When it’s OK to ditch your mask | Coronavirus Newsletter
Plus, another reason to get vaccinated
The gist: Fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear a mask in most outdoor situations, according to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Here’s a breakdown of when you should keep your mask on, and when you can go without it. If you need another reason to get vaccinated, consider this: Severe COVID-19 is so deadly because it unleashes sepsis, and vaccines aim to prevent that from happening. Read more here.
— Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com)
What you need to know:
💉 Philadelphia has thousands of vaccine doses citywide that will expire over the next couple of days if they aren’t used.
📉 COVID-19 cases are plummeting in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as more people are vaccinated.
🦠 “We’re one and done”: Montgomery County commissioners Val Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday to show their confidence in the shot, which the county has now resumed using.
💰 Philadelphia’s budget reflects the likelihood that COVID-19 is here to stay.
😷 People with intellectual disabilities are helping providers improve the vaccination experience.
🏥 Indian Americans in Philly help their ancestral homeland amid the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak.
📰 What’s going on in your county or neighborhood? We organize recent coverage of the pandemic by local counties and Philly neighborhoods to make it easier for you to find info you care about. Sign up here to get those local headlines sent directly to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Local coronavirus cases
📈The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on confirmed coronavirus cases, deaths caused by the virus, and vaccinations to curb the spread. Track the latest data here.
Fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear a mask in most outdoor situations, according to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. “Today is another day we can take a step back to the normalcy of before,” said CDC director Rochelle Walensky in a White House press briefing Tuesday. Here’s a breakdown of when you should keep your mask on, and when you can go without it, according to your vaccination status.
Severe COVID-19 is so deadly because it unleashes sepsis, an abnormal immune response to an infection that causes damage to the body’s own tissues, leading to organ failure. COVID-19 vaccines aim to prevent this from happening. Read more here.
Helpful resources
Am I eligible to get vaccinated? Know the requirements for Philly, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
Here's how to prepare for your vaccine appointment.
What you can do safely once you're fully vaccinated.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference.
You got this: Dine Latino
Dine Latino Restaurant Week is back. Locals can enjoy the Latino offerings of the city, with one complimentary dessert or appetizer when buying two entrees. Here’s what you need to know.
🌊 Visit one of these eight waterfalls in the Philly region.
🍅 Here are 14 Philadelphia-area CSA farm share subscriptions for fresh food this summer.
😷 Here’s what you should know about some insurers’ waivers for COVID-19 treatment fees.
Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter.
What we’re paying attention to
The inequality behind COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing means poorer countries might not get their populations vaccinated until 2023, Vox reports.
The New York Times takes readers inside a Chesterfield, Mo., facility to show how Pfizer makes its COVID-19 vaccine.
Many TSA officer positions are still unfilled, even as Memorial Day, and a possible passenger surge, approach, the Washington Post reports.
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