| India's surge impacts Covax distribution, US manufacturers adapt to increasing imports, and Japan expands its state of emergency. Here's what you should know: Headlines Covax vaccine distribution stalls due to halted vaccine exports from India The Serum Institute of India is the single largest vaccine supplier for Covax, an initiative co-led by the WHO to distribute vaccines equitably worldwide. But amid the pandemic surge in India, the country suspended vaccine exports in March, and the biotech company hasn't made any of its planned shipments since. SII had planned to send Covax around a billion doses this year, but by the end of June it is expected to be 190 million doses behind schedule. Given this, Unicef is asking G7 countries with a surplus to donate much-needed supplies. American manufacturers who pivoted in the pandemic plot their next steps Last spring, American manufacturers pivoted sharply to supply masks and other goods that were in critically short supply. Now, as the economy recovers and cheap imports make a comeback, the companies who adapted to meet America's pandemic needs are fighting to preserve their new businesses. Last week, members of the newly formed American Mask Manufacturers Association wrote a letter to the White House asking for help, because inexpensive masks and respirators from China are now returning to the US. Japan expands its state of emergency in preparation for the Olympics On Friday, Japan expanded its coronavirus state of emergency for the second time in a week; it now encompasses nine areas, including Tokyo and Osaka, as well as Hokkaido, Japan's northern island. The news comes as government officials stay determined to host the Olympics, postponed from 2020, in just over two months. Large swaths of the Japanese public now seem to be opposed to hosting the event, and many have grown frustrated by the country's slow vaccine rollout. As a result, some people appear to be less compliant with stay-at-home and social distancing requests. Daily Distraction On IMVU, users can dress their avatars in other users' clothing designs and send them down the virtual runway. Now, in a first-of-its-kind virtual fashion show, real designers are joining in. Something to Read Humans are unbelievably bad at seeing the future. The pandemic is one of a million things someone should have seen coming. But no matter how wrong our predictions are of what's to come, they tell us something incredibly revealing about who we are. Sanity Check Multi-tools do so much, but finding the one that fits all of your needs can be a challenge. Here are our top picks for any task. One Question How did science students do fieldwork during the pandemic? To earn a degree in geology, you need to spend some time outside studying rocks in their natural habitat. During the pandemic, these hands-on learning experiences were challenging, if not impossible, to arrange. Two instructors at Imperial College London came up with a creative solution: The scientists built video game versions of the field trips their undergraduate students would normally participate in. There, students could practice techniques and learn about the earth more or less the same way they would otherwise. What's more, they were able to collaborate and socialize with each other too.
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. | 
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