Forbes - Super Bowl Or Super Spreader?

Plus: Rep. Ron Wright is first sitting congressman to die of Covid-19

Your daily Forbes Coronavirus newsletter is now renamed Forbes InnovationRx and comes with science and healthcare news from Katie Jennings on Wednesdays and Coronavirus-exclusive coverage from Leah Rosenbaum on weekdays.

Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday, and though public health officials warned that crowds at the big game and afterparties could lead to a superspreader event, not everyone listened. Huge crowds of maskless fans were spotted in Tampa last night, despite a local mask mandate, to celebrate their team’s victory. This is even more of a problem because new variants of Covid-19 are quickly gaining footholds in the U.S. A new study confirmed that the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant could become the dominant strain in the U.S. by March. And speaking of variants: over the weekend South Africa announced that it was halting a trial of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine after it showed only “minimal protection” against that region’s virus variant.

Business

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says unemployment could stay high for years without a comprehensive stimulus package. 

Over 50 House Democrats have asked President Biden not to lower the income threshold for a $1,400 stimulus check.  

Anthony Fauci said in an interview that the U.S. could have tried to get more aggressive contracts with vaccine makers that would have potentially helped the vaccine rollout.

Science & Health

Here’s how climate change may have played a role in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Many people have turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism during the pandemic; here’s how prolonged alcohol use can impact our brains. 

This NBA team is using trained dogs to sniff out cases of Covid-19.

What Else We Are Reading

• The next Covid crisis: a vaccine apartheid endangering us all (The Bureau of Investigative Journalism)

• 2021 Super Bowl Ads Are Funny, Festive and Full of Celebs. But Where Are The Face Masks? (Adweek)

• Confusion and chaos: Inside the vaccine rollout in D.C., Maryland and Virginia (Washington Post)