Coronavirus Briefing: Measuring back-to-school risk

Plus: The challenges of fine dining in a pandemic.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 31, 2020 An informed guide to the global outbreak, with the latest developments and expert advice about prevention and treatment. (Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.) By Jonathan Wolfe Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline will receive $2.1 billion to supply the U.S. government with 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine — the largest such deal to date. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the U.S. would most likely have a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2020 or early in 2021. Get the latest updates here, as well as maps and trackers for U.S. metro areas and vaccines in development. Measuring back-to-school risk How risky will in-person education be this fall? Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have new estimates that provide a rough gauge of the risk that students and teachers could encounter in each county in the United States. Based on infection rates, more than 80 percent of Americans live in a county where at least one infected person would be expected to show up to a school of 500 students and staff members in the first week of classes, if school started today. (One big caveat: The analysis treats adults and children as equally likely to be infected.) In the highest-risk areas — including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Nashville and Las Vegas — at least five students or staff members would be expected to show up infected with the virus at a school of 500 people. The high numbers reflect the rapid spread of the virus in those areas, where more than 1 in 70 people are estimated to be infected. Education officials in New York City, one of the few large districts in the country that are still planning to open schools in the fall, laid out a plan on Thursday for what would happen in the seemingly inevitable event that cases of the coronavirus are confirmed in a classroom. The protocol means it is likely that at many of the city’s 1,800 schools, some classrooms or even entire buildings will be closed at points during the school year. New York City is currently planning to reopen its schools on a hybrid model starting Sept. 10, with students reporting to classrooms one to three days a week to allow for social distancing. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday that school openings would proceed only if the city’s test positivity rate — currently between 1 percent and 2 percent — stays below a 3 percent threshold. Fine dining in the Covid era It’s hard at the best of times to open a high-end restaurant, but during the pandemic, it’s downright punishing. To open the new restaurant Ever in Chicago this week, the chef Curtis Duffy had to rethink everything, including how to greet guests (handing out an Ever-branded tote bag of P.P.E. was deemed too unsettling) and how to improvise ingredients (because who knows when the supply of fennel, lamb tongue, or tapioca chips will run dry). During the pandemic, upscale dining venues may actually have advantages over midpriced restaurants: The tasting-menu format removes uncertainties in food ordering, checks are guaranteed to be high and the highly ritualized style of service can help keep safety measures on track. Other restaurants are taking note. Our food critic in Australia noticed that midpriced restaurants in Melbourne have been serving pricier meals. Some chefs say it’s the most viable way forward, and the trend could be a bellwether for other cities around the world. Cold comfort. Restaurant owners hit hard by the pandemic in France are facing a new challenge: The government said it would ban outdoor heaters at cafes and restaurants as part of an effort to fight climate change. But the ban won’t go into effect this winter in order to give owners time to recover and adapt to the new law. Resurgences For the fourth day in a row, Florida broke its single-day record for coronavirus deaths, reporting 257 on Friday. In New Jersey, the average daily case count has jumped by 28 percent from two weeks ago, to 416, a trend largely driven by young partygoers on the Jersey Shore. Britain postponed reopenings, added new regional restrictions and made masks mandatory in more places after an uptick in cases and deaths. Vietnam reported its first death from the virus as it battles a new outbreak. Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. What else we’re following More than 30 states and many U.S. cities have put in place mask requirements, but enforcement has been an uphill battle. The Senate failed to extend unemployment benefits that expire today, as Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over dueling proposals. The Trump administration overpaid as much as $500 million for ventilators because of “incompetent” negotiations, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in a new report. The European Union entered its worst recession on record in the second quarter, with gross domestic product plummeting 11.9 percent from the first quarter. Italy, once the Western epicenter of the virus, has managed to solidify gains from its nationwide lockdown, even as neighbors like Germany fight new flare-ups. Should you travel this year? A new interactive tool from our Travel desk helps you evaluate your risk and make the best decision. Who wore it best? The Guardian assessed the mask scene among world leaders. What you’re doing I used a portion of the stimulus check to become a beekeeper. Caring for and watching the honey bees has been a great escape, and it draws me outside, which has helped me meet my neighbors. — Christin Marshall, Bourne, Maine Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. Adam Pasick contributed to today’s newsletter. Email your thoughts to briefing@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward you the briefing? Sign up here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Coronavirus Briefing from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018