As the world races to find a vaccine and a cure for COVID-19, there is seemingly no antidote in sight for the burgeoning outbreak of coronavirus conspiracy theories, hoaxes, anti-mask myths and sham treatments. The phenomenon, unfolding largely on social media, escalated this week when President Donald Trump retweeted a false video about an anti-malarial drug being a cure for the virus and it was revealed that Russian intelligence is spreading disinformation about the crisis through English-language websites. Experts say the flood of bad information is dangerously undermining efforts to slow the virus, which is now blamed for 150,000 deaths in the U.S.

The AP plans the following coverage today of the virus outbreak. For up-to-the minute information, visit AP Newsroom’s coverage hub Find AP Virus Alerts here

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RACING FOR A REMEDY-SAVING LIVES IN THE DARK: Amid the chaos of the pandemic’s early days, doctors who faced the first coronavirus onslaught reached across oceans and language barriers in an unprecedented effort to advise colleagues trying to save lives in the dark. With no playbook to follow and no time to wait for research, YouTube videos describing autopsy findings and X-rays swapped on Twitter and WhatsApp spontaneously filled the gap. SENT: 2015 words, photos. A 980-word abridged also has moved.

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VIRUS OUTBREAK: As the world races to find a vaccine and a treatment for COVID-19, there is seemingly no antidote in sight to the burgeoning outbreak of coronavirus conspiracy theories, hoaxes, anti-mask myths and sham cures. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.

FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve said it will keep the accelerator floored on its aid for the economy. SENT: 860 words, photos. With FEDERAL RESERVE: The Federal Reserve expressed concern Wednesday that the viral outbreak will act as a drag on the economy and hiring in the coming months and said it plans to keep its benchmark short-term interest rate pegged near zero; and FEDERAL RESERVE-STATEMENT.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VETERANS AFFAIRS: Big gaps in federal oversight of long-term care facilities for aging veterans may have contributed to rampant coronavirus infections and more than 200 deaths at state-run homes. SENT: 960 words, photos.

RUSSIA-DISINFORMATION: U.S. officials say Russian intelligence officers are spreading disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic through English-language websites, trying to exploit a crisis that America is struggling to contain before the presidential election in November. SENT: 930 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: President Donald Trump is dismissing Democratic demands to include aid for cash-strapped cities in a new coronavirus relief package. Trump is also lashing out at Republicans, saying they “should go back to school” if they reject money for a FBI headquarters in the nation’s capital. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGESSIONAL LETTER: The Democratic head of a congressional coronavirus oversight panel has demanded that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and three other Republican governors provide documents showing how their states are combating the pandemic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESSMAN: A House Republican aide says Rep. Louie Gohmert has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 66-year-old Texas Republican is one of the House’s most conservative and outspoken members, and he’s often seen without a mask on. SENT: 800 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-PENCE-NORTH CAROLINA: Vice President Mike Pence said schools around the country will have the resources they need to reopen for in-person learning during a visit to a classroom of masked fourth graders at a North Carolina private school. SENT: 620 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HAWAII SCHOOLS: While Hawaii has one of the lowest infection rates in the nation and many schools have open-air campuses, the challenges of returning kids to classrooms may still be insurmountable. SENT: 770 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOME LOVE STORY: When her husband’s Jacksonville, Florida nursing home went on lockdown in March, Mary Daniel grew desperate to see her husband. A few weeks ago, she took a part-time job washing dishes at the nursing home just so she could visit her husband. SENT: 580 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BROADWAY STRUGGLES: While Broadway stages remain dark, many workers are finding ways to keep the lights on at home with side hustles. Some are teaching dance. Some are offering music lessons or acting tips via Zoom. Some make jewelry or stitch plush toys. Some sell skincare products or handmade journals. Most are worried about the future . SENT: 1150 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECUADOR: Ecuador’s capital, Quito, has experienced an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases since the government started to reopen the economy last month. Hospitals in Quito are filling up and the crematoria at funeral parlors are pushed to keep up with demand. SENT: 560 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN: The British government came under renewed pressure Wednesday to refine its travel policies following criticism of its sudden decision to remove Spain from its safe list, a sudden change that has upended many vacation plans and rocked the ailing travel industry.SENT: 740 words, photos.

