Second omicron variant raises concerns

Your wishes for 2022; pandemic 'holy grail' [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Peter Kneffel Scientists say that SARS-CoV-2 does not pose as much of a risk outdoors as indoors -- air flow disperses viral particles. [What about the omicron variant? Does it play by the same rules?]( That's a question we wondered about. The experts we interviewed were reassuring. As far as we know, they say, outdoors is still the safest place to be in this pandemic. But outdoor transmission is still possible. So you might want to mask up with a high-quality mask (the CDC recommends masks in the N95 family) when you're outside if you have specific concerns about your own health or if you'll be surrounded by lots of people -- say at an outdoor concert or sports event. And if you live in a place where winters are cold, you might don a mask for another reason. We've had a spate of below-freezing days in my neck of the woods, and I can tell you that my KN95 mask definitely keeps my cheeks and chin warm! [Read the story about omicron and the outdoors here.]( Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- in the news Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images [A second version of omicron is spreading. Here's why scientists are on alert]( It's a sibling of the first omicron variant that swept the world. Is it more contagious? Does it cause severe disease? Will it keep current omicron surges going? Researchers are looking for answers. [Africa may have reached the pandemic's holy grail]( New findings from Malawi suggest the country has entered something akin to the endemic stage of the pandemic — along with many other African nations. [China's Olympics aim to keep COVID at bay with armpit sensors, robots and more]( Athletes and other attendees will be in a closed "loop" with strict rules about everything from daily testing to how spectators should respond -- no cheering out loud, please! [Why Tonga is opting for 'contactless' humanitarian aid]( It's a pandemic predicament. With only 1 recorded case of COVID-19 in their island nation, Tongans are desperate for help after the volcanic eruption -- but eager to keep the virus out. interview Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters [This Nigerian doctor has a tough new job: Stopping the next pandemic before it strikes]( The World Health Organization has created a Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who heads the group, talks about the challenges that lie ahead. your responses Dola Sun for NPR [Your global wishes for 2022: More kindness, more nature ... and kitties!]( What could the world achieve this year if we had a limitless budget and full support from global leaders? Our audience shares their heartfelt ideas. links we like - The New York Times takes a trip on [Namibia's "skeleton coast."]( - [Winter has come to Mumbai.]( Temperatures of 56 degrees Fahrenheit may not sound that chilly but the cold(er) weather has led to humorous memes, as the BBC shows. - Fresh Air remembers Thich Nhat Hanh, ["peace activist and Vietnamese Buddhist monk."]( - NPR reviews Tongues, the new album by [Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq.]( She offers "hope among hard truths." --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]