England plans to end its lockdown, Israel offers booster shots, and Malta bars unvaccinated visitors. Here's what you should know: Headlines England plans to lift remaining restrictions even as cases are on the rise Britain's health secretary announced today that all remaining lockdown measures in England, including mandatory mask wearing, will be lifted on July 19, next Monday. That's the same day that the government expects to meet its goal of giving all adults their first vaccine dose. Cases have been rising again in the UK as the Delta variant spreads, particularly among young people who haven't yet received their first vaccine dose. But hospitalization and death rates have been rising at a slower rate, and the government says it hopes that the vaccine rollout will prevent hospitalizations from rising at the same speed as infections. Israel begins offering Pfizer booster shots to vaccinated at-risk adults Yesterday Israel announced that it will start offering a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to at-risk adults, though it is still considering whether or not to provide boosters to the general public. New infections have risen in the country over the last month due to the Delta variant, and about half of the 46 patients currently hospitalized and in severe condition are vaccinated, though the majority are from at-risk groups. When asked about boosters in response to Israel's decision, Dr. Fauci said that the US is not recommending them right now. Malta will no longer allow in tourists who aren't fully vaccinated As of Wednesday, Malta will be the first EU country allowing visitors only if they're fully vaccinated. To date, most tourists could enter if they had tested negative or were fully vaccinated. But cases have been spiking recently, thanks in part to visitors who tested negative before boarding the plane but hadn't been vaccinated. The only exception to this new rule will be children between the ages of 5 and 12, who can enter if they test negative and are accompanied by parents who've received their vaccines. Daily Distraction During the pandemic, furry friends were all the rage. And where there's a wave of new customers, new startups are soon to follow. Something to Read Lego produces 100,000 metric tons of plastic a year. And not just any plastic, but acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a material notorious for being strong, rigid, and tough to recycle. Now, however, the toymaker is trying something new. It's made a new brick from PET plastic from discarded bottles that, for the first time, meets almost all of the requirements for its tried and true ABS bricks. Sanity Check Sometimes it can feel like the internet is listening in every time you look something up online. Here are a few ways to conduct searches more privately. One Question What's the safest way to take a post-pandemic road trip? If you're hungry for a summer vacation but not keen to get on a plane, WIRED has a few suggestions for your next road trip. Even if you're vaccinated, it's probably best to avoid crowded spots. There are so many interesting places off the beaten track in America—why not visit one of those? If you're renting a car, WIRED writer Matt Jancer's top pick is Enterprise. And you'll want to make sure you have all the essentials in your car with you—from food to extra gas to, yes, plenty of hand sanitizer and masks. Covid-19 Care Package 📦 To end this pandemic and prevent future ones, we'll need a good way to track and surveil emerging diseases. Here's a look at the latest efforts. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public, you're still likely to need a mask for some time to come. 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. ✂️ Here are some ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh after more than a year at home. 🦠Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. |
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