The United States has become the new epicenter for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, having reported over 85,000 cases, surpassing numbers in any other country. More than half of reported cases in the US are in New York, far more than any other state, including previous hotspots California and Washington. Demonstrating the devastating economic effects of COVID-19, a record 3.28 million American workers have applied for unemployment benefits in the last week alone, marking the highest level of seasonally adjusted initial claims ever recorded in US history.
On the other side of the world, China appears to be recovering from the pandemic and is taking precautions to prevent any further outbreak. China is indefinitely banning entry by non-citizens, including those with valid visas or residence permits. According to the country’s foreign ministry, the entry ban is an interim measure and will be adjusted according to the pandemic situation. Additionally, each Chinese airline will be allowed to fly only one weekly route to one city per country, operating at no more than 75% capacity.
