Forbes - White House Outbreak Spreads

Plus: Surgeon General busted for violating state Covid-19 policy

The Covid-19 outbreak in the White House is growing, and it has already spread far beyond the President and First Lady. Today, multiple members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they would go into quarantine after a high-ranking Coast Guard official tested positive for Covid-19. In addition, multiple White House housekeeping staffers have tested positive for the disease, and were reportedly told to use “discretion” when discussing their diagnoses. First Lady Melania Trump unveiled new precautions that the White House is taking to protect staff members, allowing many staffers to work from home and testing support staff every 48 hours. Some of these measures aren’t enough for Senate Democrats, however, who criticized the White House today for not following contact tracing guidelines or allowing the CDC to step in and help control the outbreak.

President Donald Trump Diagnosed With Covid-19

Facebook and Twitter both sanctioned President Trump’s social media posts comparing Covid-19 to the seasonal flu. 

The next presidential debate is scheduled in Florida for October 15th, but the mayor of Miami says that President Trump won’t be welcome unless he has recovered from Covid-19. 

Could the high profile Covid-19 infections that are taking place right now actually boost innovation for other Covid-19 survivors?

Business

Earlier today, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that economic recovery would be much stronger if lawmakers are able to hash out another coronavirus stimulus relief bill ASAP. 

Only a few hours after Powell’s warning, President Trump stunned economists as he ordered stimulus negotiations shut down until after the election, causing stocks to dive. 

GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology announced today that its Covid-19 antibody therapy is entering late-stage trials.

Science & Health

After deleting a guidance on Covid-19 transmission last month, the CDC acknowledged today that Covid-19 can spread through airborne transmission. 

The FDA has released more stringent guidelines for the approval of a Covid-19 vaccine, so even the White House can’t interfere. 

The director of the World Health Organization says that “there is hope” that a Covid-19 vaccine could be available by the end of the year.

On The Upside

Live From New York: Saturday Night Live is back on air, and can teach us a surprising amount on how to safely prevent Covid-19 as well as how to laugh even in the darkest times.