Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

An Easter message proclaimed for two millennia became more profound Sunday whether it echoed amid the pillars of a nearly empty basilica, streamed into homes on Facebook or was spoken from a prelate's kitchen.

Millions of Christians marked the solemn holiday from their homes because the new coronavirus pandemic has forced churches to close.

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, delivered his message via his iPad from the kitchen of his London flat.

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

"After so much suffering, so much heroism from key workers and the NHS, we cannot be content to go back to what was before as if all is normal," said Welby, the titular leader of some 85 million Anglicans. "There needs to be a resurrection of our common life."

Pope Francis, speaking to a handful of congregants at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, said “After the Second World War, this beloved continent was able to rise again, thanks to a concrete spirit of solidarity that enabled it to overcome the rivalries of the past. This is not a time for self-centeredness because the challenge we are facing is shared by all, without distinguishing between persons.”

(MORE: As Coronavirus Collides with Planning for Severe Weather, Officials Worry People Won't Go to Shelters)

Dr. David Nabarro, the World Health Organization’s special envoy on COVID-19, said Sunday that despite promising signs the spread of infections might be slowing in the U.S. and Europe, the world may be dealing with the new coronavirus for a long time.

“We are not so sure it will come in waves in the way that influenza does. We think it’s going to be a virus that stalks the human race for a quite a long time to come, until we can all have a vaccine that will protect us,” Nabarro said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

“The key for this particular virus is that every community has a kind of defensive shield, can pick up cases as soon as they appear, isolate them, and stop outbreaks from developing. It's going to be necessary for every single country to have that capacity.” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/despite-encouraging-signs-coronavirus-advancing-worldwide-who-envoy-warns-n1182166

Nearly 1.8 million cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, have been confirmed around the world as of Sunday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 110,000 deaths have been blamed on the virus.

In the U.S., more than 20,600 deaths have been recorded amid a total of 530,200 confirmed cases.

Latest Developments

United States:

-Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, said the economy in parts of the country could be allowed to reopen as early as next month. Fauci said on CNN's "State of the Union" there has to be a “gradual re-entry” or a “rolling re-entry” based on the status of the outbreak in various parts of the country. “You’re trying to balance two things: you want to make sure you don’t do something prematurely and precipitously, at the same time you pay attention to the need to get back to normal,” he said.

-With no date announced for reopening its theme parks, Walt Disney World plans to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers beginning April 19. Workers will be able to keep their medical, dental and life insurance benefits for the length of the furlough period, or up to a year, according to a statement from the Service Trades Council, the coalition of unions representing the Disney World workers. Disney has reached similar agreements with security guards and facilities workers and with musicians, The Associated Press reports. Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood said this week that they would stay closed through May 31. Full-time employees will be paid at 100% through April 19, but pay and workload for most workers will be reduced to 80% after that, and part-time hourly workers will be furloughed beginning May 3, Universal said. The company said it would continue to provide benefits for employees who already had them.

-All New York City workers who come in contact with the public while on duty must wear face coverings beginning Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has already provided 1.4 million face coverings to city workers and will provide more as necessary.

Worldwide:

-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from St. Thomas’ Hospital in London where he spent a week being treated for the new coronavirus. He was in intensive care for three nights. In a video shared on Twitter, Johnson said he did not have the words to properly thank the staff at the National Health Service for “saving my life.”

-About 50 crew members aboard the French aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle and some aboard an escort frigate contracted the new coronavirus. The French Defense Ministry says the entire crew of some 1,700 sailors, as well as air crews aboard the carrier, will be tested and confined for 14 days in various military quarters in the region around the southern port of Toulon.

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.