths: 813,045
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
FDA, Under Pressure From Trump, Approves Blood Plasma As COVID-19 Treatment
(Stat News)
Colleges Across The Country Halt In-Person Classes After Rise In Coronavirus Cases
(CNN)
The Corner That State Universities Have Back Themselves Into
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 23 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 125,172 (+316)
Deaths: 8,921 (+20)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,842,062 (+39,917)
Confirmed Deaths –180,191 (+901)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 23,408,298
Deaths: 809,097
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Amherst Eatery Closes After Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Paternalistic And Punative. Mass Teachers Union Balks At State Request For Instruction From Classroom During Remote Learning Phase
(MassLive)
Greek Life Is Stoking The Virus On Some College Campuses
(New York Times)
Central Michigan U Threatens To Suspend Partying Students As Coronavirus Numbers Spike
(MLive)
Chaos At Michigan State After School Closes On-Campus Housing
(NPR)
Global Report: India Passes 3 Million Cases. Korea Sees Biggest Surge Since March
(The Guardian)

UPDATE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 22 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 125,172 (+488)
Deaths: 8,901 (+13)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,802,145 (+55,611)
Confirmed Deaths –179,290 (+1807)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 23,185,049
Deaths: 804,273
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
To Stop The Virus, Colleges Try To Stop Partying But Often Fail
(New York Times)
Global Report: World Death Toll Hits 800,000. Dozens Of Schools In Berlin Report Outbreaks.
(The Guardian)
More Masks Could Save 70,000 American Lives In Next Three Months
(CNN)

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 21 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 124,684 (+313)
Deaths: 8,888 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,746,534 (+45,144)
Confirmed Deaths –177,438 (+1073)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 22,891,681
Deaths: 797,671
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
South Hadley Gets COVID-19 Red Designation. Town Administrator Blames Amherst Party For Outbreak
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
MA To Provide Mobile Rapid Response COVID-19 Testing For Schools That Need It
(Boston Globe)
In His Acceptance Speech Biden Lashes Out At Trump’s Pandemic Management
(Stat News)
Colleges Lash Out At Students Breaking Campus Virus Rules
(New York Times)
NC State Moves Classes On-Line In Response To Campus COVID-19 Outbreak
(CBS17.com)
Evidence Grows That Children Play A Larger Role in COVID-19 Transmission Than Previously Thought
(Washington Post)
The Virus Is Killing Young Floridians. Race Is A Big Factor
(New York Times)
Trump Administration New Guidance Could Allow Teachers To Remain In Classroom After COVID-19 Exposure
(Huffpost)
Syringe Shortages Could Hamper Vaccine Distribution
(The Guardian)
Long Haulers Are Re-Defining COVID-19
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 20 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 124,371 (+352)
Deaths: 8,876 (+28)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,701,390 (+44,616)
Confirmed Deaths –176,365 (+1260)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 22,611,934
Deaths: 791,686
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Flu Shot Now Required For All MA School Children By End Of Year
(MassLive)
Teachers Protest Reopening Plans
(WBUR)
Amherst School Officials Urge Educators To Get On Board With Reopening Plans
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
GA, TX and FL Lead The Nation In Coronavirus Cases Per Capita
(CNN)
Colleges Closing: University Outbreaks and Parental Angst
(New York Times)
Anger Confusion And Resignation As UNC Campus Rapidly Empties
(Chronicle of Higher Education)
The Neoliberal University Is Failing On Coronavirus
(Jacobin)
Coronavirus Is In The Air. Here’s How To Get It Out
(Vox)

UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 124,016 (+175)
Deaths: 8,848 (+6)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,656,774 (+43,591)
Confirmed Deaths –175,105 (+1333)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 22,336,271
Deaths: 784,892
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Coronavirus Is Already Spreading In Schools But No One is Tracking The Outbreaks
(NBC News)
As Students Return, Neighbors Worry About Off-Campus Parties But Campuses Will Not Deploy COVID Police
(Boston Globe)
Michigan State, Notre Dame, Suspend In-Person Learning Over COVID-19 Outbreaks
(NPR)
UNC Fiasco Reveals Truth About Reopening Colleges
(CNN)
College Officials Figuring Out How To Bring Students Back To Campus Resemble The Challenger Engineers Tasked With Building A Rocket To Fit Political Considerations
(Inside Higher Education)
America’s PPE Shortage Could Last For Years Without A Strategic Plan
(The Guardian)
Your Flu Shot This Year )Might Be The Most Important Ever
(Vox)

