Category: International

Employers added 4.8 million jobs last month but the U.S. is still down 15 million jobs since February. And those new figures are from a survey before the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose in part due to Memorial Day weekend celebrations, when people went out to beaches and restaurants. From a report by NPR’s Allison Aubrey, experts share tips on how to safely celebrate the Fourth of July

There’s been a lot of mixed messaging on masks. Dr. Anthony Fauci tells NPR the government could have done a better job early on. And NPR’s Maria Godoy reports on how to choose the best mask for you.

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As Arizona hits new records of coronavirus cases and deaths, the state announced they will pause their reopening plans.

More and more Republicans are speaking up in support of face masks. Even Vice President Mike Pence has been wearing one in public lately.

Dr. Anthony Fauci tells NPR the coronavirus surges we’re seeing now are partly the result of too few people wearing masks. Fauci said it’s especially hard to explain the risk to young people, because the virus has such a broad range of severity.

Plus, a group of scientists who wanted to make it easier to track the virus in your community created an online risk assessment map. NPR’s Allison Aubrey and Carmel Wroth reported on the new tool.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci told members of Congress Tuesday that although he can’t predict the ultimate number of coronavirus cases in the United States, he “would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around.”

The New York Times reported that Russian military intelligence offered money to the the Taliban in exchange for killing American troops in Afghanistan. NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly spoke with Aaron O’Connell, a Marine Corp veteran who served on the National Security Council, about Russia’s possible motives.

Coronavirus testing in the U.S. is up, but not up enough. Public health researchers say only a handful of states are testing at the level needed to suppress the virus.
To see how your state is doing with testing, go to NPR’s tracker.

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On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a major decision on access to abortion. The court struck down a Louisiana law that required doctors who perform abortions at clinics to also have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. NPR’s Sarah McCammon reported from the clinic at the center of the case last year.

With coronavirus cases surging in North Carolina, officials issued a statewide mandate for face coverings, and are hiring bilingual contact tracers to work with the state’s Latinx community.

Warehouses are a big source of temporary jobs in New Jersey, especially for undocumented immigrants. Workers often have to travel in crowded vans, despite guidelines to social distance. Now, WNYC’s Karen Yi reports, some of them are getting sick.

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On Monday, June 29th, the name of this show will change to ‘Consider This from NPR.’

You don’t need to re-subscribe. All our existing episodes will still be right here.

Even though our name is changing, we will still be a place where you can get the latest news about this pandemic. And we’ll bring you some other news, too.

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Questions? Email us: considerthis@npr.org

COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high in the U.S. And for the first time in almost two months, The White House Coronavirus Task Force had a televised briefing.

In Texas on Thursday, 6,000 new cases of the coronavirus were reported. An ER doctor in Houston says beds are filling up and they are running out of places to send patients.

Some states are closing down bars and restaurants, again, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. But NPR’s Scott Horsley explains that customer traffic has already been dropping for days.

Even now, it can still be tough to get a coronavirus test especially, as NPR’s Kirk Siegler reports, in tribal communities.

Plus, with many movie theatres closed, the films topping the box office are a bit … retro.

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On Monday, June 29, 2020, we’re changing our name to Consider This. Listen to the show for more info.

Just two months ago, the Northeast was the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. On Wednesday, there were just 581 new reported cases of the coronavirus in New York and now visitors from other states are expected to quarantine after they arrive.

More Governors across the country are touting the benefits of masks but not all are willing to make wearing them a state policy.

NPR’s Jon Hamilton reports that scientists are closely tracking mutations in the coronavirus to ensure the changes don’t complicate a future vaccine.

Plus, COVID-19 has presented particular challenges for women and reproductive health. Many say that the pandemic is causing them to rethink their plans to have children.

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On Monday, June 29, 2020, we’re changing our name to Consider This. Listen to the show for more info.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, started Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing on a somber note: By next week there will be a total of 10 million cases globally. A reminder, says Ghebreyesus, that the pandemic isn’t over, despite places around the world reopening.

There’s been a lot of news about coronavirus spikes in states like Texas and Florida. But not in Georgia. Why? Georgia Public Broadcasting reporter Grant Blankenship has more.

And we talk to a public health official in Washington State scrambling to identify hotspots in her community.

America can’t fully get back to work without childcare, and many children are suffering without social opportunities. But how to reopen schools, camps and daycares safely? NPR’s Anya Kamenetz talks to childcare centers that have stayed open on how they’ve been trying to keep kids and staff safe.

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On Monday, June 29, 2020, we’re changing our name to Consider This. Listen to the show for more info.

Wearing a face mask, with hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes close at hand, Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the House Tuesday, to explain why the U.S. still struggles to get a handle on the coronavirus.

On Saturday, the U.S. reported 32,411 new cases in just that one day.

Fauci also countered President Trump’s claim that more testing is “a double-edged sword” to blame for the rise in coronavirus cases across the country. Instead, Fauci says testing is essential if we want to get control of the virus.

And NPR’s Lauren Frayer takes us to India, where the health care system is collapsing under the heavy demand caused by COVID-19.

Plus — for the past three months, just about everyone who can work from home has. And for the most part, things seem to be working. So, as NPR’s Uri Berliner reports, more and more employers are looking to make the move permanent.

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On Monday, June 29, 2020, we’re changing our name to Consider This. Listen to the show for more info.

Florida passed a grim milestone: 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The latest numbers include a lot of people in their 20s and 30s. Some officials are putting a pause on reopening.

The Trump administration has started shipping out supplies needed to ensure sufficient testing. But those supplies haven’t always been very helpful and in some cases they’ve been hazardous. NPR’s Rob Stein has the details.

Iowa is home to some 10,000 refugees from Myanmar. The coronavirus has been especially hard on them, with estimates saying as many as 70% have contracted the virus. As Iowa Public Radio’s Kate Payne reports, many in the Burmese community work at local meatpacking plants, where social distancing is a constant challenge.

Preparing to visit family in long-term care facilities? NPR’s Allison Aubrey has some tips to keep everyone safe.

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Find and support your local public radio station.

On Monday, June 29, 2020, we’re changing our name to Consider This. Listen to the show for more info.