Herd immunity proposal draws the attention of the White House, Eli Lilly halts antibody treatment trials, and new research highlights the impact of the pandemic on digital freedom worldwide. Here's what you should know: Headlines A proposal for herd immunity denounced by scientists gains traction in the White House Last week, advisers of the president, including Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar, met with a group of scientists who have advocated for letting the virus spread naturally among young people to hasten herd immunity. They've dubbed their strategy "Focused Protection," and they boast support online, but many in the scientific community are skeptical, with one epidemiologist calling it a recipe for "carnage." A White House official told reporters that the plan supports what has been Trump's policy for months: Protect the vulnerable, but don't keep the country closed. Eli Lilly halts trials for antibody treatment due to an unspecified "potential safety concern" Government-sponsored trials for Eli Lilly's antibody treatment for Covid-19 were paused yesterday due to an unspecified "potential safety concern." The drug is similar to the Regeneron treatment that the president touted as a "cure" for Covid-19 after he received it. Both drugmakers applied for emergency use from the FDA after Trump was treated. While a pause may seem bad, they exist to help ensure the drug doesn't hit the market until it's safe. Scientists point out this is a good thing, the very reason we have clinical trials in the first place. Research finds that the pandemic fueled wide-ranging crackdowns on digital freedom worldwide New research has found that the pandemic enabled governments worldwide to crack down on digital liberty. People in at least 45 countries have been charged with criminal offenses for coronavirus-related online speech. The pandemic has also led to the creation of new surveillance technologies, including contact tracing apps, that don't adequately protect civilian privacy. Daily Distraction At its launch event yesterday, Apple announced that the iPhone 12 won't come with a charging adapter or EarPods. The company said leaving out these items is a way to curb its environmental footprint, but sustainability experts say it may not do much to combat the rise of e-waste. Something to Read Schools are chronically and notoriously underventilated. This is a problem under normal circumstances, but it could cause major issues during a pandemic. Public health professor Joseph Allen and his colleagues at Harvard have developed some guidelines to help schools keep their air cleaner and their reopenings smoother. "This is a time for the basics of healthy buildings," he told WIRED. "And that's bringing more fresh outdoor air in." Sanity Check Today is the second day of its annual Prime Day event, but Amazon isn't the only retailer touting sales. Its rivals are offering a slew of good deals too. One Question How can I beat Zoom fatigue? During a pandemic, video conferencing gives you access to colleagues and loved ones. But endless Zooming can be exhausting, especially for months on end. If work video calls are feeling overwhelming, talk to your boss about a setup that might work better for you, whether that's concentrating sessions on one day or switching things up with a phone call. And with friends and family, be honest about what feels good and what doesn't. It's OK to tell someone you're wiped out from hours of video calls and don't feel like talking. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's everything we know and advise about the coronavirus. 📦 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 the research. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Some of you are work-from-home pros, but if you're new to it, 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. |
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