Several readers have written to inform us about Richard Bartlett, a Texas doctor and onetime congressional candidate who says he has discovered a “silver bullet” for COVID-19. His proposed cure? Inhaled steroids.

This would be world-changing news, probably deserving a Nobel Prize, if true. It would save thousands of lives, end the economic and social upheaval caused by preventive measures, and save billions of dollars on hospital treatments.

As the ancient Spartans famously said: “If.”

The World Health Organization changed its tune this week on several aspects of how the coronavirus spreads. At the urging of more than 200 scientists, the global health agency said on Thursday that the coronavirus can survive in the air in certain indoor settings. It also noted that people without symptoms can transmit COVID-19 to others.

An Alaskan reader challenged us to share 10 reasons to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously—to believe that it is “not a hoax,” as she put it. Her state’s experience with the coronavirus has encouraged its residents to see it as a faraway problem: The entire state has suffered only 17 deaths so far, whereas a single nursing home in my area saw a higher death toll. 

Even “The Most Magical Place on Earth” will show signs of the global pandemic when visitors start to return. Despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Florida, Walt Disney World will resume operations on Saturday, though certain areas of the park will remain closed. SeaWorld Orlando and Univeral’s three theme parks reopened last month.

Some local school districts have considered offering a mix of in-person and virtual classes in the fall because of the coronavirus. But in a call with governors on Tuesday, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said schools must be “fully operational.”

In the race to defeat the coronavirus, the finish line is the mass production of a safe, effective vaccine.

Just as Jonas Salk’s vaccine helped transform polio from feared menace to historical curiosity in most countries, a good vaccine against today’s coronavirus would restore the world’s confidence, both socially (potlucks! concerts! sports!) and economically. So where does the vaccine race stand now?

With the daily number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases trending up in 38 states, Americans held subdued Fourth of July celebrations across the country. Numerous beaches, bars, and restaurants have closed or reduced their capacity in tourist spots like California, South Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. Families and friends scaled back their barbecue plans as more than two dozen states required residents to wear masks in certain public settings.