PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 02.24.22 | US cases wane, the WHO will train countries to make vaccines, and Queen Elizabeth II recovers from Covid. But first, here's this week's big story: |  | Omicron cases may be declining in the US, but some experts are warning against reopening too hastily, as a subset of the variant called BA.2 is on the rise globally. The World Health Organization has labeled it a variant of concern. There's evidence that this new strain is more infectious than the one that's been circulating for months, and some researchers are looking at whether it could prolong waves that recently peaked in Japan and in European countries like Denmark. BA.2 could do the same in the US, where it now accounts for just under 4 percent of all new cases, though that number appears to be increasing rapidly. Of course, not every new variant needs to be a cause for major alarm. The world's ability to surveil and sequence new strains has improved dramatically since the start of the pandemic, a necessary first step to figuring out which mutations are likely to cause problems. But to get past the Omicron wave and truly move into a new phase of the pandemic, researchers and health officials will need to keep refining these processes. | | US cases are down 90 percent from their record-setting high five weeks ago, leading some states to outline plans for rescinding public health measures like mask mandates. (CNBC) The WHO recently announced that it's setting up a facility in South Korea to train low- and middle-income countries to make their own Covid vaccines and treatments. (Reuters) Queen Elizabeth II has postponed two events as she recovers from Covid-19. She tested positive last Sunday, when she reportedly had mild, coldlike symptoms. (NBC) The CDC updated its vaccine guidance on Tuesday, advising that some people over 12, particularly young adult men, wait eight weeks between their first two mRNA doses. (The New York Times) Cases in South Korea surpassed their previous all-time high yesterday, but the country's prime minister called for calm, saying serious cases and deaths remain manageable. (The Guardian) | | Two years into the pandemic, many companies are touting the virtues of remote work. But even if employees are staying productive, it's hard to build culture when everyone is behind a screen. | | French information scientist Jacques Vallée has spent more than half a century probing UFO sightings and other close encounters. Where does he think they come from? That's a great question. | | Winter is almost over, and shops are starting to clear out their seasonal stock. Here are some of the best end-of-season deals. | |
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