Executive Leadership Briefing

Vaccine maker Novavax said its coronavirus vaccine was highly effective in a late-stage study that included variants in the U.S. and Mexico. The vaccine, which had 100% efficacy against the original strain of COVID-19 and 93% efficacy against other variants, is expected to help with boosting vaccine supplies in the developing world.

G7 commits to sending 1 billion COVID vaccine doses to lower-income countries - Axios

Anti-Vaccine Activists Use A Federal Database To Spread Fear About COVID Vaccines - NPR

Why it's been relatively easy to vaccinate against COVID-19 compared to HIV or cancer - USA Today

@ChadBown : The United States may not need Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses, fine. But Novavax has licensed its technology and established a massive GLOBAL network of manufacturing sites to help vaccinate the world once regulators give it the OK... 2

A federal court in Texas dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of hospital employees who argued they had a right to refuse vaccine requirements imposed by their employer. The group of 117 employees sued Houston Methodist Hospital after 178 employees were suspended for not getting vaccinated by a June 7 deadline.

Companies Push Employees to Prove They Are Vaccinated - Wall Street Journal

@nytimes : The message from many companies to their workers is clear: It will soon be time to work from the office again.But first, some businesses are sending surveys and offering cash rewards to find out how much of their workforce is vaccinated.

At least four U.S. cities suffered mass shootings over the weekend that left at least 38 people wounded and six dead, underscoring a rise in crime and homicides that has accompanied the reopening of local economies. Mayors in several U.S. cities have announced initiatives to improve community policing, enhance surveillance and enforce curfews, especially in places eager to see tourists return.

Rash of mass shootings stirs US fears heading into summer - Associated Press

Crime in Atlanta: Homicides are up nearly 60 percent in 2021 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

@AnaCabrera : There have been at least 270 mass shootings in the US in 2021, according to data compiled by CNN and the Gun Violence Archive. That’s approximately 40% higher than at this point in 2020 and approximately 65% higher than this point in 2019, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

More than 2 million people passed through airport security checkpoints across the nation on Friday, the most since March 2020. Still, that number is about 74% of the total on the same date in 2019. Companies that rely on seasonal hires or foreign professionals say that travel restrictions between countries and visa backlogs are contributing to the already short supply of labor.

UK's Johnson set to announce delay to end of COVID restrictions - Reuters

Europe reopens: Spain, France, Denmark and Greece welcome tourists - CNN

The Copa America soccer tournament kicked off on Sunday with eleven players already testing positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in Brazil, where no spectators are allowed due to an alarming rate of spread. Argentina player Lionel Messi said ahead of his team’s opener against Chile that he was concerned about the coronavirus risk, but added that his biggest dream would be to win something with the Argentina team. The Euro Cup similarly kicked off on Friday with reduced stadium capacity and a “labyrinth” of travel restrictions and testing requirements.

Russian winger Andrey Mostovoy out of Euro Cup after testing coronavirus positive - The New Indian Times

Venezuela Faces Coronavirus Outbreak Ahead of Copa América Tournament - The New York Times

@bollemdb : Geopolitics on full display: The main advertiser in Copa America’s soccer match between Brazil and Venezuela today is China’s Sinovac, maker of Coronavac — the COVID-19 vaccine most widely distributed in a region devastated by SARS-CoV-2.

"By the numbers: The price of gas, beer, booze and makeup" - Axios / Source: U.S.

More people have died from COVID-19 already this year than in all of 2020, highlighting how the pandemic continues to impact the world even as vaccines keep the virus at bay in wealthy nations. The three-day meeting of the Group of Seven will open Friday for the first time in nearly two years, where leaders are expected to pledge a commitment to share 1 billion of their COVID-19 vaccine resources with lower-income countries.

Coronavirus vaccines: Will half a billion jabs for poorer countries make a difference? - BBC

New daily COVID-19 cases rise back above 20,000, as cases and deaths increase for 3rd straight day - MarketWatch

World's Coronavirus Particles Weigh 22 Pounds or Less in Total: Study - Insider

With inflation heating up across the economy as the pandemic wanes, some of the increases, like airfares and restaurants, reflect a return to normal after prices collapsed last year. Car and truck prices, exacerbated by shortages, are unlikely to lead to persistent increases. Fed officials described the current period as transitory and expect several months of elevated price increases due to pent-up demand. Despite rising inflation levels, stock futures were slightly higher Friday.

