How COVID-19 is impacting the globe Confirmed coronavirus cases are at 3.85 million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 269,000 people have died from the virus, while over 1.2 million have recovered. Confirmed cases in Russia continue to rise. The country has recorded 10,699 new coronavirus infections, marking the sixth day with more than 10,000 positive tests. There are now 187,859 confirmed infections and 1,723 deaths linked to COVID-19. 2. US unemployment rate surges to 14.7% for April The US economy lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April, the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression and the starkest sign yet of how the novel coronavirus pandemic is battering the world’s biggest economy, Reuters reports. The Labor Department’s monthly employment report also showed the unemployment rate surging to 14.7% last month, shattering the post-World War Two record of 10.8%, whihc was reached in November 1982.
COVID-19: Top Science Stories Of The Week, From Twins To Pollution Scientists say twin studies illuminating possible genetic influence of COVID-19 must be interpreted with caution Immune response to COVID-19 differs from other respiratory infections Evidence mounts for air pollution link to severity of illness Twin studies should be interpreted with caution A recent (unpublished) study comparing the symptoms of identical and non-identical twins infected with COVID-19 concluded that COVID-19 symptoms appear to be around 50% genetic. The findings were based on data collected from over 2,600 twins via the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker app developed by a team at King’s College London. Scientists not involved in the study have told the public to exercise caution when interpreting the findings from this and other studies of siblings, because it can be hard to tease apart environmental and genetic influences on disease outcome, particularly if people live in the same household