The CDC updates its mask guidance

Plus: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions     By Eve Sneider | 02.28.22 As the news keeps evolving, we're here to bring you the most reliable coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe to support our journalism. The CDC debuts new mask guidelines, Hong Kong mortuaries fill, and White House rapid tests are still in stock. Here's what you should know:     Headlines The CDC updates its mask guidelines (New York Times) The CDC issued new recommendations on masking and other pandemic mitigation measures on Friday. The guidance calculates a county's risk level as either low, medium, or high based on Covid-related hospital admissions, percentage of hospital beds occupied by Covid patients, and new cases over the previous week. The CDC says residents should only be required to wear a mask in high-risk counties. The same guidelines apply to schools. Based on the new guidance, less than 30 percent of Americans are in high-risk areas. Of course, the agency adds, people who are vulnerable because of their age, health, or job might still choose to take additional precautions. Mortuaries fill as cases rise in Hong Kong (Reuters) Hong Kong reported a record number of new cases and deaths today, and public mortuaries and facilities for storing the dead are at capacity. Another concern amid the surge is the city's unvaccinated elderly population. Many older residents remain hesitant, despite a push for more people to get their shots. To battle the recent wave of cases, authorities are also going to start a compulsory testing program in March. 46 percent of the White House's 500 million free tests are still in stock (ABC News) Americans have placed a total of 68 million orders for free Covid-19 tests since the White House made them available last month, leaving just under half of the Biden Administration's cache of tests still in stock. As cases decline, people may feel less urgency to test, but experts say it will be an important part of the pandemic going forward, as more mask mandates are repealed. Private insurers now cover eight free rapid tests per person each month, and Medicare will start covering them in the spring. Science Spotlight Cities Are Unlikely Yet Powerful Weapons to Fight Climate Change Urban areas are often hit hard by climate change. But a new IPCC report details how they could also be a powerful tool in fighting it.   The Future of Mental Health Diagnosis Goes Beyond the Manual For 70 years, psychiatrists have relied on a diagnostic manual colloquially called the DSM to treat patients. Some say it's high time for a system update. Daily Distraction   Trends have been a key piece of cultural currency since long before the advent of the internet. What social media changes is how a phenomenon gets appropriated and crowned as cool. Something to Read False press releases. Niche trade groups. Trendy mocktails. The story of Reynald Grattagliano, a nonalcoholic spirit brand founder and alleged internet troll, has it all. Sanity Check Tool kits are a must-have for any homeowner. Here's the essential gear you need to tackle your own repairs. GET WIRED Presidents' Day Sale. Give yourself the gift of information. Get the print edition of WIRED and exclusive subscriber-only stories for just $29.99 $5. Subscribe now.           Have questions or comments? Reply to this email.   This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or Manage your newsletter subscriptions   Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.