Treat Yo’ Self

Coronavirus Updates

Global cases rose above 3.22 million yesterday with more than 228,200 deaths. The number of confirmed U.S. cases rose to more than 1.06 million with 61,668 confirmed deaths.

• A pug from North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19 in a Duke University study. This is the first recorded canine case in the U.S.
• Russia reported its daily new case and daily death record on Tuesday, with national cases approaching 100,000 and deaths rising to 867.
• The Navy on Wednesday launched a wider investigation into the USS Theodore coronavirus outbreak, which will delay the decision on whether or not to reinstate the ship’s captain Brett Crozier. Crozier was relieved of duty after writing a memo pleading for assistance with the ship’s virus outbreak, and was publicly called out by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who later resigned.
• Early data from the first states to loosen restrictions - GA, SC, & OK - showed a slight uptick in retail foot traffic, mostly for travel, clothing, and entertainment.

Turkey Donates PPE To U.S.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan on Wednesday donated a planeload of protective gear to the United States. Along with the donation, he sent a letter addressed to President Trump calling for a closer relationship between the two countries following years of conflict.

More: President Trump imposed punitive tariffs on Turkey in 2018 after they detained an American pastor. Congress last summer threatened sanctions against Turkey after they purchased missile defense systems from Russia. In October, Turkey launched a military offensive into Syria against the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.

The Race To The White House

Joe Biden won Ohio’s Democratic primary election on Tuesday, the first ever to be done largely by mail. In other 2020 news, Andrew Yang sued the state of New York for canceling its Democratic primary, saying the state denied citizens the right to choose their candidate.

More: The Kansas Democratic primary is up next, and will be held entirely by mail for the first time. Ballots will be counted after Saturday, May 2nd.

The Coronavirus Effect

• U.S. GDP contracted by 4.8% in the first quarter of 2020, the most drastic decrease since Q4 of 2008.
• Facebook beat analysts’ expectations for Q1 revenue but fell slightly short in earnings. Tesla reported a profit for its third consecutive quarter after delivering 88,400 vehicles in Q1.
• The Federal Reserve kept interest rates at zero and released a statement on Wednesday saying it will continue to closely monitor the market and take action where appropriate.
• Apple and Google released a beta version of their COVID-19 tracing software. It enables apps to notify individuals who have been exposed to the virus without collecting or sharing their data.
• Costco unveiled new guidelines for shoppers to follow - including mandatory face masks - once its locations return to regular hours starting May 4.

Notorious B.E.Z.(os)

The Trump administration on Wednesday placed Amazon’s web domains in the UK, France, Canada, Germany, and India on its “notorious markets” list of websites believed to facilitate IP violations. Amazon has pushed back against the decision, which doesn’t result in any specific penalties, claiming it was politically motivated.

More: Last week, a WSJ investigative report found that Amazon used data about independent sellers to develop competing products, in direct opposition to what company executives have told Congress.

Even More: Amazon renewed a three-year agreement with the NFL to live stream Thursday Night Football games, plus exclusive rights to one Saturday game.

Download Complete

According to research firm Mobile Insight, TikTok recently topped 2 billion downloads on the Google Play Store and the App Store. TikTok is the first non-Facebook owned app to reach 2 billion downloads since 2014 (WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger are the others).

More: Numerous U.S. agencies have banned TikTok from government devices, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, TSA, and Department of Homeland Security.

Sew Far, Sew Good

Ten-year-old Giana Harris of Beaverton, Oregon is a sewing veteran, having started her own company selling handmade hair scrunchies online last year. When the coronavirus outbreak reached her town, Giana decided to use her sewing skills to benefit the local community.

Her mother, Anna, saw a social media post from nonprofit Metropolitan Family Service asking for masks. Gina lept into action - just days afterward, she had already donated more than 100 homemade masks to MFS and another nonprofit.

Tea Time

Many homes around the Orlando, Florida area have recently been “tea-p’d” by employees of Infusion Tea, a local organic cafe with a wide selection of products.

Rather than covering their house with toilet paper, this version of “tea-p’ing” involves the cafe handing out free gifts of toilet paper and loose leaf tea, which are attached to a bright orange sign placed in residents’ yards.

There’s No Place Like Home

Eric Johnson was fast asleep one night in March when he was suddenly awoken by his dog, Bella, who was behaving strangely. Eric turned on the news and discovered a tornado was heading towards their town of Cookeville, Tennessee.

He quickly gathered his family into the bathtub, but the tornado struck his house as he headed to get Bella. After the storm cleared, she was nowhere to be found - until now. Bella was discovered on Sunday four miles from home, 54 days after she had originally been lost.

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Chief Executive Officer, OutboundEngine