COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 3 June

Jun 3, 2020

Passengers carry their luggage at Rome's Termini train station as Italy relaxes more of its restrictions and allows free movement across the country to unwind its rigid lockdown due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Rome, Italy, June 3, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane - RC2J1H9S4PCT

Confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 6.3 million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. Image: REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Linda Lacina

This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.
Today's headlines: Employment in Spain grows for the first time during COVID-19; Brazil forecast to reach 1 million cases in next few weeks: study; One-third of small businesses surveyed in India are say they're shutting their doors.

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What is the World Economic Forum doing about the coronavirus outbreak?

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 6.3 million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 380,000 people have died from the virus, while over 2.7 million have recovered.
One-third of small businesses surveyed in India say they're shutting their doors.
Employment in Spain grows for the first time during COVID-19
Summer heat unlikely to stop virus' spread: NIH
Brazil forecast to reach 1 million cases in next few weeks: Study

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the last seven days by country, territory or area, 27 May to 02 June* Image: World Health Organization

2. What the COVID-19 pandemic teaches us about cybersecurity

A cyber pandemic is as inevitable as a future disease pandemic, writes Nicholas Davis, a professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management and Visiting Professor in Cybersecurity. The vulnerabilities are varied and businesses and workers should keep the following in mind:

A cyberattack with characteristics similar to the coronavirus would spread faster and further than any biological virus.
The economic impact of a widespread digital shutdown would be of the same magnitude – or greater – than what we’re currently seeing.
Recovery from the widespread destruction of digital systems would be extremely challenging. [Replacing 5% of the world’s connected devices would require around 71 million new devices.]

3. Infection risks at one metre and two metres distance: Lancet

A new analysis from the Lancet explains that two-metre social distancing can halve the risk of infection from coronavirus. Researchers reviewed studies in more than 170 countries and leveraged statistical analysis and modeling to better understand the potential risk to infection. According to the review, infection risk can rise around 3% when people are one meter away from each other and around 13% when people stand closer than one meter. The insights help to give clarity regarding distance guidelines, which currently vary by country and agency.

4. Google employees return to work on 'rotating basis'

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, shared the company’s plan to return its workforce to its offices, reported Tech Crunch this week.

Some offices will open 6 July and a small number of staffers who need a physical workspace will have “the opportunity to return on a limited, rotating basis.” Employees will rotate in and out to ensure facilities are only around 10% occupancy.

If these efforts are successful, the share of workers in offices could increase to 30% by September, wrote Pichai in a blog post.

4. Patient-approved exercises to relieve COVID-19 stress and aid recovery

A special workbook released this week can help you help yourself and others during COVID-19. The free booklet - Basic Psychosocial Skills: A Guide for COVID-19 Responders - is packed with tips, worksheets and things to say during difficult moments and links to other resources, and was informed by more 200 recovered patients as well as emergency responders in 24 countries. While designed for a range of workers, the tips can help anyone look after their own well-being and that of others. Here are a few resources listed in the book:

14-day wellbeing diary, an interactive PDF with daily activities to help you make time at home more fulfilling
A remote psychosocial guidebook from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with phrases to help you convey empathy when you can't be with someone in person
Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide, with practical exercises and audio files to help manage stress

This unique guide was developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Reference Group, a unique collaboration of United Nations agencies Image: This

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