Ep. 94: News Roundup Week of 7/26/21

Heart & Home

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that vaccinated Americans resume masking indoors in certain parts of the country and that K-12 schools adopt universal masking for teachers, staff, students and visitors regardless of vaccination status. The CDC’s updated guidance came after new data suggested vaccinated people can pass on the virus in rare cases and applies to places with at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week -- which is roughly 60% of all U.S. counties. Nearly all of the South and Southwest is subject to the guidance, but most communities in the Northeast — with the exception of major metro areas like New York City and Boston — are exempt. ————- A federal moratorium on the eviction of tenants who fell behind on rent during the Covid-19 pandemic expires today. U.S. House lawmakers adjourned late Friday for their August recess without action on the measure after Democratic leadership tried and failed to secure votes because some had concerns about getting payments to landlords who have not been able to enforce rent collections. The measure was objected to by Republicans, none of whom supported the bid. ———— New Coronavirus cases were reported in China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Sydney due to the Delta variant. ——- Portland, Seattle and Canada broke all-time records again amid historic heatwave. ——— More than 100 people were forced to spend the night on a highway, including nearly 30 who took refuge in a tunnel, after rain over an area burned by a wildfire once again triggered mudslides in western Colorado. ——— —————- The remains of the final and 98th victim of the Surfside Champlain Towers South collapse have been identified. 54-year-old Estelle Hadaya’s remains were found in the secondary evidentiary pile. The former New Yorker lived on the building's sixth floor. -------------- Lollapalooza got underway this weekend and continues through Sunday in Chicago’s Grant Park where 100,000 attendees are expected daily and 170 bands are scheduled to perform.