News by the Numbers: April 20–26
Stacker distills the week's news from around the world into key facts and figures. Click through to read more about some of the biggest headlines of the last week.
Trump signs $484 billion stimulus bill
President Trump signed a $484 billion stimulus package on Friday, the bulk of which will go toward providing more support for small businesses after funds from the original lending program established in March ran out. About $310 billion will be set aside for the Payment Protection Program, $75 billion for hospitals, $25 billion for increased testing efforts, and $60 billion to emergency disaster relief as grants and loans.
Virtual NFL draft attracts around 8.4 million viewers
A record three-day average of 8.4 million people tuned in to watch the NFL draft over the weekend. Held virtually for the first time, the draft surpassed the previous average viewership record set in 2019 by more than 2 million. The virtual draft was the first major live sporting event since the NBA and NHL seasons were suspended in March.
4.4 million more people file for unemployment
The Department of Labor reported an additional 4.4 million people filed for unemployment the week ending April 18, bringing the total to 26.5 million since pandemic-prompted shutdowns began in March.
NYC to provide 500,000 free Halal meals
New York City will provide 500,000 free Halal meals during the Ramadan holy month which began on Thursday. About 400,000 will be made available at grab-and-go food sites in all five boroughs, and the remaining 100,000 will be distributed through community organizations.
Global COVID-19 fatalities surpass 200,000
The total global number of COVID-19 deaths surpassed 200,000 on Saturday. A day prior, COVID-fatalities in the U.S.—which accounts for about 25% of the global total—topped 50,000, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Hospital ship Comfort transfers last of 182 total patients
The USNS Comfort will soon return to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, after the crew transferred the hospital ship’s remaining patients over the weekend. The 1,000-bed ship treated a total of 182 patients in the month it was docked in New York City.
COVID-19 cases in Africa surge 43% in one week
The number of COVID-19 cases in Africa rose 43% in one week, putting the total number at just over 27,000. While the number of cases on the continent has been low compared to the rest of the world, health officials worry that the recent spike may be the beginning of a sustained rise in cases.
An inability to compete with wealthier countries for essential equipment is compounding the danger. Officials predict that the continent—with a population of 1.3 billion—will require at least 30,000 ventilators and more than 70 million test kits. The current number of available ventilators is under 2,000, according to the World Health Organization.
