Hard Numbers: Cuban doctors abroad, vaccine promise, China's pressure on the EU, high times in California
3: Beijing complained to the European Union at least three times about an internal EU report that alleges China has waged a global propaganda campaign to deflect blame for its poor initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The pressure reportedly led EU officials to soften the language in a public summary of the report.
6,000: Having successfully tested a coronavirus vaccine on monkeys, scientists at Oxford University's Jenner Institute are set to begin a clinical trial on more than 6,000 people. This puts the Jenner labs at the front of the pack in the global race to develop a vaccine. If the trial is successful, several million doses could be ready by fall.
159: Sales of cannabis in the state of California have surged 159 percent during the first three months of the year, as Californians smoke up while locked down. Cannabis, which is sold legally in dispensaries across the state, has been classified as an essential product, putting it on equal footing with toilet paper and food staples like milk.
8.2: Cuba has 8.2 doctors per 1,000 people, by far the highest rate of any country in the world. For decades the Cuban regime has sent them abroad to earn cash and win hearts and minds. Over the past several months, hundreds of Cuban doctors have fanned out across the world to help other countries fight the coronavirus.