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Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Live Science will keep you up to date on all coronavirus news, including how far it has spread, city and local closings and the science behind the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.




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Tennessee: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Arizona: Latest updates on coronavirus

Arizona has reported 20 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday (March 17).




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New York: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in New York and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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West Virginia: Latest updates on Coronavirus

West Virginia has its first confirmed case of coronavirus.




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Tapping For Coronavirus Fears!

By popular request, a video about ALLEVIATING YOUR CORONAVIRUS FEARS! I promise, this will make you feel better. Let’s be real, let’s be rational, and let’s release any panic we’re feeling.

The post Tapping For Coronavirus Fears! appeared first on Gala Darling.




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The starry dusty field from the core of our Milky Way galaxy (photo)

A panoramic view of the Milky Way galaxy's dusty core reveals several colorful deep-space nebulas.




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coronavirus and COVID-19

A retired colleague contacted me with this query:
Has a dialect difference emerged between US novel coronavirus/new coronavirus and UK COVID-19, do you think? Novel coronavirus/new coronavirus is favoured by Reuters, but I don't know whether that counts in the dialect balance.

I hear plenty of COVID-19 from US sources, so that didn't strike me as quite right, but I had a look (on 29 April) at the News on the Web (NOW) corpus, which (so far this year) had 226 covi* (i.e. words starting with covi-) per million words in US and 49 per million in UK. For coronav* it's 362 US v 92 UK. (I searched that way so that I'd get all variations, including COVID without the -19, without the hyphen, coronaviruses, etc.).

Now, I don't trust the geographical coding on the NOW corpus very much, because you have things like the Guardian showing up in the US data because it has a US portal that has US-particular content, but also all the UK content—and that doesn't do us much good in sorting out AmE from BrE. I really don't know why the per-million numbers are so much higher in the US sources, since the news in both places is completely taken over by the virus and stories related to it. But anyway, about 38% of the (named) mentions of the disease are COVID in the US and 35% in the UK, so there is no notable difference in preference for COVID. I found it interesting that the two newspaper apps on my phone (Guardian [UK] and New York Times) prefer coronavirus in headlines, even though COVID-19 is shorter.

But my colleague is right that there is a lot more new/novel coronavirus in US than UK. About 12% of AmE usages are prefaced by an adjective that starts with N, while only about 3% of BrE coronaviruses are. Distribution is fairly even between novel (from medical usage) and new. It's worth noting that since I'm only searching news media,  new/novel is probably far more common in this dataset than it would be in everyday interactions.

Including the definite article (the coronavirus) seems to be more common in AmE. If I just look for how many coronavirus occurrences are preceded by the, the proportion is 45% for AmE and 37% for BrE.  this search hits examples like the one in the 'middle school' story on the left: the coronavirus lockdown where the the really relates to the lockdown. So, to try to avoid this problem, I searched for (the) coronavirus [VERB] and (the) coronavirus [full stop/period]. In those cases, then AmE news media have the the about 50% of the time, while BrE ones have it less than 30% of the time. That misses the new/novel coronavirus (because of the adjective between the and coronavirus), so the real difference in the before coronavirus is probably more stark.

The media's style guides are supposed to guide the choices journalists and editors make in phrasing such things, but how strictly they follow their own guides is another matter. I had a look at a couple:

The Guardian Style Guide (UK) says:
coronavirus outbreak 2019-20
The virus is officially called Sars-CoV-2 and this causes the disease Covid-19. However, for ease of communication we are following the same practice as the WHO and using Covid-19 to refer to both the virus and the disease in our general reporting. It can also continue to be referred to as the coronavirus.  [I've added the bold on the latter]

