A consumer checkup from the drugstore

Here's the latest news from the global pandemic. One in three U.K. employers plans to cut jobs this quarter U.S. standoff on virus relief package weighs on families, politics Covid is forcing India's children out of school and into farms A consumer checkup from the drugstore Covid-19 has caused predictable behavior to turn erratic and often abrupt. Memories of bartering for toilet paper and buying huge bottles of Tylenol in March feel distant and almost comical in August. What at first felt like a temporary situation now seems like one that will be around for some time, after the virus raged in the Sun Belt and gained in places that appeared to have controlled it, such as California and Illinois. More flare-ups seem to be nearly inevitable, but the sense of consumer panic has largely ebbed. Drugstores offer a window into the changes. They carry a bevy of hot pandemic products like thermometers and cleaning wipes. Between Walgreens and CVS alone there are nearly 20,000 of them across the country. Sales of prescription drugs and over-the-counter items soared in March as people raced to stock their pantries and medicine cabinets. Sales then crashed in April, only to rebound in June with shelter-in-place orders loosening and people refilling their 90-day supplies of medications. Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg CVS saw a retail-sales boost in July thanks to people stocking up on "key preventative and treatment items" in the Sun Belt, the company's chief financial officer told analysts last week. Pharmacies are also contending with a drop in new prescriptions because people are postponing elective surgeries and are afraid to visit hospitals and doctor's offices for routine care. CVS, which owns health insurer Aetna, in April saw a 30% year-over-year decrease in health-care utilization among its members. That flattened by July, suggesting things are starting to pick up. But uncertainty remains, especially with colder weather looming and the virus still spreading in much of the country. Even the companies that appear best positioned to profit during a pandemic aren't immune to the unprecedented situation. —Angelica LaVito   Track the virus Death Toll Passes 731,000 Australia, where the state of Victoria is at the center of a renewed outbreak, had its deadliest day. See the latest infection trends here. ​​​​​​    Sponsored Content by Siemens America's factories, power plants, transportation and hospitals all need technology and our technology is only as powerful as the people deploying and maintaining it. Keeping America moving takes more than technology alone. It takes a human touch. Siemens Ingenuity for life.   What you should read U.S. Hasn't Improved Testing, Bill Gates Says Testing is slow and lacks fair access after early missteps, politicization. Things to Know Before Returning to the Office Heading back to your workplace doesn't mean returning to normalcy.  Covid Cases Among U.S. Kids Jumped 40%  Infections among children grew in the last half of July, a report showed. Only 30% of U.K. Would Definitely Take Vaccine Those skeptical of science are wary of vaccination, according to a poll. Saudi Arabia Plans Human Trial of China's Shot Vaccine by CanSino Biologics to be tried on at least 5,000 volunteers. 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 or help us cover the story. 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 Get the newsletter 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