“A devastating surge is now under way. And worse, we are entering this dreadful period without the kind of leadership or preparation we need, and with baseline numbers that will make it difficult to avoid a dramatic rise in hospitalizations, deaths, and potential long-term effects on survivors. Almost every day, America is breaking new records in confirmed cases: They are up 40 percent from just one week ago. These cases are not confined to a region or a state; the whole nation is in the midst of a terrible surge. So, too, is much of Europe, where country after country is experiencing record numbers of cases.” Zeynep Tufekci: It’s Time to Hunker Down.

+ With Covid-19 cases at record levels, states are rolling out new restrictions.

+ NYT: Doctors Are Calling It Quits Under Stress of the Pandemic.

+ “My parents lived a good life, and they were at the end of their road. They got married 76 years ago during World War II once they’d finally saved up enough of their sugar rations to bake a proper wedding cake. They loved telling that story. Everybody was sacrificing for the war. It was a national effort. They were proud of it. The country had bigger problems, and their wedding cake could wait.” This is another must-read from Eli Saslow’s Voices from the Pandemic series. Tom Dean: Election Day is over, and guess what?