New York ended its school mask mandate earlier this month. But only for grades K-12. Mayor Eric Adams (D) said he wanted to wait for the science to say it’s safe before deciding for kids under 5. Yesterday, he said 'scratch that' and that beginning April 4, kids 2-4 won't have to mask up in school. It’s got some people saying ‘about time.’ Read: 31% of NYC adults don’t want to send their kids to school with masks. Others are reminding everyone kids under 5 don’t have access to vaccines. But there’s a big if.
Go on.
Adams said the change would only happen if cases remain low. Problem, because a new Omicron subvariant BA.2 is fueling a surge in Europe. And it accounts for about 35% of new cases in the US. The White House’s new COVID-19 czar, Dr. Ashish Jha, isn’t expecting BA.2 to trigger a major jump in cases. But Dr. Anthony Fauci says he’s predicting an “uptick.”
What about previous immunity?
About three-quarters of Americans are apparently immune to the original variant of Omicron, which experts say could prevent or shorten new illnesses. Being fully vaccinated is also expected to help prevent severe cases with the BA.2 strain. All of this comes after a large-scale study showed even mild cases of COVID-19 in older adults can impact the brain.
theSkimm
Everyone wants to be out of the woods with COVID-19. But the virus is still mutating. And what happens abroad rarely stays abroad. Stay safe.
And Also...This
Who had to say things like “with all due respect”…
Ketanji Brown Jackson. Yesterday marked the first day the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled the Supreme Court nominee. Some lowlights: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) asked the federal judge — the first Black female SCOTUS nominee — what critical race theory means. As Jackson put it, the theory “doesn't come up in my work as a judge.” For those keeping score, the number of past SCOTUS nominees asked that question is, you guessed it, zero. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asked her, “what faith are you, by the way?” And for her to rate how faithful she is “on a scale of 1 to 10.” Jackson answered the question but noted, “there’s no religious test in the Constitution.” Jackson has to deal with grilling again today.
Who's been wanting their happily ever after...
Disney employees. Yesterday, hundreds of employees staged walkouts nationwide. Over the past month, Florida lawmakers have been advancing a bill that would block school districts from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with kids in kindergarten through the third grade. Disney World is one of Florida’s largest private employers. Employees wanted the company to speak out against the bill, which critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. At first CEO Bob Chapek was as quiet as a mouse. Now the company’s saying it’s going to pause political donations in Florida.
Rachel Zegler. Yesterday, the Academy reportedly started singing a different tune after initially skipping out on an Oscars invite for the actress. On Sunday, Zegler revealed she hadn’t been invited, despite being the lead of best picture nominee “West Side Story.” Cue backlash against the Academy for sidelining a rising female Latina star. Now, the Academy is making room for Zegler and invited her to be a presenter. Close (curtain) call.
Who’s looking at more jail time…
Alexei Navalny. Yesterday, the Russian opposition leader was sentenced to nine more years in prison for fraud and contempt of court. Navalny’s already serving more than years for a parole violation. Prison hasn’t stopped him from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And calling on people to protest, leading to thousands of arrests. Meanwhile, Russia continues to drop dozens of bombs on the southern port city of Mariupol, reportedly destroying upwards of 80% of the city. But the Ukrainian army has retaken a key suburb west of its capital, Kyiv.
Who’s celebrating…
Amanda Bynes. Yesterday, a California judge ended the former child star’s conservatorship. In 2013, a court placed Bynes in a conservatorship when she was struggling with substance abuse and had multiple arrests (including for a hit and run and driving under the influence). Her mother took over as her conservator and managed everything from her finances to her health decisions. Now, the judge found that Bynes has been doing everything the court’s asked of her. Bynes’ mother supports the decision to end the conservatorship. In a recent Instagram post, Bynes thanked her fans for their support.
It’s...a hilarious new dramedy about a 30-something NYC-based wine distributor who decides to start over to find real happiness.
And...there are lots of great one-liners, tender moments, and '90s flashbacks woven in.
Plus...it’s written, directed, and executive-produced by Amy Schumer. Who also plays the main character. Oh, and Michael Cera is her co-star.
The best part? All 10 episodes are streaming on Hulu right this minute.† What are you waiting for?
†Hulu subscription required.
Soft and Spring-y
Together with
Trying to put a spring in your step as the seasons change? Check out Bombas. They make their ankle socks with extra-long staple cotton. So it feels like you’re walking on clouds. Oh, and for every pair you buy, they’ll donate an item to someone in need. Treat your feet with…
Transparency is a word we hear a lot, but don’t always see it put into practice…until now. Introducing theSkimm’s #ShowUsYourLeave database – a roundup of the 480+ brands and organizations (think: American Express, General Motors, Zoom, and more) who’ve joined our movement and are shining a light on paid leave policies in the private sector. By compiling companies’ paid family leave policies across industries, we’ve made it easier to make informed decisions about your career. So you feel more empowered to advocate for yourself. (Psst…Check out the entire campaign and more resources online.)
Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. Super-soft bamboo toilet paper that saves lots of trees. Over 27K trees are chopped down daily to make TP.So this brand delivers tree-free three-ply to your door.Helping cut down on the chop down. Get 30% off your first order. Bamboo-tiful.*
2. A credit card balancing act that’s completely stress-free. Our friends at The Ascent say this card’s got the longest 0% interest intro period for balance transfers they’ve seen. (Think: none due for 21 months.) Plus there’s no annual fee. Check it out.*
3. A health check-up that involves zero waiting rooms. And zero trips off the couch.LetsGetChecked can help you monitor your thyroid health, fertility, vitamin levels, and more. They’ve got 30+ easy-to-use at-home tests. Some of which include treatment. All of which ship free.*
4.Chic, non-toxic cookware that’ll brighten up your kitchen. Sorry soup season, springtime is here. And this brand’s got a nonstick ceramic pan set that makes meal prepping (and cleanup) easy and breezy. It comes in six IG-worthy colors. Plus Skimm’rs get an exclusive discount.*
5. Oat milk lattes that are ready in seconds. These Oprah-approved powders are brain-boosting and mood-lifting. Plus they taste exactly like your fave coffee shop’s lattes. All you gotta do is add water. (Hiiiii, quicker morning routine.) Plus Skimm’rs get 25% off. Serious cup-grade.*
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
Skimm'rs
We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.
Colorful creations…Autumn A (CA).She founded a vibrant, made-to-order fashion line inspired by her Nigerian-American roots. Celeb fans include Lizzo, Charli D’Amelio, Amanda Gorman, Mila Kunis, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kerry Washington. NBD.*
(Some) Birthdays…Amy Heller Shapiro (FL), Joe Marchese (NY), Eric Zapfe (IL), Elizabeth Roetger (VA), Scott Heisel (OH), Kathe Lynom (MO), Allison Toth (MI), Anna Merrens (NY), Elizabeth Moffet (CA), Christina Engelbart (CA), Emily Cosentino (CA), Jordan Klee (PA), Abby Grafchik (GA), Rebecca Francis (TX), Patricia Frederickson (GA), Carri Edmiston (VA)
Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
PS: This is a sponsored post.
Skimm More
The Supreme Court might seem miles away from your bank account. But we looked into how some of its social and cultural rulings can impact your personal finance. Come on, let’s get fiscal.
And if you're looking for other smart ways to spend your time…
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