| Greetings, QuickTake readers! In this edition: U.S. jobless claims soar, China locks up, and NYC shelter pets are alone no more.  U.S. hits No. 1 in virus cases The U.S. leapfrogged Italy and China to become the site of the world's biggest coronavirus outbreak on Thursday after confirming more than 82,000 cases. The unhappy milestone came hours after total global infections surpassed half a million with Italy leading in total deaths. Meanwhile, President Trump said his administration would start ranking U.S. counties according to their virus risk to reopen the economy by Easter. "We have to go back to work," he told reporters, despite warnings from health officials that such a move would threaten new outbreaks. On Wednesday, the WHO chief scolded governments for "squandering the window of opportunity" to prevent Covid-19, advising countries maintain lockdowns: "The last thing any country needs is to reopen schools and businesses only to close them again because of a resurgence in cases." $ignificant figures $15 million. The U.S. is offering that reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after indicting him and 14 associates on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. 3.28 million. That many Americans filed initial jobless claims last week, the highest number ever recorded, as layoffs surged amid shutdowns and economists warned "very high numbers" could continue for weeks. $12 billion. The decision to delay the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until next year means taxpayers and sponsors likely will have to fork over 1.35 trillion yen just as the global economy caves in during the coronavirus pandemic. Highly quotable "Necessary and temporary." China announced it will block most foreigners from entering the country as it seeks to curb imported coronavirus cases after slowing the spread among its own people. "Democracy has won." What Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz said, pledging to form a "national emergency government" to deal with Israel's coronavirus crisis, after parliament chose him as its new speaker. "This will get worse before it gets better." New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern declared a state of national emergency in the country, giving the government additional powers to enforce a nationwide lockdown. This is not normal Coral stress. Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef suffered its third mass coral bleaching in five years the Climate Council said, as water temps during the "very hot summer" rose 2 degrees Celsius above normal.  The future is now DIY manufacturing. Italian engineers are 3D-printing respirator valves and giving them away for free, adding to a growing global network of designers harnessing tech to curtail the protective medical gear shortage.  What's good "A great problem to have." New York City animal shelters are out of cats and dogs to foster or adopt after applications surged from residents seeking pets "as a way to calm frayed nerves," one volunteer said.  Now that you're caught up... Tell your friends to sign up to receive our newsletter five days a week. Follow QuickTake on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. BTW: Meghan Markle will narrate the Disney+ documentary "Elephant" coming out on April 3, three days after she officially leaves the royal family. Thanks for reading!
-Andrew Mach | 
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