Virus Outbreak, ADVISORY

The U.S. is approaching 5 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus, far outpacing other countries. The reasons are obvious: Americans are resisting taking steps to avoid getting infected. Many of the hotspots are chalked up to large gatherings, from big house parties and large no-mask weddings to crowded bars and restaurants. The U.S. has had more than 155,000 people die from the virus in just a matter of months. It’s been fueled by a perfect storm of factors: continuing to gather in droves, resistance to wearing masks and a patchwork quilt of approaches to containing the virus by county, state and federal governments.

The AP plans the following coverage today of the virus outbreak. For up-to-the minute information, visit AP Newsroom’s coverage hub Find AP Virus Alerts here

SENT/DEVELOPING:

VIRUS OUTBREAK: The U.S. is approaching 5 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus, far outpacing other countries. The reasons are obvious: Americans are resisting taking steps to avoid getting infected. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FORGOTTEN FRONTIER: California’s often-forgotten Imperial Valley illustrates how lower-income and Latino households are among those suffering most from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. There is no single reason for its plight but inequalities loom large. SENT: 1360 words words, photos, video.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-EVICTIONS: Housing advocates fear that they could see a wave of evictions in the coming months, as states end moratoriums put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1190 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING: As the pandemic drags into the new school year, it is upending the back-to-school shopping season. That’s the second most important period for retailers behind the holidays. SENT: 740 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LEARNING PODS: As the coronavirus pandemic has clouded hopes of reopening schools nationwide, parents who want more than remote instruction have been scrambling to hire tutors and private teachers for small groups of children. SENT: 1010 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-EDUCATION IMPACT: The United Nations chief says the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education in history, with schools closed in more than 160 countries in mid-July, affecting over 1 billion students.SENT: 620 words.

PARALYZING DISEASE: Health experts say the coronavirus pandemic might disrupt another disease: a rare paralyzing illness that has been hitting U.S. children for the past decade. SENT: 530 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: A key Senate Republican said he supports an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of a huge coronavirus relief bill, adding that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation. SENT: developing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOMES: The Trump administration’s plan to provide every nursing home with a fast COVID-19 testing machine comes with an asterisk: The government won’t supply enough test kits to check staff and residents beyond an initial couple of rounds.SENT: 860 words, photos.

PUBLIC HEALTH-FRONT LINE WORKERS: Officials in a Maryland county say they “will spare no time or expense” investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a veteran public health worker. SENT: 840 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-SMOKE: Can you get the coronavirus from secondhand smoke? Secondhand smoke isn’t believed to directly spread the virus, experts say, but infected smokers may blow droplets carrying the virus when they exhale. SENT: 190 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEXICO: Five months into Mexico’s COVID-19 epidemic, poor neighborhoods like San Gregorio Atlapulco persist as hot spots while other parts of the capital see a modest improvement. SENT: 960 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA: Commuter trains, buses and other public vehicles stayed off the main roads of the Philippine capital Tuesday and police were again staffing checkpoints to restrict public travel as surging virus cases forced another lockdown. Includes other developments throughout Asia. SENT: 690 words, photos.

FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks ended another bumpy day on Wall Street with modest gains. SENT: 760 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DIARY-DEATH OF A FRIEND: Some people don’t love the notion of baring the soul. One Associated Press writer marveled at fellow journalists who were willing to write about personal stories that were obviously painful. That was not her way. SENT: 660 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NO MASK WEDDINGS: Wedding planners, photographers and other bridal vendors who make the magic happen have a heap of new worries in the middle of the pandemic. SENT: 1010 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SYRIA SOCCER: A Syrian official says at least four players and three staff members on Syria’s national soccer team have tested positive for coronavirus and are in isolation. SENT: 690 words, photos.

ALSO:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LAPTOPS STUCK: Education officials in Alabama say more than 4,000 new laptop computers bound for a school district are being held by customs due to human rights concerns. SENT: 530 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The White House says President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, who tested positive for the coronavirus, returned to work Tuesday after recovering from a mild case of COVID-19. SENT: 290 words, photos.

CHINA-WHO: China says it and the World Health Organization are discussing further plans to trace the origin of the coronavirus outbreak following a visit to the country by two experts from the U.N. agency.SENT: 240 words.

FRANCE-MASK BEATING: A resident of a Paris suburb says he was beaten with baseball bats because he asked a fellow laundromat patron to wear a face mask – a requirement in all indoor public places in France to fight resurgent coronavirus infections. SENT: 250 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORWAY CRUISE: Authorities say the number of passengers on a Norwegian cruise ship who have tested positive for the coronavirus has reached 43. SENT: 320 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ADB: The Asian Development Bank says it will provide a $1.5 billion loan to Thailand to aid its response to the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 360 words.

PHOTOS:

AP photos have moved from France, India, Indonesia, China, Nepal, South Korea, various US, Latin America locations.

VIDEO:

AP video has moved from Rwanda, Philippines, Australia, various Europe, US, Latin Ameria locations.