PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 01.13.22 | Biden will purchase more tests, Omicron cases level in parts of the US, and teachers in France strike. But first, here's this week's big story: |  | Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that cases among US kids have tripled since Christmas, and more than 10 percent of the positive cases in people younger than 18 have occurred in the past two weeks. In kids under 5, for whom vaccines are not yet available, the rate of hospitalization is on the rise too. The highly contagious virus spreads best among those who aren't vaccinated, which explains Omicron's increasing burden on kids and, by transit, their families. Pfizer and Moderna both say they expect trial data for vaccines for younger kids this spring, but for the time being, parents of children under 5 are in a particularly pressing position. As with the onset of the Delta variant, the rise of Omicron is throwing schools across the country into chaos. Last week, more than 5,000 US schools took classes remote for at least a day. Even among those that have persisted with in-person schooling, there has been tumult: New York City students staged a walkout earlier this week over Covid safety, and Chicago teachers also recently protested for better health provisions. | | President Biden announced today that his administration will purchase 500 million Covid tests for Americans, send military medical personnel to six states where hospitals are overrun, and is developing a plan to get high-quality masks to Americans. (New York Times) Though numbers are still high, Omicron cases appear to be slowing down in New York City and other parts of the Northeast that saw a surge starting last month. This indicates that the variant's trajectory in the US could be similar to other countries. (Washington Post) Today, teachers across France participated in a nationwide strike over the government's handling of the pandemic in schools. Educators have asked for clarification of rules, more protective measures, and more testing. (Associated Press) Hungarian officials announced today that a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be available to anyone who wants it and has gotten a doctor's permission, though the European Union's drug regulator has said there's no data to support this approach. (Reuters) After a six-week surge brought on by Omicron, cases have begun to plateau in Africa according to the director of regional emergencies for the WHO on the continent. While underreporting during the holidays could contribute, it's still encouraging news. (CNN) | | These days there's a video game for everything: leisure, sure, but also being more productive, or even earning money with the help of NFTs. | |
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