| Johnson & Johnson boosters, an inconclusive report on the virus's origins, and an expanded state of emergency in Japan. Here's what you should know: Headlines Johnson & Johnson says a second dose of its shot generates a strong immune response Today Johnson & Johnson announced that research has shown a second dose of its Covid-19 vaccine increases antibody levels, demonstrating the potential use of a booster shot. The data from the company's studies will be submitted to a preprint server, meaning it has not yet been peer-reviewed. The CDC had already said it suspected J&J boosters would be necessary but was waiting on more data. These new findings will likely impact the US's booster strategy, which the CDC's expert advisory panel is meeting to discuss next week. A new intelligence report for Biden fails to pin down the virus's origins Yesterday President Biden received a classified report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, which was unable to conclude where and how the virus originated. The report comes 90 days after Biden asked intelligence agencies to probe for definitive answers on the virus's emergence. Officials are working to declassify parts of the report in the coming days so that they can be released to the public. Japan expands its state of emergency with cases on the rise Japan expanded its state of emergency today for the second time in two weeks, and 33 of the country's 47 prefectures are now subject to some kind of emergency measure. State of emergency requirements in Japan include provisions for tele-work and social distancing, but increasingly people are ignoring these measures, even as cases rise. In Tokyo, which has been in a state of emergency since July 12, daily cases have increased more than tenfold. Officials continue to say there's no link between this spike and this summer's Olympics. Daily Distraction How does someone's digital afterlife shape how they're remembered? From still-open Facebook accounts to tribute posts, algorithms have a tremendous bearing on the way we grieve. Something to Read Can machines become conscious, or even emotionally intelligent? It's a loaded question. But insofar as consciousness is a state that emerges from relationships between beings and their world, rather than just a thing that exists in our brains, perhaps the answer is yes. Sanity Check Do you have a cranky baby at home who refuses to go to sleep? We've found some bassinets that could help your tot catch some z's. One Question Would it be fair to treat vaccinated Covid patients first? Recently there were reports that some Texas hospitals were considering factoring in the vaccination status of their Covid patients when deciding who to treat. That hasn't actually happened, and probably won't, but it does raise some thorny ethical questions. Emergency rooms are legally required to care for everyone, and clinicians around the world agree that treatment for both Covid and non-Covid patients should be determined by the same triage principles—namely, working to get the greatest number of people out of the hospital alive. In short, you'd need two patients who need triage and are the same in every way except that one is vaccinated and the other isn't, and to know why that's the case, to even consider this question. 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. 😷 Masks may no longer be mandatory where you live, but it's still a good idea to have a few around. Here are the best masks you can buy, or how to make one at home. 💉 Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself and others against Covid-19. 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. 🚗 Itching for a vacation but not quite ready to get on a plane? Hit the road instead. Here's everything you need to plan a post-pandemic road trip. 👋 So you're fully vaccinated! Congrats. Here are some ways you can let others know. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
%20WIRED_Cybernetic%20Meadow.jpg "meadow")
0 Comments:
Post a Comment