Biden and GOP senators discuss Covid aid, AstraZeneca supplies more doses to the EU, and Chinese police crack down on counterfeit vaccines. Here's what you should know: Headlines Biden to meet with GOP senators to discuss differing Covid-19 relief plans President Biden is meeting with a group of 10 Republicans today to discuss coronavirus relief. Biden has already set forth a $1.9 trillion rescue package, and the House plans to move forward this week with the steps required to pass the bill with a simple majority. On Sunday, the group of GOP lawmakers outlined an alternate, $618 billion plan. In their meeting, Biden is expected to try to make good on his promise to work across the aisle, but he has stated plainly that passing Covid relief is nonnegotiable. AstraZeneca agrees to supply 9 million more vaccines to the EU following disputes On Sunday AstraZeneca agreed to send 9 million additional doses of its vaccine to the EU during the first quarter of this year, following a series of disputes that sprang up between the two parties last week after production problems kept the drug manufacturer from sending the prearranged number of vaccines. Now the company will begin deliveries a week earlier than scheduled, expand manufacturing capacity in Europe, and aim to send 40 million doses by the end of March. This target is still only half of what it had originally aimed for. Chinese police crack down on crime ring selling fake Covid-19 vaccines Chinese police are cracking down on a crime ring allegedly making fake Covid-19 vaccines. Police found that the people involved have been turning a huge profit by making mock vaccines using saline solution and selling them at a markup. More than 80 people have been arrested across three provinces for helping to produce more than 3,000 fake shots. Daily Distraction Is it possible to capture, in writing, what the internet has done to our brains? Two new novels have given it a try—one more successfully than the other. Something to Read People online often like to think that the internet is a place where ordinary users can stick it to the Man. But time and again, the powerful have come up ahead in the end. We saw it 10 years ago, when Egyptian democracy protesters used social media to launch a movement in Tahrir Square. And in all likelihood, we'll see it again as the GameStop stock mayhem continues to unfold. Sanity Check Sick of figuring out what to make for dinner every night? Recipe newsletters can help. One Question Why is vaccine enrollment such a mess? When WIRED's Steven Levy went online to make an appointment to get vaccinated, he had to answer almost 60 questions, affirm his eligibility, upload images of his health insurance card, then choose a site, some of which required even more information to sign up, only to find out there were no available slots. At a time when you can do basically anything online, why is signing up for a vaccine so hard? When Trump's White House didn't give states and localities guidance on vaccine administration, they were left to figure it out for themselves. The sites they built prioritized conforming with regulations over optimizing user experience. And, of course, when the number of eligible people surpassed the number of available doses, things got even messier. But a new site in the pilot stage in California offers a vision for how we could still turn things around. Built in just nine days, it gives quick vaccine information to any state resident, and it will eventually help people schedule appointments throughout the state. Covid-19 Care Package ๐ฆ 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 a look at the research. ๐ท 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. ๐งผ 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. ๐ป Whether or not you're a work-from-home pro, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. ๐ 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. ๐ฆ Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. |