Fwd: Covid-19 is now officially a pandemic

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The Download from MIT Technology Review <newsletters@technologyreview.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 6:20 AM
Subject: Covid-19 is now officially a pandemic
To: Rick Livermore

Here's how long the coronavirus can live in the air and on packages 

Sponsored by Supermicro The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology 03.12.20 Good morning! Today: the WHO has declared coronavirus a pandemic, it's revealing the gig economy's sharp inequalities, and how long the coronavirus can live in the air or on packages. Get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. Covid-19 is now officially a pandemic   The World Health Organization has declared that the spreading coronavirus contagion is now officially a pandemic.  What it means: The designation means that the novel coronavirus is spreading in many countries at the same time. It is also an acknowledgment that efforts to contain its spread around the world have not succeeded.  Keep fighting: The WHO urged an all-out fight against the virus, calling on nations to mobilize hospitals and entire societies. "This is the first coronavirus that has reached pandemic proportions, but it also the first one that can be contained," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured). "We should double down and be more aggressive."  Global problem: Currently, eight countries—among them the US—are reporting more than 1,000 cases apiece of Covid-19, as the dangerous pneumonia caused by the virus is known, according to the John Hopkins University dashboard. More than 10 further countries now have hundreds of cases. The WHO notes that 81 countries still have no cases. Tedros said these "should give no ground" to the virus. Another 57 countries that have 10 cases or fewer could still stop it quickly. Read the full story. —Antonio Regalado Coronavirus is revealing the gig economy's sharp inequalities A divide: The growing coronavirus outbreak is creating fear and confusion for contractors who lack the protections afforded to permanent employees. No work, no pay: While many tech companies have directed employees to work from home, that just isn't possible for frontline workers like drivers or couriers. For contractors who are paid by the hour, if they don't clock in, they earn nothing. Varying responses: Uber said yesterday that it may suspend the accounts of any rider or driver who tests positive for the coronavirus (it is not clear how it will enforce this). Amazon said it won't dock attendance points from workers who don't show up to its warehouses during the coronavirus crisis. And Amazon, Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft have all promised to give their gig workers up to two weeks of sick pay if they can show they have been diagnosed with or quarantined because of COVID-19. Some of these companies are raising funds to help contractors pay medical bills. The response: These measures don't seem to have done much to quell workers' worries so far. Read the full story. This stories are part of our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, which we have decided to make available free of charge. Here's how long the coronavirus can live in the air and on packages The contagious coronavirus can survive on a cardboard delivery box for at least a day and lives even longer on steel and plastic. New research: A big question is how the germ that causes coronavirus moves so easily between people. To help find an answer, US researchers tried spritzing the virus on seven materials commonly found in homes and hospitals, to see how long it remained infectious. The germ survived longest on plastic and stainless steel, where it clung for as long as three days. However: So far there is no definitive proof the virus is actually spread via inanimate objects. Read the full story. —Antonio Regalado and Mike Orcutt What you need to know about coronavirus  We've rounded up the latest, most significant, stories about the outbreak.   + This is exactly how coronavirus infects you. (NYT $)   + How do we decide what to attend, and what to cancel? (Vice)   + China's coronavirus epicenter has seen single-digit infections for the first time. (Reuters)   + What it means to contain and mitigate the virus. (The New Yorker $)   + Congress' in-house doctor said he expects about a third of Americans to contract coronavirus. (Axios) For everything you need to know about the current pandemic, make sure you're signed up to our coronavirus newsletter, Coronavirus Tech Report. Sign up here. The next edition is coming out later today.  Sponsor Message Build Your Cloud, AI and 5G Infrastructure with Supermicro Server and Storage Systems Better. Faster. Greener. Supermicro continues to lead in first-to-market innovation, with over 100 refreshed X11 systems compatible with the new 2nd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors (formerly Cascade Lake Refresh or CLX-R) which launched today. These thermally optimized systems deliver up to 36% better performance at the same price level or up to 61% lower processor costs for equivalent performance versus current offerings. Intel on Supermicro's refreshed systems: "Supermicro's platforms will help customers take full advantage of the higher performance and value of our latest Xeon Scalable processors" — Lisa Spelman, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Xeon and Memory Group at Intel Learn more. The top ten must-reads I've combed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology (that aren't about coronavirus—harder than it seems!) 1 The end of high-tech war The West is losing its technological edge over guerilla insurgencies. (TR) 2 TikTok is opening a "transparency center" in LA It's promised to let outside experts examine its moderation practices. (TechCrunch) 3 Clearview AI's facial recognition app was used as a plaything by the rich The ability to ID anyone you see anywhere. What fun! (Buzzfeed)   + Vermont is suing Clearview for "oppressive, unscrupulous" practices. (Ars Technica) 4 The internet is not working for women and girls, says the web's inventor Online abuse is silencing female opinions, to the detriment of everyone. (The Guardian) 5 What do AI ethicists actually do? Are they just good PR for big tech, or are they making a difference? (Quartz) 6 A bill to protect children could threaten your privacy There surely should be a way to do both of these things. (CNET)   + The EARN IT Act is boxing big tech into a corner. (Protocol) 7 Why computers may never be able to read your mind  We're still remarkably ignorant about how brains work. (Wired UK) 8 Scientists have found the smallest known dinosaur Aww. (BBC) 9 Too much tech could ruin sports There's a certain beauty in erratic human decision-making. (WSJ $) 10 Astronomers have discovered a planet where it rains liquid iron  METAL. 🤘 (NBC) EmTech Digital is going virtual. EmTech Digital, our signature event on artificial intelligence and business leadership, is now a virtual event. Purchase your ticket and join from wherever you are.  Quote of the day "Things are looking a bit bleak at the moment and there are definitely moments of uncertainty." —Melissa Hie, a food and travel blogger, tells Buzzfeed about the impact of coronavirus for travel influencers.  Top image credit: UNHCR | KEANE SHUM Please send your email addresses to hi@technologyreview.com. Follow me on Twitter at @charlottejee. Thanks for reading! —Charlotte Was this newsletter forwarded to you, and you'd like to see more? 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