| Merck's antiviral shows promise, the global death toll hits a grim milestone, and researchers look at universal coronavirus vaccines. Here's what you should know: Headlines Merck's antiviral could be just what Covid was waiting for Last month, Merck announced that its oral antiviral drug halved the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 among high-risk people when given to them within the first five days of infection during trials. The results prompted the drugmaker to seek emergency use authorization from the FDA. If approved, it's possible it will be rolled out before the end of the year. This drug could be a game changer for a number of reasons, including the fact that it's being made available to the whole world. But experts warn that doctors will need to stay keenly vigilant over time for any signs of the virus developing resistance to the drug. The global Covid-19 death toll tops 5 million New data released today indicates that global deaths from Covid-19 have officially surpassed 5 million. That said, this tally, from Johns Hopkins, counts only confirmed cases, so experts say it's possible the actual death toll could be twice as high. The US has the most confirmed deaths from the virus, more than 745,800 people, with Brazil and India following behind. As of last week, cases are increasing globally. The race is on to develop a vaccine against every coronavirus Over the past six months, a handful of researchers have proposed creating a "universal coronavirus vaccine" that could protect against SARS-CoV-2 and any variants and future strains that could emerge and cause new pandemics, in the way that others have tried to do for diseases like influenza. No one has gotten close yet, but some experts think it may be doable, because coronaviruses are genetically simpler than the ones that cause the flu, and also because the threat of another coronavirus pandemic makes this project all the more urgent. Daily Distraction Scientists are constantly learning more about what tree rings can tell us. Recently, researchers used them to confirm suspicions that tropical cyclones and hurricanes are more extreme now than they used to be. Something to Read Lately, it seems like everyone is quitting their job. But calling the movement "the Great Resignation" makes it easy to write it off as a pandemic-induced phase. In reality, it's the result of a fundamental shift in how Americans relate to their work. Sanity Check Somehow, Black Friday went from being the biggest sale day of the year to a whole month of deals. Here are our tips for navigating the shopping craziness. One Question How can I put my vaccine card on my phone? More and more businesses and employers are requiring vaccinations against Covid-19, which means you may have to prove you've had your shot to get in the door. But those vaccine cards are cumbersome! In order to store your vaccine card on your phone, you'll first need an official digital record. Then, there should be options for saving your medical records through things like Apple Wallet on an iPhone or Google Pay on an Android. And if all else fails, it's never a bad idea to have a photo of your card stored on your phone. 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 not be mandatory where you live, but they're still recommended for many situations. Here are the best masks you can buy, and 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. 💼 As employers increasingly require workers to return to the office, the routines you built during the pandemic may be thrown into disarray. Here are some tips to help you make the adjustment smoothly. 👋 So you're fully vaccinated! Congrats. Here are some ways you can let others know. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
