THE BIG STORY

How are you holding up?

The news can wait for a bit today. Let’s talk about how we’re doing. This is easily the most stressful and frightening time I’ve ever lived through, nothing else even comes close. And I know that I’m one of the extremely lucky ones. I can’t even imagine how much scarier it must be for so many others. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you’re doing OK.

Personally, I’ve found great comfort from our tiny chihuahua, Max. Working from home means I get to spend about 12 extra hours each day with him, and experience his daily life that I normally miss out on when I’m at the office — he basically just sleeps in various places, rotating through the apartment to always be lying directly in the sun. He has an incredible life, and if you make it to the end of this newsletter, I’ll even post a photo of him.

What about you? Yesterday I asked everyone to share what they’ve been doing to cope with this bizarre new world we’re in, and man, everyone delivered. So I thought I’d share a few of the responses today.

- While I have many streaming subscriptions and a towering stack of unread books, I’m adding self-enrichment to my daily routine by doing something completely new that will expand my knowledge and experience. Yesterday I made Julia Childs’ chocolate ganache Reine de Saba cake for the first time (and gave it to my neighbors). Today I’ll spend an hour reading Montaigne’s essays. You get my drift.

- Bollywood romcoms are sweet, and revealing of a different and fascinating country. The colours, music and dance are a delight and there’s enough to occupy us til this passes.

- Try a new recipe everyday, as renowned Southern cook Nathalie Dupree is doing at home.

- Streaming online workouts from Barre3.com. They have a 15 day free trial with unlimited workouts that can be tailored to what you're looking for...And simple enough, opening the blinds! Get the light in.

- 1. Have a little cbd oil. 2. Break out the dusty keyboard from the closet. 3. Clean out the closet. 4. Facetime happy hour with your family/friends 5. Write a poem /song.

I want to do…literally every one of these things? Thanks for sharing, and please keep your tips rolling in!

We’ve got some other good stuff for you: If you’re a book lover, Tomi Obaro wrote about ways you can support your favorite independent bookstore right now — it’s a brutal time for any small business that depends on people walking into the store, but there are ways you can help keep them going. And here’s a collection of neighbors all across the country figuring out how to stay social while social distancing — the happy hours in particular look wonderful.

(via @tkeekley)

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Anyhow, back to the ~news~

A bill that will expand Medicaid and unemployment benefits and require paid sick leave and childcare leave for many workers passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to be quickly signed into law by President Donald Trump. But negotiations on a much larger relief package are underway, and it is desperately needed: Unite Here, a union representing hotel, airline and food workers, said yesterday that 90% of its 300,000 members will be out of work due to the pandemic.

Work on the larger package could be complicated by the outbreak itself. Two members of Congress said yesterday they have tested positive for the coronavirus, and with many members aged 70 and above, it’s a high-risk place for the virus to spread. But while some senators told Paul McLeod it’s time for Congress to consider the same work-from-home policies many American workplaces are rolling out, it’s unlikely to actually happen.

SNAPSHOTS

Amazon is rushing to improve conditions in its warehouses. Workers had complained about crowded morning meetings they were required to attend, and other coronavirus-related risks.

Nurses are doing heroic work during the outbreak. But are they getting the support and equipment needed to stay safe? We spoke to ten of them about what it’s like on the frontlines.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new restrictions on large public gatherings and urged Australians not to travel overseas. He also criticized the frenzied shopping that has overwhelmed supermarkets, calling it the most disappointing thing he's seen during the outbreak.

Two of Europe’s biggest music events are canceled for this year. The Glastonbury festival in the UK, and the Eurovision song contest, due to be held in the Netherlands this year, were both called off yesterday.

The Glastonbury festival in 2019 (Henry Nicholls / Reuters)

HOW TO PLAGUE

An agony aunt, for agonizing times

Should you keep showing up to group meetings your boss keeps organizing? Is it OK for kids to have playdates? Is a handjob compliant with social distancing? All these questions, and more, are answered in the inaugural edition of How To Plague, BuzzFeed News' new advice column for these incredibly confusing times, hosted by the one and only Katie Notopoulos.

She’ll answer all your coronavirus etiquette questions and ethical dilemmas, and when she doesn’t have a good answer, she’ll ask the experts. Do you have a question you want answered? Let it rip.

GETTING CREATIVE

The challenge of this outbreak is actually thousands of small challenges: how do you enforce social distancing in a coffee shop? How can you stop people from stealing the toilet paper in your bathroom? What do you do about elevator buttons that everyone touches? People are getting creative with all these problems, and here are 17 examples of their work.

I PROMISED YOU A CHIHUAHUA

You made it all this way. So as promised, here is my emperor, my ruler, Max, also known as King Maximus, first of his name. This was him yesterday, in one of his brief waking moments, demanding I cease working and entertain him.

Woof,

Tom