| The US surpasses 100,000 cases, schools navigate reopening amid outbreaks, and France extends use of its health pass. Here's what you should know: Headlines US tops 100,000 cases with Florida emerging as America's pandemic epicenter For the first time since February, the US is reporting over 100,000 cases of coronavirus per day, with Florida emerging as the country's epicenter. Around one in four hospital beds in the state is now occupied by a Covid-19 patient, and on Friday it reported its highest single-day total case count since the start of the pandemic. Cases are also rising among children. Despite all this, Governor Ron DeSantis remains staunchly opposed to vaccine and mask mandates in schools. Schools weigh masking and vaccines as they prepare to reopen Teachers and school district officials are racing to figure out pandemic protocols as a surge in cases, particularly among children, coincides with the fast approaching start of the school year. And though vaccination rates are rising in the US, teenagers over 12 have the lowest vaccination rate of any age group. Though there is outspoken resistance to mask and vaccine mandates in schools in parts of the country, some experts point out that all 50 states already have vaccination mandates in public schools and many private schools as well. Once it is fully approved, the Covid-19 vaccine is likely to go on states' lists of required shots. France will keep requiring its Covid-19 "health pass" despite opposition France is extending use of its "health pass," which the government implemented last month in the hopes of boosting vaccination rates. The pass—a paper or digital QR code given to people who are fully vaccinated, have had a recent negative test, or have had Covid-19 and recovered—applies to a range of activities including going to restaurants, taking long train trips, and visiting hospitals. Protesters have voiced strong opposition to the system ever since it was implemented. Daily Distraction In the '90s, self-savagery, acid disdain for the rich, anti-commercialism, and irony loomed large. Now the same themes are making a comeback on TikTok. Something to Read Today the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a major new report detailing how, and to what extent, humanity has set the planet on fire. The situation is bad, it says, but it's not beyond repair—provided we take immediate and drastic action to change the way we live. Sanity Check Making new friends can be part of the joy of spending time online. But moving those friendships into the real world can be a challenge. Here are a few suggestions for making internet friends into IRL ones. One Question How do I calculate risk now that cases are rising again? Calculating risk at this stage in the pandemic has two components: staying safe and staying sane. Earlier in the summer, choices like entering a grocery store or bar maskless became refreshingly simple for those who are vaccinated. But now that the Delta variant has spurred a rise in cases, people are starting to change how they think about risk yet again. WIRED writer Gregory Barber reported on risk calculation earlier in the pandemic, and has a few suggestions for this next phase. The key to making sense of this time, he writes, is to reframe the large-scale issues at play as a series of smaller everyday decisions—like grocery store visits and street crossings—that determine how we live our lives day to day. Covid-19 Care Package 📦 To end this pandemic and prevent future ones, we'll need a good way to track and surveil emerging diseases. Here's a look at the latest efforts. 😷 Masks may no longer be mandatory where you live, but it's still a good idea to have a few around. Here are the best masks you can buy, or how to make one at home. 💉 Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself and others against Covid-19. 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. 🚗 Itching for a vacation but not quite ready to get on a plane? Hit the road instead. Here's everything you need to plan a post-pandemic road trip. 👋 So you're fully vaccinated! Congrats. Here are some ways you can let others know. 🦠Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