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 18 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 123,841 (+339)
Deaths: 8,842 (+4)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,613,183 (+45,418)
Confirmed Deaths –173,772 (+633)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 22,039,102
Deaths: 778,207
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
UMass Sets Up COVID-19 Testing Site
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
UNC Shifts To All-Remote Learning. Urges Students To Go Home After COVID-19 Outbreak
(New York Times)
Oklahoma State Quarantines Entire Sorority After 23 Members Test Positive For COVID-19.
(NBC News)
The Bad Science Of College Reopening
(Chronicle Of Higher Education)
Global Report: WHO Says Infection Spread By Unaware Younger People. India Tests Nearly A Million In A Single Day
(The Guardian)
LA Schools Say They Will Provide COVID Testing And Contact Tracing For All Of Its 600,000 Students
(The Guardian)

UPDATE FOR MONDAY AUGUST 17 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 123,502 (+303)
Deaths: 8,838 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,567,765 (+36,483)
Confirmed Deaths –173,139 (+519)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 21,852,101
Deaths: 773,586
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
More Than 6000 COVID-19 Cases Have Been Linked To US College Campuses
(New York Times)
Less Than A Week After Starting Classes, UNC Has Four COVID-19 Clusters
(NPR)
School Reopenings Tested As US Breaks August Record For New Coronavirus Cases
(CBS News)
Global Report: Australia Records Deadliest Day. New Zealand Postpones Elections In Face of New Outbreak
(The Guardian)
Can New Zealand Contain Its New COVID-19 Outbreak?
(Time)
Seven Months In, What We Know About COVID-19 And The Pressing Questions That Remain
(Stat News)
The Human Cost Of The Pandemic May Dwarf Its Death Toll
(New York Magazine)

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 16 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 123,199 (+471)
Deaths: 8,826(+16)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,531,282 (+53,273)
Confirmed Deaths –172,630 (+1062)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 21,640,992
Deaths: 769,481
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Multiple College Campuses Already Report COVID-19 Outbreaks
(CNN)
Arizona School District Cancels Reopening After Teacher Sickout
(The Guardian)
FDA Clears New Rapid Coronavirus Saliva Test From NBA/Yale Collaboration
(STAT News)

UPDATE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 15 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 122,728 (+297)
Deaths: 8,810 (+20)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,478,009 (+61,995)
Confirmed Deaths –171,568 (+1146)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 21,387,785
Deaths: 764,110
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
COVID-19 Death Toll Expected To Hit 200,000 by Labor Day
(The Guardian)
Drop In Testing Hampers US Coronavirus Response
(New York Times)
After 102 Days Of Being COVID-19 Free, New Zealand’s Virus Resurgence Highlights The Difficulties of Returning To Normal Life
(Time)
The Plan That Could Give Us Our Lives Back (It’s All About Rapid Results Testing).
(The Atlantic)
Coronavirus Can Last For Months
(The Atlantic)
CDC Says Recovered COVID-19 Patients Have Protection For Three Months
(NBC News)

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 14 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 122,423 (+711)
Deaths: 8,790 (+21)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,416,014 (+55,526)
Confirmed Deaths –170,422 (+1287)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 21,100,965
Deaths: 758,014
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
MA COVID-19 Tracking Map Adds Granby and Holyoke To “Extremely High Risk” Categories
(MassLive)
CA Becomes First State To Exceed 600,000 COVID-19 Cases
(New York Times)
New Zealand Imposes 12 Day Lockdown In Its Biggest City As It Contends With New Outbreak
(CNN)
Hosptials Scrambling After Trump’s Abrupt Changes To COVID Data Reporting
(CNN)
Surge In COVID-19 Cases Among Children Fuels Fears About Schools Reopening
(The Guardian)
Nine Of Ten Massachusetts Parents Worried About COVID-19 Risk As School Buildings Reopen
(Massachusetts Teachers Association)
How China Controlled The Coronavirus
(The New Yorker)

