COVID in California: Google brings back in-office perks, including massages and gyms – San Francisco Chronicle
The number of new coronavirus cases in the Bay Area has fallen by nearly 80% since the beginning of the month,yet all but three counties in the region still have high or substantial transmission rates, as does most of California. New research on the waning immunity of COVID boosters is prompting many people to wonder whether they should seek a second booster shot. A Bay Area internist accused of giving COVID-19 vaccines to people not yet eligible for them during the height of the pandemic was cleared of the charge by state officials.
Google brings back in-office perks, including massages and gyms: Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. said on Wednesday that it plans to restore office perks, such as massage services and fitness centers, as it lures workers back into its Mountain View headquarters and other spaces in the region. “Based on current conditions in the Bay Area, we’re pleased that our employees who choose to come in now have the ability to access more onsite spaces and services to work and connect with colleagues,” the company said in a statement to Reuters. Google said that working in its offices remains voluntary and those who choose to do so must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Queen Elizabeth II postpones more engagements: As the 95-year-old British monarch continues to experience cold-like symptoms from COVID-19, Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to postpone two scheduled virtual audiences on Thursday. The queen, who is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and has received a booster shot, tested positive on Sunday. It was the second time this week that she had canceled virtual sessions. The country’s longest-reigning monarch is scheduled to host a March 2 reception at Windsor with hundreds of diplomats, according to the Associated Press.
The fight in California over school mask mandates is heating up with districts and families defying the rules: In a state that has largely backed its public health leaders in the long and wearisome battle against COVID-19, one topic has proved more polarizing among Californians than almost any other: masking kids in schools. Read the full story here.
CDC to unveil new metrics for assessing virus risk: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will change the way it assesses “…….