When Americans Took to the Streets Over Inflation - The Wall Street Journal

Inflation Is Here. Will It Stay? - NPR

India’s daily reported death toll from the coronavirus reached a record high, with more than 6,000 COVID-19-related deaths recorded over a 24-hour period. The fatalities rose after one of India’s poorest states, Bihar, revised its total death toll Wednesday to account for people who died at home or in private hospitals.

Women are falling behind in India's Covid-19 vaccination drive - CNN

Indian medical workers scale mountains to bring vaccines to remote corners - Reuters

Museums across the country are beginning to reopen, and some have seen record attendance after more than a year of coronavirus restriction. Some of Chicago’s largest museums will stay open late Friday to celebrate the city reopening with no capacity limits. Chicago will be one of the largest cities in the U.S. to fully reopen.

NYC’s Big Fourth of July Fireworks Return With City Reopening - Bloomberg

Border between US and Canada could open to more travelers this month - USA Today

Welcome To Froggyland, The Croatian Taxidermy Museum That May Soon Come To The U.S. - NPR

As people emerge from the pandemic, apps, private clubs and social networks are prepared to help connect potential friends. Couples who found each other during the pandemic are also beginning to navigate uncharted territory as they experience dating in a “normal” world.

How to Prep Your Relationship for Post-Pandemic Life - The New York Times

Hot Vax Summer heats up businesses - The Washington Post

Dating apps are taking off as daters embrace the 'hot girl summer' - Fortune

"The U.S. Lowers The Travel Risk Rating For Japan, Where COVID Still Shadows The Olympics" - NPR / Source: Koji Sasahara/AP

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 100,295 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 121,097 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

The U.S. Consumer Price Index surged in May, marking a 5% rise since this time last year and the highest annual inflation rate in 13 years. The inflation rate was boosted by a stark rise in prices since last year’s dwindling economic activity, posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve as prices for new vehicles and food makers continue to climb. Jobless claims in the last week fell again to 376,000, although the labor market still has much to recover before reaching pre-pandemic levels.

Inflation Is Surging. The Price Of A Toyota Pickup Truck Helps Explain Why - NPR

Burger King Owner Sees ‘Significant Inflation’ for Beef and Mayo - Bloomberg

@foxjust: Just to put today's CPI numbers in context, here's U.S. inflation over the past 245 years

The World Health Organization warned on Thursday that the highly transmissible Delta variant overtaking India is poised to take hold in Europe, urging travelers to get vaccinated and follow local public health measures. President Joe Biden is expected to commit to opening up travel with the U.K. as part of a larger effort to roll back pandemic restrictions on travel between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the U.K. and European Union member states.

Europe tells tourists: Welcome back! Now work out the rules - Associated Press

Fauci urges vaccinations as COVID-19 variant surges in UK - Axios

While coronavirus cases are down in the U.S, the emergence of more variants and a slowdown in vaccination rates prompted the surgeon general to warn unvaccinated people that they face an increasing risk of contracting a variant that is potentially more dangerous.

Despite Ample Shots and Incentives, Vaccine Rates Lag Far Behind in the South - The New York Times

There's A Stark Red-Blue Divide When It Comes To States' Vaccination Rates - NPR

@DrLeanaWen: In two Tennessee counties where only about 20% of residents are fully vaccinated, hospitalizations have risen about 700%. Reminder that those vaccinated are well-protected, but the unvaccinated remain at high risk, even as cases decline in the U.S.

The U.S. will donate 500 million Pfizer vaccines to low-income countries between this and next year, the White House confirmed. The European Union is considering donating 100 million Johnson and Johnson shots after passing on the option to purchase another 100 million. The news comes as India reports 6,000 deaths from the coronavirus in a single day – the highest reported in the world.

Going to waste? Hundreds of thousands of doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will expire this month. - USA Today

The U.S. will be a ‘formidable competitor’ to China in Covid vaccine diplomacy, professor says - CNBC

@ianbremmer: China is now vaccinating 20 million people a day against COVID. That’s good news for COVAX, China's vaccine diplomacy program, and Chinese people who can travel without restrictions once vaccinated. @gzeromedia #WhatWeAreWatching

The state of Washington took vaccine incentives to yet another level with its most recent program, “Joints for Jabs.” The incentive allows state-licensed dispensaries to give qualifying customers one pre-rolled joint at an in-store vaccination clinic.

