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June 7, 2022 - Brief Issue 332

The Coronavirus Daily Brief is a daily news and analysis roundup edited by New America’s International Security Program and Arizona State University.

Read Brief Co-Editor David Sterman’s examination of transparency around the United States’ airstrikes in Somalia (New America).

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Top Headlines

U.S. Wave Shows Signs of Abating (Health & Science)

Long Covid Creates a Mass-Disabling Event (Health & Science)

Beijing Relaxes Covid Restrictions (Around the World)

Boris Johnson Survives No Confidence Vote (Around the World)

Britain Tests 4-Day Work Week (Around the World)

Biden Administration Debates How Many Deaths Are Too Many to Declare Pandemic Crisis Over (U.S. Government & Politics)

High Gas Prices in California Increases Democrats’ Fear Over Midterms (U.S. Government & Politics)

Americans Pessimistic About U.S. Economy (U.S. Economy)

Mobile Homes See Massive Rent Increases (U.S. Society)

Health & Science

There have been 84,882,382 coronavirus cases in the United States, and 1,008,858 people have died (Johns Hopkins). The United States has administered 589,231,370 vaccine doses, with 77.9% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine dose and 66.7% fully vaccinated. Among adults aged 18 or older 89.3% have received at least one dose, and 76.6% are fully vaccinated (U.S. CDC). 46.9% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a first booster shot. 23.4% of Americans aged 50 or older have received a second booster shot. Worldwide, there have been 532,479,734 cases of coronavirus, with 6,300,394 deaths.

U.S. Wave Shows Signs of Abating 

The most recent wave of coronavirus infections in the United States could be slowing down, according to the number of infections and hospitalizations in the Northeast (NYT). In Vermont, hospitalizations are down 40% over the past two weeks; in Massachusetts, hospitalizations declined by 20%; Maine, Connecticut, and New York all saw around a 10% decline in hospitalizations, too. Every other region in the U.S. is still seeing a rise in hospitalizations, especially in southern states like Alabama and Louisiana. Hospitalizations have become the most reliable indicator of the severity of the virus in a particular region because more Americans are turning to at-home tests and not reporting infections to local officials. 

Long Covid Creates a Mass-Disabling Event

Health experts have likened the coronavirus pandemic to HIV, polio, or even World War II in that it has caused millions of people to suffer long-term effects after being infected with the virus. Many people are struggling to accept a new identity that embraces their disabilities, something that disability advocates have been uniting around for years. The addition of long-covid patients to the disabilities community has forced the conversation around disabilities into the open.

“We’re taking a big-tent approach in the disability community,” said Rebecca Vallas, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. But there has also been some resentment. Tensions have risen among communities of people with symptoms that overlap with those of long covid as research dollars have been poured into understanding long covid while research on other chronic diseases lack funding (WaPo). “There were resentments,” said Diana Zicklin Berrent, who founded the long-hauler advocacy group Survivor Corps. “It was, ‘We’ve been out here screaming from the rooftops for decades, and you guys show up,’” said Berrent, who emphasizes the importance of working together.

Bonus Read: “In Older Americans, Rising Debt May Adversely Affect Health,” (NYT).

Around the World

Beijing Relaxes Covid Restrictions

Starting at midnight on Monday, the Chinese capital of Beijing relaxed pandemic-related restrictions that had been in place for more than a month. Authorities had suspended some public transportation, forced some people to quarantine, and forced most people to work from home or go to school remotely (WSJ). The rules also included a ban on dining in restaurants. While most of the measures have been lifted, masks are still required and temperature checks and PCR testing requirements for everyday activities like riding the subway or going to the office remain (NYT). 

Boris Johnson Survives No Confidence Vote

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons survived a no confidence vote on Monday over his attendance at parties and social gatherings that took place at 10 Downing Street while the rest of the country was in strict lockdown. The vote was 211 to 148, with more than 40% of Conservative lawmakers voting against him (NYT). Johnson had said the vote was “a golden chance” to “end the media’s favorite obsession” with the alcohol-fueled pandemic gatherings at his offices. After the results of the vote were in, Johnson told broadcasters it was “convincing” and “decisive” and allowed the Tories to “move on” and “focus on the stuff that I think really matters to people” (WaPo). According to Conservative Party rules, a second vote cannot be held for at least 12 months, meaning Johnson would be safe until June 2023 (Politico). Bonus Read: “How Boris Johnson Shattered His Own Invincibility,” (NYT).

Britain Tests 4-Day Work Week 

A six-month program involving thousands of workers in 70 companies across Britain to test the viability of a four-day work week started on Monday. The trial, organized by nonprofit groups 4 Day Week Global and 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and Autonomy, an organization that studies the impact of labor on well-being, will then be assessed by researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University, and Boston College. The assessment results will be announced in 2023. “After the pandemic, people want a work-life balance,” Joe Ryle, the campaign director for the 4 Day Week Campaign, said in an interview. “They want to be working less” (NYT). 

