Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis right; his idiot friend left.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis right; his idiot friend left. Joe Raedle / Getty News

Here's your daily roundup of all the local and national news about COVID-19. (Like our coverage? Please consider donating to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

• As of today the confirmed number of COVID-19 cases has jumped from 690 to 736, and 19 deaths (as far as we know).

• While we can all agree that the Oregon Health Authority is pretty great and have been providing us with a lot of useful information about the current pandemic, they're not so good at revealing numbers that could give us hope—like the number of people who have recovered from the virus.

• The Oregonian looks at the big trouble Portland restaurants and small businesses will be in if predatory landlords don't get the proper pushback from state and federal officials.

• Local grocery store workers are demanding safer working conditions and better pay, WHICH THEY TOTALLY DESERVE, DON'T YOU AGREE? Our Blair Stenvick has more in this fascinating report.

• In a related story, Fred Meyer workers are getting a temporary $2 per hour "hero raise" to continue working through the crisis.

• It's April 1—if you're unemployed, DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT UNTIL YOU READ THIS. (And by "this" I mean this ultra-informative story from our Alex Zielinski.)

• Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made noise yesterday that another huge stimulus bill needs to be pushed through congress and signed into law, and today that bill took shape: $760 million, focused on infrastructure. Our own Rep. Peter DeFazio is one of the central figures behind it, too.

• The cancellation of SAT and ACT tests this spring due to COVID-19 concerns have led to even more colleges removing the tests from their admissions requirements—and that includes Oregon State University and University of Oregon, who have already decided to make this new "test-optional" policy permanent going forward.

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Trump's never ending stream of lies continue, and America's governors—who have been forced to bid against each other AND EVEN FEMA to get the supplies that will save people's lives—are calling the president on his bullshit.

• Florida's terrible governor Ron DeSantis has FINALLY put social distancing orders in place, but only after a warning from the White House, and new COVID cases in the state topped 7,000.

• Not only are the number of COVID-19 cases still growing, but another number that's steadily rising? The number of people who aren't getting a $1200 stimulus check.

• The DHS announced today that the country's emergency stockpile of medical supplies (including respirator masks and gloves) is nearly exhausted, and describes the global marketplace the Trump administration has to compete in for more as "rife with profiteering and price-gouging."

• Wimbledon joins the ever-growing list of major sporting events that won't be happening in 2020 because of the coronavirus. Maybe they'll do like the NBA and have a video game tournament instead? Serena vs. Coco in a lively game of Mario Tennis would be fire.

• In other cancellation news: THE BIEBS! NOOOOOOOO

• Have you looked at this interactive graph from the Washington Post that combines visuals of the coronavirus' spread with key quotes from the president as it grew? Because goddamn.


• If you're having a tough day, get your mood going in a different, more positive direction with the Mercury Cheer Up Club!

• You need a crap-ton of fun stuff to do while staying safe at home this week, right? Well, we have a crap-ton of stuff for you to do right here, courtesy of your pals at the Mercury!

And finally, I don't know, guys... I think Ina has the right idea!