The Daily Valet. - 4/21/20, Tuesday
✔️ Uber Expands and NASA Is Back
Tuesday, April 21st Edition
Remember when we debated whether or not to recline on an airplane? Those were the days.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Governors in the South Are Lifting Restrictions
Is it too soon to loosen guidelines put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus?
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Monday granted businesses across the state permission to reopen later this week, reports Fox News. Kemp’s decision, which will apply to barber shops, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses that include close contact, comes days after President Trump issued guidelines for the reopening of state economies.
Tennessee and South Carolina announced similar easing of restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, amid protests that openings were not fast or extensive enough.
According to the Washington Post, the protests came as disputes over the availability of virus tests—and the need to test a lot more people to provide necessary data before reopening the economy—deepened a wedge between the majority of the nation’s governors and the administration.
At the White House’s daily coronavirus briefing, Trump said that Vice President Pence had spoken to all 50 state governors Monday, reminding them of the list that Trump said included names of labs that are “ready, willing and able” to perform tests.
The question then becomes when is the right time to open up for business? The critical variable in keeping coronavirus in check is the reproductive rate—the number of cases, on average, an infected person will cause during their infectious period. That rate has recently gone down in hotspots like New York, proving that the shelter-in-place orders are working. But the state still reported 4,726 new cases and 478 people died on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization chief warned Monday that we shouldn’t jump to reopen too quickly. “The worst is yet ahead of us,” he told NBC News. “Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.”
↦ Summed Up: “For gyms to reopen, every machine would have to be sanitized immediately after each person uses it. Gyms can’t even keep dumbbells in the proper order.” - @FB_FilmAnalysis
A Common Thread
Countries led by women have fared better against coronavirus. Why?
Looking for examples of harrowing leadership in a crisis? From Iceland and Denmark to Taiwan; from Germany to New Zealand and Sint Maarten, women are stepping up to show the world how to manage an unprecedented challenge at a critical point.
Some might say these are small countries or islands, or list another “reason” to overlook this fact. But Germany is large and leading, and the UK is an island with very different outcomes. These women have attracted praise for effective, transparent messaging and decisive action, reports the Washington Post.
This is in stark contrast to the approaches of several of the world’s most prominent male leaders—including some who face criticism for early fumbles that fueled the spread of the virus.
According to The Hill, experts argue that any leader can be successful if they are able to demonstrate a balance of strength and compassion—qualities that are easier said than done due to societal expectations placed on both genders.
Uber Expands Into Retail Delivery
The company is adding personal package delivery services as COVID-19 reshapes its business
Uber is introducing two new types of services, the company announced Monday. Uber Direct is a delivery platform for retail items, while Uber Connect is a peer-to-peer package delivery service, for sending goods to family and friends.
According to Tech Crunch, the company has already introduced new extensions of its platform for transporting personal protective equipment to front-line workers, and Eats is also delivering convenience items in some markets in addition to grocery goods.
But this marks the most aggressive foray yet for the company as the pandemic continues to suppress its ride-hailing business. Personally, I can't remember the last time I ordered up a ride, but I've definitely been using delivery services and know I'll be relying on them for the foreseeable future.
↦ Dig Deeper: According to Eater, grocery deliveries have skyrocketed since the second week of March.
NASA Is Back
They’ll once again launch astronauts on American rockets from American soil
NASA has set a May 27 launch date for a commercial crew test flight that will be the first mission to launch American astronauts into orbit from the United States in nearly a decade, reports Space News.
Both the rocket and spacecraft were developed by private company SpaceX. NASA has been using Russian rockets for crewed flights since its space shuttle was retired in 2011.
According to the BBC, the Falcon Nine rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft will take off from the space center’s historic Pad 39A, the same one used for the Apollo and shuttle missions.
If the test is successful, the Crew Dragon will be set for full operational certification—meaning it will begin regularly delivering astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Will Masks Become the New Sneakers?
Looking at the data, masks could soon be as covetable as certain high-profile kicks
After weeks of suggesting otherwise, the CDC recently revised its guidelines to protect against the coronavirus, recommending people wear cotton face masks or cloth facial coverings when going outside.
That's given rise to a new mega-market overnight, where designers of all walks—established, sports, luxury—are churning out fresh styles with the efficiency of a German automotive production line, reports Highsnobiety.
This isn't trivializing the need for masks. But as they become more commonplace, Highsnobiety is examining if the cool factor of some masks will give them the kind of clout sneakers provide.
Already, resale site StockX reports that popular masks like The Off-White™ Diag have nearly doubled its resale price since early March and tripled its price since January.
↦ FYI: These are the states that require you to wear a face mask in public.
What We’re Buying
Nike is currently offering up to 40% off some of their most popular styles. There's a lot to like here, depending on your footwear needs, but you can't go wrong with these versatile and adaptable tennis shoes. The old school style recalls classic competition footwear with a low profile, leather construction and comfortable, cushy midsole.
↦ Get It $89 / $59.97 at Nike
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Today’s Deals
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Morning Motto
A second (or third) cup never hurt anybody.
↦ Follow: @touchmysense_
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