Hey there! Today is what was known as Thursday in the “before times,” when every day didn’t feel the same. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. A record 6.6. million people applied for jobless benefits in the U.S. last week

Federal data released today set another grim record for unemployment claims. The latest numbers mean that nearly 10 million people have applied for jobless benefits in the last two weeks, a stunning precedent. [NPR]

In Illinois, 178,421 workers filed new applications for unemployment insurance last week. That staggering figure breaks the previous record of 114,114 jobless claims filed during the week that ended March 2. [WBEZ]

In contrast, leaders in Europe, where there are more social safety nets, are focusing their efforts on keeping companies from laying off more workers. In the last two weeks, at least 1 million Europeans lost their jobs. [AP]

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will create a bipartisan committee that will make sure the $2 trillion relief package is executed properly. [NPR]

2. Chicago police officer diagnosed with COVID-19 dies

A 21-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department died last night from complications due to COVID-19, officials said today. Officer Marco Di Franco, 50, worked in the narcotics division. He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 7 and 10, according to Interim police Superintendent Charlie Beck.

The news comes as Illinois officials announced 16 news deaths, pushing the state’s death toll to 157. Officials also announced 715 news cases, bringing the state’s total number of known cases to 7,695.

With today’s numbers, Gov. JB Pritzker issued a harsh assessment of President Donald Trump’s response to the unfolding public health crisis, saying it will “go down in history as a profound failure of our national government.” [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune found two statistical models that offer different projections for when Illinois may reach the peak of infections.

One, from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, estimates the peak could be reached on April 17. This model projects 93 deaths per day by April 18, and a total of 2,789 deaths by Aug. 4.

Another model, from a group of scientists called COVID Act Now, projects the peak between May 14 and May 26. This analysis advocates for lawmakers to adopt social-distancing measures, but does not include case and death toll projections. Instead, it concludes that if “stay at home” orders are followed perfectly, Illinois won’t need nearly as many more beds as are currently available. [Chicago Tribune]

3. Democratic National Convention postponed to August

The Democratic National Committee, originally scheduled for the week of July 13, will be held the week of Aug. 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The party’s election-year gathering will still take place in Milwaukee. [NPR]

And the coronavirus continues to have a devastating impact on New York, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that the state will run out of lifesaving ventilators in six days.

“If a person comes in and needs a ventilator and you don’t have a ventilator, the person dies,” he told reporters today. “That’s the blunt equation here. And right now we have a burn rate that would suggest we have about six days in the stockpile.” New York has seen more than 92,000 known cases and more than 2,300 deaths. [New York Times]

Elsewhere in the U.S., California surpassed 10,000 known cases today. The state’s death toll stands at more than 200. [Mercury News]

Nationwide, there have been more than 200,000 cases and more than 5,000 deaths reported. [NPR]

4. Spain’s death toll surpasses 10,000

The latest figures mark another grim milestone for Spain, which is behind Italy with the second-most deaths reported in the world. But a high ranking health official in Spain said infections appear to have peaked, and they are hoping the number of new cases will begin dropping. [BBC]

Meanwhile, a classified U.S. intelligence report claims China purposely underreported total deaths and cases from the coronavirus, according to three U.S. officials who talked to Bloomberg News. [Bloomberg]

In Russia, most workers were ordered by President Vladimir Putin to stay at home for a month. [NPR]

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said lockdown violators can be shot. [Reuters]

Worldwide, there are now more than 1 million cases and more than 51,000 deaths have been reported. [Johns Hopkins]

5. Debate heats up on whether everyone should wear face masks

More public health experts are arguing that people should wear face masks while in public as new data suggests people showing no symptoms are possibly spreading COVID-19 more than previously believed.

But other experts warn that expanding face masks recommendations could hurt health care workers, who already face depleting supplies.

Here’s a good summary of the debate that also explains the different types of masks and the level of safety they provide. [Buzzfeed News]

Here’s what else is happening

• A civil rights group is suing for the immediate release of Illinois inmates who are vulnerable to COVID-19. [WBEZ]
• Will Chicago’s music scene survive the pandemic? [WBEZ]
• South Loop residents find comradery from a distance. [WBEZ]
• We probably could all use more penguins right now. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

Who doesn’t like Dolly Parton? Starting tonight, the American icon begins reading children’s stories online as part of a 10-week series called Goodnight With Dolly. Up first is The Little Engine That Could.

The show will stream tonight at 6 p.m. CT on YouTube. Click the link to find out what other books will be featured in the series. [NPR]

But if you’re looking for some variety, LeVar Burton will begin his own live readings this week on Twitter. Burton, the beloved host of Reading Rainbow, will have reading for children on Mondays, young adults on Wednesdays and adults on Fridays. [Engadget]

Tell me something good …

WBEZ canceled its spring pledge drive so we can bring you the latest news, uninterrupted, about the COVID-19 pandemic. The pledge drive helps pay for things like this newsletter, and it would mean a lot to me if you considered becoming a member.

And that makes me wonder: What do you enjoy the most about WBEZ?

Mallie writes:

“I already donate monthly, but I just received my last paycheck before getting furloughed and I already own enough toilet paper.”

And Barb writes:

“I love the Rundown and feel like I’m getting a personal email from a very well-informed and knowledgeable friend.”

What do you enjoy about WBEZ? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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