The Thanksgiving testing crunch

Here's the latest news from the global pandemic. Chinese vaccine maker applies for public use of its Covid shot ECB warns European banks may need more bad-loans provisions Chileans raid their retirement cash, yanking billions of dollars  The Thanksgiving testing crunch In downtown Brooklyn, the line for Covid-19 tests was seven hours long by mid-morning on Sunday. Appointments in Buffalo, New York, that would return timely results were already booked up last week. A lawyer who spiked a fever in Chicago had to go to the emergency room to get tested. Call it the Thanksgiving effect. People across the U.S. are seeking negative tests to clear them for the holiday meal—despite health officials' pleas to stay home instead and warnings that a screening is no guarantee of safety. In the process, it's making it harder for everyone to get a test, from asymptomatic worriers to people who have been exposed and those with Covid-like symptoms. People wait in line outside CityMD Urgent Care in New York, on Nov. 23. Photographer: Jeenah Moon The U.S., where about 259,000 have died from the coronavirus, has struggled to implement a unified and successful approach to fighting the coronavirus. President Donald Trump made a point of flouting his own administration's safety recommendations, and governors have imposed a patchwork of precautions on an exhausted population. Amid the disarray, some Americans plan large celebrations as a matter of political defiance.  Though Thanksgiving is the immediate reason for the testing crunch, it also reflects record levels of infections. The U.S. reported more than 170,000 new cases each day over the week through Monday, on average. It performed about 1.7 million tests daily over that period, according to The Covid Tracking Project. Laboratories, meanwhile, continue to grapple with shortages of critical testing supplies that have hampered their capacity since the pandemic's early months. The situation is evidence that U.S. testing systems are straining in the face of holiday demand and an unprecedented Covid-19 surge. But it also shows that public-health guidance can only go so far. Desperate for an opportunity to see the people they love in the midst of a long, long year, test-takers are muddling through as safely as they can.—Emma Court Track the virus The Best and Worst Places to Be in Covid-19 Bloomberg crunched the numbers to determine the best places to be in the coronavirus era: Where has the virus been handled most effectively with the least amount of disruption to business and society? See the details here.    Paid Post There's a reason over 2.5 million people start their day with Morning Brew — the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Business news doesn't have to be dry and dense...make your mornings more enjoyable, for free. Check it out. Morning Brew What you should read In Sweden, No Signs of Herd Immunity Every third Stockholmer tested has antibodies. Rich Americans Seek Second Passports Covid-19 and election results are helping drive interest. Working From Home Is a Boon for India's Women Permanent work from home for the back office industry will help women.  Airlines Stir Doubts With 'Flying Is Safe' Claim  Experts say the findings underpinning safety claims aren't conclusive. Where the Teens Are Hanging Out in Quarantine Screen time a life raft for families trying to escape too much togetherness. 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