Wear a mask even if you've had a Covid shot, experts say

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     We have the latest public health advice on why people should continue to wear masks and get tested after receiving their Covid shots, how President Biden plans to make half of all new cars electric, and the latest from the Tokyo Olympics.    Here's the latest on that and everything else we're watching this Thursday morning.     Even for vaccinated people, now is the time for masks and testing, public health experts say As the highly transmissible delta variant sweeps across the country, the message from public health experts is clear: don't ditch the mask yet — even if you've had a Covid vaccine.   "I think it's critical to be masking indoors no matter where you live," said Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, as her home state of Louisiana was poised to exceed the peak of hospitalized Covid-19 patients since the pandemic began.   Every parish in the state is at the highest risk level, as the delta variant leaves the country grappling with a surging virus once again.   "I can't tell you how different it feels than ever before," Hassig said. "This virus is moving so fast. More and more counties on the local levels are turning orange and red every day. It's critical to mask and test on suspicion of exposure."   Other parts of the South, including Florida and Tennessee, are also struggling with Covid-19 surges as their vaccination rates remain below 50 percent of their populations.   Read the full story here.   Also in Covid news today: Covid cases have passed 200 million around the globe What people with kids under 12 need to know The government will require foreign visitors to be fully vaccinated Mississippi only has 6 open ICU beds, Arkansas only 25  Thursday's Top Stories Biden to sign order aiming for half of new vehicles to be electric by 2030 READ MORE As Iran's hard-line new president takes office, Biden faces tough choices READ MORE Cuomo impeachment process could take months, legislators warn READ MORE Also in the News U.S. wins bronze in women's soccer, beating Australia 4-3 for likely Olympic end to golden era U.S. men miss 4x100m final in latest track relay disaster Why Belarus wanted to silence an Olympic sprinter Mayhem for airline passengers and crew as 'hot vax summer' turns into 'hot mess' 10 killed when packed van crashes in South Texas Cut in infrastructure money for communities hurt by highways disappoints advocates Editor's Pick OLYMPICS Team Russia is banned from the Tokyo games, but Russians are still winning READ MORE Shopping Ophthalmologists and eye surgeons explain why your glasses fog up when you wear a mask and recommend face masks and accessories to help you avoid the irritating phenomenon. One Fun Thing Christopher Meloni on returning to 'SVU' universe in new spinoff  Christopher Meloni is hot.   And not just because he's got a hot new(ish) show, "Law & Order: Organized Crime," a spinoff of "Special Victims Unit," which itself was a spinoff of "Law & Order."   Meloni, 60, is seriously smoking in pictures to accompany a new interview in Men's Health, where we see him doing the splits, popping some serious biceps and pretending to drag a truck.   Read more here. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: patrick.smith@nbcuni.com. If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Patrick Smith     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy