| A CDC panel meets to approve vaccinating young teens, the WHO reclassifies a variant spreading in India, and ride-share apps will help Americans get vaccinated. Here's what you should know: Headlines CDC panel meets to discuss vaccinating young teens following FDA authorization A panel of CDC advisers is meeting today to discuss approving the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for use in 12- to 15-year-olds, after the FDA authorized administering the vaccine to younger teens earlier this week. Even though public health experts have affirmed that schools can safely resume in-person classes before all students are vaccinated, reopening classrooms has been a fraught subject for much of the pandemic. Now, roughly 17 million children under 16 will soon be able to get vaccinated in plenty of time for the start of the next school year. WHO designates variant detected in India a "variant of concern" The WHO has officially reclassified B.1.617, the Covid variant spreading in India, as a "variant of concern." Its status was elevated from "variant of interest" after preliminary research found that the strain is more transmissible and may be more resistant to protections, though experts affirm that vaccines are still effective against it. So far, three other mutations have been labelled "variants of concern": B.1.1.7, first detected in the UK; B.1.351, first identified in South Africa; and P.1, observed first in Brazil. Biden makes a deal with Lyft and Uber to get Americans to vaccination sites Yesterday, President Biden announced a deal with Uber and Lyft to help get more people to vaccination sites. Starting on May 24, the apps will point users to nearby vaccination sites and cover $15 rides going either to or from getting shots. That amount is expected to cover most, if not all, of the fare for going to get vaccinated. The White House aims to get 70 percent of American adults at least one dose by July 4, and this may help achieve that goal. But labor activists have also expressed concern over the message this sends about Biden's commitment to workers' rights. Daily Distraction Brood X is waking up, and trillions of cicadas are descending on the eastern US for the first time in 17 years. Some are asking: Why not eat them? Something to Read What should a virtual assistant sound like? How do you craft a computer that can hear you from across a room and then respond intelligently? In 2011, when Jeff Bezos first dreamt up the device that would become the Alexa-enabled Amazon Echo, no one really knew. In an excerpt from his new book, journalist Brad Stone tells the story of how Amazon brought Alexa to life. Sanity Check Running has a relatively small carbon footprint, and it just got a little smaller. Adidas and Allbirds have joined forces to make a sustainable running shoe. One Question What will happen to streamers when people are no longer at home all the time? During the pandemic, creators ranging from comedians to musical groups took to Twitch, the streaming platform owned by Amazon, to continue performing for growing audiences confined to their homes. While there's nothing like a live audience, many streamers say they've enjoyed the immediate feedback and intimacy of live streaming, and the creative opportunities that come with a more bespoke setup. Many say they'll stick with it even as the world continues to open up, and some even plan to double down. While Twitch's growth may level off, it seems likely that the creators and communities who have found a home on the platform will keep the spirit of what they made during the pandemic alive.
Covid-19 Care Package 📦 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. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public, you're still going to need a mask for some time to come. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 💉 The data is in, and the vaccines are working. Here's how to get an appointment in your area. 💻 Whether or not you're a work-from-home pro, 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. | 
