A surge in Covid-19 cases in the United States is being fueled by new variants of the virus as states race to vaccinate as many Americans as fast as possible. Cases of infection have now risen to a nationwide average of 65,000 a day, a nearly 19% increase from just 2 weeks ago. If the past year is any indication this increase is most likely to give way to a massive new surge of cases. States like California and most recently New York are dramatically expanding access and ending strict eligibility rules. In fact, a judge just ruled that the state of New York must offer vaccines to all incarcerated people immediately as well. The race between vaccines and variants is particularly important as a new survey of epidemiologists, virologists and infectious disease specialists shows that a majority are predicting one year or less before variants catch up to the vaccine and render them less effective or even ineffective. 

While he has yet to waive the vaccine patents of American manufacturers in order for the rest of the world to catch up to the U.S. on vaccinations, President Joe Biden on Monday announced that by April 19th up to 90% of Americans could be eligible for the vaccines. He also begged states that had removed all safety precautions to reinstate mask mandates saying, “Please, this is not politics — reinstate the mandate…The failure to take this virus seriously is precisely what got us into this mess in the first place.” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in the middle of prepared remarks, went off script in making an emotional plea.

In other news, a 65-year old Asian American woman was brutalized in broad daylight out of the blue in New York City on Monday in what appears to be another clear cut case of anti-Asian hate. The incident took place in midtown Manhattan and was captured on a surveillance camera from inside the lobby of a luxury apartment building where security guards witnessed the whole incident and refused to intervene. The suspect is at-large and the guards have been suspended. The victim has been hospitalized and is being treated for serious injuries. The attacker reportedly yelled anti-Asian racist slurs at her while kicking her. The New York Police Department is now investigating it as a hate crime. 

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd continues in its second day of arguments and testimony. Mr. Chauvin’s lawyers are attempting to claim that Floyd died because he had narcotics in his bloodstream. The group