What We’re Reading: Mask Mandates Return; Sugary Drink Sales Decline; WIC Program Problems

COVID-19 Mask Mandates Reinstated Due to JN.1 Variant

The CDC announced Friday that COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 accounts for about 62% of US cases, resulting in reinstated mask mandates in cities across the United States, according to Reuters. The agency noted that JN.1 is now the most widely circulated variant in the United States, resulting in almost 35,000 COVID-related hospitalizations for the week ending December 30, a 20.4% increase over the prior week. It is also the most dominant variant in Europe and is rising sharply in Asia. Consequently, according to Axios, health care facilities in New York, California, Illinois, and Massachusetts are beginning to reinstate mask mandates. Although mask mandates turned hugely controversial over the course of the pandemic, experts still back the use of high-quality masks when case counts soar.

Sugary Drink Sales Fall in Cities With Soda Taxes, Study Says

A study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum reported that sugary drink sales fell dramatically across 5 US cities after implementing taxes on them, according to NPR. States put these taxes into place to discourage sugary drink purchases and ultimately curb consumption as they are linked with diet-related diseases, like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The cities studied included Boulder, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. The taxes ranged from 1 to 2 cents per ounce, which equates to between $0.67 and $1.30 extra in taxes for a 2-liter soda bottle. The researchers found that, on average, sugary drink prices increased by 33.1% while sales decreased by 33%; for every 1% price increase, purchases fell by about 1%. They noted that these changes were sustained over time, providing more evidence that the taxes work.

WIC Food Assistance Program Has Become Harder to Use

Although more than 6 million people in the United States get benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC), it is not always easy for participants to find approved items, according to the Associated Press. Despite both being under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), WIC differs from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, because SNAP participants can buy almost any grocery item they want, regardless of nutritional value. Conversely, with WIC, states use federal guidelines to choose products and quantities that vendors are required to carry. Also, unlike food stamps, WIC-approved items cannot be bought online, and complex requirements make it harder for smaller stores, and sometimes big-name grocers, to participate in WIC. To improve accessibility, the USDA is reviewing comments on a proposed rule that would remove barriers to online shopping.