The latest Case numbers are ticking up in the Northeast as the BA.2 variant takes over as the nation's most dominant strain. But the number of new infections is still far less than during the omicron surge, and experts say early signs suggest there's little need to fear the disruptions and overwhelmed hospitals that came with the explosion of winter cases. The Northeast recorded at least 126 new infections per 100,000 people last week – a far cry from the 2,200 cases per 100,000 during the mid-January peak of omicron. Still, experts will be watching closely to determine whether this rise in cases is a short-term bump or the start of another surge. Travelers will be required to keep masks on during commercial flights and on public transit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The mask mandate for planes, trains, buses and other public transportation settings will continue until at least May 3. The decision to extend the mandate comes amid pressure to end the mask requirement on airplanes. Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea rates remained high during the first year of the pandemic, according to a report published by the CDC, even as clinics closed, screenings lagged and resources were diverted to treating covid-19 patients. Congenital syphilis in newborns hit a new high, afflicting 2,148 babies, a striking 235 percent increase since 2016. Chlamydia was the only STD to decline, by 13 percent, but the CDC said that the dip was likely due to reduced screenings and delayed care as people put off doctors' visits and may have been unaware of the often-asymptomatic infection. As colleges grapple with climbing cases – especially along the East Coast – some campuses have decided to bring back masking and testing requirements. Just one week after adopting a mask-optional policy, George Washington University brought back a mask requirement through the end of the semester after 190 people tested positive since April 4. American University similarly reverted to a mask mandate until May 9 after a spike in cases following spring break. Other important news Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were among the British officials fined for Downing Street lockdown parties in the summer of 2020. Prices were up 8.5 percent in March compared to a year ago, in the largest annual increase since December 1981, driven by spikes in energy costs due to Russia's war in Ukraine. | 
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