| Covid-19 mortality rates decrease, a UK company announces a controversial human challenge trial, and the virus's spread continues to accelerate across the US. Here's what you should know: Headlines New research shows that Covid-19 mortality rates have decreased for all groups Covid-19 patient mortality has dropped since the start of the pandemic across all age and racial groups and for those with underlying conditions, according to two new peer-reviewed studies. It's proof that even if there is no definitive treatment or cure for the disease, doctors are getting better at treating those who are infected. Researchers also think mask-wearing may play a role, as it reduces the initial dose of virus a patient receives. That said, with a 7.6 percent chance of mortality, the disease is still high-risk. UK company announces controversial trial that will infect healthy volunteers with Covid-19 A private company in the UK announced yesterday a controversial plan for a first-of-its-kind Covid-19 "human challenge trial" backed partly by the government. The experiment, which is set to begin in January pending regulatory and ethical approval, will intentionally infect young, healthy people with the virus. Organizers say this could speed up vaccine development. Though the company and other proponents of the trial says the participants are relatively low risk, others question both the ethics and the value of the study, saying it's unlikely to provide enough information to be worth it. Covid-19 spread continues to accelerate across the US This week, the national seven-day case average was just under 60,000, marking an increase of about 73 percent in five and a half weeks. And yesterday, 10 states recorded their highest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations. These numbers are concerning as many parts of the country enter the colder months, more gatherings move indoors, and the holiday season approaches. Daily Distraction Having a hard time thinking about the future amid all the uncertainty of the pandemic? Try a TikTok tarot reading. Something to Read An estimated 3 million people have bought Prevagen, a memory supplement made from jellyfish protein, since it hit the market in 2007. You might assume a product like this would only become widely available after receiving FDA approval. In fact, the FDA has flagged it internally as a hazard in a saga spanning years. Sanity Check Ever since Apple's iPhone 12 announcement, 5G has become even buzzier. But before buying an expensive new phone, it's worth asking: do you really need 5G? One Question Do we know anything new about whether you can get Covid-19 from surfaces? In the early days of the pandemic, many of us furiously scrubbed down surfaces out of concern that anything we touched could give us Covid-19. Since then, there has been quite a bit of research on how long and how much the SARS-CoV-2 virus lasts on surfaces. In short, it can linger, especially in places where infected people have recently been. But that doesn't mean you need to be quarantining packages and washing your groceries. All evidence indicates that basic precautions like handwashing will do the trick, and worrying too much about small stuff like keeping surfaces pristine can actually detract focus from where it counts. Experts agree that shared air is the biggest threat. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's everything we know and advise about the coronavirus. 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the surface. Here's the research. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Some of you are work-from-home pros, but if you're new to it, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can protect yourself and your family without spiraling and how to not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to cut your hair at home, plus other ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