UPDATE FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 13 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 121,712 (+397) no new data
Deaths: 8,769 (+18)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,360,488 (+54,854)
Confirmed Deaths –169,135 (+1374)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 20,836,339
Deaths: 747,865
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
True US Coronavirus Death Toll May Already Exceed 200,000
(New York Times)
Decline in US Testing Skews COVID-19 Data
(CNBC)
Lost On The Front Line: 922 US Health Care Workers Died Fighting COVID-19
(The Guardian)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Why I Am Not Sending My Kids Back To School This Fall
(CNN)
August Wave Of Campus Reopening Reversals
(Inside Higher Education)
For All We Know, Neck Gaiter Masks Are Fine
(Slate)

UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 121,712 (+397)
Deaths: 8,751 (+10)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,306,851 (+53,637)
Confirmed Deaths –167,761 (+1560)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 20,553,328
Deaths: 746,652
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Amherst Eyes Tighter Rules On Gatherings, Face Coverings
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
New Restrictions On Outdoor Gatherings In Massachusetts
(MassLive)
Baker Says 33 MA Communities At Moderate To High Risk For Coronavirus
(Boston Globe)
Big Ten, PAC Ten, Are First Power Five Conferences To Cancel Football Season
(New York Times)
UMass Cancels Fall Football Season
(MassLive)
90% Increase in COVID-19 In US Children In Last Four Weeks
(CNN)
Texas Tops 500,000 COVID-19 Cases
(CNN)
Over 900 Quarantined In GA School District Where Masks Are Not Required
(New York Times)
Coronavirus Testing In US Is Declining Even As Deaths Mount
(Time)
Airborne Transmission: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air
(New York Times)
Ventilation Should Be Part Of The Conversation On School Reopening. Why Isn’t It?
(PBS)
America’s Uniquely Bad COVID-19 Epidemic Explained in 18 Maps and Charts
(Vox)

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 11 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 121,315 (+270)
Deaths: 8,741 (+6)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,251,997 (+52,721)
Confirmed Deaths –166,201 (+584)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 20,281,373
Deaths: 739,770
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Global Report: Coronavirus Cases Pass 20 Million
(The Guardian)
Russia Approves Possible Coronavirus Vaccine Before Completing Clinical Trials
(New York Times)
More Than 400,000 Students Leave Their Home States For College. Here’s How They Could Carry Coronavirus With Them
(Chronicle of Higher Education)
National List Of College Reopening Plans
(Chronicle Of Higher Education)
College Football’s Coronavirus Crisis Explained
(Vox)

UPDATE FOR MONDAY AUGUST 10 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 121,040 (+329)
Deaths: 8,735 (+14)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,199,524 (+49,464)
Confirmed Deaths –165,617 (+543)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 20,046,642
Deaths: 734,525
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
US Tops 5 Million Cases With Five States Making Up 40% Of The Tally
(CNN)
US COVID-19 Cases State by State
(Statista)
American Could Control Coronavirus By October. Let’s Get To It.
(New York Times)
Widespread Infections Among Children Report Finds
(New York Times)
Coronavirus Outbreaks At Summer Schools Are A Warning To Not Reopen
(The Progressive)
The Woeful Inadequacy Of School Reopening Plans
(The New Yorker)
North Paulding High School, Infamous For Viral Photo, To Go Online For Two Days After Students Diagnosed With COVID-19
(Atlanta Journal And Constitution)
Winter Is Coming. Why America’s Window To Beat Back Coronavirus Is Rapidly Closing
(STAT News)
The Good But Not Greats News on T-Cells And Herd Immunity
(New York Magazine)

