| The UK plans a pandemic radar system, the US says it will send shots to Latin America, and the Covid lab leak theory weaponizes uncertainty. Here's what you should know: Headlines The UK has a plan for a new 'pandemic radar' system Recently, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK government will develop a new "global pandemic radar" to track Covid variants and other emerging diseases. Separately, the Rockefeller Foundation's Pandemic Prevention Institute has proposed creating a hub for gathering pandemic-related data already out there in other systems. Among global health experts, the consensus is clear: We need better ways to detect and surveil pandemics. But getting these systems up and running will require careful coordination between organizations and countries—something that's been in short supply. Secretary of State Blinken announces that the US will send shots to Latin America On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US plans to distribute millions of coronavirus vaccine doses to Latin America. The Biden administration has yet to say which countries will receive doses first and when they will be delivered. The Chinese government has already shipped more than 165 million doses of its homegrown vaccine to Latin America and the Caribbean. The Covid-19 lab leak theory emerges as a tale of weaponized uncertainty Last week, President Biden told US intelligence agencies to investigate the possibility that Covid-19 came from a lab leak in addition to looking at natural spillover as a potential cause. This was the latest in a string of allegations that take scientific uncertainty about the pandemic's origins to mean that there's a reasonable chance it came from a Wuhan lab. But in all likelihood, WIRED's Adam Rogers points out, we won't know where this virus came from for years. And until then, it's worth remembering that scientists almost never say they're sure about anything. Daily Distraction For decades, there has been a quiet schism between video game and tabletop gaming communities. Now, video games are starting to take cues from their analog counterparts. Something to Read A few years ago, "egirl" was a slur that gamers used to write off women streaming on Twitch. Now, it hasn't just been reclaimed—it's metastasized. Egirls, WIRED's Cecilia D'Anastasio writes, are a "confetti explosion to greet the moment when women's long-held interest in gaming is accepted into the mainstream, and corporatized, too." Sanity Check In all likelihood, remote ceremonies like weddings and memorials aren't going anywhere soon. Here's how to better prepare for milestone events online. One Question What's the post-pandemic future of movie theaters? After 15 months of Covid theater closures and delayed movie releases, A Quiet Place Part II, which was released in theaters over the Memorial Day holiday, is projected to rake in more than $57 million from the long weekend—the most any movie has made during the pandemic. AMC Theatres also announced recently that it's raising around $230.5 million to acquire more theaters and expand its business. Both of these developments are promising signs that the pandemic didn't topple the entire movie-going industry—but show biz still has a long way to go to get back to where it was before March 2020.
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. | 
