| More children are being hospitalized with Covid, judges say Texas leaders can require masks, and Iran battles another surge. Here's what you should know: Headlines Children's hospitals are filling in parts of the US where cases are on the rise The onset of the Delta variant has led to a rise in Covid-19 cases among children, a situation made worse by an out-of-season spike in other respiratory illnesses, which is also occupying hospital space. Some doctors have said that these Covid infections in kids are likely to occur when another, often unvaccinated, member of a household brings the virus home. As a result, children's hospitals in places where cases are surging are filling up. Some experts warn that deaths among kids are likely to rise, especially because vaccine trials for children under 12 are still in progress. In the meantime, masks are an important and effective way to curb spread among kids: The CDC now recommends all students over two, and adults, wear them on school grounds. Judges allow for local leaders to overrule Governor Greg Abbott's mask mandate ban in Texas Yesterday, two Texas judges greenlit overruling Governor Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates, allowing local officials to require them at least for the time being. In Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, masks can now be required in public schools and other public buildings, and will be necessary for all county and city employees. And in Dallas, a temporary mandate is now in place for students, staff, and visitors to public schools, and an emergency order is slated to be issued today. Cases are on the rise in Texas: There were 20,000 new infections yesterday, nearly double the number there were two weeks ago. Covid-19 death toll rises in Iran as the country faces another wave of infections Earlier this week Iranian state TV reported that one person within the country is now dying from Covid-19 every two minutes. Iran is in the midst of a fifth wave of infections and recently hit a new record daily toll of 588 deaths. At present, only around 4 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Iran's top official banned imports of US- and British-made vaccines at the start of this year, and the country has blamed US sanctions for its difficulty procuring shots from other countries. Iran is also participating in the WHO's Covax initiative in the hopes of speeding up vaccinations. Daily Distraction Are cities like computers? The metaphor has had a huge impact on urban design and how we think about space. But in a new book, urbanist and media studies writer Shannon Mattern explains why we'd do well to come up with a new comparison. Something to Read In recent years, a set of databases and algorithms have become a mainstay in the US's response to the opioid crisis. In name, these services help authorities keep an eye on the pharmaceutical market and help providers prevent vulnerable patients from developing addictions. But, like many machine learning tools, they're predicated on data that reinforces long-standing prejudices—and could stand to make the problems they aim to solve even worse. Sanity Check The start of the school year is almost upon us! Here are a few of WIRED's favorite back-to-school deals. One Question How can I make remote learning work for my kids? Even if your school plans to have kids in classrooms, it's wise to prepare for the possibility of some remote learning, especially as cases among children are spiking amid the rise of the Delta variant. The key, experts say, is not to try to replicate everything: Some things may fall by the wayside, and that's OK. It's important to facilitate in-person interactions wherever you can, and to think about how to help your kids pick up the important life skills they also learn from school, like self-management and emotional regulation. You'll also want to think about how much time you, or other adults, will need to spend supervising, and work that into your calculations. And if you have the discretionary income, you might want to pick up a few tools to help your kids learn. 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. | 
