This is the last installment of WIRED's Coronavirus Update until the New Year. Happy holidays, stay safe, and we'll see you in 2021! State officials tackle vaccine logistics, the FDA authorizes an over-the-counter test, and Congress nears a stimulus bill agreement. Here's what you should know: Headlines State officials work on vaccine logistics as health care workers and the elderly start receiving shots On Monday, health care workers across the US began receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19. For the next few weeks, hospitals will focus on inoculating their employees, and pharmacy chains will take care of nursing home residents. State officials are also beginning to iron out many of the logistical issues they will have to contend with once they begin vaccinating the general public, likely in February or March. These include everything from how to handle the delicate vaccine to readying kits to tracking and scheduling vaccinations. The FDA authorizes its first over-the-counter at-home coronavirus test On Tuesday the FDA granted an emergency use authorization to the first at-home rapid coronavirus test. The test, which was developed by the Australian company Ellume, will cost around $30, does not require a prescription, and can be used by anyone older than 2. Nasal swab samples don't need to be sent to a lab, but users are required to download an app that automatically sends test data by zip code to the cloud. Experts say US testing capacity should increase rapidly in the next two to three months as more new tests are approved for use. Congress nears an agreement on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package Congress is closing in on a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal that could be announced as soon as later today. The bill is expected to include a second round of stimulus checks (whose amount is still unannounced) as well as Paycheck Protection Program loans, money for vaccine distribution, and relief for hospitals. It won't include liability protections for businesses or aid to state and local government, two of the issues that have been contentious throughout these negotiations. Lawmakers hope to pass the bill before the government shuts down on Saturday. Daily Distraction In 2020, many of us turned to culture for comfort. Here's a list of all the books, movies, music, and more that got WIRED staffers through the last 12 months. Something to Read In the waning hours of Thanksgiving Day, writer and professor C. Brandon Ogbunu sat poised before his computer, waiting for the chance to purchase the elusive Sony PlayStation 5. Shopping for games online had, he realized, become a game unto itself—and a fitting bookend to this crazy time. Sanity Check Looking to support BIPOC-owned businesses this holiday season? We put together a list of a few of our favorite items from BIPOC-owned businesses that are perfect for anyone on your list. One Question Will the pandemic change how we design indoor spaces? The pandemic has sparked a surge of interest in the role that indoor environments play in our health, and experts hope that won't die down once we're all vaccinated. The International WELL Building Institute, an organization that's developing standards for healthy buildings, has registered more than a million square feet of real estate a day in its certification program since the pandemic. These healthy buildings are designed for the well-being of their inhabitants and may include things like new HVAC systems, lighting that mimics the sun, and other design elements that mimic or allow access to the natural world. They're proven to keep people healthier—even when we're not warding off a viral disease. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's everything we know and advise about the coronavirus. 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the surface. Here's an updated look at the research. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Some of you are work-from-home pros, but if you're new to it, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can protect yourself and your family without spiraling and how to not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to cut your hair at home, plus other ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. |
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