Thursday, April 9, 2020 | View in browser

Good morning.

We’re covering new research on the coronavirus’s arrival in New York, a virus-related cease-fire in Yemen, and Bernie Sanders’s withdrawal from the presidential race.

By Chris Stanford

A closed playground in New York. "We are flattening the curve," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday, when the state reported more than 700 deaths. "Thank God. Thank God. Thank. God." Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times

‘Glimmers of hope’ amid a rising toll

We start today with a note of cautious optimism from our writer Dan Barry: “The world began this week to see small but encouraging signs that concerted efforts to drastically change human behavior — to suspend daily routines by staying at home — are slowing the insidious spread of the novel coronavirus, which has killed tens of thousands and sickened more than a million others across several continents.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Wednesday that he was starting to see “some glimmers of hope,” but epidemiologists warned that a return to pre-pandemic life won’t happen safely anytime soon.

Here are the latest updates from the U.S. and from abroad, as well as maps of the pandemic.

We’re also tracking the virus’s growth rate in hundreds of U.S. metro areas.

In other developments:

■ Virus-related deaths reached new highs in New York and New Jersey for the second straight day on Wednesday, even as other figures suggested that the outbreak in those states was beginning to slow.

■ New research shows the virus began to circulate in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case, brought mainly by travelers from Europe, not Asia.

■ The Labor Department is set to release its weekly tally of new unemployment claims today, a number that is again expected to be in the millions. Here are the latest financial updates.

■ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines on when and how essential employees can go back to work even if they have been exposed to infected people.

■ Citing the pandemic, Saudi Arabia announced a cease-fire in the war in Yemen starting today, which could pave the way toward ending the five-year conflict. Separately, as many as 150 members of the Saudi royal family are believed to have contracted the virus.

■ A review found little evidence to support the idea that hot weather will stop contagion.

■ Seismologists have been able to hear the earth’s natural vibrations more clearly as the everyday hum of humanity has grown quieter. Electricity usage in the U.S. has fallen sharply in the past month, a sign of decreased economic activity.

“The Daily”: Today’s episode is about how Mardi Gras in New Orleans may have played a role in the spread of the virus.

Contact us: The Times would like to hear from the doctors, nurses and health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Please share your story.

The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.

The Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, is partnering with a British company seeking to develop a home coronavirus test. Seyllou/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Pandemic pits rich countries against poor

As the coronavirus disrupts the global supply chain, scientists in Africa and Latin America have been told by manufacturers that orders for testing kits can’t be filled for months, because almost everything they produce is going to the U.S. or Europe.

All countries report steep price increases, from testing kits to masks.

So far, the developing world has reported far fewer cases and deaths, but public health experts fear that the virus could be especially devastating for countries with underfunded health systems.

Quotable: “If it was just one country with an epidemic it would be fine, but all the major countries in the world are wanting the same thing at the same time,” said the chief executive of a group that represents the testing industry.

Another angle: New York’s network of group homes for people with special needs has seen a surge in infections.

Closer look: Food banks across the U.S. are struggling to meet demand. “‘Crazy’ pretty much sums it up,” a food bank official in Louisiana said.

Senator Bernie Sanders last month. He has played a major role in moving the Democratic Party to the left. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

The race for the general election begins

Now that Bernie Sanders has withdrawn from the presidential race, Joe Biden is faced with the challenge of uniting the Democratic Party and winning the support of the younger, more liberal voters who powered the Vermont senator’s campaign.

Starting today, the Biden campaign is expected to highlight a series of policy positions that show how he has moved closer to Mr. Sanders on health care and other issues.

Quotable: In dropping out on Wednesday, Mr. Sanders said: “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour.”

News analysis: The pandemic has turned the primary race into less of an ideological contest between the Democrats and refocused their attention on defeating President Trump in November, a correspondent for The Times Magazine writes.

Another angle: Republicans have fought the expanded use of mail-in ballots during the pandemic, arguing that it encourages fraud. Although there have been several documented fraud cases involving mail or absentee ballots in recent decades, some states that already conduct elections almost entirely by mail report little fraud. We checked some of the facts.

If you have some time, this is worth it

How can America emerge stronger?

Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

The Times’s Opinion section is starting an ambitious project to envision how the U.S. can eventually come out of the current moment stronger, fairer and more free.

In an introduction, our editorial page editor, James Bennet, writes: “This pandemic offers the same opportunity that Americans have seized during past crises: to set aside petty differences, recognize national priorities and set to work again on creating a more perfect union. We’re launching this initiative in hopes of supporting that national instinct.”

Here’s what else is happening

Our special report on A.I.: As artificial intelligence evolves and expands, so does the impact on our lives. The Times examined the trend as it applies to fields including education, entertainment, science and sports.

Vincent Tullo for The New York Times

Snapshot: Above, the Queensboro Bridge as seen from the East River promenade on the Upper East Side. Our critic Michael Kimmelman took a virtual tour of the waterfront with the architect Deborah Berke and found that it encapsulates New York City’s history.

Late-night comedy: After speaking to Senator Bernie Sanders on “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert said, “Bernie Sanders is saying Bernie Sanders can’t win? Man, he is going to catch hell from Bernie Sanders supporters.”

What we’re checking out: The Social Distancing Festival, a calendar of live-streamed events. “You’ve probably already exhausted your Netflix and HBO options,” writes our national correspondent Mike Wines, “so here are different options.”

Now, a break from the news

Melissa Clark

Cook: Green goddess dressing, perfect for dunking veggies, uses almost any soft herbs or greens, puréed with something creamy, something garlicky or oniony, and a few anchovies.

Read: There’s a new collection of novellas from Don Winslow out, “Broken.” Janet Maslin says it shows his range, and his bite. One begins: “No one knows how the chimp got the revolver.”

Listen: Priya Parker has a new podcast for The Times, “Together Apart,” and the first episode is all about how to celebrate Passover, Ramadan or Easter. Here are the essential John Prine songs you ought to listen to. And April is National Poetry Month. We’ve put together a great list of places you can stream poems and slams.

We have lots more ideas about what to read, cook, watch and do while staying safe at home.

And now for the Back Story on …

Tech companies’ new power

Around the world, online habits are changing. But are we giving away too much? Shira Ovide, the host of our On Tech newsletter, chatted about that question on Twitter with Kara Swisher, a veteran technology journalist and an Opinion writer for The Times. Here are lightly edited portions of their conversation.

Shira: How do you feel about us relying more than ever on services from tech companies?

Kara: I’m nervous about it. It doesn’t abrogate the problems they had before.

Amazon is doing great things, yet look at what’s going on at their warehouses. Zoom is doing great things. But I have school-age kids, so I’m not too happy about what’s happening there with privacy and security.

Facebook has been better than in the past; it’s not permitting false information about the coronavirus to spread. I’m glad they are doing this, but I’m not going to give them a standing ovation for it.

Amazon employees went on strike in Michigan this month after three workers contracted the coronavirus. Elaine Cromie for The New York Times

What should tech companies like Amazon do to protect their workers?

Tech companies have lived off other people’s cheap labor for a long time — whether it’s an Uber driver, a delivery person or Amazon warehouse workers. It’s just coming into sharp relief.

These workers deserve much stronger pay and more benefits. That’s costly to the people who want to stay enormously wealthy, and to consumers who like a low price.

What is keeping you happy right now?

I just had a baby with my girlfriend, and staring at a baby who has no idea that any of this is happening is really quite something. Watch a baby eat bananas for the first time. You will feel just fine.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Chris

Thank you
Melissa Clark provided the recipe, and Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh provided the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.
• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is about how New Orleans became a petri dish for the coronavirus.
• Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Old saying (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here.
• The Times’s DealBook team will discuss the pandemic’s impact on media and advertising with our media columnist Ben Smith and our media industry reporter Edmund Lee at 11 a.m. Eastern today. R.S.V.P. here.