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Fourth wave fears

April 02, 2021

Greetings, Quicktake readers! This week, public health experts worry the U.S. is nearing a fourth spike in coronavirus cases. Plus: Wall Street's exclusive grip on IPOs appears to be loosening. Stream now for free.

Fourth wave fears

The worst of the coronavirus pandemic could still be ahead of us, despite more widespread vaccinations worldwide, as experts increasingly caution against easing restrictions too soon and warn of afourth wave of the virus.

Globally, Covid infections rose 47% during March to about 600,000 new cases a day, a rate higher than it was for most of 2020. Outbreaks made worse by the spread of more contagious variants pushed France into its third national lockdown and prompted Chile to close its borders for April.

In the U.S., the U.K. variant now accounts for 26% of new cases nationally, and hospitalizations are rising again in at least half of the country. Virus deaths are expected to bottom out in the next two weeks and then inch higher, forecasts say, which could mean thousands more fatalities.

But some signs of progress are there. By the end of next week, 35 U.S. states will have expanded vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older. And Pfizer and Moderna are each on track to deliver enough shots to vaccinate 100 million people by the end of May.

What to watch if

...you see live venues start to reopen. 5,000 music fans in Barcelona attended a concert after passing a same-day Covid test in a glimpse of what mass gatherings could look like once the pandemic subsides.

...stovetop cooking suddenly feels too safe. Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano, which had been dormant for 6,000 years, is still spewing lava nearly two weeks after it started erupting, prompting some to cook by magma.

...the gender gap feels insurmountable. Step inside China's last surviving matriarchy, a matrilineal society in Yunnan province run by the Mosuo tribe, where marriage is unnecessary and women reign.

Episodes to binge watch now

One question, answered

Are mRNA Covid vaccines risky? Experimental messenger RNA shots had been known for their speed and flexibility for years, and jabs from Pfizer and Moderna last year were the first to prove effective. But the new tech has made them a target for disinformation. Here's what experts say.

We want to know

Is IPO investing for you? Wall Street's exclusive grip on shares of initial public offerings seems to be loosening, with startups offering clients a chance to invest at the same time as professional asset managers. But a more level playing field doesn't mean it's a good idea to buy. Tell us what you think.

Our favorites of the week

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