| Some scientists push back on boosters, NYC schools fully reopen, and a flawed pandemic origin story gathers steam. Here's what you should know: Headlines An international group of scientists publishes a review refuting the necessity of boosters A new review published today in The Lancet says that none of the data we have on coronavirus vaccines makes it clear that booster shots are necessary for the general population. The review is written by 18 scientists from around the world, including some for the WHO and two from the FDA who have announced they're leaving the agency at least partly because they disagree with the US' push for boosters. A committee of FDA advisers is meeting on Friday to look at the data on additional shots. In-person learning resumes for all New York City public school students This morning around a million students enrolled in New York City public schools returned to the classroom. While the city had a mix of remote and in-person instruction and options last year, this year there will be no remote option. Masks are required for all students and staffers, and teachers are required to be vaccinated, though they have until September 27 to get their first shots. As of today, New York City is also enforcing rules requiring vaccinations to go to indoor venues like restaurants, and is requiring all city employees to go back to work in person and either get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. A flawed, strange Covid-19 origin theory is gaining traction Early last month, a preprinted research paper asserted that SARS-CoV-2 genetic material had been detected in samples of subjects with measles and rubella in Italy as far back as late summer 2019. If this is true, it would mean that the virus was present in Europe long before December, when it was first detected in Wuhan, China. While there have been a slew of studies claiming this— and they've been widely covered, especially by the Chinese—the science behind all of these studies is riddled with errors and the methodology isn't definitively reliable. Daily Distraction Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' trial began last week, more than three years after she was indicted on charges of defrauding investors, doctors, and patients. The case looks at one founder, but also sheds light on some of the toxic norms of Silicon Valley. Something to Read How do you win friends and influence people? Today, the question is omnipresent online. And, writer Virginia Heffernan finds, its answer is still deceptively complex. Sanity Check Calling customer service is always a pain. But here are some tips for actually getting what you want. One Question Why is it so hard to predict where the pandemic is headed next? The job of disease modelers is to prepare us for many possible futures—a tall order. Models can help policymakers decide how to allocate resources and help people find stability amid all the pandemic's uncertainty, but they're still fraught. For one thing, initial assumptions, which entire models are predicated on, can be really hard to make. And while more lived experience is helpful in some ways, it can also create more question marks for modelers, as beliefs and behaviors start to vary more dramatically from region to region, state to state, and even town to town. All of which means that it's worth getting comfortable thinking in the short term, because it's hard to reliably predict much further into the future than that. 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 not be mandatory where you live, but they're still recommended for many situations. 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. | 
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