Comparing Virus Surges

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Good morning. The U.S. once more stands nearly alone within the severity of its outbreak.

It’s taking place once more: For the second time this yr, the United States has fallen behind almost each different nation in combating the virus.

The U.S. was not alone in struggling a resurgence this fall. Much of the world did. But many different nations responded to that surge with focused new restrictions and, in a number of circumstances, with a rise in rapid-result testing.

Those measures appear to be working. Worldwide, the variety of new circumstances has fallen over the previous week.

In some nations, the declines are massive: greater than 50 % over the previous month in Belgium, France, Italy, Kenya and Saudi Arabia; greater than 40 % in Argentina and Morocco; greater than 30 % in India and Norway.

And within the U.S.? The variety of new circumstances has risen 51 % over the previous month.

The causes are usually not a thriller. The U.S. nonetheless lacks a coherent testing technique, and huge components of the nation proceed to defy primary well being recommendation. One instance is Mitchell, a small South Dakota metropolis, the place deaths have spiked not too long ago — together with the lack of a beloved highschool coach. Yet anti-mask protesters proceed to undermine the native response.

Among their messages at a latest City Council assembly, as Annie Gowen of The Washington Post reported: “Positivity defeats the virus.”

Europe gives a telling distinction. Several European nations put new restrictions in place over the previous month, and so they made a distinction, as you may see within the chart above. Still, the leaders of these nations remained unhappy with the progress — and introduced additional measures in latest days.

London closed pubs and eating places in the present day. The Netherlands has shut gyms, cinemas, colleges and nonessential outlets till Jan. 19. Germany — a rustic that loves its Christmas rituals — is locking down for Christmas.

Parts of the U.S. have taken some measures, like requiring masks and limiting indoor eating. And circumstances right here have leveled off in latest days. If something, although, that’s additional proof that persons are not powerless within the face of the virus. Reducing its unfold — and the widespread dying that may in any other case happen in coming months — is totally attainable.

“America’s outbreaks, reaching from California to Florida, are the result of the public and the country’s leaders never taking the virus seriously enough and, to the extent they did, letting their guard down prematurely,” German Lopez of Vox not too long ago wrote. As Jaime Slaughter-Acey, an epidemiologist on the University of Minnesota, stated, “It’s a situation that didn’t have to be.”

For extra: Full shutdowns are sometimes not crucial, The Times’s Yaryna Serkez explains. Sharply decreasing the variety of individuals in indoor areas can have an enormous impact.

THE LATEST NEWS

The Virus

• The F.D.A. is anticipated to approve Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine by Friday, making certain that tens of millions extra within the U.S. may have entry to inoculation.

• The Trump administration and Pfizer are negotiating a deal that may assist the drugmaker produce tens of tens of millions of extra vaccine doses within the first half of 2021.

• The Supreme Court ordered federal judges in New Jersey and Colorado to rethink rulings that restricted attendance at indoor spiritual providers.

• Two former C.D.C. officers spoke to The Times about how the Trump administration had meddled with the company through the pandemic, dismissing its science, silencing its consultants and siphoning its finances.

• Tom Cruise erupted at crew members who broke virus protocol on the set of “Mission: Impossible 7” in London. “I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! And if you don’t do it, you’re fired!” Cruise stated in a leaked audio clip.

• The Times want to hear from Americans who acquired a Covid-19 vaccine (or hope to get one). What was it like? How did individuals react to you? Tell us about it.

Politics

Unfrozen Lands: The local weather disaster threatens a lot of the Earth with droughts, flooding and brutal warmth. But it might additionally create unparalleled alternative for a number of nations — maybe none greater than Russia.

From Opinion: Columns by Jamelle Bouie and Farhad Manjoo.

Lives Lived: Over 21 years on the C.I.A., Dr. Jerrold Post pioneered political psychology. Later, as an instructional, he analyzed world figures together with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and — in his final e-book — Trump. Post died at 86.

Subscriber assist helps make Times journalism attainable. If you’re not already a subscriber, please think about turning into one in the present day.

‘I wasn’t even mad … issues occur’

Everybody makes errors. Not all people makes a $3 million mistake. And only a few individuals have volunteered to repair such a giant mistake after making it.

That’s what Bill Duffy did. In 2003, he was a sports activities agent representing Anthony Carter, a journeyman N.B.A. participant on the Miami Heat. Carter’s contract allowed him to decide right into a $4.1 million contract for the following season, rather more than he might have made as a free agent. Unfortunately, Duffy did not submit the paperwork in time, and Carter misplaced greater than $3 million because of this.

In response, Duffy promised to reimburse Carter for the misplaced cash. As The Times’s Sopan Deb wrote, “It was an unusual and virtually unprecedented move.”

“I wasn’t even mad, to tell you the truth,” Carter, who’s now again with the Heat as an assistant coach, stated. “I didn’t say, ‘What happened?’ Because I knew what type of person he was. Things happen.”

Duffy has simply completed making the funds to Carter, and Sopan has instructed the complete story — together with how the error helped the Heat win a championship.

The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was pompadour. Today’s puzzle is above — or you may play on-line you probably have a Games subscription.

Here’s in the present day’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Rainy month (5 letters).

Thanks for spending a part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David

P.S. The Times’s New York headquarters remains to be getting dressed up for the vacations, even when the newsroom is empty.