Iowa passes a mandate exemption bill, an antidepressant shows promise for treating Covid-19, and Tonga records its first case. Here's what you should know: Headlines Iowa passes a bill providing unemployment benefits for people who don't abide by vaccine mandates Yesterday, legislators in Iowa passed a bill that will allow state residents to seek medical and religious exemptions from employers' vaccine mandates, and will guarantee unemployment benefits for those who are fired for refusing to get their shots. Nearly 7,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Iowa, but the state's governor has staunchly opposed mask and vaccine mandates, and has said she will sign this bill after it passes. Study results indicate that a cheap antidepressant could be used to treat Covid-19 On Wednesday, the journal Lancet Global Health published trial results indicating that fluvoxamine, an inexpensive antidepressant, could be an effective treatment for reducing hospitalization for high-risk adults who get Covid-19. The pill is generally used to treat depression and OCD, but also reduces inflammation. A course of the pill for Covid-19 treatment would cost four dollars. Questions remain about dosing and whether it could be used for lower-risk patients, but these are still promising results. The Pacific island nation of Tonga records its first case of Covid-19 Tonga, an island nation in the Pacific, logged its first-ever coronavirus case today, when someone entering on a commercial flight from New Zealand tested positive upon arrival. This individual had been fully vaccinated and tested negative before boarding the flight. The country's prime minister has said that the island could go into lockdown if more people test positive. So far, around 49 percent of Tongans have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Daily Distraction It's been a big week for Facebook. First, a trove of leaked documents laid bare many of the company's issues. Then, it announced a rebrand. Something to Read How do you deal with climate anxiety? It's a tough question, but sitting around and wringing your hands never helps. To combat his feelings of helplessness, writer Paul Ford looked to project managers and game designers and tried out some unconventional approaches. Sanity Check It's been a stressful year. Here are some of our favorites gifts for friends and loved ones who seem a little fried. One Question How did the pandemic change how we experience art? The consensus has long been that looking at art online pales in comparison to seeing it in person, on the walls of a gallery or museum. But during the pandemic, the industry had to get creative. For example, one artist gathered the team and resources to create VOMA, an interactive, fully online museum created using video game software. Displaying art digitally comes with its own set of challenges, like the fact that some museums are still developing their policies for digital loans and licenses. But it also represents an exciting opportunity to make art more accessible to anyone with an internet connection. 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, and 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. 💼 As employers increasingly require workers to return to the office, the routines you built during the pandemic may be thrown into disarray. Here are some tips to help you make the adjustment smoothly. 👋 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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