Virus Outbreak, ADVISORY

As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. And half the dead were people of color — Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asian Americans. That’s according to an analysis of government data by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization.

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

UPCOMING:

SENT/DEVELOPING:

VIRUS OUTBREAK: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. And half the dead were people of color — Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and, to a marked degree unrecognized until now, Asian Americans. SENT: 1240 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.

FINANCIAL MARKETS: More gains for tech stocks propped up an otherwise wobbly Wall Street on Friday, as a record-breaking but wishy-washy week of trading came to a close. SENT: 940 words, photos.

HOME SALES: Spurred by ultra-low mortgage rates, home buyers rushed last month to snap up a limited supply of existing houses, causing the pace of purchases to jump by a record-high 24.7%. The July surge in sales reported Friday by the National Association of Realtors marked the second straight month of accelerating home purchases. The back-to-back increases have helped stabilize the home buying market, which all but froze early this spring when the viral pandemic erupted across the United States. SENT: 960 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FOOD TRUCKS-SUBURBS: Food trucks have long been seen as an urban treasure but are now being saved by the suburbs during the coronavirus pandemic. No longer able to depend on bustling city centers, these small businesses on wheels are venturing out to where people are working and spending most of their time — home. SENT: 960 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WWII-SURRENDER VETERANS: Several dozen aging U.S. veterans will gather on a ship in Pearl Harbor next month to mark the 75th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, even if it means the vulnerable group may be risking their lives again amid the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1020 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GERMAN SCHOOLS: At least 41 schools in Berlin have reported that students or teacher have become infected with the coronavirus not even two weeks after schools reopened in the German capital. SENT; developing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MALTA SURGE: In the first four months of the European coronavirus emergency, the island nation of Malta recorded just 674 infections. In the last six weeks, its confirmed caseload has more than doubled and Malta is now considered such an at-risk destination that several European countries have imposed travel restrictions or testing requirements on anyone who goes there. On the day Malta registered its first death since May, some are wondering what happened? SENT: 480 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA: South Korea has added its most new virus cases in months, driven by a surge around the capital that appears to be spreading nationwide. Includes developments from throughout Asia. SENT: 1000 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PAPUA-NEW GUINEA: Papua New Guinea blocked the arrival of a flight carrying workers from China after a Chinese mine operator said its employees were given a coronavirus vaccine in a possible unauthorized trial. SENT: 540 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST: Lebanon has began a two-week partial lockdown and nighttime curfew after coronavirus cases increased sharply following an explosion in Beirut that killed and injured thousands of people. With other developments from throughout the Mideast. SENT: 530 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN: Michigan’s appeals court says Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency declarations and orders to curb the coronavirus clearly fall within the scope of her legal powers. SENT: 650 words, photos.

FILM-THEATER-SAFETY PROTOCOLS: As movie theaters come back to life across the country, the National Association of Theater Owners is helping to take the guess work out of safe operating practices in the era of COVID-19. SENT: 500 words, photos.

ALSO:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGES: Syracuse University has suspended 23 students in the wake of a large on-campus gathering that administrators say could force them to shut down the campus. SENT: 430 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA JOBS: California added more than 140,000 jobs in July and lowered its unemployment rate to 13.3%. But the unemployment rate is still higher than it ever was during the Great Recession a decade ago. SENT: 550 words, photos.

EUROPE-ECONOMY: The European economy’s rebound from coronavirus lockdowns slowed in August, suggesting the reopening of businesses is proceeding slowly and the outlook for jobs is precarious.SENT: 450 words, photos.

BRITAIN-ECONOMY: Britain’s government debt has breached the 2 trillion-pound ($2.6 trillion) mark for the first time after heavy borrowing to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 200 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPAIN-BROTHELS: A Spanish region has ordered all brothels to close after recent coronavirus clusters highlighted the difficulties of tracking contagion in these premises. SENT: 310 words.

BROADWAY-TONY AWARDS: Despite being interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the shortened Broadway season will nonetheless have a Tony Awards. Tony Award Productions said Friday that the celebration of live theater will be digital but offered no date or streaming platform. SENT: 250 words, photos.

ISRAEL-MASKED BODYBUILDERS-PHOTO ESSAY: Israeli bodybuilders are determined not to let the coronavirus stand in the way of their devotion to the sport. SENT: 270 words, photos.

INTERACTIVES/GRAPHICS:

-US cases county-by-county. Embed code can be found in Coverage Plan. A static graphic also will be available in AP Newsroom.

-State trends (table): Trends in new cases and positivity rates for each U.S. state over the past 14 days.

-Case count (table): Searchable table of confirmed cases, including recoveries and deaths, by country, updated each hour.

-Interactive breakdown of unemployment filings by state with time scale for each (going back as far as 2000)

-Virus Europe Spread (map): An auto updating European map tracking the total confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths from coronavirus.

Additional graphics and interactives include:

- Flattening the Coronavirus Curve (Chart): Chart compares the cumulative cases over time in some of the hardest hit countries by coronavirus.

-Virus Global Spread (table): Table of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Table also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus Global Spread (Map): Map of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Map also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus US State Map: State by state count of confirmed cases in the U.S.

-Virus US State Table: Table tracks the number of cases, recoveries and deaths for the US including its territories.

-Status of Cases Worldwide: Auto-updating once a day, this chart tracks the levels of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 around the world over time.

PHOTOS:

AP photos have moved from France, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, various US, Latin America locations.

VIDEO:

AP video has moved from Greece, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, South Korea, various US, Latin America locations.