Coronavirus Update

Global cases rose above 785,000 yesterday with more than 37,800 deaths. The number of confirmed U.S. cases rose to more than 164,000 with 3,164 confirmed deaths.

• Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) became the first member of New York’s congressional delegation to test positive for the virus.
• The 2020 Olympic Summer Games have been rescheduled to take place from July 23- August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
• Prince Charles is now out of self-isolation after spending seven days in self-quarantine following a positive coronavirus test result and mild symptoms.
• A Tampa megachurch pastor was arrested after up to 500 people attended his Sunday service despite a county-wide ‘stay at home’ order.
• The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived at New York Harbor on Monday to assist NYC’s overwhelmed health care system (video).
• Several more U.S. locations (including Washington, D.C.) issued stay-at-home orders to their residents, bringing the total number of states up to 30.

Missile Strikes Target Yemen Capital

A Saudi-UAE coalition reportedly carried out more than a dozen missile strikes against Houthi rebels located in Sanaa - the capital of Yemen - on Monday, with no reported casualties. The airstrikes were in retaliation for two Houthi missiles launched Saturday that were intercepted by Saudi Arabia.

More: Saudi’s ambassador to Yemen on Monday invited Houthi representatives to meet with Yemeni government officials in peace talks despite the escalating violence.

ISIS Members Incite Prison Riot, Then Escape

Several members of the Islamic State reportedly escaped jail in Northern Syria after provoking a prison riot and temporarily overwhelming the guards. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported four missing prisoners (whom they said were all later captured), while Syrian state media put the number at twelve.

The Coronavirus Effect

• U.S. stock indexes rose about 3.5% Monday, with futures for Tuesday trending slightly up.
• Oil prices fell 6% to reach their lowest point since 2002, trading under $20 per barrel for portions of the day.
• Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Gap are furloughing a majority of their combined 376,000 employees and providing health benefits at least through May.
• Delivery and supermarket employees at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have held/are planning to hold strikes to call for hazard pay during the pandemic.
• Economists at the Fed’s St. Louis branch on Monday projected the total number of unemployed persons in the U.S. could reach 47 million, translating to a ~32% unemployment rate.
• Airbnb announced Monday that guests who booked a trip prior to March 14 that was scheduled to begin on or before May 31 will receive a full refund, with Airbnb paying hosts 25% of the normal cancellation fees.

Microsoft’s Major Monday

Microsoft announced a new subscription service, called Microsoft 365, that will replace their current Office 365 suite of products. Beginning April 21, the new service will offer additional functionality to Office 365, with features such as a Family Safety App and Teams for consumers to be unveiled later this year.

Guess Who’s Back…

HQ Trivia on Sunday night broadcast its first live show in over a month after the company had previously announced it was shuttering operations mid-February. According to the WSJ, the live-trivia mobile app was provided emergency funding by a benefactor who wished to remain anonymous.

More: HQ Trivia was started by two former Vine founders in 2017, and, at one point, had more than 2.3 million players vying for daily cash prizes. The death of co-founder Colin Kroll and a failed internal coup led to the company’s temporary dissolution.

The Office Presents: Good News

For those of us looking to watch something other than The Office for the third (or tenth) time, John Krasinski has teamed up with Steve Carrell to put a new positive-themed show on the air.

The SomeGoodNews YouTube channel, operated by Krasinski, is a news show dedicated entirely to good news - check out their first episode featuring user-submitted stories and a five-minute interview with Carrell.

Canine Custodian

When four-year-old Evelyn ‘Vadie’ Sides wandered away from her nanny into the Alabama woods last week, her family was devastated. They searched frantically, but Vadie - along with Lucy, the family hound dog - could not be found.

Two days later, a local rescue team came across the young girl after hearing Lucy’s barks and following them to the source. Vadie was found safe and sound (WRBL reports she acted “like it was no big deal”), while her family was overjoyed to be reunited once again.

Crocs Knocks Their Socks Off

While not often a stylistic choice, comfortable Crocs brand shoes are a favorite among health care workers, who often have to spend entire shifts on their feet.

Crocs has pledged to donate a pair of shoes to every doctor, nurse, or other medical staff in the U.S. who are on the front lines fighting against coronavirus - their recently launched program will donate up to 10,000 free shoes per day.

The very best in oilfield supply and equipment

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