New coronavirus guidelines, stock market collapse, a postponed primary.
Your Monday Evening Briefing |
Good evening. Here’s the latest. |
 | | Doug Mills/The New York Times |
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The advisory is in effect for at least the next 15 days, along with recommendations to avoid discretionary travel, bars and restaurants. |
“With several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner” on the outbreak, President Trump said. When a reporter asked him when that would be, he suggested July or August. |
 | | Bryan R. Smith for The New York Times |
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2. The collapse of the stock market isn’t over yet. |
Equities cratered another 12 percent today, their biggest loss since the outbreak began and the largest percentage drop since 1987, in spite of emergency moves from the Federal Reserve to help capital markets. |
On Wall Street, brokers and analysts were acting as if an economic collapse was inevitable. Some forecasters said they expected the U.S. economy to contract in the first half of this year, signaling that the country had already entered a recession. |
President Trump, pressed to account for the stock reaction, said, “The market will take care of itself,” adding that “the market will be very strong when we get rid of the virus.” |
 | | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images |
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3. Governments everywhere are restricting movement. |
Millions of residents in six counties around San Francisco, above, were ordered to “shelter in place;” Canada closed its borders to most foreign travelers; France is ordering citizens to stay home; and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain — reversing his earlier stance — said people should work at home and avoid unnecessary travel. |
 | | Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock |
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4. And daily life is discombobulated. |
Many restaurants won’t be able to survive even a short closing, writes Pete Wells, our restaurant critic. The restaurant business is hand-to-mouth even in the best of times. Above, Oyster Bar and Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal on Monday. |
 | | Andrew Burton for The New York Times |
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5. A small group of contrarians is asking a taboo question: Are we overreacting to the coronavirus? |
They’re not claiming the virus is a hoax, but they do urge a more careful assessment of the harm of society’s moves to contain the virus. Above, a sparse crowd at Pike Place Market in Seattle. |
Besides the financial ramifications of such policies, their concerns touch on how society’s most marginalized groups may fare and on the effect of government-enforced curfews on democracy. |
As one Silicon Valley venture capitalist puts it, “The fear is far worse than the virus.” |
 | | Kyle Grillot for The New York Times |
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Louisiana and Georgia had already put off their primary elections due to the outbreak, and more states are likely to follow. Above, early voting in Ohio on Monday. |
But — as of this writing — polls will still be open in Arizona, Florida and Illinois. |
In Arizona — one of a handful of states that analysts believe will be competitive in the general election — disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers will be available at every polling place. The state, where Latinos make up one-third of the population, has a tangled history of immigration politics. |
 | | Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times |
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7. Apple runs afoul of France. |
The government had accused Apple of forcing its wholesalers to charge the same price for products offered in Apple’s own retail stores and of abusing its broad economic power over the firms. Above, one of the company’s stores in Paris. |
Apple, which is closing its retail stores outside of greater China and has cut its sales forecast because of the virus, said it planned to appeal. |
 | | Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader, via Associated Press |
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8. Five people are dead after a shooting at a gas station in Springfield, Mo. |
Three other victims were found inside the convenience store at the gas station. The police have not released the identity of the assailant, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the store. |
 | | Rebecca Conway for The New York Times |
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9. Yoga becomes a required class. |
Along with math, science and English, the curriculum will include the history of yogic thought and lessons on Ayurveda and naturopathy, a kind of alternative medicine that promotes self-healing. |
Some Muslims, however, are concerned that yoga has religious and ideological overtones, and is increasingly intertwined with the rise of Hindu nationalism. |
 | | Gracia Lam |
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10. And finally, strategies for keeping the weight off. |
Worried about binge eating through your coronavirus pantry? New research shows it doesn’t have to be that way for successful long-term weight management, writes our Personal Health columnist, Jane Brody. |
Self-monitoring practices and coping measures are key to maintaining weight loss, according to the study. Tactics include setting daily calorie goals, recording everything eaten each day and keeping lower-calorie foods like fruits and vegetables more accessible. |
Successful maintainers also have a plan for coping with lapses. “What’s on your mind is as important as what’s on your plate,” said the study’s co-author. |
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