Companies Are Offering Incentives to Vaccinated Consumers, but More Important: Why? - Inc.com

Incentives may have little impact on American anti-vaxxers - The Economist

"Which Groups Are Still Dying of Covid in the U.S.?" The New York Times / Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 13,334 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 132,182 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Friday, June 11 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

The U.S. reported its lowest average of daily COVID-19 infections and deaths since March 2020. About 42% of Americans are fully vaccinated, while nearly 52% have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Stock futures indicated tepid gains at the open as investors monitor the reopening of the economy and rising inflation concerns.

Economies in these states are actually stronger than they were before Covid - CNN

Social and economic impact of COVID-19 - Brookings

New U.S. COVID-19 cases and deaths tick higher, while CDC’s ‘real world’ study shows Pfizer, Moderna vaccines reduce infection risk by 91% - MarketWatch

The Delta variant, first detected in India, now accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the U.S. and may be responsible for more than 18% of cases in some Western states. Dr. Anthony Fauci warned the Delta variant may be associated with more severe disease and a higher risk of hospitalization. A new study showed that the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may prevent severe disease, even in the face of coronavirus variants.

Coronavirus delta variant: What we know - The Washington Post

China's Guangzhou fights Delta Covid variant with lockdowns, mass testing - CNBC

JandJ vaccine drive stalls out in U.S after safety pause - Reuters

“Despite increasing incentives, the US vaccination campaign is really struggling. Notably, the top 5 states are approaching 60% total population fully vaccinated which should provide strong protection vs the delta variant. A different story for the bottom 5 states” - @EricTopol

A Houston-based hospital system suspended more than 170 healthcare workers who did not comply with the organization’s vaccine mandate, one day after dozens of employees protested the requirement outside a medical center. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends health care workers get a flu shot, and some require it, few have required the COVID-19 shots, despite federal guidance.

Supporters gather as Methodist Baytown workers finish their last shifts without getting the COVID-19 vaccine - Houston Chronicle

It's True: Your Job Can Require You to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine - Health

As the pandemic’s impacts begin to recede, the push by some employees to return to the office is clashing with workers who’ve embraced remote work. One study found 39% of U.S. adults surveyed would consider quitting if their employers weren’t flexible about remote work moving forward.

The Cut How Is Returning to the Office Supposed to Work, Exactly? - The Cut

Compelling Reasons to Return to the Office - The New Yorker

What Working From Home Taught Us About Our Office Setups - The Wall Street Journal

After the pandemic hit, the U.S. saw sales of plexiglass triple as offices, schools, restaurants and retail stores sought protection from the droplets that health authorities suspected were spreading coronavirus. However, not a single study has proven that the clear plastic barriers actually control the virus. Iowa State University students are brainstorming ways to reuse the nearly 500 plexiglass barriers on campus, which are made of acrylic material and cannot be recycled. Ideas include rechargeable laptop desks and large-scale art installations.

How to donate plexiglass barriers - KVUE

Demand drops for masks, plexiglass in Las Vegas as pandemic eases - FOX 5

“The updated page also has accurate info about spread through HVAC systems (unclear), air cleaning devices (stick with proven technologies), humidity (40-60% maybe), proper use of fans (air flow direction), plexiglass barriers (can help isolate but can hinder good ventilation).” - @linseymarr

"Have it your way" - McKinsey and Company, June 7, 2021 / Source: Reimagine Work: Employee Survey

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 92,806 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 195,858 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on...

U.S. stock futures were mixed Tuesday, putting the Dow on course for a muted opening as investors awaited data on the scale of a trade deficit. The Biden administration plans to issue actions and recommendations meant to address supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. The move is intended to lessen the reliance on other countries for crucial goods .

Biden administration plans to strengthen critical supply chains - CNBC

Commodity Price Surges Add to Inflation Fears - The Wall Street Journal

“We’re tackling supply chain issues. When you get the economy moving again more quickly than expected, there are going to be challenges.” - @WHCOS

A vendor on Amazon was discovered selling a pack of blank COVID-19 vaccination cards, falling into a larger trend of a black market for fake vaccination cards that has grown in the waning days of the pandemic. Fake vaccine cards are against the law and an unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal can be punished with a fine or up to five years in prison.

