Thanksgiving in a pandemic

THE BIG STORY

The US added one million new coronavirus cases in one week

The grim milestones just keep coming. On Sunday, the US marked 11 million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic — a mere six days after ticking over 10 million.

The rapid acceleration is alarming experts across the country. From Monday Nov. 9 to Sunday Nov. 15, there have been an average of 150,000 new cases a day.

On top of that, there are roughly 70,000 people in US hospitals being treated for severe cases of COVID-19 — more than ever before. In the coming days, the country is also set to officially record a quarter of a million dead.

There is typically a 12-day lag between rising cases and rising hospitalizations, meaning the full effects of the 1 million new cases recorded this week won't be felt in hospitals for several days.

What some states are doing to get ahead of the spiking cases:

👉 Washington State is shutting down most indoor public spaces like bars, gyms, theaters, and museums for four weeks, and prohibiting most indoor gatherings of people from separate households.

👉 For three weeks, Michigan is halting in-person classes for high schools and colleges, prohibiting indoor service at bars and restaurants, and limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people from no more than two households.

👉 Washington, Oregon, and California all issued travel advisories, recommending those who travel out of state quarantine for 14 days after returning.

👉 North Dakota's governor also issued a mask mandate for the first time in his state.

A medical staff member treats a patient in a COVID-19 intensive care unit in Houston, Texas. Go Nakamura / Getty Images

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Trump supporters who refuse to admit he lost the election went to protest in DC

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, DC for a "Million MAGA March," protesting the 2020 election results and falsely claiming that the president did not lose the election to Joe Biden.

Trump's motorcade drove by his supporters on the way to his resort for a day of golfing. Videos show him waving and putting his thumbs up from the backseat of the car while fans chased after him on the street and cheered.

After the march, there were violent clashes between marchers and counter-protesters. Video tweeted by both left- and right-wing attendees showed several instances of violence. Police said at least 20 people were arrested.

Supporters of the president at a pro-Trump march in Washington, DC on Nov. 14, 2020. Jacquelyn Martin / AP

SNAPSHOTS

Trump accidentally acknowledged that Biden won the election, then tried to take it back. Sunday's tweet was the first time Trump acknowledged that Joe Biden defeated him in the election. A short while later, he tweeted, "He only won in the eyes of the FAKE NEWS MEDIA. I concede NOTHING!"

Joe Biden has won Georgia. He's the first Democrat to win the state in decades. Biden's breakthrough victory came despite what voting rights advocates saw as a concerted effort by state Republicans to suppress votes.

A judge found Republicans' claims of vote fraud in Detroit "incorrect and not credible." The judge denied a Republican request to stop Michigan from certifying the final results pending an audit of votes in Wayne County.

The new season of The Crown spotlights Princess Diana, and it doesn't disappoint. The Netflix series does an exceptional job reckoning with the legacy of the beloved princess. But reporters who covered her when she was still alive say she'll always be a mystery.

PLANNING FOR THANKSGIVING

Is it safe to get together with your loved ones this Thanksgiving? We asked 7 experts

The holiday season is on approach, and in the US, it's coinciding with the highest peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

From the recent patterns of spread, we know more people are hosting social gatherings in their homes with people they don't live with, or who are outside of their "quarantine bubble," leading to more infections. In many parts of the country, people have rejected guidance to wear masks.

Add to all of this the fact that it's a time of the year where people are more inclined to get together, and you get a precarious situation. We talked to 7 experts about their plans for Thanksgiving, and how they're approaching the challenge of gathering.

They reminded us that, "Whatever you do, whoever you invite to sit around the table, you're also inviting the virus."

CLEARING THE AIR

James Charles and Lauren Conrad opened up about their feud after he dragged her makeup line on Instagram

In case you need a refresher on how we got here, a few months ago James Charles posted a series of videos on Instagram in which he said he'd opened a PR package from someone who "has no business having a makeup brand."

Charles didn't name the makeup brand, but Lauren Conrad, a former star of The Hills, admitted that he'd been referring to her new line, Lauren Conrad Beauty.

Now the two of them addressed the feud in a conversation that started rather awkwardly. In good news: they seem to be cool now.

Set aside time to prepare mentally for a lengthy winter — don't let it sneak up on you,

Elamin

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📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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