Forbes - It Didn’t Have To Be This Way

Plus: Fauci: Government transparency is “absolutely essential”

Coronavirus cases are on the rise globally, and the U.S. is no exception. For the first time since July, the U.S. daily number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all risen. Nonetheless, even in states that are reporting spikes of cases, restaurants, bars and other public places are continuing to reopen. The tragic thing is that it didn’t have to be this way. A new report released today found that at least 130,000 Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. were preventable. As always, America isn’t alone in struggling to contain the pandemic. Covid-19 cases in France just surpassed 1 million, a day after the same happened in Spain. And residents of Germany have started panic buying toilet paper and disinfectants again as Covid-19 surges in their cities. 

Business

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reported some progress in stimulus bill negotiations today, but hurdles still remain before the bill becomes a law. 

Pharma giant Roche has signed a $350 million deal with Atea Pharmaceuticals for the right to research, develop and distribute a potential Covid-19 treatment outside the U.S. 

The CEO of Abbott Labs says the company’s rapid Covid-19 tests will soon be deployed in airports, retail stores and other areas in addition to hospitals. 

Search terms in Google might enable public health officials to predict where the next Covid-19 hotspots will occur

Science & Health

The FDA has approved Gilead’s antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19, despite conflicting research findings over its effectiveness. 

An FDA panel said today that drugstores and pharmacies will be key to the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine. 

Here’s what parents need to know about how airborne transmission of Covid-19 can affect schools, playdates, and other activities. 

Airplane pilots who normally transport vaccines are feeling unprepared for the huge effort required for a Covid-19 vaccine. 

On The Upside

Clean, Fresh Air: Temporary lockdown measures have reduced air pollution and may have saved thousands of lives, researchers say.