| The US readies itself for post-vaccine life, case counts in India reach new highs, and vaccine negotiations continue around the world. Here's what you should know: Headlines The CDC releases guidelines for vaccinated Americans just before Biden's 100th day in office On Tuesday, the CDC released new guidelines for Americans who are fully vaccinated, saying that they can now forgo a mask when doing activities outdoors alone or in small groups. Masks are still required in public spaces and more crowded outdoor settings, and while gathering indoors. Shortly after this announcement, governors in California, New York, Louisiana, Maine, and Massachusetts all loosened their outdoor mask mandates. The Biden administration marked its 100th day this week and far surpassed its goal of administering 200 million doses by that time. As more Americans receive their shots, questions loom large about what an increasingly vaccinated country will look like. For example, some experts are debating the merits and drawbacks of using one-time vaccine registries and vaccine surveillance apps to safely reopen establishments. The pandemic crisis in India worsens as the US and other countries send aid Today, India's Health Ministry reported 386,452 new cases—yet another worldwide record—as the country's new wave continues to reach unprecedented heights. Hospitals are overwhelmed and critically low on oxygen, and crematoriums are running out of space for bodies. Many are growing angry at Prime Minister Modi for failing to respond adequately to the crisis. The US sent its first shipment of emergency medical supplies to the struggling country today, including more than 400 oxygen cylinders and nearly 1 million rapid test kits. The Biden administration also plans to send stockpiled doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine after a safety review. More than 40 other countries have also committed to sending aid. The EU makes a big new vaccine deal while other nations' efforts stall This week the EU announced it had made a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech to purchase 1.8 billion vaccine doses—making it the drugmaker's single biggest client yet. The contract gives the EU the latitude to resell or donate some of the doses, which positions the region well to assist other nations struggling to get vaccination efforts off the ground. Britain also recently announced that it will buy 60 million more doses from Pfizer-BioNTech. Elsewhere in the world, vaccination efforts continue to sputter. Authorities at Brazil's health agency recently voted unanimously to stop the import of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, saying there isn't enough data proving its safety and efficacy. And the Democratic Republic of Congo is returning 1.3 million AstraZeneca doses to COVAX and Unicef after realizing it won't be possible to dole them all out before they expire in June. Daily Distraction In New Pokémon Snap, players can take pictures of animated critters in the wild. WIRED enlisted an acclaimed wildlife photographer to judge our handiwork. Something to Read How does Pixar use color to enhance the stories its films tell? The answer involves clever lighting, a team of savvy tech pros, and some fancy lasers. In an excerpt from his forthcoming book, Full Spectrum, WIRED's Adam Rogers takes a close look at the machinery behind the magic. Sanity Check Interested in creating your own content? Here's a roundup of our favorite podcast and livestream gear to get you started. One Question Will a year of social distancing impact children's immune systems? Cases of respiratory diseases like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could hardly be found this year, as many people sheltered at home, wore masks in public, and generally kept their distance from others. Mostly, this is a good thing. But it means that young children may not have been exposed to the everyday infections that will help their immune systems learn to ward off allergies and other diseases as they get older. Now, researchers are starting to examine how this pandemic will impact kids' developing microbiomes. Some predict that diseases like RSV will come roaring back. Others point out that this will likely hit hardest those who are economically or racially marginalized, not to mention those with fragile immune systems. But there's a silver lining: The drop in infections this past year meant that fewer doctors were prescribing antibiotics, which may be good for developing microbiomes.
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. 💉 The data is in, and the vaccines are working. Here's how to get an appointment in your area. 💻 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. | 
