Predictions, Not Certainty, Are All We’ve Got

Plus: The Mayor Of Social Distancing Memes

Good news today: New York's hospitalization rate due to coronavirus has dropped to its lowest level since mid-March (though the death rate remains high). What does this mean? Though hospitals remain crowded, fewer new patients are coming in, and New York may be in the process of “bending the curve” of infections. This would match with other predictions: a new model says that coronavirus deaths in the U.S. could peak this weekend. But models are just that; predictions. There’s no way to know for certain what will happen. We could be in for a second or third wave of the virus soon, and it’s likely that warmer summer weather won’t save us.

Business

More than 16 million people in the U.S. have filed for unemployment benefits in the past three weeks.

Despite job loss, the stock market closed high after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the economy could get up and running next month.

As families struggle with finances due to the coronavirus, fewer teens than usual will be going to college in the fall, a survey shows.

One lucky Virginia town gets toilet paper dropped off right at their front door from Google drones.

Science & Health

U.S. Poison Control reports an uptick in hydroxychloroquine poisonings and abuse this month

President Trump has refused to reopen Obamacare enrollment despite massive job losses, so insurers are taking the fight to Congress.

When equipment is in short supply, how do you ethically decide who gets a ventilator?

Are masks damaging your skin? Here are some tips.

Tracker of the day

Coronavirus Layoffs: Yelp is the latest major employer to cut jobs; today they laid off or furloughed more than 2,000 workers.