Virus Outbreak, ADVISORY

A football-starved nation is getting its games back with the start of the NFL season, but many worry that attending games or get-togethers will lead to a new surge in coronavirus infections. NFL football will kick off Thursday in Kansas City at a stadium that’s allowing 17,000 fans inside. Those spectators may be able to physically distance in the stands, but whether they’re able to do so at concessions or in bathrooms is a different story. Experts fear more outbreaks as the virus has started to slow its spread.

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

ONLY ON AP:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MASK SHORTAGES: White House officials say the United States has all the medical supplies needed to battle COVID-19, but health care workers, hospital officials and even the FDA say that’s not the case. Shortfalls of medical N95 respirators — commonly referred to as N95 masks — and other protective gear started in March, when the pandemic hit New York. The American Medical Association’s president, Dr. Susan Bailey, says the tremendous pressure on the supply chain continues today. Mask makers say part of the problem is the Trump administration hasn’t committed enough long-term resources to making meltblown textile — the key ingredient in medical-grade masks. SENT: 2070 words, photos. A 1010-word abridged version also has moved.

SENT/DEVELOPING:

VIRUS OUTBREAK: The kickoff of the NFL season Thursday with 17,000 fans in the stadium illustrates on a global stage the nation’s determination to resume its most popular sport in the middle of a pandemic that has already killed nearly 200,000 Americans. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at 884,000, a sign that layoffs are stuck at a historically high level six months after the viral pandemic flattened the economy. SENT: 800 words, photos. VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNEMPLOYMENT-FEDERAL BENEFIT: The federal government says the fund providing a $300 weekly unemployment insurance boost is running out soon, but all eligible unemployed workers will still get their share for six weeks.

EUROPE-ECONOMY: The European Central Bank has left its key stimulus policies unchanged with almost a trillion euros still in the pipeline to bolster the eurozone’s rebound from the severe coronavirus shutdowns. SENT: 600 words, photos.

FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks gave up an early gain and moved steadily lower all day, erasing nearly all of a rally from a day earlier and extending their losses for the week. SENT: 750 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: Senate Democrats have scuttled a scaled-back GOP coronavirus rescue package, saying the measure shortchanges too many pressing needs as the pandemic continues its assault on the country. SENT; developing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINE: A drugmaker says it halted a coronavirus vaccine study because a woman who received the experimental shot developed severe neurological symptoms. SENT: 340 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW YORK SCHOOLS: Back to school for many of New York’s 2 ½ million public school students has meant back to their kitchen tables and bedrooms where they left last spring. SENT: 880 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN: Health experts have expressed strong skepticism about the British government’s ambitious plans to carry out millions of coronavirus tests daily in a bid to help people resume normal lives in the absence of a vaccine. SENT: 530 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIFE IN DEATH’S WAKE: Red-eyed from crying, José Collantes Navarro couldn’t contain himself and crumpled against the wall as he watched his partner being buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Chile’s capital. She had lost the fight against the new coronavirus, while he had survived. He is one of thousands of people who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 in Chile, one of the countries in Latin America hardest hit by the virus. SENT: 770 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ISRAEL-POLITICAL PANDEMIC: With the coronavirus pandemic raging and the Jewish High Holidays approaching, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself caught between his ultra-Orthodox partners and the need to drive down surging infection rates. This balancing act could plunge the country into a new lockdown ahead of the holidays, which begin next week. SENT: 990 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA: India reported another record spike of 95,735 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours as the virus spreads beyond its major cities. It has confirmed more than 4.4 million cases, and the 1,172 deaths reported in the past 24 hours pushed its death toll past 75,000. SENT; developing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-NEPAL HEALTH WORKERS: At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals. SENT: 500 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-EMPLOYERS: Employers are generally not required to tell workers when someone in the workplace has tested positive for the coronavirus. SENT: 290 words, photos.

ALSO:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEBRASKA: Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is ending nearly all of his state’s social-distancing restrictions on even as the number of new coronavirus cases has trended upward over the last few months. SENT: 550 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-AIRPORT SCREENING: The U.S. government is changing the way it screens travelers from China and certain other countries. Beginning next week, the government plans to end the current system of temperature checks and travelers vouching for the health. And it plans to end the requirement that the travelers enter through one of 15 designated airports. SENT: 160 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GUATEMALA: Guatemala plans to reopen its borders next week, six months after closing them in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. SENT: 100 words, photos.

CENTURY 21-BANKRUPTCY: Century 21 Stores — a destination for bargain hunters looking for fat deals on designer dresses and shoes for nearly 60 years — has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is winding down its business, including all 13 stores across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Century 21 joins more than two dozen retailers who have filed for bankruptcy since the pandemic which forced non-essential stores to temporarily close. SENT: 320 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MYANMAR: Myanmar is accelerating efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus, which has led to campaigning for November’s general election to be suspended in some areas due to partial virus lockdowns. SENT: 380 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-AUSTRALIA: Australia’s government has ramped up pressure on a state government to relax pandemic border restrictions after a woman was refused permission to attend her father’s funeral and a dying dad was told he was only allowed to be visited by one of his four children. SENT: 390 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, Germany, South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Myanmar, Taiwan, Israel, various US, Latin America locations.

VIDEO:

AP video has moved from Kenya, Japan, North Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, various US, Latin America locations.