Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 5-17-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for May 17th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The shocking news out of India persists. Not only have bodies been found floating in the Ganges River, more have been found buried in shallow sand graves on its banks. Police with portable loudspeakers are asking people not to dispose of bodies this way. The good news, after hitting record highs for weeks, new cases are said to be stabilizing.</p><p><br></p><p>A study out of India shows only 0.06% of people who’ve been vaccinated for Covid need hospitalization afterward. The study was done to evaluate the frequency of breakthrough infection. The conclusion was such occurrences are a small percentage and those are typically minor infections that don’t lead to severe disease.</p><p><br></p><p>The arguing and confusion around the CDC’s change in masking policies continues, but 18 states have announced plans to drop public mask mandates either immediately or in weeks. Others like California, New York, and New Jersey are taking a wait and see approach. What the CDC released are just guidelines, which leaves a patchwork of Governors, Mayors, and heads of corporations trying to figure out what to do.</p><p><br></p><p>Also scrambling and trying to figure out what to do, schools. Children are being tested in some cities like Baltimore, New York, and Chicago. In other places, school districts are reluctant to even check students showing symptoms. One positive test could mean quarantines and back to virtual learning. It doesn’t help that health officials seem all over the board about the need to test and the different approaches to testing for students and staff.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Now, as a public service, we’re going to teach you how to hug. The BBC compiled the experts’ opinions on how to return to doing so safely. 1. Be selective, trying to stick to small numbers of close family. 2. Make it quick. 3. No face-to-face contact, you may even want to mask up for your hug. 4. Hug outside. And 5. Get tested to