Even in 2021, the fight against COVID-19 is still the big story

[View this email in your browser]( [Open Ars Technica in your browser]( A [billionaire space race]( and [more troubling SolarWinds discoveries]( are just the latest immediate happenings to grab our attention, but make no mistake about the most important news of the day. Nearly a year and a half since COVID-19 forever changed life in the US, the situation here has improved but is in no way over. COVID-19 may not dominate our attention and media coverage the way it did at this point in 2020, but the US virus response and the disease's impact remains the topic of 2021. Despite the demonstrated success rate of the vaccines to date, the Biden administration looks like it'll fall short of its summer goals for 70 percent of the US population to be vaccinated due to [steady anti-vaccination sentiment and lingering vaccine hesitancy](. [Political battles ensue]( in many Southern states with the highest current case counts because the question of vaccinating citizens (particularly newly eligible demographics, like children age 12 and above) have become a polarized issue. Meanwhile, evidence that contracting COVID-19 is as dangerous as ever (for the unvaccinated) continues to build, and many of those who survived a bout of COVID-19 continue to [struggle with lasting effects](. So for this week's Orbital Transmission, we're refocusing on the latest news on the COVID-19 front. Doing your part and opting to get the vaccine remains the single biggest act any individual can take to stop the spread and devastation, but staying aware of the newest information on travel, vaccine efficacy, or potential pitfalls for communities can't hurt in this overall effort. Continue to do whatever you can to stay safe, and here's hoping there's more good COVID-19 news rather than bad on the horizon. —[Nathan Mattise]( Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (32GB) for $90 at Amazon (normally $140) A [recommendation from our most recent holiday gift guide](, Amazon's Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is one of the few genuinely decent tablets aimed at kids. This is the second-best price we've tracked and comes as part of a [wider sale]( on Amazon's kid-friendly slates. Also at [Target](. You can find this and many more good tech deals [in our Dealmaster deals roundup](. [$90 at Amazon]( Orbital Transmission 07.14.2021 Orbital Transmission 07.14.2021 [(image) ]( One year later, we'll still have an Olympics without fans [Read Full Story »]( One year later, we'll still have an Olympics without fans "Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said last week after the country and Olympic officials came to the inevitable conclusion last week—the spread of COVID-19 in the country means "no fans" is the only "safe" way forward. The delta variant this summer has led to the seven-day average of daily new cases in Japan increasing by 17 percent in the past two weeks, with nearly 2,200 cases reported in the country last Wednesday alone. Japanese officials declared a state of emergency for Tokyo to take effect July 12 and run through August 22. That period covers the entirety of the Olympic games, which are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8. The Paralympics begin August 24. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( As Pfizer pushes for COVID-19 boosters, health officials want to address initial dose inequity first [Read Full Story »]( As Pfizer pushes for COVID-19 boosters, health officials want to address initial dose inequity first Ask Pfizer, and the company believes a third COVID-19 shot will be necessary between six and 12 months after the second dose. During this window, immunity to the pandemic coronavirus declines, the vaccine companies say, particularly in the elderly. So a third shot, they say, can boost antibody levels five to 10 times what is seen after the first two. The only issue? So much of the world hasn't gotten the first shot yet. Pfizer may be seeking FDA authorization for a third dose, but US and global public health officials have not hesitated to publicly blast the idea so far. They've been calling booster shots unnecessary at this time—and unethical in the face of vast inequity in the global vaccine supply. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( The latest on the delta variant: States with high unvaccinated numbers could be doing better [Read Full Story »]( The latest on the delta variant: States with high unvaccinated numbers could be doing better The delta variant does spread as quickly as headlines indicate, if your local population is largely unvaccinated that is. Delta is estimated to be 50 percent to 60 percent more contagious than Alpha—that is, it may be [more than twice as contagious]( as the original virus. And the trouble it's causing due to low vaccination rates is bad enough to make the CDC reconsider mask guidance. As a small case study, look to Missouri. Cases have increased 45 percent statewide in the past two weeks, with hospitalizations rising 24 percent, according to a recent NYT report. And that kind of rapid surge means the initial dangers of March 2020—local health infrastructure unable to keep up with the demand, leading to worsening conditions and maybe death—are resurfacing all over again. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( mRNA vaccines were a life-saver against COVID-19; now they'll take on the flu [Read Full Story »]( mRNA vaccines were a life-saver against COVID-19; now they'll take on the flu If it works on the deadly coronavirus that jumped up and surprised/devastated humanity, why not try the mRNA vaccine method against the annual flu? Vaccine makers certainly believe in that proposition, and Moderna has officially given out the first doses of an mRNA-based influenza vaccine to participants in an early-phase clinical trial, the company announced last week. The company plans to test the vaccine on about 180 people in the Phase I/II randomized, stratified, observer-blind trial. The trial will look at safety, different doses, and immune responses. And if it can achieve the same efficacy levels as the COVID-19 vaccines, it will be a genuine game-changer. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. The most popular stories from Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Architectural Digest and more. STAY INFORMED]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2021 Condé Nast, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Condé Nast One World Trade Center New York, NY 10007 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences](newsletter=ars) or [unsubscribe from this list](newsletter=ars).