PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 03.03.22 | The White House lifts its mask mandate, the WHO warns of spread in Ukraine, and the surgeon general requests data on misinformation. But first, here's this week's big story: | .jpg "person dropping polio vaccine in a child's mouth") | As of this week, US schools are advised to mandate masks only if cases in the region are high, according to recent CDC guidance. It's the first major change to federal recommendations for masking in classrooms since last summer, though many states and cities have already amended their guidelines. Still, the debate over how to handle the pandemic in schools remains heated among experts, in part because many kids aren't vaccinated. The FDA has yet to approve a shot for younger children. And even after they get approval, distribution could pose a hurdle. On top of hesitancy around vaccinating kids against Covid, the pandemic has tanked rates of childhood vaccination for, well, everything. This is due to a combination of lockdowns, health care worker and equipment shortages, misinformation, and more. But many kids missing routine shots could create other outbreaks to worry about. | | The White House lifted its mask mandate for fully vaccinated employees earlier this week, as cases continue to plummet. The announcement came shortly before President Biden's State of the Union address. (The Hill) The war in Ukraine is likely to increase Covid transmission, the WHO warned on Wednesday. What's more, three major oxygen plants in the country have closed, which means supplies are dangerously low. (CNBC) Today the surgeon general asked big tech companies to provide data on Covid-19 misinformation on their platforms to his office. They have until May 2 to send the information. (New York Times) Hong Kong officials say they plan to test the city's entire 7.4 million person population three times in March, while different local media outlets have reported contradictory details about an upcoming lockdown. (Bloomberg) Western Australia lifted border restrictions today, which means that the entire country is now open to vaccinated travelers for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. (NBC) | | It's easy to think that the internet is a novel technological invention. But in many ways, it's a living system like the ones that have supported life for hundreds of millions of years. | | You need evidence for any investigation, including into crimes against humanity. Which is one of many reasons why it's critical that the international community preserve images of what is happening in Ukraine. | |
