Governors work to speed up vaccinations, England reaches a concerning milestone, and the EU approves the Moderna vaccine. Here's what you should know: Headlines US governors work to speed up vaccine distribution while US daily deaths hit a record high On Tuesday the US reported its highest daily Covid-19 death toll yet, topping 3,770. Meanwhile, governors across the country are working to accelerate vaccine distribution. In Maryland, North Carolina, and Arizona, the National Guard has been mobilized to help, while California's Gavin Newsom just promised new actions including allowing dentists to administer the vaccine after they've received training. On Tuesday, Operation Warp Speed also said it has distributed more than 3 million vaccines. So far 17 million doses have been sent to states and more than 4.8 million have been administered. An estimated one in 50 have Covid-19 in England as the country returns to lockdown Boris Johnson announced that one in every 50 people in England has Covid-19 on Tuesday. This number is an estimate based on an official survey aiming to account for asymptomatic cases. Earlier this week, the UK went into its third national lockdown, which is currently scheduled to last until mid-February. Johnson said that the government plans to use the next month and a half to speed up vaccination, particularly among the elderly and other vulnerable populations. The EU approves Moderna's vaccine for conditional use The European Union's executive commission approved Moderna's vaccine for conditional use on Wednesday morning as cases continue to rise across the continent. This is the second vaccine approved for use, following Pfizer-BioNTech's. The EU has ordered 80 million doses of the Moderna vaccine with an option to order 80 million more, and rollout is expected to begin next week. Daily Distraction Last year, the pandemic caused lots of blockbuster movie releases to be delayed. We rounded up the new movies we're most looking forward to seeing in 2021—maybe even in a theater. Something to Read In 1995, WIRED cofounder Kevin Kelly and the author and noted Luddite Kirkpatrick Sale waged a bet about whether technology would lead to the collapse of civilization in 25 years. Last month, they reconvened to see who won. Sanity Check Want to learn more about how your computer works? Try building one! One Question How should I talk to relatives who are hesitant about getting vaccinated? Now that vaccination efforts are underway, it's critical that people get inoculated as soon as they can. But with all of the misinformation and skepticism swirling in the air, it's likely that many of us have at least a few loved ones who are wary of getting the shot. Research shows that empathy and an established relationship can change people's minds, and that "prosocial" messages that focus on altruism, family, and community work better than scare tactics. So if any of your relatives are vaccine-averse, try explaining gently that getting vaccinated is good and valuable—for them and for society. 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 an updated look at 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. |