In This Edition

Key Takeaways

• The UN Secretary General warned that extremist groups are using COVID-19 to intensify online recruitment. OECD countries have tested an average of 23.1 people per thousand. Hard-hit European countries began announcing reopening plans for early and mid-May.

Conditions Updates

•  A rundown of important global developments in markets, in business, and region-by-region, as well as statistical risk assessments by country and by US state.

Science Under the Scope: Potential for a COVID-19 Vaccine

• There is much speculation as to whether a vaccine can be created for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Scientists still don’t know if people will develop immunity once they are exposed and build antibodies for this coronavirus. WHO stated recently that there is no current evidence that people who have had COVID-19 are immune from reinfection; therefore, immunity “passports” should not be given to previously infected people.

Country in Focus: Indonesia

• Indonesia has the second largest outbreak in South East Asia, and the highest death rate in East Asia outside of China. Poor infrastructure, late lockdowns and an unprepared health care system leave Indonesia ill-equipped for a growing epidemic. The main reason President Widodo has been resistant to lockdown measures is fear of economic damage. One in ten Indonesians earn less than one dollar per day, the country is home to millions of informal workers who cannot afford to stay inside during lockdown, and the country is reliant on tourism and trade.