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 9 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 120,711 (+420)
Deaths: 8,721 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,150,060 (+52,873)
Confirmed Deaths –165,074 (+935)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 19,831,918
Deaths: 730,176
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
97,000 Children Test Positive For Coronavirus In Two Weeks As Schools Gear Up For Instruction
(CBS News)
Testers: Some Masks Commonly Used For Coronavirus Are Ineffective
(CNN)
How New Zealand Got Rid Of The Virus
(The Conversation)
Do We Know How Many People In The US Are Hospitalized For Coronavirus Since Trump Ordered Hospitals To Stop Reporting Data
(ProPublica)
How Trump Politicized The Reopening Of Schools Regardless Of Safety
(New York Review Of Books)
How COVID-19 Changed Everything About The 2020 Election
(Time)

UPDATE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 8 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 120,291 (+397)
Deaths: 8,709(+18)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,097,187 (+64,382)
Confirmed Deaths –164,139 (+1327)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 19,574,592
Deaths: 724,737
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Mt. Holyoke College Decides Not To Bring Students Back For Fall Term
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Baker Postpones Second Step Of Phase 3 Of Reopening Indefinitely
(MassLive)
Campus Fall Roundup: Strategies Shift In Waves
(Inside Higher Education)
How Trump’s America Failed The COVID Test
(The Guardian)
New Test Paradigm Needed
(Harvard Magazine)

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 7 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 119,894 (+251)
Deaths: 8,691 (+32)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 5,032,805 (+59,064)
Confirmed Deaths –162,812 (+1204)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 19,293,828
Deaths: 718,338
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Springfield Schools To Open Fully Remote This Fall
(MassLive)
COVID-19 Cases Skyrocketing Among Children, Teens and Young Adults
(CNN)
Schools Face Tough Choice of When To Close When Coronavirus Is Present
(New York Times)
Inside America’s Reopening Schools
(New York Times)
260 Employees of Georgia’s Largest School District Test Positive for COVID-19
(Forbes)
Student Anxiety In A Pandemic
(Inside Higher Education)
Asymptomatic Spread Of COVID-19 Looking More Likely
(New York Times)
How The Immune Systems Reacts To Coronavirus
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 6 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 119,643 (+440)
Deaths: 8,659 (+2)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,973,741 (+54,625)
Confirmed Deaths –161,608 (+1273)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 19,006,384
Deaths: 711,869
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Reversing Course: Smith College Will Not Bring Students Back To Campus This Fall
(MassLive)
Fauci: US Has Worst Coronavirus Outbreak In The World. The Numbers Don’t Lie
(CNBC)
How Did It Happen? America’s Unique Failure To Control Coronavirus
(New York Times)
Fed’s Kashkari Suggests 4-6 Week Shutdown. Congress Should Spend Big On Coronavirus Relief
(Reuters)
Mississippi Becomes Nation’s Biggest Coronavirus Hot Spot
(Democracy Now)
COVID-19 May Spread More Easily In Schools Than Previously Thought
(The Guardian)
Want Schools To Open? Get Serious About Outbreaks
(Wall Street Journal)
MA Does Not Have Mechanism To Track Coronavirus Outbreaks In Schools, Even Though Officials Say They Are Inevitable
(Lowell Sun)
GA Second Grader Tests Positive For COVID-19 On First Day Of School
(CBS News)
Alarming Photo Of GA School Reopening Went Viral. Parents Say Situation is Worse Than It Looks.
(Buzzfeed News)
The Calm Before The Storm. Hospitals Prepare For Second Wave of Coronavirus
(Boston Globe)

UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 119,203 (+546)
Deaths: 8,657 (+9)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,919,116 (+56,039)
Confirmed Deaths –160,335 (+1360)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 18,732,987
Deaths: 705,042
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Global Death Toll Passes 700,000 As Europe Faces Second Wave
(The Guardian)
Australian State Of Victoria Shuts Down In Face of New COVID-19 Record
(Time)
It’s Like Having No Testing. COVID Results Are Still Delayed
(New York Times)
Radical Shift In COVID Testing Strategy Needed To Reopen Schools
(Science)
There’s No Way To Reopen Schools During COVID-19. GA Second Grader Tests Positive On First Day of School.
(CNN)
Obstacles To A Socially Distanced Classroom
(Inside Higher Education)

