We’re still in a pandemic

Covid-19 is rising again. Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the US and globally; Haiti is experiencing violence in the run-up to the assassinated president’s funeral. Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. TOP NEWS Covid-19 cases have tripled in two weeks [Masked passengers in New York City]( Spencer Platt/Getty Images - Covid-19 cases are rising again in 46 states, as the delta variant has become dominant. Cases are up 55 percent this week compared to last week. [[Axios / Sam Baker](] - The new outbreaks are mostly concentrated among unvaccinated people — of the 160 million who have been fully vaccinated, just 3,733 have been hospitalized for the virus. [[Axios](] - Covid cases have almost tripled in two weeks, stretching doctors who thought they were mostly in the clear to the point of exhaustion. Religious groups and church leaders in states with many unvaccinated people are launching a push to vaccinate their congregants. [[The Associated Press / Heather Hollingsworth and Jim Salter](] - Case rates had been declining for months, reaching a low in June. But the situation has worsened, particularly for the unvaccinated. In Missouri, for example, the Covid-19 rates are the same among unvaccinated people as they were among all residents during the mid-January peak. [[The Washington Post / Dan Keating and Leslie Shapiro](] - Higher case counts have brought fears of a new wave after many Americans have returned to relatively normal life earlier this summer. There are also new questions about whether booster shots may be needed for Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients to combat the delta variant. [[New York Times / Apoorva Mandavilli]([]]( - Hospitalizations and deaths are rising only moderately, which is a good sign. But epidemiologists say hospitalizations could continue to rise, given the high proportion of unvaccinated people in the US. [[Vox / Dylan Scott](] - Congressional Republican leadership has responded to the increased cases by advocating that their voters get vaccinated. But many state-level Republicans continue to sow misinformation and advocate against any vaccine mandates. [[NPR / Alana Wise](] - President Joe Biden has been begging unvaccinated people to receive a vaccine, especially given that four states with low vaccine rates make up 40 percent of all new cases. [[The Guardian / Dominic Rushe, Vivian Ho, and agencies](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Violence in Haiti - The funeral for Haiti's assassinated president, Jovenal Moïse, will be held in Haiti Friday in the city of Cap-Haïten. [[The New York Times / Catherine Porter](] - The president’s murder has provoked mixed emotions among Haitians, as some uphold his legacy, others lament that he did not improve conditions in the country, and many question how his assassinators were able to get in. [[The Miami Herald / Jacqueline Charles](] - As Moïse’s funeral looms, violence has surged in Haiti, with reports of killings, kidnappings and burnings being carried out in the name of the former president. [[The Associated Press / Dánica Coto](] - Haitian officials have arrested 26 men in connection with the assassination, most of whom are Columbian. Their fate remains in limbo, with no charges filed thus far and little access to outside help. [[CNN / David Shortell, Natalie Gallón, and Stefano Pozzebon](] - Since the assassination, Ariel Henry, a neurosurgeon and Moïse appointee, has been named prime minister, with international backing. Haitian civil society groups have raised concerns about foreign intervention. [[The New York Times / Catherine Porter](] MISCELLANEOUS After vetoing two Republican nominees to the January 6 commission, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now considering adding more anti-Trump Republicans to the panel. [[Politico / Heather Caygle, Olivia Beavers, and Nicholas Wu](] - Home sale prices rose to a new average high of $363,300 in June. [[The Hill / Sylvan Lane](] - The Olympics’ opening ceremony director has been fired for making a Holocaust joke in 1998 comedy sketch. [[BuzzFeed News / Ane Onibada](] - Kanye West will release his new album “Donda” tonight at a huge listening event in Atlanta. [[Pitchfork / Evan Minsker and Madison Bloom](] Support our journalism Reader contributions help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work from as little as $3. [Contribute]( VERBATIM “We urge all Americans to talk to their doctors about the risks of Covid, talk to their doctors about the benefits of getting vaccinated, and then come to a decision that's right for them about the vaccine.” [[Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), on the GOP Doctors Caucus position on vaccines](] LISTEN TO THIS [Jane Goodall on the power of hope]( Vox's Sigal Samuel talks with world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall about what six decades of studying chimpanzees has taught her about humans. They discuss the work people can do to protect animals and the environment, and the immense power of hope. [[Spotify / Sigal Samuel](] Read more from Vox [Olympic athletes are the stars of the show. Why aren’t they paid like it?]( [The Senate’s infrastructure gamble, explained]( [Here’s how hard it is to vote in Texas]( [America’s houses are old. Low-income renters are suffering because of it.]( [Companies that make people return to the office will lose employees](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=sentences). 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