Although COVID-19 cases are dropping across the country, even in areas that haven't vigorously vaccinated their populations, experts warn the good times may not last, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
The state of play: The declining case numbers could be due to a combination of vaccination, natural immunity in communities where many were already exposed to the virus, and the warmer months allowing people to spend less time cooped up indoors, per AP.
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of IpsiHand, a device that assists people recovering from a stroke by using signals from the uninjured parts of their brain to help restore the use of a non-functioning hand, NPR reports.
The big picture: IpsiHand's FDA authorization allows NeuroLutions, the company that founded the technology, to manufacture the device to assist patients who are no longer benefiting from traditional rehabilitation.
School districts across the United States expect one of the largest kindergarten classes to date this fall, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: Last year, the number of four-year-olds enrolled in preschool fell from 71% to 54% during the pandemic. This fall, students who missed out on kindergarten because of pandemic-related disruptions are expected to return and do so less prepared than usual.
The past decades have seen an increase in older Americans taking prescription drugs that dramatically increase the likelihood of a dangerous fall, the Washington Post reports.
Driving the news: A recent study found that 7.8 billion fall-risk-increasing drug orders were filled by older adults between 1999 and 2017. It also found the rate of death by falling doubled during that period.
The Group of Seven nations will provide more than a billion coronavirus vaccine doses to aid global vaccination efforts over the next year, the leaders announced on the final day of the summit.
Why it matters: The G7 nations have been criticized for not sharing their vaccines, particularly with countries that have struggled to contain new waves of the virus.
A federal judge on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit brought by 117 Houston Methodist staff over the hospital's policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Why it matters: This is the first federal court ruling on a coronavirus vaccine mandate. Attorney Jared Woodfill, representing the plaintiffs, told KHOU 11 it's "the first battle in a long fight," as he vowed to file another lawsuit soon.
New York City will harness data from thousands of internet-connected smart thermometers to identify future outbreaks days or even weeks before case numbers start rising.
Why it matters: By the time large numbers of sick people start showing up in hospitals, it's often too late to quickly curb a new outbreak. But devices that can instantly alert health officials when unusual fevers are popping up in households can give them time to stop further spread.
Twelve members of Venezuela's national football team, including five players, tested positive for COVID-19 before the team's Sunday opener against Brazil in Brasilia, AP reports.
Why it matters: The South American Football Confederation has not said whether the opening match at Mané Garrincha Stadium will proceed as scheduled or if it will be delayed.
Moscow's mayor ordered some workplaces to take a week off and imposed new restrictions on many other businesses on Saturday to help curb a surge in new coronavirus cases, AP reports.
Why it matters: The city reported 6,701 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, and new cases nationally have more than doubled over the past week.
