*|END:IF|*
U.S. to buy Moderna’s omicron vaccine, boosters coming in September
President Biden announced Friday that the U.S. plans to buy 66 million doses of Moderna’s newest vaccine, which targets the highly contagious omicron variant. The federal government has already secured another 106 million doses of Pfizer’s version of the upgraded vaccine. The administration initially planned to offer boosters of the original vaccine to people under 50 (who have not been eligible for a second booster shot), but with the orders for these new vaccines, it is now pivoting to a September rollout.
Biden tests negative
Biden also says he is all better after testing positive for COVID-19 and spending five days working in isolation in the White House residence. He announced Wednesday that he’d tested positive twice and only experienced mild symptoms.
Research on origins released Tuesday
Two peer-reviewed studies released this week agree that the pandemic originated at a market in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. One study used genetics and the other used case mapping to pinpoint where the virus was transferred from live animals to humans in at least two “spillover” events.
University of Glasgow virologist David Robertson, who was involved in one of the studies, told the BBC that he hopes the newly published research will “correct the false record that the virus came from a lab.”
Masks recommended in Montgomery County
As COVID-19 transmission surges in Montgomery County, officials there are once again recommending people wear masks indoors. Community spread, which considers new positive cases, COVID-related hospitalizations, and hospital capacity, in the county is “high.”
Community spread in D.C. is “medium” for the week ending July 23, according to city data. New daily cases for the week leading up to July 28 are down about 6 percent. But daily cases and hospitalizations for the past week across the U.S. are up.
—Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
- Expect slow service on just about every Metro line this weekend. [WMATA]
- A meteor shower was visible in Virginia last night. [WUSA, Post]
- Check out Hola Cultura’s new weekly podcast on heat islands in D.C. [Hola Cultura]
- Three men were killed in a string of shootings on Wednesday and Thursday in D.C. Police say more than 90 rounds were fired in each shooting, some from assault-style weapons. [Post]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is showing off a letter he received from D.C. elections officials certifying that he is indeed eligible to run as an independent in the at-large race. Some progressives, including At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, raised questions about a specific section of D.C. law that could’ve imperiled his bid; McDuffie’s campaign argues that is evidence that “some will stop at nothing, utilize any scorched-earth negative tactic and degrade our public discourse in an attempt to win at all costs.” [Twitter]
- Advocates for migrants hopped on boats to crash Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Buzzard Point party, arguing that her decision to call in the National Guard to work with arrivals from Texas and Arizona will only serve to criminalize migrants. [WJLA, Twitter]
- More and more developers are exploring office-to-residential conversion projects after the pandemic reshaped downtown D.C. (a subsidy from the government doesn’t hurt either). Still, architects say the logistical and financial challenges are often too daunting to make these projects work. [Washingtonian]
By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- An updated list of the best burgers in D.C. [Eater]
- Load up on carbs and celebrate Swiss National Day at Stable this weekend. [Washingtonian]
- Get ready to drink some beer this fall: Snallygaster returns to Pennsylvania Avenue NW on Oct. 8. [DCist]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
The Ar-Kaics and the Art of Obsolescence
The Ar-Kaics, a Richmond-based band, have been making punk-tinged rock for a decade and they’re […]
- Tomorrow, Saturday, DC Public Library screens Samuel George, and Sabiyha Prince’s 50-minute documentary Barry Farm: Community, Land & Justice in Washington, DC at Benning Neighborhood Library. [Twitter]
- The Frontera Project—a bilingual, binational theater production about living life on the U.S./Mexico border—lands in D.C. this weekend thanks to a partnership between Folger Shakespeare Library and the National Building Museum. [DCist]
By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Will incoming DC United coach Wayne Rooney’s work visa be approved in time for Sunday’s match against Orlando? [Twitter]
- Daniel Snyder testified before a House committee for more than 10 hours yesterday but don’t expect to learn what he said anytime soon. [Post]
- The Mystics win again, beating Dallas, 87-77, and moving to 18-11 for the season. [WTOP]
- Coming Sunday at Nats Park: Baby Shark Day-day-day-day-day-day! [Post]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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