New Events
The pandemic is dominating the news cycle, and it’s hard to find out anything other than virus news. Further, this week I started with my last Perspectives lesson and ended by giving briefings on the virus impact on agencies, the church, and movements around the world. So I had very little time for scanning and Roundup production.
Next week, I will begin shifting my scanning & coverage. I am intentionally trying to select articles that have a direct impact on long-term mission work. I will be augmenting this with a greater mix of non-coronavirus material, so we can keep the wider vision of finishing the task in view. For local coverage, I recommend seeking out a mix of mainstream news and local reporters.
Dashboard: 244k known cases, 10k+ deaths, 82k recovered – Johns Hopkins, NYT Tracker
… Doubling Rate outside of China – every 3 to 6 days, depending on the country
Key report from UK research center models scenarios – Link
… all measures needed, likely until vaccine found …
Countries
Restrictions on movement grow in an attempt to contain the virus – Link
… around the world, governments getting tougher – can it be maintained? Link
… Many countries and even large states are beginning to lockdown (e.g. CA, likely NY, TX)
Afghanistan: Coronavirus complicates war and peace – Link
… tensions over the border with Iran, with 15,000/day coming in to Afgh.
China, US increasingly antagonistic; China expels journalists – Link
France orders all nonessential businesses closed, movement curtailed – Link
… European countries turning to border closures …
Spain’s hospital system getting overwhelmed
Iran: Virus “could kill millions” – Link
… “out of hand … no one believes the government’s numbers” – Link
… Iranians defy authorities in bid to access holy sites – Link
… current cases are 2x available beds – Link
Iraq has border issues with Iran over virus entering – Link
India curbs visas, all Indian nationals arriving to be quarantined – Link
… tries to curb mass pilgrimage – Link
… worries India could be ‘next big hotspot’ – Link
Italy’s health care system groans under virus, a warning to the world – Link
Jordan closes Amman – Link
… initiates a nationwide state of emergency, sweeping restrictions on movement – Link
Kuwait urges Muslims to pray at home – Link
Malaysia closes borders – Link
Nigeria institutes limited border closure – Link
… Africa braces for the coronavirus, slowly – Link
… Cases spreading across Africa – Link
Oman suspends all tourist visas – Link
Russia tightening borders
Saudi bans all international flights – Link
… closes malls, bans serving food in restaurants, cafes – Link
Spain weighs liberties against coronavirus – Link
South Sudan has first coronavirus death – Link
UAE announces visa suspensions, flight restrictions – Link
US, Canada close border to non-essential travel, restrict travel – Link
… they did the same thing with Mexico, sorry, gathering fast, don’t have link …
US went to Level 4 global travel warning notice – Link
… State Department’s advice: all Americans to avoid travel abroad. Any Americans abroad should return home or shelter in place for indefinite duration …
UK will close all schools, colleges, nurseries – Link
Churches
Another cluster of cases in South Korea related to a church – Link
… big church services will probably get closed down in many places …
“Prayer in the time of coronavirus” – worshipping in empty pews – Link
Italian priests are discovering social media as “an instrument of prayer” – Link
Sunday without church: in crisis, a nation asks, “What is community”? Link
#Other Events (not on the radar)
Nepal makes yoga mandatory for school children – Link
… some Muslims fear it will promote Hinduism
Covid-19 making it harder to grow food in China – Link
… government straining to get supplies to farmers
Indonesia: thousands of Muslim pilgrims ignore virus risk to gather – Link
… “we are more afraid of God… something more than the body, which is the soul…”
New Data
Infographic: a visual history of pandemics – Link
… from 165 AD to now …
1 billion children out of school – Link
New Longreads
‘Wash our hands? Some people can’t wash their kids for a week’ – Link
… refugee camps, etc., going to get hit, and hit hard …
‘When the checkpoints come’: A coronavirus police state in America – Link
… look at this as a worst-case scenario… I think it’s improbable but not impossible.