The Associated Press (US) gives similar advice, though it goes into more particular rules for science stories.
As of March 2020, referring to simply the coronavirus is acceptable on first reference in stories about COVID-19. While the phrasing incorrectly implies there is only one coronavirus, it is clear in this context. Also acceptable on first reference: the new coronavirus; the new virus; COVID-19.
In stories, do not refer simply to coronavirus without the article the. Not: She is concerned about coronavirus. Omitting the is acceptable in headlines and in uses such as: He said coronavirus concerns are increasing.
Passages and stories focusing on the science of the disease require sharper distinctions.
COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. When referring specifically to the virus, the COVID-19 virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are acceptable. But, because COVID-19 is the name of the disease, not the virus, it is not accurate to write a new virus called COVID-19. [bold added]
In comparing the two passages you can see one predictable difference between them. AP writes COVID in all caps, Guardian has Covid with the initial capital only. There is a widespread preference in BrE (and generally not in AmE) to differentiate between initalisms and true acronyms. (There's been a bit in the Guardian about it, here.)

In an initialism, you pronounce the names of the letters: the WHO stands for World Health Organization and it is pronounced W-H-O and not "who". It's spel{led/t} with all caps (or small caps), no matter where you live. (AmE styles are more likely than BrE styles to insist on (BrE) full stops/(AmE) periods in these: W.H.O.—but styles do vary.)

Acronyms use the initial letters of words to make a new word, pronounced as a word. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's short name is pronounced "nasa", making it a true acronym. All AmE styles that I know of spell it with caps: NASA. Many BrE styles spell it like any other proper name, with just an initial capital: Nasa.

This disease name provides a slightly different case because it's doesn't just use initial letters: COronaVIrusDisease. That's probably why I'm seeing some initial-only Covid in AmE, for instance in the Chronicle of Higher Education, where they spell other acronyms (like NASA) in all caps.

Other variants, like CoViD and covid are out there—but they are in the minority. COVID and Covid rule.While some other UK sources, like the Guardian, follow the initial-cap style (Covid), many UK sources use the all-cap style, including the National Health Service and the UK government.


And on that note, I hope you and yours are safe.

P.S. Since I'm talking about newspaper uses, I haven't considered pronunciation—but that discussion is happening in the comments. 




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Florida Aquarium captures baby coral breakthrough on video

The Florida Aquarium announced a breakthrough that may help save America's Great Barrier Reef. Scientists at the Tampa-based aquarium have successfully reproduced ridged cactus coral for the first time. A video captures the tiny baby corals looking like undersea fairy lights as they take their first and only swim beyond the reef.[...]




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Eco-friendly coffee range uses cork to reduce plastic waste

These days are filled with stress and anxiety, but it’s also time to take pleasure in the small joys of life — such as a good cup of coffee. For coffee-connoisseurs, designer Samson Chung has just released a new collection of coffee and espresso makers called Kork Kafeware that, thanks to its sleek combination of stainless steel and cork accents, lets you sit down to enjoy a superb cup of joe, slowly and sustainably.[...]




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Whimsical guesthouse uses prefab timber and corten steel

Belgian firm Atelier Vens Vanbelle has created a stunning guest home for a client who works in the film industry. Located in the Uitbergen region of East Flanders, the Alex Guesthouse boasts an eye-catching design comprised of a unique curved volume made out of prefabricated timber and clad in corten steel.[...]




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Greenhouse gas emissions expected to hit record decline

While your home energy bill may have increased while you shelter in place, the planet’s overall energy use has taken a significant downturn. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) first quarter report, global carbon emissions could be down by 8% this year, the biggest drop the agency has ever seen.[...]




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Record high amount of microplastic found on seafloors

Researchers in a new U.K.-led study found a staggering volume of microplastics on the seafloor. At up to 1.9 million pieces on a single square meter, it’s the highest level on record.[...]




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Critical SaltStack RCE Bug (CVSS Score 10) Affects Thousands of Data Centers

Two severe security flaws have been discovered in the open-source SaltStack Salt configuration framework that could allow an adversary to execute arbitrary code on remote servers deployed in data centers and cloud environments. The vulnerabilities were identified by F-Secure researchers earlier this March and disclosed on Thursday, a day after SaltStack released a patch (version 3000.2)




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Warning: Citrix ShareFile Flaw Could Let Attackers Steal Corporate Secrets

