A version of this story appeared in the October 19 edition of CNN's Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction newsletter. Sign up here to receive the need-to-know headlines every weekday.
Like many other countries, early in the pandemic the Czech Republic locked down its borders and enforced a nationwide lockdown. But what set the Czechs apart was their requirement that everyone wear face masks outdoors. Even the country's populist Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, was a convert. He tweeted some advice to US President Donald Trump on March 29: "Try tackling virus the Czech way. Wearing a simple cloth mask decreases the spread of the virus by 80% ... God bless America!"
By the summer, the country had returned to the normal life craved by many Europeans. Travel restrictions were lifted, theaters opened, indoor dining resumed and mask rules were dropped -- factors that made a fall surge all but inevitable. But the government has avoided reinstating the same strict mask mandate that was so effective in spring.
Why? It comes down to populist political calculation during the country's October Senate election campaign, says Czech data scientist Petr Ludwig. "During the first wave, [the government] was convinced that people wanted masks, so they pushed masks. Now, they are convinced that people don't want to wear masks. So they are against [the mask mandate]."
Americans will recognize this calculus. Trump has been accused of politicizing masks ahead of November's presidential election.
Dr. Anthony Fauci -- a key member of the administration's coronavirus task force who has been marginalized -- told CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday that it didn't make sense to him why Trump "equates wearing a mask with weakness."
He added that "meta analysis studies show that, contrary to what we thought, masks really do work in preventing infection ... When you find out you're wrong, it's a manifestation of your honesty to say, 'Hey, I was wrong. I did subsequent experiments and now it's this way.'"
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED
Q. Is it true that the pandemic has affected rat populations?
A: Statewide mandates to stay at home and close businesses haven't just affected the human population in the US, according to Orkin, an Atlanta-based pest control service.
"Community-wide closures have led to a decrease in food available to rodents, especially in dense commercial areas," according to the website. "Some jurisdictions have reported an increase in rodent activity as rodents search for new sources of food."
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an entire section on its website devoted to rodent control. And Orkin warns that rat activity "will only continue increasing" as rodents begin to seek shelter as the weather gets colder.
Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you're facing: +1 347-322-0415.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TODAY
China's economy grew 4.9% in the third quarter of 2020
As much of the world continues to struggle with the virus, China's economy is picking up, expanding 4.9% in the July-to-September quarter, compared to a year ago, according to government statistics released Monday.
That pace is quicker than the 3.2% increase China recorded in the second quarter, when it managed to avoid the pandemic-fueled recession that has gripped much of the globe.
China's relatively speedy recovery comes after it enforced stringent lockdown and population tracking policies intended to contain the virus, and set aside hundreds of billions of dollars for major infrastructure projects to fuel economic growth.
Europe's governments face obstacles in their attempt to enforce new restrictions
Coronavirus cases are spiking in Europe, but its governments are facing new obstacles in their efforts to enforce restrictions -- with cities and regions in the UK, France and Spain fighting back against instructions to lock down, Rob Picheta reports.
And even when local leaders are amenable to tougher rules, the public appears less willing to play by them, as fatigue sets in.
"I'm fed up," Rebecca Duncan, a 39-year-old from south London, told CNN. "One thing starts to open up, and life starts to seem slightly normal, and then something else comes along and pushes us all back."
Covid-19 vaccine company under federal investigation
California biotech company Vaxart, which is working on a Covid-19 vaccine, is under federal investigation and is being sued by a number of investors for allegedly exaggerating its involvement in the US government's Operation Warp Speed program to find vaccines and treatments for the virus.
In June, Vaxart issued a press release saying its Covid vaccine had been selected for the government program. The news helped propel Vaxart's stock price up from approximately $3 to nearly $17, and hedge fund Armistice Capital, which partly controlled Vaxart, sold shares for a profit of more than $200 million, according to its SEC filings.
The following month, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told the New York Times that it had not entered into a funding agreement or negotiations with Vaxart. Armistice and HHS did not respond to requests for comment.
ON OUR RADAR
- The Dutch king cuts his Greek vacation short after criticism
- New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern wins a second term -- by a landslide
- More than 46,000 fans present as New Zealand beats Australia in Bledisloe Cup
- This 14-year-old girl won a $25K prize for a discovery that could lead to a cure for Covid-19
- Love in the time of coronavirus: This couple got married at the US-Canada border so guests from both countries could attend
- Coronavirus could drive the last nail into the mink fur trade
- From the pandemic declaration to the fall surge, here's a timeline of Covid-19 in the US
TODAY'S TOP TIP
Halloween is going to be very different during a pandemic, forcing companies that rely on the trick or treat season for sales to find ways to adapt.
Here's what Halloween could look like this year.
TODAY'S PODCAST
"Researchers estimate less than 10% of the US population has been infected with Covid-19, and as you well know, nearly 220,000 people have died. So think about that. Getting 60% of the population infected could mean that [at] one point, two million people would die in the US alone." -- CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta
In today's podcast, Gupta breaks down some of the big misconceptions about the pandemic -- including a few coming from the White House itself. . Listen Now.
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