The sound of borders snapping shut

Here's the latest news: Wristbands, fines and jail used to control infections Drug touted by Trump, Elon Musk can be dangerous Testing companies are struggling with demand Our take on the latest developments What do world leaders agree they can do to fight the coronavirus? Close their borders. The U.S. and Canada, long friendly neighbors, have agreed to spend some time apart. After some hesitation, European leaders are closing their frontiers to outsiders. U.S. President Donald Trump is also preparing to announce measures that may finally yield some of the separation he wants from Mexico. Even France's Emmanuel Macron, an earlier advocate for openness, has gone pro-closing, citing his country's need for self-preservation. The question is, what has been accomplished? The U.S. and Italy, among the first to flip the border switch, each have substantial outbreaks, and Italy's has become the world's most deadly. Some countries that have been slower to implement travel measures, like the U.K., have had far fewer coronavirus cases. It appears that, as some researchers suggested might happen, the virus moved before politicians did. Now that it's in more than half the countries in the world, it's hard to imagine that closed borders are going to keep the disease out. That ship has sailed. The World Health Organization still hasn't recommended travel restrictions to fight the spread of coronavirus. Such limits are seldom effective in international public health emergencies, take the focus away from more effective interventions, further disrupt business, and may impede the flow of needed goods to stricken regions. Rather, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus continues to advocate for international solidarity and the use of measures—such as social distancing, testing and isolation of cases—that in China have blunted the outbreak. Perhaps it's time to stop patrolling fences and tossing around blame for the pandemic. Countries should be looking to work together to test new drugs and vaccines, share and adopt best practices for controlling outbreaks, and find ways to overcome divisions, rather than create them.—John Lauerman Track the virus Mapping the Outbreak Around the World See the latest counts globally, and track Covid-19's spread in the U.S. Sponsored Content by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association One in five Americans living in rural areas lacks consistent access to the healthcare they need. See how Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are using their local roots to fill the rural health care gap.   What you should read The World's Most Distracting Co-Workers American child care has always been imperfect. Now, it's a crisis. 'Run Toward the Crisis' Some employers have balked at letting workers log on from home. Economy's Guardians Fought Virus and Turmoil Five days when Europe's financial leaders sought to quell turbulence. California's Residents Ordered to Stay Home State's 40 million residents on coronavirus lockdown for indefinite time.  Mnuchin Urges Quick Action on Stimulus Emergency measure features tax rebates up to $2,400. Know someone else who would like this newsletter?  Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news?  Get in touch. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022