Thread by @undarkmag

Some of the latest #Covid19 updates from the publications, journalists, and experts Undark is following. Friday, May 1, 2020, 10:30 a.m. (EDT). 🧵#UndarkCovid19

The research community is reacting with alarm to the NIH’s abrupt and unusual termination of a grant supporting research in China on how coronaviruses move from bats to humans. (By @meredithwadman, @sciencecohen for @newsfromscience) (1/12)

sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/n…

Many scientists argue that the evidence tilts firmly toward a natural transmission: a still-unknown interaction that allowed the virus to jump from an animal to a human. (@JobyWarrick, @nakashimae, @shaneharris, @annafifield for @washingtonpost) (2/12)

washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

The debate over challenge trials is growing heated, even if both proponents and skeptics have the same goal: to develop safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines as quickly as they can be made. (By @HelenBranswell for @statnews) (3/12)

statnews.com/2020/05/01/inf…

As the country eases down one notch to Level 4 restrictions, many businesses can resume limited operations. Many mines, factories, and agricultural businesses can resume work in phases. (By Mogomotsi Magome for @ap) (4/12)

apnews.com/81e2318b9ce04a…

Whitmer’s executive actions yesterday, which extend business closures and the emergency declaration to May 28, capped a remarkable day at the Michigan State Capitol, complete with gun-toting protesters. (By @Meagan_Flynn for @washingtonpost) (5/12)

washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05…

Twenty percent of staff at one hospital in Afghanistan are quarantined, but the doors remain open as the war wounded are brought in. (By @MujMash and @NajimRah for @nytimes) (6/12)

nytimes.com/2020/05/01/wor…

A Facebook spokesperson told @statnews its messaging is intentionally vague and is designed to avoid what’s known as the backfire effect, a popular theory in psychology circles. (By @erbrod) (7/12)

statnews.com/2020/05/01/fac…

In a report from @CIDRAP, a team of researchers estimated that the new coronavirus is likely to keep spreading for at least another 18 months to two years. (By @maggiemfox for @cnn) (8/12)

cnn.com/2020/04/30/hea…

Government transparency advocates argue that in a time of crisis, access to public records is even more important. (By @colinlecher for @themarkup) (9/12)

themarkup.org/coronavirus/20…

Images of packed shores have prompted a furor against officials in coastal states like California and Florida, who have resisted statewide beach closure orders. (By @PatriciaMazzei, @ShawnHubler, @thomasfullerNYT for @nytimes) (10/12)

nytimes.com/2020/04/30/us/…

The lack of federal and state coordination could ultimately hinder efforts to find treatments for the virus. (By @ZacharyBrennan for @politico) (11/12)

politico.com/news/2020/04/3…

From large- to small-scale, the country’s already-struggling fishing industry has been derailed by a sudden lockdown, jeopardizing lives, livelihoods, and food security. (By @Supriya_Vohra for @hakaimagazine) (12/12)

hakaimagazine.com/news/indias-fi…