COVID-19 continues to take political, economic toll on US

INTERRUPTION

"Educators are preparing to contend with the pandemic on a long-term basis as it continues to take a toll on children around the world, even with schools largely back in session," reported The Wall Street Journal on Monday. Interruptions continue, behavior and emotional issues persist among students, and many of them have lost a significant amount of time in classrooms since the COVID-19 virus emerged and schools went remote two years ago.

Children face learning loss, with studies showing that they are behind in math and reading, and face setbacks in social-emotional development due to disrupted in-person instructional time. Missed milestones for younger children include skills like learning to work in groups, lining up and moving into classrooms and eating lunch in cafeterias. Districts are now focused on supporting those students, while preparing for the next wave of the virus.

"In tackling academic and socialization delays caused by the pandemic, districts are beginning to assess children, to identify areas of weakness and build strategies for addressing them. Some are adding tutoring for students who have fallen behind, extending the length of school days and creating longer school years with instruction over breaks," said the report, citing the example that Dallas schools eliminated suspensions and added counseling.

BOOSTER

Apple now requires store and corporate employees to get a COVID-19 booster shot. Once an employee is eligible to get a booster shot, they will have four weeks to comply, otherwise, they will need to take frequent tests to enter a retail store, partner store, or Apple office starting on Feb. 15.

Apple will require unvaccinated employees, or those who haven't yet submitted proof of vaccination, to provide negative COVID-19 rapid antigen tests before entering the workplace beginning on Jan. 24, although it's unclear whether this applies to both corporate and retail employees.

"Due to waning efficacy of the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines and the emergence of highly transmissible variants such as Omicron, a booster shot is now part of staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination to protect against severe disease," American technology news website The Verge quoted the company as saying in an internal email.