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With Roe vs. Wade possibly on its way out, medical treatment of pregnancy is becoming political: whether an abortion is ever permitted under the proposed legislation in Ohio and other conservative states, whether an exception can be made for “saving the life of the mother,” whether even a spontaneous miscarriage would generate the potential for an arrest. Under legislation similar to that in Texas, which has been proposed in Ohio, both my father and the doctor could be sued for assisting in an illegal abortion. (Virginia Kolberg Duym, 6/2)

The world is waiting for a new generation of Covid-19 vaccines that last longer and can actually prevent infections. The existing shots have averted millions of deaths and hospitalizations, but the public’s willingness to get vaccinated seems to shrink with each new round of boosters. A new approach is needed to withstand the waves of variants. (Lisa Jarvis, 6/1)

Across the United States, there’s a universal longing for the day when children no longer need to follow Covid-19 precautions, when they can go to school without wearing masks or social distancing or isolating — in short, when they can return to normal. And though this day hasn’t yet come for all children, a small group of physicians is gaining widespread media attention by declaring otherwise and promoting a vision of normalcy that disregards equity in health care for all children. The Urgency of Normal “advocacy toolkit” has made quite a splash, its ideas having seeped into the national discourse about the pandemic. But it fails to address an important truth: although Covid-19 affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. Children from minoritized groups are disproportionally suffering from the physical and emotional impacts of the pandemic. (Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., 6/1)

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising again in the U.S., and deaths are starting to rise, too. In response, many people are understandably asking what the country can do to minimize the virus's toll in the weeks ahead. So far, a lot of discussion has focused on mask mandates. Schools in Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Berkeley, Calif.; and Brookline, Mass., have reimposed theirs, as have several colleges. Elsewhere, some people are frustrated that officials, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have not done so. (David Leonhardt, 6/1)