Amazon Removed Listing for Blank Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Cards - Insider

The CDC's Covid-19 vaccination card, annotated - CNN

“If you’ve gotten your COVID vaccine, you also received a card stating your vaccination status – but what do you do if all of a sudden, you’ve lost your vaccine card?” - @oliviajaquith

The amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere set a record last month, once again reaching the highest levels in human history despite the temporary global dip in the burning of fossil fuels early in the pandemic. Experts said the world has a long way to go to halt the rise , and ultimately, cuts need to be much larger and sustained longer than the COVID-related shutdowns of 2020.

Measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide peaked at record levels in May - The Washington Post

Climate Change Could Batter World's Wealthiest Economies Twice As Badly As Covid, Oxfam Says - Forbes

Face masks add to sea pollution at popular Philippines dive site - Reuters

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial began Monday for children ages 5 through 11. The trials are taking place among 98 facilities in various states around the U.S. as well as Finland, Poland and Spain. The Pfizer vaccine was approved in May for children aged 12-15.

Children and the Covid Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know - The New York Times

8 to 3: 'The million-dollar question for kids and vaccines - The Los Angeles Times

“China approves the Sinovac vaccine for children aged 3 and above. Unclear when children will start receiving shots.” - @nycjim

A new Indian film integrating the pandemic “gracefully and intelligently” into its story is now streaming for the general public, falling into a peculiar subgenre of movies made under the constraints of the last year. “Joji” is an adaptation of “Macbeth,” set in India with the medical crisis that reflects a world out of joint.

UTA Study on Pandemic Streaming Habits - IndieWire

AMC's aggressive post-pandemic strategy could pay off - CNBC

“Recent box office receipts suggest that movie theaters are heading for a recovery and that AMC Entertainment’s bold moves could lay the groundwork for its own renaissance.” - @sarahwhit10

"Evolving priorities: COVID-19 rapidly reshapes consumer behavior" - PwC / Source: PwC survey

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 85,528 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 213,765 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

Stock futures wavered Monday following a near-record close last week. The U.S. economic recovery is expected to pivot into its final stages this month amid rapid changes over the summer as unemployment benefits end and local jurisdictions shed their final pandemic restrictions.

A Lifeline For The Unemployed Is About To End In Half Of U.S. Here's What's At Stake - NPR

Employers, Don't Fear The 'Great Resignation'—It's Already Here - Forbes

Schools are expanding summer programs as more students than ever before are likely to attend summer school to make up for educational disruptions during the pandemic. Businesses are counting on teen workers to fill service jobs as summer entertainment hot spots emerge from lockdowns, even as coronavirus hopitalizations among teenagers spike.

CDC director urges parents to vaccinate teens, pointing to increase in severe cases - The Washington Post

Pandemic or Not, Proms Are Back - The New York Times

@catherine_lucey: The 2021 prom season has shown that American high school rites of passage are durable, flexible, pandemic-proof. Teenage traditions, like teenagers themselves, have a resilience.

Falling vaccination rates threaten President Joe Biden's goal of at least 70% of U.S. adults receiving a dose by July 4. The South could see a surge in coronavirus cases over the summer as vaccination rates lag in 15 states. The U.S. surpassed 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered Sunday.

In rural Georgia, a door-to-door push to get neighbors vaccinated against Covid-19 - CNN

Covid deaths ravaged this Native American tribe. Now, 98% of eligible citizens are vaccinated. - NBC News

@WHCOS: COVID cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are down dramatically due to the rapid vaccine rollout these past four months. Thirteen states are ALREADY over 70% with one shot; many others are getting close. But some states lag behind.

Major Indian states are easing lockdown restrictions as coronavirus cases fall in the country following a second wave that ravaged health systems. Afghanistan faces a brutal surge of infections as the country waits for vaccine doses. Roughly 3 million doses were expected in April, but the World Health Organization said the doses will now be delivered in August.

As India's surge wanes, families deal with the devastation - Associated Press

Afghanistan sets new curbs as jab supplies dwindle - Arba News

France marked the 77th anniversary of D-Day with a small, muted celebration Sunday as travel restrictions prevented visits from veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the U.S., Britain and other allied countries. Only one veteran of the battle that helped bring an end to World War II was in attendance.

Normandy Commemorates D-Day With Small Crowds, But A Big Heart - NPR

Poll: Majority say government, citizens do too little to honor fallen military - The Hill

@Grav1: D-Day remembered, revered: The presence of a lone veteran of the battle is all the more poignant as the number of survivors of the epochal event dwindles. #DDay #Normandy #WWII

“Global coronavirus tracker, in charts” Nikkei Asia, June 7, 2021 / Source: Johns Hopkins University

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 10,091 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 168,778 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Tuesday, June 8 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

Stock futures halted Friday ahead of the release of May hiring data that will give insight into the strength of the U.S. labor market. The economy added 559,000 jobs in May, doubling April's disappointing numbers, though companies still faced difficulties hiring as the unemployment rate dropped to 5.8% from 6.1%.

US adds 559K jobs as firms still struggle to fill positions - Associated Press

Restaurants, Supermarkets Can’t Find Enough Workers to Open New Locations - The Wall Street Journal

Letting the Economy Create Jobs for Everyone Is (Sadly) Radical - Intelligencer

@RepJoeNeguse: The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits is the lowest it’s been since the pandemic began. America is on the move again and working together, we will continue to #BuildBackBetter

About a quarter of U.S. workers are bracing to lose unemployment benefits as 25 state governments move to end the benefits as early as mid-June, as some employers reported difficulties in finding workers. Economists argued that the unemployment benefits are just one factor adding to the worker shortage; a lack of available child care and health concerns also factor heavily into unemployed workers' decisions to return to work.

Are unemployment benefits keeping Americans home? A look at US labor shortage - PBS NewsHour

Millions Of Women Haven't Rejoined The Workforce — And May Not Anytime Soon - NPR

@CongressmanRaja: I was happy to join local officials and constituents at my event this morning to discuss the Equal Rights Amendment and the disproportionate impact that the pandemic had on women, including higher unemployment. After about 100 years, it’s time to ratify the ERA!

President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will move quickly to donate an initial 25 million vaccine doses through the COVAX program. The U.S. will donate a total of 75% of its unused doses, amounting to 80 million doses shipped around the world by the end of June. Even as U.S. cases drop as vaccine rollout continues, the coronavirus has now claimed more than 600,000 lives in the U.S.

The World’s Best Hope to End the Pandemic Still Needs More Doses - Bloomberg

New Zealand tackles ‘vaccine apartheid’ with ambitious APEC free-trade plan - Reuters

@unicefchief: We welcome today’s commitment by the US to immediately donate vaccine doses when they’re so urgently needed. As the pandemic rages on, as the virus mutates, as global vaccine availability remains low, we urge all G7 countries to #DonateDosesNow.

The World Health Organization warned of a third wave breaking out across Africa as the continent saw a 20% increase in the last two weeks compared to the two before. The WHO said the spike is likely due to the approach of winter on the continent, an increase in travel and early relaxing of restrictions. Malaysian health authorities voiced concern over an increase in coronavirus deaths and serious cases in children following a record surge in overall infections that forced the country into lockdown.

In Peru's hinterland, a town battles world's worst COVID-19 outbreak - Reuters

'Everyone Here is Alone': How fear, neglect and Covid-19 tore apart a single New Delhi neighborhood - The New York Times

Production temporarily shut down on the Mission: Impossible 7 set in London after 14 crew members tested positive for coronavirus. Production company Paramount is following COVID-19 protocols through the pause as cast members self-isolate until June 14, including Tom Cruise. In December, Cruise was recorded threatening to remove Mission: Impossible crew members who broke COVID-19 guidelines from the project.

@SamOnTV: Oops. How did Tom Cruise react when he found out about this....Mission: Impossible 7' Filming Shuts Down After Positive Coronavirus Test - The Hollywood Reporter

Tulsa race massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis reacts with a salute as he and fellow survivor Viola Fletcher listen as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the 100th anniversary of the massacre...

Coronavirus cases have reached their lowest point in the U.S. since the pandemic began, with a 30% drop in new cases over the past week alone. Public health experts say they anticipate more localized outbreaks in communities with lower vaccination rates.

Covid-19 vaccines refused by a surprising number of hospital workers - USA Today

Why experts say COVID-19 contact tracing may be more valuable than ever - ABC News

@digiphile : In 2020, widespread mask usage, testing, and contact tracing helped limit spread of a novel airborne pathogen. In 2021, ventilation, shifting outdoors, limiting super-spreading events, rapid tests, and safe + effective vaccines will enable us to suppress it

Jobless claims for the past week fell below 400,000, reaching another new low in the pandemic. While the numbers indicate the labor market is gaining steam, U.S. lawmakers are mulling ways to coax workers back into the labor force. Some options presented by representatives include hiring bonuses for workers and expanded tax credits for employers.

Why some Chicago restaurant workers aren't coming back - Chicago Tribune

@zachdcarter : A lot of what some business owners are calling a "labor shortage" isn't being driven by higher unemployment benefits or even low wages. A lot of people in different industries have just decided to change careers and lifestyles.

Apple has asked its employees to return to the office three days per week starting in September. Most employees will have the option of working remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays following a message from CEO Tim Cook explaining that video conferencing does not provide the same kind of collaboration.

Exclusive: Amazon starts testing UK staff for coronavirus variants - Reuters

Employers with a return to work date set - HR Executive

@toddmeany : Plugged in: Are you back in the office? A Bloomberg survey found 39% of workers would considering quitting if employers weren't flexible about remote work. Among younger workers that figure was 49%. What has your employer decided to do about working from home?

COVID-19 cases are surging in Bahrain despite high vaccination rates with the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, prompting the government to offer booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The shots are first being offered only to residents over 50 with conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus. In China, the nationwide vaccine campaign is gaining pace, with 100 million shots administered in the span of five days in May.

Summit secures $2.4 billion for COVID shots for poor countries - Reuters

Long-run impacts of COVID-19 on extreme poverty - Brookings Institute

What Went Wrong With The Rollout Of The AstraZeneca Vaccine? - NPR

Alaska is hoping to bolster its tourism sector by offering free COVID-19 shots to visitors. As of June 1, anyone age 12 and older from anywhere around the world can get a vaccine in Alaska. The shots are readily available at any of the state's major airports.

Tiny San Marino takes a shot at the big time with vaccine tourism - Reuters

These 7 Countries are Now Accepting Vaccine Passports - Entrepreneur

@id_gordon : Brazilian travel agencies are now selling "get vaccinated in the United States” packages for the super-rich. Deals can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $50,000 or more for exclusive itineraries. @isabelaalhadeff reports

"The future of work after COVID-19" - McKinsey and Company / Source: McKinsey Global Institute analysis

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 143,157 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 143,157 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Friday, June 4 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

U.S. stock futures paused Wednesday following muted action on the first day of June. Despite the unchanged market, stocks connected to the economic recovery, like airline and cruise operator companies, saw a jump as COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continue to decline.

For the first time in over a year, the US records a daily average of fewer than 20,000 new Covid-19 cases - CNN

While the U.S. Worries About Inflation, Growth Elsewhere Faces Lasting Damage - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Economy Is Likely To Sizzle This Summer - NPR

The World Health Organization will start assigning different letters of the Greek alphabet to each new mutation of the coronavirus in an effort to avoid fueling stigma toward nations where the new variants arise. The new names will not officially replace the scientific names already assigned to new variants but will serve as a shorthand for policymakers and the public.

Coronavirus variant names: Farewell, B.1.1.7. Hello, Alpha! - Los Angeles Times

WHO renames COVID variants with Greek letter names to avoid stigma - USA Today

The agency that enforces workplace discrimination laws said that companies can make their employees who are returning to the job get vaccinated against COVID-19. Some companies are wary of setting mandates until vaccines are fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which so far has granted emergency use authorization. The federal workplace watchdog has allowed companies to mandate flu and other vaccines in the past, but workers can still keep their jobs while opting out of receiving a vaccine by claiming medical or religious exemptions.

Is it against HIPAA to ask about covid vaccinations? - The Washington Post

Can I Ask Co-Workers if They’ve Had the Covid Vaccine? - The New York Times Magazine

What employers can do when a worker refuses to be vaccinated - The Business Journals

Income and other socioeconomic factors appear to be driving bigger disparities in coronavirus vaccinations than race. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories that spread through some of the country’s most vulnerable communities were particularly damaging among the low-income Mexican and Mexican-American families whose labor powers California’s large agricultural economy.

