COVID-19 Reaches Mount Everest; Uber And Lyft Will Give Free Rides To Vaccination Spots

Plus, new low numbers of COVID-19 deaths are recorded in the United Kingdom.

by Jill Hudson England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday recorded no new COVID-19 deaths – a milestone that health experts said represents an encouraging sign, though final numbers of reported deaths still aren't in. But it's a sharp contrast to a January peak across the U.K., when about 1,800 deaths were recorded in a single day. The U.K. is rumbling back to life as the COVID lockdown gradually eases. London tube trains, largely empty for months, are becoming packed again and traffic has returned to London's suburbs.   Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images People who need help getting to a vaccination site will be able to get free or discounted rides through Uber and Lyft, the White House announced Tuesday. It's the latest push to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. Lyft says it will offer a "ride code" to cover up to $15 of each trip to or from a vaccination site. The offer covers daytime rides on bikes and scooters, as well as in cars. The offer starts on or before May 24.   Prakash Mathema/AFP via Getty Images China announced that it will set up a "line of separation" at Mount Everest's summit ahead of the upcoming 2021 mountaineering season. A coronavirus outbreak recently made headlines at Nepal's Everest Base Camp, and some climbers were evacuated to the capital, Kathmandu, for further tests and treatment for COVID-19. Last week, Nepalese officials reportedly confirmed around 17 cases, but anecdotal reports have put the number much higher, with more than 30 mountaineers said to be infected. While coronavirus infections are declining in the United States, vaccination rates also appear to be slowing down, too. So pediatricians and public health officials are trying to spread the word to get the vaccine out to people where they go to school and shop. Click here to listen to the Short Wave podcast.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message What Else We're Reading RuslanDashinsky/Getty Images Beauty routines changed in the pandemic. What will happen when we reemerge? (The Lily) Diet companies see gains as Americans try to drop pandemic pounds. (The New York Times) Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to New Normal emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy