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Welcome to Wednesday, Daily Briefing readers! It's finally April, a month that brings us Census Day, Easter and a lot more news. |
Today, rent checks are due for many Americans, two cruise ships are stuck in limbo off the coast of Florida and on day 21 without sports, ESPN will start airing memorable NBA finals. It's also April Fools' Day, but I'm willing to pretend it's not if you are. |
It's N'dea, and here's what else you need to know today. |
What happens if you can't pay rent on April 1 because of coronavirus |
For millions of tenants who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday is D-Day: The monthly rent check is due . That could pose a nationwide dilemma because 3.3 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment insurance the week ended March 21 and a similar number may have sought benefits last week. That means virus-related layoffs or reduced hours may have topped 6 million just in the past two weeks. Fortunately, the vast majority of tenants will be getting a reprieve through federal, state or local moratoriums on evictions . Many landlords will similarly get a break on mortgage payments, though others could still be on the hook even if their tenants are delinquent. |
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Ill-fated cruise ships still in limbo off Florida |
The fate of two cruise ships, one of them stricken by coronavirus, remained uncertain as they headed toward Florida on Wednesday. Holland America's MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam are seeking permission to dock at Broward County's Port Everglades cruise ship terminal after four elderly passengers on the Zaandam died and more than 100 guests and crew reported flu-like symptoms. Nine on the Zaandam have tested positive for coronavirus. State and local officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have so far refused to let the ships dock, saying the state's health care resources are stretched too thin. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will speak with DeSantis about whether to allow the ships to dock. |
Want more coronavirus news? Here's the latest |
The U.S. coronavirus death toll surpassed 4,000 early Wednesday. If the entire nation makes an all-out effort to restrict contact, coronavirus deaths will peak in the next two weeks, according to a University of Washington study. Federal public health officials said that between 100,000 and 240,000 could succumb to the virus by the end of the year. |
U.S. stocks plunged on Tuesday to close out their worst quarter since the most harrowing days of the 2008 financial crisis. |
I'll be rounding up the biggest updates related to coronavirus every day in the newsletter so you can stay informed. Want daily coronavirus updates in your inbox? Sign up here. |
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April Fools' Day arrives amid no-joke pandemic |
April Fools' Day is Wednesday , the annual tradition where people and brands become pranksters for a day. But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking global havoc, some companies are reconsidering their gags. Google, for instance, said it would forgo its annual ritual of sharing jokes across company platforms, according to an internal email obtained by Business Insider. "It definitely does seem a little tone-deaf" if a business were to engage in April Fools' Day jokes as usual, said Alex Boese, author of "The Museum of Hoaxes: A History of Outrageous Pranks and Deceptions." |
Costco adds third weekly senior hour due to coronavirus demand |
Costco Wholesale Club will now offer three senior shopping hours a week amid the coronavirus pandemic and is allowing "those with physical impairments" to also participate. The retailer quietly added Wednesdays as the third day after originally starting the special hours last week as a twice-weekly event for members 60 and up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Costco store pharmacies also will be open earlier but food courts will maintain normal hours, according to the website. Acknowledging older adults and persons with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to COVID-19, a growing number of stores have been dedicating time or opening earlier for senior shoppers and other at-risk groups. |
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Need a break from coronavirus news? We've got you covered |
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ESPN to fill airtime with memorable NBA Finals games π |
Did ESPN's Monday Night Football offerings this week have you craving for more classic sports games? During the month of April, ESPN will also air NBA doubleheaders Wednesday nights showcasing key NBA Finals games, starting with two games from the 2016 series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The rest of the month will feature games from the Los Angeles Lakers' titles in 2009 and '10, Boston's 2008 championship run and Miami's memorable 2013 title run. |
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In better news: Here we goat again π |
A group of goats took over the mostly deserted streets of a northern Wales town as the United Kingdom was on lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. The streets of Llandudno are usually filled with tourists and locals but instead saw a herd of mountain goats roam freely on Tuesday. |
The goats normally live out on the Great Orme, a rocky headland northwest of town, and occasionally come into the outskirts of Llandudno during windy weather. Residents said their new neighbors were eating leaves and bushes in the town square. |
| Mountain goats roam the streets of Llandudno on March 31, 2020 in Wales. | Christopher Furlong, Getty Images | |
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