The latest Inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a slide presentation showing the delta variant's increased transmissibility — and potential for harm — came with a stark warning. The CDC document, obtained by The Washington Post, said health officials need to "acknowledge the war has changed." One slide indicates, among 162 million vaccinated Americans, 35,000 have a symptomatic infection per week. Another influential source of data was an outbreak of the delta variant in Provincetown, Mass., where three-fourths of people infected had been vaccinated. Those who had been vaccinated had similar levels of virus in their noses as the unvaccinated did. Vaccines continue to provide robust protection against severe illness and death. But examples such as this suggest coronavirus vaccines are not perfect shields against infection. That study, plus other information in the CDC presentation, motivated the CDC to revamp its mask guidelines. Americans are responding to those updated mask recommendations as expected — which is to say, in some places, poorly. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order that prohibits state and municipal governments from mandating masks or vaccines. Opposition is already here, and may worsen, against President Biden's directive to vaccinate about 4 million federal workers. Unions that represent postal workers and law enforcement have voiced objections this week. Government office buildings aren't the only stage set for showdowns over mandates. Schools are, too, as they grapple with mask rules for students. Superintendents and other school leaders are caught in a potentially explosive political landscape as they decide how to protect students and staff. School board members have feared for their safety at meetings. Republican lawmakers have threatened to levy fines if mask mandates are attempted. "There are no easy answers here. Basically, a school's masking policy has to reflect its community's masking expectations," one Texas superintendent said. Some people may be feeling whiplash from "the sudden plunge back into the pandemic lifestyle" after the previous, more carefree weeks, as Style reporter Maura Judkis notes. One psychology professor likened the current situation to a prisoners' dilemma. If all parties cooperate, which in this case would be to get vaccinated, everyone wins. But because individuals may have their own incentives, the collective suffers — even those people who are doing the right thing. We'd hope the vaccine safety data, and the potential risks of coming down with covid-19, are at this point persuasive. But if you'd like another reason why vaccination is important: Early research presented this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference indicates a case of covid, particularly in an older person, could lead to cognitive decline such as memory problems. Other important news New data show the Pfizer vaccine continues to protect people six months later. The company argues, though, that third shots are necessary. The U.S. population used to have a higher rate of vaccination against the coronavirus than Europe. No longer. And new incentives there may push European vaccination rates past America's. Countries around the world are taking varied approaches to vaccines — in Indonesia, for instance, residents who don't get vaccinated can be fined. Much of Africa remains behind the rest of the world in vaccination rates. One major factor: African nations have not had equal access to doses. Almost 9 in 10 National Football League players are vaccinated. The U.S. economy, in the most recent quarter, recovered to where GDP was pre-pandemic. That doesn't mean the pandemic's influence was erased — what would have been a year of growth hadn't happened. Stocks, meanwhile, are booming. A variant first documented in South America, labeled B.1.621, has appeared in Florida. Health officials will continue to monitor this variant to determine if it meets the requirements to become a variant of "interest" or "concern." | 
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