It's Tuesday, September 5th.

I'm Wandaida Talliver.

And I'm Priyanka Arabandi, and this is what a day where we'd be happy to get new COVID shots every year,

as long as we get a lollipop every single time.

But the good stuff only, right?

Tutsi Pops, Sour Patch Kids, lollipops, you know?

All we're saying is no dumb-dums, that's a no-go.

Hold up.

Dum-dums has a root beer float flavor that I love, so I'll take your dumb-dums.

No, no justice for dumb-dums.

On today's show, we're going to break format and do a whole episode focused on the latest on the coronavirus.

Yes, it never went away, and in fact, it's back on the upswing right now.

We recently saw a rise in COVID cases and hospitalizations in the late summer.

And in a two-week period, ending on August 12th, hospitalizations increased by 24%.

And as we head into fall and winter, experts are warning about even more possible spread.

Plus, there might even be a new updated vaccine as early as next week.

Okay, updated vaccine, not bad news at all.

Happy to hear it.

But I gotta say, when we talk about possible upswings, especially later in the year,

it's really giving throwbacks to some pretty dark days, so not happy to hear that.

It's very hard to believe that the virus first upended everyone's lives three years ago,

honestly, like a different life.

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