Coronavirus Latest: Outbreak Slowing Down in Italy, Prime Day Delayed, Disney Furloughs Employees, Benefits Explained

April 4, 2020

Coronavirus Latest News

Instead of blasting you with coronavirus (COVID-19) news every hour, I’m putting together a roundup of news that I come across during the day. Here you can read about how New Yorkers are not distancing enough, explanation of unemployment benefits in stimulus package, Amazon Prime Day delay, Disney furloughs employees, and outbreak slowing down in Italy.

Google data show New Yorkers doing less social distancing than people in Italy, Spain

Google tracking data released Friday suggest New Yorkers are less likely to avoid public places and stay home than residents of hard-hit coronavirus hotspots in Europe. In New York state, foot traffic in public parks was down 47 percent and people at transit stations down 68 percent — compared to drops around 90 percent in hard-hit Italy and Spain.

Stimulus Bill: Explaining the Unemployment Benefit for Employees, Self-Employed & Gig Workers

Briefly, the CARES Act adds $600 per week, on top of what the state gives, through July 31, 2020. It also extends the amount of time one can be on unemployment. It also allows unemployment benefits for furloughed workers, self-employed, and gig workers. A lot of people will end up getting their full salary. For example, if the state gives $400/week, you’ll now get $1,000 per week. That would be roughly full salary for someone who makes $50,o000 or less per year.

Amazon to delay Prime Day event due to coronavirus

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is postponing its major summer shopping event, Prime Day, until at least August and expects a potential $100 million hit from excess devices it might now sell at a discount, according to internal meeting notes seen by Reuters.

Disney Furloughs Employees as Parks Stay Closed

Walt Disney announced earlier this week that it will furlough some of its workers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement came on Thursday and was also sent out in an internal email. The company will start furloughing employees “whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time”, starting on April 19th. The short-term furlough will impact executive, salaried and non-union hourly Cast Members based in the U.S..

Italy’s Outbreak Is Slowing. So What Happens Next?

For the past month, the daily life of Italians has been marked by a dreadful combination of a rising death toll and tightening restrictions. Soon, it turned out that the rest of the world was no different: From Spain to the U.K., countries have had to impose draconian lockdowns as they try to ease the strain on overburdened health-care systems.