Since the past few weeks, software giant Citrix has privately been rolling out a critical software update to its enterprise customers that patches multiple security vulnerabilities affecting Citrix ShareFile content collaboration platform. The security advisory—about which The Hacker News learned from Dimitri van de Giessen, an ethical hacker and system engineer—is scheduled to be available




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Download: 'Coronavirus Cyber Security for Management' Template for CISOs

The Coronavirus crisis introduces critical operational challenges to business continuity, placing high stress on organizations' management. As a result, CIOs and CISOs face a double challenge on the cyber risk front – apart from the new risks that the mass transfer of employees working remotely brings, capturing the management mindshare for further investments in security becomes harder than




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Here’s Why Americans Need a Basic Income During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Dramatic action is needed now to blunt the immediate pain of vulnerable workers.




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Trump Uses Coronavirus to Spread Racism

There is nothing like a global pandemic to unleash the forces of racism in society. Trump is now routinely calling the novel coronavirus strain “the Chinese virus.”




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Elections May Have to Change During the Coronavirus Outbreak. Here’s How.

As the novel coronavirus spreads through the U.S. during presidential primaries, election and government officials are scrambling to figure out how to allow voters to cast their ballots safely ― or postpone primaries altogether. Managing in-person voting during an unprecedented pandemic has forced authorities to overcome new virus-related hurdles: providing sufficient cleaning supplies to polling […]




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If Trump Declares Martial Law Due to Coronavirus, Can He Suspend the Election?

Following the criticism that he has mismanaged the nation’s response to the coronavirus epidemic, Trump has declared himself a “wartime president.”  If martial law is next, what will happen to the November election?




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Senator Dumped Up to $1.7 Million of Stock After Reassuring Public About Coronavirus Preparedness

Soon after he offered public assurances that the government was ready to battle the coronavirus, the powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr, sold off a significant percentage of his stocks, unloading between $628,000 and $1.72 million of his holdings on Feb. 13 in 33 separate transactions. As the head of the intelligence […]




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Pizza-Fueled Lizard Broke The Constipation Record, RIP

By Dan Duddy  Published: May 08th, 2020 




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Like a Record, Baby!

"Revolving" self portrait by Felix Nadar, circa 1865.

Felix Nadar was the pseudonym of Gaspard-Felix Tournachon, a French photographer, novelist and balloonist who pioneered the use of artificial lighting in photograpy.

He also founded "The Society for the Encouragement of Aerial Locomotion by Means of Heavier than Air Machines," nominating himself president and his good friend Jules Verne as secretary.

T





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Maryland and Washington, DC: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Maryland and Washington, DC.




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Montana: Latest updates on coronavirus

To date, 311 people have been tested statewide.




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Delaware: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Delaware has eight cases of COVID-19, most of them connected to the University of Delaware.




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Nevada: Latest updates on coronavirus

The first COVID-19 death in Nevada was a man in his 60s with an underlying health condition.




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Nebraska: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Nebraska, and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Kentucky: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here are the latest updates on coronavirus in Kentucky.




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Minnesota: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Minnesota.




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South Dakota: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's an update on the coronavirus case counts in South Dakota and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Oregon: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Oregon and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Rhode Island: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Idaho: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Idaho and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Michigan: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the latest on the coronavirus in Michigan.




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California: Latest updates on coronavirus

California has reported 472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths as of Monday evening (March 16).




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Louisiana: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Louisiana and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Alabama: Latest updates on coronavirus

The case count in Alabama jumped to 36 on Tuesday (March 17).




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Alaska: Latest updates on coronavirus

Alaska has three confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday (March 16).




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Massachusetts: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Massachusetts.




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Georgia: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Georgia has 146 confirmed cases of COVID-19




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Colorado: Latest updates on coronavirus

More than 130 people in the state have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and one has died.




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Utah: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Utah and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Indiana: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Indiana and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Arkansas: Latest updates on coronavirus

Arkansas has reported 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday (March 17).




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Mississippi: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Mississippi.




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Ohio: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Ohio and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Live Science will keep you up to date on all coronavirus news, including how far it has spread, city and local closings and the science behind the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.




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Tennessee: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.