Coronavirus Update: The pandemic revolutionized disease surveillance. Now what?

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 | 03.28.22 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 UK dials back disease surveillance, Shanghai locks down, and Hawaii halts indoor masking. Here's what you should know: Headlines The UK cuts back on its revolutionary epidemiological surveys (WIRED) Over the past two years, the UK's Office for National Statistics' Covid-19 Infection Survey has swabbed 180,000 random participants every two weeks to provide scientists, journalists, and laypeople with comprehensive real-time data about how many people are infected and whether specific regions or age groups are at increased risk. But last month the British government announced that it will pare this program down and end two other major infection surveys, as well as free mass testing. It's becoming trickier to justify the cost of these programs as the country tries to learn to "live with Covid." But maintaining some disease surveillance infrastructure will be critical for staying on top of future pandemics. Shanghai goes into a two-part lockdown (Washington Post) Starting today, Shanghai will enter the first part of a two-phase lockdown. Those in districts east of the Huangpu River will stay home until Friday, when people west of the water will quarantine. The move comes as cases rise in the city of 25 million—and across much of the country. In light of the surge, officials recently said that they are devising a plan to move away from China's "zero-Covid" approach, and Shanghai has previously experimented with new measures. Hawaii is the last state to lift its indoor mask mandate (New York Times) Hawaii became the last state in the US to lift its indoor mask mandate over the weekend, with cases, hospitalizations, and deaths all subsiding as the Omicron wave wanes. The state also started allowing people from the continental US to enter without presenting test results or proof of vaccination. Hawaii relies heavily on tourism, with people in the sector largely supporting changes that bring the state's policies into alignment with the rest of the country. In 2021, visitors to the state were down 35 percent compared to 2019, and the industry has yet to return to pre-pandemic numbers. Science Spotlight A Bold Idea to Stall the Climate Crisis—by Building Better Trees The way trees capture carbon is nothing short of miraculous, but they can't rescue the atmosphere on their own. Now some scientists are looking at whether forests could be engineered to increase their carbon-sucking potential. A Global Boom in Fences Is Harming Wildlife Border walls and fences don't only impact other humans—they also have huge repercussions for migratory wildlife. The more barriers people build, the more they could alter natural patterns and disrupt ecosystems. Daily Distraction For years, streaming services have been racing to see who would be the first to nab Best Picture at the Oscars. With CODA's victory last night, Apple TV+ scored a big win—and made history. Something to Read The Soviet Union crumbled thirty years ago, but there's a corner of the internet where loyalists can fantasize about the region's bygone era—by registering domains using the former empire's country code. Sanity Check Some two years into the pandemic, you can finally unlock your iPhone using Face ID even when you have a mask on. Better late than never! GET WIRED Flash 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.