U.S. Government & Politics

Biden Administration Debates How Many Deaths Are Too Many to Declare Pandemic Crisis Over

Politico reports that some members of the Biden administration are internally debating the question of how many deaths would constitute an acceptable Covid level to declare the crisis over (Politico). Politico writes, “The discussions, which took place across the administration, and have not been previously disclosed, involved a scenario in which 200 or fewer Americans die per day, a target kicked around before officials ultimately decided not to incorporate it into pandemic planning, according to the people. The discussions were described as exploratory, said the people, who were granted anonymity so they could speak freely about internal deliberations.” A health official told Politico that the number was  “aspirational ... a general metric people have bounced around a lot” describing it as a possible  signal that “the pandemic would be under control.” Politico notes, “But, this person added, the figure ‘never passed the hurdles to be a formal metric.’” The discussions are sensitive and reportedly have not reached the highest level in any detail. Politico writes, “The sensitive nature of the conversations and the decision not to bring any hard number to the most senior members of the coronavirus task force or top Biden officials demonstrates the longstanding struggle to articulate when the country has controlled a pandemic that has already killed more than 1 million Americans and is still claiming nearly 300 lives every day.”

High Gas Prices in California Increases Democrats’ Fear Over Midterms

The New York Times reports that at a moment when Democrats’ midterms prospects look grim, some Democrats are hoping that victories in California House districts could buoy their chances. But the Times notes that high gas prices in the area are generating fear that it may not come to pass (NYT). The Times writes, “in California, home to the highest average price for regular gasoline in the nation — $6.326 on Sunday, according to the motor club AAA, compared with the nation’s average of $4.848 — anger over the cost of living is threatening Democrats’ ambitions.” Gas prices are one area that has hit hard in a moment of high inflation due in part to the pandemic’s impact but also other factors.

U.S. Economy

Americans Pessimistic About U.S. Economy

A new Wall Street Journal-NORC Poll finds deep pessimism among Americans over the state of the economy (WSJ). The Journal writes, “The survey found Americans in a sour mood and registering some of the highest levels of economic dissatisfaction in years. The pessimism extended beyond the current economy to include doubts about the nation’s political system, its role as a global leader and its ability to help most people achieve the American dream.” Among the findings: 83% of respondents said the economy was “poor” or “not so good.” The Journal writes, “More than one-third, or 35%, said they aren’t satisfied at all with their financial situation. That was the highest level of dissatisfaction since NORC began asking the question every few years starting in 1972 as part of the General Social Survey, though the poll’s 4-point margin of error means that new figures may not differ significantly from prior high and low points.” Inflation featured as a major concern. In addition, the poll found pessimism regarding the state of the country more generally. The Journal writes, “More broadly, the survey reveals a despondent view of national unity and partisan splits over cultural issues, suggesting that a connective tissue of pessimism underlies Americans’ economic and social attitudes. Some 86% of respondents said Americans are greatly divided when it comes to the most important values, and over half said they expect those divisions to worsen five years from now, up from just a third of respondents who were asked the question last year.”

Bonus Read: “JetBlue Boosts Breakup Fee, Pledges Dividend in Bid to Woo Spirit Holders,” (WSJ).

U.S. Society

Bonus Read: “Progressive Prosecutor Movement Tested by Rising Crime and Angry Voters,” (WSJ).

Mobile Homes See Massive Rent Increases

The Washington Post reports that mobile homes are now seeing a surge in rent costs (WaPo). The Post writes, “Surging home prices and rents are cascading down to the country’s mobile home parks, where heightened demand, low supply and an increase in corporate owners is driving up monthly costs for low-income residents with few alternatives. At the same time, private-equity firms and developers are often circling nearby, looking to buy up such properties and turn them into more lucrative ventures, including timeshare resorts, wedding venues and condominiums.” Virginia Rubio, who lives in a trailer park in Washington state saw her rent increase from about $350 to $1,000. Rubio, 75, told the Post, “With an increase like this, I don’t know what we can do.” Historically mobile homes are among the cheapest form of housing with around 20 million Americans making them their residence, but the Post notes, “rising demand for affordable housing has put particular pressure on the market. Nationally, the average sales price of manufactured homes has risen nearly 50 percent during the pandemic, from $82,900 to $123,200, census data shows. Meanwhile, average new home prices rose 22 percent in that period, according to government figures.” And that’s just the price of the home itself, lot prices, according to the Post, tend to be less transparent but are seeing increases due to high demand and rising prices for real estate during the pandemic. Moreover, the Post adds, “Few municipalities and states have rules governing rent increases or evictions at mobile home parks, although that is beginning to change. Vermont, for example, requires that park owners notify residents of plans to sell and allow them a chance to buy the property. Others, like Oakland, Calif., are revising zoning laws to allow manufactured housing in more parts of town.”

Bonus Read: “A Mental Health Clinic in School? No, Thanks, Says the School Board,” (NYT).

Analysis & Arguments

Yasmin Tayag writes on why this Covid wave feels different (Atlantic).

 Readers can send in tips, critiques, questions, and suggestions to coronavirusbrief@newamerica.org.

The Brief is edited by David Sterman and Emily Schneider with Senior Editor Peter Bergen.

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