Coronavirus Updates: The pandemic, two years later

Should pregnant people keep masking? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Important developments in the pandemic.       By Derek Hawkins  Email The Post's coronavirus coverage linked in this newsletter is free to access from this email.   The latest Two years into the pandemic, the U.S. recovery is uneven, the road ahead unclear. For now, things are quiescent. Daily caseloads are lower than they've been since July. Mask mandates and other public health requirements have been rolled back. The sense of relief is palpable after a winter of soaring infections from the omicron variant.  But the virus is still claiming thousands of lives every week and new variants are bound to emerge eventually. Looking ahead, the optimistic scenario is that we get a new variant that's not as transmissible as omicron, not as lethal as delta, explains my colleague Lena Sun, who has covered the pandemic since the very beginning. The pessimistic scenario is that the next one is as bad or worse and sickens many people. "We will need to remember to do the other things that work, right? Get vaccinated, get boosted, wear your mask," Sun said. "You just can't take your foot off the gas pedal completely." (Watch her full interview reflecting on the pandemic here.) Against that backdrop, Congress this week failed to reach an agreement on how to fund the government's pandemic response. A $15.6 billion spending plan collapsed in Congress on Wednesday amid disagreement over how to pay for it. The White House says more money is needed to keep federal health programs running and prepare for new variants or infection surges. Without new funding, officials say the United States is poised to run out of tests, treatments and vaccines.  While masks are coming off around the country, Americans will still have to cover up during air travel and on public transit for another month. Transportation officials on Thursday extended masking requirements for commercial airlines, buses, trains and ferries through at least April 18. The mandate was originally set to expire at the end of next week. Officials didn't offer a rationale for the decision, saying only that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was working with federal agencies to determine "when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor." A growing number of Americans are ready to move on from the pandemic. But it will take years to fully absorb and assess how profoundly the virus has transformed the country. To help people take stock of what we've gone through since March 2020, my colleagues and I created a series of questions and data visualizations related to some of the pandemic's most consequential issues and trends. Take a look and see how you fit in. The two-year anniversary of the pandemic is especially solemn for those who lost loved ones in the early days of the crisis. Some are still dealing with funeral expenses and probate court cases. Others have gotten sick themselves. My colleague Antonio Olivio spoke with some of these early mourners about their struggles and about how they've found hope and closure amid the heartache.  Other important news The pandemic isn't over, "but it is within our grasp to end it," a group of world leaders, economists, humanitarians, scientists and celebrities say in an open letter. Fraudulent loans, identity theft, fake cures: The Justice Department reports more than $8 billion in alleged fraud tied to federal coronavirus aid programs.  Travel is coming back. Here's what you need to know to navigate your next trip.  China's legislative meeting ends amid the country's worst covid-19 outbreak in two years.  Get breaking news alerts, offline reading lists and more. Download the app     Guide to the pandemic Track confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. and the spread around the world. U.S. vaccine distribution and delivery, tracked by state. Guides: Booster shots | Finding vaccine appointments | Vaccines | Variants | Masks Submit a question and we may answer it in a future story or newsletter.    Your questions, answered "Any new advice for expectant mothers? With the new guidance, many people are dropping their masks, but should that include those who are pregnant? As a person who just learned I am expecting, I'm hesitant to ditch my mask (even though I'm vaccinated and boosted), and even more hesitant to be around others who are ditching their masks." — Jessica in Idaho This question is top-of-mind for many expectant parents.  Pregnancy raises your risk of severe disease. Your immune system changes, your heart and lungs have to work harder. Even if you're young and in picture-perfect health, it's worth taking precautions to protect yourself and your baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the nation's leading OB-GYN group, says pregnant people should follow the CDC's recommendations on masking in their communities. This information is available on the CDC's website, where you can find out your county's current covid-19 community level. These levels change based on local caseloads and hospitalizations, so it's a good idea to check regularly.  In areas where the community level is high, ACOG says it's "extremely important" for pregnant people to continue masking. Masking is also recommended for high-risk people in areas where the community level is medium, according to the CDC's guidelines.  Even in places where the covid-19 community level is low, "pregnant individuals may wish to continue wearing masks and should be supported if they decide to do so," ACOG says. The group points out that masking poses no known risks to you or your baby. For many people, pregnancy means lots of doctor visits. ACOG says patients should wear masks at all times during health-care visits, wash their hands, and follow triage procedures.  Pregnant people should also mask up while using public transportation, during travel, and while in airports and other travel hubs, according to ACOG .  Make sure you use high-quality N95 or KN95 masks, which provide the best protection against the virus. Surgical masks are an acceptable option, too. Fabric masks are much less effective. Check out our FAQ on how to safely reuse high-quality masks. Masks are just one layer of protection. Vaccines are your best bet against avoiding severe disease. They're safe for pregnant people and fetuses, and research shows that mothers pass disease-fighting antibodies on to their infants if they're vaccinated during pregnancy. On a personal note, I live in an area where community transmission is low and officials have lifted mask requirements. My partner, who is boosted and pregnant with our first child, wears a mask in public and around others while indoors. So do I. Your risk tolerance may be different than ours, and that's okay! When in doubt, consult with your health-care providers — they'll help you make the right decision for you.   Today's top reads Find more stories, analysis and op-eds about the pandemic on our coronavirus page. Six days at sea with 1,200 Outlaw Country fans, two years into a pandemic By Geoff Edgers ●  Read more »   This is what 'living with covid' might look like Opinion ●  By Editorial Board ●  Read more »   I was hired for a remote job, but my boss now wants me in the office Perspective ●  By Karla L. Miller ●  Read more »   Novak Djokovic says he won't play Indian Wells because CDC hasn't changed coronavirus regulations By Cindy Boren and Des Bieler ●  Read more »     We think you'll like this newsletter Check out How To Read This Chart for a visual breakdown of the data behind the news, from national correspondent Philip Bump. Sign up »

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