Reddit users protest misinformation. Pediatric cases trend upward. Countries change travel advisory. Here's what you need to know:
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Reddit moderators protest online misinformation by Covid
Reddit moderators organized a blackout last week to protest Reddit's poor policies regarding Covid disinformation. They made their subreddits public and posted messages criticizing the platform. Reddit initially responded to the criticisms with statements about free speech. However, on Wednesday, the company reversed course and quarantined 54 Covid denial subreddits. This will increase the hurdles people must jump through in order to join the site and limit the spread of content. Reddit also banned /r/NoNewNormal. This large subreddit has been in quarantine since mid-August and was spamming other communities by spreading falsehoods about this virus.
Reddit has seen misinformation spread about the use of ivermectin by vaccine-sceptics to prevent or treat the disease. While the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn against the use of the drug as a treatment, it has been shown to cause severe illnesses and is not a cure. However, Joe Rogan, a podcast host, said that he tried it after he tested positive for Covid-19.
To the concern of parents as well as officials, pediatric cases continue to increase
Children accounted for 22.4 per cent of the weekly reported Covid-19 cases last week in the US. The rate of cases among children is increasing. With the start of school and a rise in respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), there is growing concern about the need to protect children. The US Department of Education is currently investigating five states for their mask mandate bans. This could be discriminatory towards students with disabilities or health conditions that make them more susceptible to Covid-19.
Some parents, doctors, and scientists are debating whether it is ethical to give shots to children off-label or offer a drug that was not approved during the approval process. Although the FDA has approved Pfizer BioNTechs vaccine, it is not recommended. However, experts and officials are strongly against this practice.
Travel can be affected by holiday weekends and changes in restrictions
The European Union voted earlier this week to modify its travel restrictions. This included removing the USA from its list of countries that are safe for non-essential travel. These are only recommendations. It is up to each member nation to decide whether or not to enforce them. Unvaccinated Americans will be most affected by the change. The US has yet not to reopen its doors for tourists from the EU. Additionally, the CDC added seven places to its high-risk list this week, including Puerto Rico and Switzerland. The agency also advised Americans to be careful this weekend, especially for those who have not been vaccinated.
Travel advisors have benefited from all the uncertainty and changes in pandemic travel protocols. According to a recent survey, only 17 percent of Americans are likely to seek professional assistance when booking their first trip after the pandemic.
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One question
What caused Florida's Covid surge to cause a problem with its water supply
Florida is experiencing a pandemic that is worse than it has ever seen. The Tampa Bay water utility reported last week that it couldn't properly treat its water due to the amount of liquid oxygen being sent to hospitals Covid Wards. Liquid oxygen can be used to disinfect water or to prevent it from going bad. Officials maintain that drinking water is safe. They may use oxygen in place of oxygen, which could make the water smell better. This is why they have advised people to limit their water consumption as the pandemic continues. If they haven't, there is one more thing Floridians could do to help improve the situation. Get vaccinated.
Wired has more information about Covid-19
