Donald Trump again ignored the medical experts. The US president kept recommending the use [1] of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus. “But what do I know? I’m not a doctor,” he said. The drug’s supposed efficacy against COVID-19 is unproven.
The US is bracing for a “Pearl Harbor moment.” That’s how surgeon general Jerome M. Adams described the week ahead [2] as the country’s death toll passed 9,200. The escalation in fatalities will likely continue, warned Anthony Fauci, Trump’s top medical advisor.
Apple is making protective gear. CEO Tim Cook tweeted yesterday that his company has designed and expects to start manufacturing one million face shields [3] a week for medical staff.
US banks are set to defend dividend payouts. They are under pressure after their European counterparts made cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic. Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs said they have enough capital to continue paying investors [4].
Boris Johnson is in hospital. The British prime minister, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 ten days ago [5], was admitted to a medical facility in London last night as a “precautionary step.” Earlier, Queen Elizabeth II made a rare televised speech to rally the nation.
Asian and European shares rallied. Stocks in Tokyo rose more than 4% [6], with gains also reported in Seoul, Singapore, and Hong Kong as coronavirus death rates fell further on the continent. European stocks were also up this morning.
Japan braces for a state of emergency. Local media reports suggested prime minister Shinzo Abe could make the declaration this week [7], with coronavirus cases expected to soar amid shortages of medical supplies. Japan has performed only 40,000 tests.
India restricted the export of test kits. The directive, issued Saturday [8], follows earlier bans on certain drugs and protective gear leaving the country. India also banned exports of hydroxychloroquine.
This piece was written by Wayne Dupree on April 6, 2020. It originally appeared in WayneDupree.com [9] and is used by permission.
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