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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, December 15, 2021:
OMICRON IS HERE
The CDC is warning that Omicron cases are starting to spread rapidly in the U.S., and the country could see the peak of a wave of infections as soon as January. Omicron now accounts for about 3% of nationwide positive tests, up from 0.4% a week ago. The surge is clearly already underway in the NY tri-state area, which is detecting the variant at four times the national rate. New cases are also starting to impact pro sports again, with the NHL, NFL and NBA all experiencing outbreaks that are depleting team rosters. WASH POST
COVID PILL
Pfizer’s Covid antiviral pill appears to be holding up well in trials – including against the Omicron variant – based on new data released by the company. When taken within a few days of symptoms, the drug reduces the risk of hospitalization and death by close to 90% among high-risk patients. That would be consistent with the earlier data, and shows better results than Merck’s competing antiviral. The FDA has not yet scheduled a meeting to consider an emergency approval for the Pfizer pill, called Paxlovid. STAT
JAN. 6 INVESTIGATION
The Justice Dept. will be tasked with deciding whether to pursue criminal charges against a former White House chief of staff, now that the Jan. 6 House committee has voted to recommend holding Mark Meadows in contempt. Two Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, voted with the Democrats. Meadows’ cell phone is becoming a core pillar of the investigation into the Capitol riot, after the committee revealed texts he received from, among others, Fox News personalities who implored him to get the president to condemn the attack. Both Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham addressed those texts on their shows last night, blaming the committee for releasing the messages and the media for reporting on them. NBC NEWS
HAITI IN CRISIS
At least 62 people were killed and dozens more injured when a gasoline tanker exploded in Haiti’s second largest city of Cap-Haitien. The tanker had broken down and was leaking gas, and people had gathered around the truck to collect fuel when the explosion happened. Haiti is in the midst of a crippling gas shortage, just one of several ongoing catastrophes in the poor island nation. The government – still reeling from the assassination of the former president – is losing control of the country to the gangs, one of which is still holding a dozen American missionaries hostage. REUTERS
REVOLUTIONARY EYE DROPS
A new eye drop that could replace reading glasses for millions of people who suffer from nearsightedness is on the market. Allergan's Vuity, which is now available with a prescription, is a once-a-day treatment that can help you see up close without affecting your long-range vision. One drop in each eye is said to provide sharper vision for up to 10 hours. SCIENCEALERT
LEGACY CONTACTS
A software update being pushed to all iPhones includes a feature useful to anyone who doesn’t want all their data, photos and contacts to die with them. Legacy Contacts, included in the iOS 15.2 update, allows you to specify a person who will be able to access your iCloud account in the event of your death. The process generates an encrypted key that the person can use, along with an uploaded death certificate, to gain access to the information stored on your Apple account once you pass. Apple had previously required a court order to do any of that, though Google and Facebook have long had similar legacy contact settings. WSJ
CURRY WITH THE SHOT
Steph Curry is now, statistically speaking, the greatest shooter in NBA history. The Warriors’ superstar drained the 2,974th three-pointer of his career at Madison Square Garden last night in Golden State’s win over the Knicks. With the three-ball, Curry passed Ray Allen for the record, and he did it in 500 fewer games. Allen and Reggie Miller, another one-time record holder, were on hand at the Garden for the historic moment: WATCH
SPIDEY TO THE RESCUE
James Bond couldn’t do it. Steven Spielberg couldn’t do it. Now it’s Spidey’s turn to attempt a rescue of the movie theater industry. Spider-Man: No Way Home is tracking to break every Covid-era box office record – possibly by a lot – when it opens wide this Friday. The latest installment in the MCU, featuring Tom Holland in his third solo outing as the superhero, is getting rave reviews, with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes straight out of the gate. Box office estimates are going as high as $200 million for its debut weekend. No movie has cracked a $100 million open since the start of the pandemic. VARIETY
SPOTTED...
…Ben Affleck, telling Howard Stern that he’d “still be drinking” if he stayed married to Jennifer Garner: READ QUOTES
…the first photos from the set of James Cameron’s Avatar sequel, coming to theaters next December: SEE PICS
LEFTOVERS: STILL STANDING
A viral video shows a Kentucky man whose house was torn apart in last weekend’s tornadoes sitting at his damaged piano amid the rubble, playing a gospel hymn. Jordan Baize says he didn’t realize his sister was filming him as he found solace playing the piano underneath the open sky in the corner of his debris-filled home: WATCH
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