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 4 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 118,657 (+199)
Deaths: 8,648 (+10)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,863,077 (+49,493)
Confirmed Deaths –158,975 (+600)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 18,480,644
Deaths: 698,257
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Number of Cases In Baystate COVID-19 Outbreak Rises To 55
(MassLive)
Western Mass Facing Another COVID-19 Testing Crunch
(NEPM)
Amid Current Rise in COVID-19 Cases In Mass, Experts Urge Rollback Of Reopening
(Boston Globe)
COVID-19 Now More Widespread Than Ever In US. Four States Now Have More Than 400,000 Cases.
(CNN)
Trump’s Awarding Nation’s COVID-19 Data Tracking Contract To Company Without Prior Experience Raises Questions
(NPR)
When COVID Subsided, Israel Reopened Its Schools. It Did Not Go Well.
(New York Times)
Hybrid Model For Reopening Schools Probably Among Worst Options According To Harvard Epidemiologist
(WGBH)
What Scientists Are Learning About COVID-19 And Kids
(Vox)
Public Health Expert Says There Is Little Doubt That Most US COVID-19 Deaths Were Preventable
(PBS)
How The Pandemic Defeated America. Everything That Went Wrong Was Predictable and Preventable
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE FOR MONDAY AUGUST 3 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 118,458 (+418)
Deaths: 8,638 (+12)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,813,584 (+49,026)
Confirmed Deaths –158,375 (+470)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 18,260,496
Deaths: 693,405
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Trump Admin Has No Plan As Pandemic Enters New Phase
(CNN)
COVID Global Update. Cases Top 18M. Melbourne Prepares For Further Lockdown. Singapore to Use Electronic Monitoring
(The Guardian)
Scientists Worry About Political Influence Over Vaccine Project
(New York Times)
The Push To Open Schools Is Guaranteed To Fail
(The Atlantic)
On First Day Of School, An Indiana Student Tests Positive For COVID-19
(New York Times)
Colleges Reverse Course On Reopening As Pandemic Continues
(Boston Globe)
The Risk That Students Could Arrive At School With Coronavirus
(New York Times)
Virus Tests And Quarantines. Colleges Brace For Uncertain Fall
(New York Times)
Two Cruise Ships Hit By Coronavirus Weeks After Industry Restarts
(The Guardian)
How Jared Kushner’s Secret COVID Testing Plan Went “Poof Into Thin Air”
(Portside)

UPDATE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 2 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 118,040 (+428)
Deaths: 8,626 (+17)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,764,558 (+57,157)
Confirmed Deaths –157,905 (+1133)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 18,051,559
Deaths: 689,476
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
US Reels As July Cases Double The Total of Any Other Month
(New York Times)
After Plummeting, Virus Soars Back in Midwest US
(New York Times)
The Week COVID-19 Roared Back In Europe
(The Guardian)
Cardinals’ Coronavirus Outbreak Imperiling MLB Season
(Washington Post)
Research Finds Children Are Major Carriers Of COVID-19, Further Complicating School Reopening Debate
(Fortune)
A Hurricane, A Pandemic and Trump. Florida Faces A Triple Crisis
(Mother Jones)
Pandemic Wipes Out Five Years of Economic Growth
(New York Times)
Millions Rely on Emergency Pandemic Benefits For Rent, Food, and Medicine. Now That Lifeline Has Disappeared.
(NBC News)
New Study Explores How Coronavirus Travels Indoors
(University of Minnesota)

UPDATE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 1 as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 117,612 (+514)
Deaths: 8,609 (+14)
Source: MA DPH and Boston.maps. 
Distribution of cases by MA county.
Distribution of cases by MA town.

Confirmed Cases in USA – 4,707,401 (+72,175)
Confirmed Deaths –156,772 (+1466)
Source: Worldometers 

Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 17,795,854
Deaths: 683,806
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

NEWS:
Government’s New COVID-19 Data System Plagued By Delays, Inaccuracies
(NPR)
Virus Infected Hundreds At A Georgia Summer Camp
(New York Times)