SAUDI-HAJJ: Muslim pilgrims wearing face masks and moving in small groups after days in isolation have begun arriving to Islam’s holiest site in Mecca for the start of a unique and scaled-down hajj experience reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 900 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-A MOURNFUL EID: The upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha comes as many Muslim families around the globe are mourning loved ones lost to the coronavirus.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA: China, South Korea and Japan all are seeing upticks in virus cases. SENT: 760 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DIARY-NO ADVENTURES: Some kids are being asked to sacrifice more than their parents during the coronavirus pandemic. One Associated Press sports writer says his sons’ lives have become the opposite of a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book. SENT: 670 words, photos.

MEDIA-CONVENTIONS: Normally television executives have their political convention coverage plans all sewn up by now, but 2020 is clearly no ordinary year. The coronavirus pandemic is forcing conventions to be largely virtual. Most TV networks will center their coverage from New York or Washington studios, saving a significant amount of money. SENT: 890 words, hotos.

STRAY BASEBALLS: Without fans clamoring to claim every ball that ends up in the seats, baseballs have been left scattered everywhere during this coronavirus-shortened 60-game season. SENT: 870 words, photos.

NBA-RESTART: The NBA, at long last, is officially back. A re-opening night doubleheader inside the bubble at Walt Disney World awaits Thursday, when New Orleans takes on Utah before a matchup of the two teams in the Western Conference — the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. SENT: 830 words, photos.

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WHITE HOUSE RENOVATIONS: The Trump administration wants $377 million in the next coronavirus relief bill for a long-delayed modernization of the West Wing, but the timetable for construction is yet to be determined. SENT: 420 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOUTH CAROLINA: Officials with the South Carolina State Fair are still planning to hold a scaled-down version of of the event this year in what they’re calling an effort to give the community a bright spot amid the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 490 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ENERGY DECLINE: U.S. energy consumption plummeted to its lowest level in more than 30 years this spring as the economy largely shut down due to the coronavirus. SENT: 430 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN-OBESITY: A plan by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to get more Britons cycling has got off to a rocky start, with a website offering bicycle repair vouchers crashing at launch. SENT: 390 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIETNAM: A plane carrying 129 Vietnamese nationals diagnosed with COVID-19 from Equatorial Guinea has landed in their homeland, with the patients immediately transferred to a hospital for treatment, the government said. SENT: 380 words, photos.

INTERACTIVES/GRAPHICS:

-US cases county-by-county. Embed code can be found in Coverage Plan. A static graphic also will be available in AP Newsroom.

-State trends (table): Trends in new cases and positivity rates for each U.S. state over the past 14 days.

-Case count (table): Searchable table of confirmed cases, including recoveries and deaths, by country, updated each hour.

-Interactive breakdown of unemployment filings by state with time scale for each (going back as far as 2000)

-Virus Europe Spread (map): An auto updating European map tracking the total confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths from coronavirus.

Additional graphics and interactives include:

- Flattening the Coronavirus Curve (Chart): Chart compares the cumulative cases over time in some of the hardest hit countries by coronavirus.

-Virus Global Spread (table): Table of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Table also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus Global Spread (Map): Map of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Map also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus US State Map: State by state count of confirmed cases in the U.S.

-Virus US State Table: Table tracks the number of cases, recoveries and deaths for the US including its territories.

-Status of Cases Worldwide: Auto-updating once a day, this chart tracks the levels of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 around the world over time.

PHOTOS:

AP photos have moved from Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Saudi AraIndia, Vietnam, China, various US, Latin America locations.

VIDEO:

AP video has moved from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, various Europe, US, Latin America locations.