05.26.20 (wired.com)
| Japan ends its state of emergency, New Zealand floats a four-day workweek, and the US approaches 100,000 deaths. Here’s what you should know:HeadlinesJapan ended its coronavirus emergency with 851 deaths and no lockdownJapan’s prime minister announced the end of the nation’s state of emergency, but said its “battle against the virus will continue.” While Japan never implemented a true lockdown, it did bar travelers from hard-hit countries and shut down karaoke bars, live music venues, and gyms, which will remain closed in the coming weeks. New Zealand’s prime minister is touting a 4-day workweekAs New Zealand reopens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is suggesting that a four-day workweek could spur domestic travel. She says the decision to shorten the workweek is between employers and employees, but she encourages businesses to think about this option to boost tourism and the nation’s economy. It’s an idea Microsoft had tested before the pandemic in Japan, finding that it actually boosted productivity by 40%. The US is approaching 100,000 coronavirus deathsOver the weekend, The New York Times published this viral cover story putting names to numbers of the nearly 100,000 lives lost in the last few months to Covid-19. The CDC projects the US will cross this threshold by June 1, but more grimly, they also predict these death rates will continue to rise as states around the country reopen. |