As Arizona hits new records of coronavirus cases and deaths, the state announced they will pause their reopening plans.

More and more Republicans are speaking up in support of face masks. Even Vice President Mike Pence has been wearing one in public lately.

Dr. Anthony Fauci tells NPR the coronavirus surges we're seeing now are partly the result of too few people wearing masks. Fauci said it's especially hard to explain the risk to young people, because the virus has such a broad range of severity.

Plus, a group of scientists who wanted to make it easier to track the virus in your community created an online risk assessment map. NPR's Allison Aubrey and Carmel Wroth reported on the new tool.

Find and support your local public radio station.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The Mask Debate Is Over; Fauci On Mandates, Vaccine Skepticism

Consider This from NPR