Many in the United States are claiming victory over Covid-19, as deaths keep rising and health experts warn of a second wave.
Bill Gates, on Fareed Zakaria's CNN "Global Public Square" show Sunday, said that the United States needs more extensive testing before widespread reopening can accelerate. Gates pointed out that states with low death rates so far could still experience rising infections.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's victory declaration over the virus appeared more justified than U.S. proclamations. New cases have dropped to near zero in the tiny South Pacific nation.
Here are a few other pandemic snapshots from the weekend:
New Zealand sends virus packing
As the U.S. death toll rises, New England claimed cautious victory over the virus, with one confirmed new case, four probable ones and one death. Health officials in the remote island nation of 5 million residents called this "elimination" of the disease, leaving open the possibility the outbreak could return. New Zealand seeks to "eradicate "the virus, rather than merely "mitigate" it, the U.S. policy.
Popular Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a partial easing of the country's extensive restrictions, allowing restaurant takeout orders and limited ocean swimming. But hair dressers, gyms and massage studios remain closed, businesses now open in Georgia under Gov. Brian Kemp's widely criticized order. Ardern pointed out that such businesses require personal contact.
Australia, which imposed strict rules like its neighbor, also has few new cases.
Wuhan releases all Covid-19 patients from hospitals
Hospitals in Wuhan, China, have discharged all covid-19 patients, the Chinese government announced. The city of 11 million, where the pandemic began late last year, had no new cases. China reported only three new infections in the entire country, two of them from visitors.
Wuhan has 3,869 total deaths, compared with 11,460 in New York City, where fatalities continue to rise. The Chinese government imposed harsh quarantine measures in Wuhan after the outbreak began.
Seattle followed health professionals, while New York City delayed response
When the first U.S. Covid-19 cases rose in Seattle, public officials limited the outbreak by quickly following health experts, the New Yorker's Charles Duhigg reports in the magazine's newest issue. In contrast, Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo delayed in consultingmedical officials.
Conservatives love Sweden
In Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal," Max Van Sydow plays chess with death. Now, the entire country does so.
Sweden's bars and restaurants have stayed open while social distancing rules are voluntary. That has made the reputed Scandinavian home of free love a favorite of American conservatives eager to reopen the U.S. economy.
For years, the socialist nation and its generous social policies have been condemned by American right wingers. Now, the country receives as much love from the Wall Street Journal editorial pages as in a Bernie Sanders speech.
But the Swedish Covid-19 death toll has been higher than in other Scandinavian countries, which have imposed stricter restrictions. Still, most Swedish deaths have come in nursing homes, and the nation is on track to reach "herd immunity."
Alas, U.S. sports fans who want games to return can't cite Sweden as a model. The country has banned gatherings of more than 50 people.
Bill Maher turns right
HBO comic/social commentator Bill Maher sounds like Mitch McConnell in decrying coronavirus relief legislation. Like McConnell and other Republicans, Maher believes the soaring federal debt will bring an economic catastrophe.
Friday night, Maher challenged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the huge packages Congress and the Trump administration have passed. Never answering Maher's claims, Pelosi defended the aid as essential for U.S. workers.
Following the passage of the latest legislation, Senate Majority Leader McConnell opposed help for local and state governments, telling them to declare bankruptcy. Sounds like Maher would agree.
Pelosi told Maher that a new proposal would give money to state and local governments. Democrats were criticized for not insisting that such a program be placed in the most recent legislation.
Economists like The New York Times' Paul Krugman claim the spiraling borrowing is low-risk, with interest rates now negative. Yet, the projected $4 trillion deficit this year and $24 trillion debt bring pause.
Maher, who has been doing his "Real Time" show from home, with digital interviews and canned video of laughing audiences, also has joined conservatives in calling for easing of self-distancing restrictions. Maher also cites Sweden as a model, perhaps because he'd find live audiences there.
The not-so-funny comedian's at-home monologues and routines have fallen painfully flat. Has he quarantined his writers?