State relaxes some emergency COVID-19 rules for ag workers - The Associated Press

Vaccine Data On Race Varies Widely Among States, Making Outreach Difficult : Shots - Health News - NPR

More states have begun offering incentives to residents who receive a coronavirus vaccine, with the rewards ranging from free beer to lottery drawings. West Virginia will be giving awa y guns, trucks and lifetime hunting and fishing licenses to those inoculated and Ohio launched a one-million-dollar jackpot for state residents. Krispy Kreme, one of the first businesses to roll out a nationwide COVID-19 vaccine incentive, has since given away more than 1.5 million doughnuts.

Do You Buy That … Lotteries Encourage People To Get Vaccinated? - FiveThirtyEight

Perspective | Ohio’s vaccine lottery scheme is working — so why does it bother us? - The Washington Post

EEOC releases guidance on permissible vaccine incentives and other COVID-19 vaccine issues - JD Supra

"Where could the next coronavirus jump to humans? New research offers clues. A map showing hot spots where risk factors for coronaviruses jumping to humans overlap with bat habitats" - Vox, May 31, 2021 / Source: Maria Cristina Rulli et al./Nature Food

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 19,790 media articles and blogs over the last 24 hours and 253,610 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Daily COVID-19 briefing will be delivered on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 9:30AM EST.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Stock futures rose ahead of new manufacturing data that will give a new look at the current state of economic recovery. Toyota and Honda temporarily suspended production in Malaysia as the country went into a nationwide lockdown, adding more pressure to the manufacturing supply chain that already faced shortages and impacted prices amid the pandemic.

TSMC, SMIC, UMC see sales boost as chip shortage rages on - CNBC

How the World Ran Out of Everything - The New York Times

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released updated guidance noting that employers are allowed to require workers to get a coronavirus vaccination and can also legally provide incentives like cash to vaccinated employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration may still issue a mask mandate for workplaces despite recently updated CDC guidance that vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks indoors.

Americans Are Done With 5-Days a Week in the Office. Here’s What That Means for the Economy - Bloomberg

These people want to get back to work but can't -- and fear losing $300-a-week benefits will spell financial disaster - CNN

@rlocker12: " Opinion | Those $300 pandemic checks aren’t the only reason restaurant employees might not want to go back to work. The jobs aren’t fun, the hours are terrible, and the pay smacks of serfdom. Other than that, no problem."

A majority of Americans who are not yet vaccinated for the coronavirus said they do not trust the vaccine. A similar number said they are waiting to see how others respond to the shot. Inconsistent data guiding vaccination efforts may be leaving behind underserved communities already hit hard by the pandemic, while easing mask requirements forces more urgency in the vaccine rollout for minority groups.

The Covid Vaccine Is Free, but Not Everyone Believes That - The New York Times

Mississippi's Black communities turned around Covid rates. Next up: Vaccines - NBC News

"I want you to be vaccinated:" Along with shaves and cuts, barbershop offers coronavirus shots - The Washington Post

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are plummeting across Europe amid rising vaccinations, just in time for the summer tourism season. Peru revised its official coronavirus death toll to nearly triple its original count, making it the country with the worst death rate per capita. Vietnam discovered a new hybrid variant of the strains first found in India and the U.K. The Vietnamese health minister said the variant could be responsible for the recent surge of cases in the country.

EU plans to lift Covid quarantine rules for vaccinated from 1 July - The Guardian

After detecting new hybrid coronavirus variant, Vietnam races to increase testing and restrictions - The Washington Post

Uruguay battles Covid surge, with one of world's highest per capita death rates - NBC News

@K_G_Andersen: " The population of Peru is ~30 million, meaning that ~1 in every 200 people have died from COVID-19 in the country. Devastating."

With more than 40% of the country fully vaccinated, many Americans are preparing for post-pandemic life. Veterans returned to traditional Memorial Day celebrations this weekend as coronavirus restrictions were fully lifted in many states. More than 37 million people traveled over the holiday weekend, marking the busiest holiday travel weekend and the first mostly maskless holiday since the start of the pandemic.

Americans unmask, gather, remember over Memorial Day weekend as sense of normalcy returns - Fox News

Half of the US is partially vaccinated, but experts say more work is needed to make the next holiday gathering safer - CNN

5 tips from mental...