Biden restricts travel, Moderna reports findings on virus variants, and Google bolsters vaccination efforts. Here's what you should know: Headlines Biden will reimpose international travel restrictions to curb the spread of new variants President Biden plans to reimpose travel restrictions for non-US citizens trying to enter the country during the pandemic, in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus, particularly new variants. Most travelers from the UK, Ireland, Brazil, and the 26 countries in Europe's Schengen Area will be banned starting today, and those from South Africa starting Saturday. Additionally, the CDC has said it will require travelers flying into the US to have negative test results before boarding the plane beginning Tuesday. Moderna finds that its vaccine protects against virus variants A new study by Moderna and the Vaccine Research Center at the NIAID has found that its vaccine is effective against the new virus variants from Britain and South Africa. The British variant had no effect on antibody levels, and though the South African mutation did, antibody levels were still high enough to be protective. Because of this, Moderna is developing a version of the vaccine aimed at the South African variant that can also be used as a booster shot a year after people receive their original two doses. Google steps up to help with vaccination efforts Google announced today that it will open up its facilities to be used as Covid-19 vaccination sites in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, a Seattle suburb, and New York City if that becomes necessary. They'll be partnering with membership-based medical company One Medical, but Google says the sites will be open to anyone eligible for a vaccine according to state and local guidelines. In addition, vaccine distribution information and vaccination sites will start appearing on Google Search and Maps, and the company will donate $150 million to vaccine education efforts. Daily Distraction What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island? Writers and actors have explored this question for centuries. Now there's an exciting addition to the castaway canon: Amazon's The Wilds. Something to Read In Dungeons & Dragons, racial differences translate to numerical scores. "Dwarves get extra points when they try to hit something with a battleaxe. Elves get plus two dexterity. Half-orcs' 'savage attack' lets players reap extra damage off a critical hit. All because of their race," WIRED's Cecilia D'Anastasio explains. Now, players are pushing the game to confront its long history of racial essentialism. Sanity Check Looking to get in better shape while in quarantine? Here are our tips for working out from the comfort of your own home. One Question How is North Korea handling the pandemic? In January 2020, as the new and mysterious coronavirus was spreading from China, North Korea sealed its borders, and it has kept them tightly shut ever since. Experts say that North Korea's response to the pandemic has been one of the most extreme and paranoid in the world, but it's hard to know anything for sure because the country is so closed off. Officially, it has no cases of Covid-19, but based on the data available, only a tiny fraction of the country is being tested. We know that North Korea has quarantined potential suspected cases, restricted people's movement and travel, limited gatherings, made masks mandatory, and disseminated public health information via state media. The one reason why North Korea will crack open its borders: Covid-19 vaccines. State hackers have targeted AstraZeneca and Microsoft, and the country has quietly asked for international help obtaining doses. Covid-19 Care Package 📦 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 a 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. 💻 Whether or not you're a work-from-home pro, 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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