Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and a belated happy Mother’s Day to all the moms! Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. What does it mean if the world doesn’t reach herd immunity?

There’s been a lot of talk about herd immunity lately as the pace of vaccinations dips, raising concerns over whether enough people are inoculated against the coronavirus.

According to The New York Times, experts say it is unlikely that the world will reach herd immunity anytime soon, and we may have to live with the ever-present threat of COVID-19. But what does that mean exactly?

Dr. David Heymann, an infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the newspaper that we’ll basically have to learn to live with the virus in the same way we’ve adapted to tuberculosis and HIV. He said future outbreaks are likely to be smaller and less deadly, but they will be a constant threat. [NYT]

Meanwhile in Illinois, the state is partnering with building owners in downtown Chicago and other cities to provide vaccinations to workers. [Chicago Tribune]

2. Chicago investigates fatal police shootings in a way that violates a state law

The city agency that investigates fatal police shootings is violating a state law, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot has not acted to correct the problem despite receiving recommendations nearly a year ago, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Illinois Police and Community Relations Act went into effect in Illinois in 2016, and the law requires a sworn officer from an outside agency to take the lead in investigations when officers fatally shoot someone.

That means the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA, is not following the law because the agency’s investigators are not sworn officers. A consulting firm was hired by the city to look into the issue, and it said the “best option” would be to lobby state lawmakers and amend the law to allow COPA to handle those investigations.

The president of the union representing Chicago’s rank and file officers said COPA’s investigations are “illegal,” and policy experts say the city could face consequences in court. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Palestinian health officials say at least 20 people, including nine children, were killed in latest clash between Hamas and Israel

Palestinian health officials reported 20 people, including nine children, have been killed after Israel conducted airstrike on Hamas targets in Gaza.

Hamas earlier in the day claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on Jerusalem after police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, reports The Associated Press. More than 300 Palestinians were injured during the raid, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas crossed a “red line” and would pay a “heavy price.”

The violence comes on the contentious “Jerusalem Day,” which marks the capture of East Jerusalem during the Arab-Israeli war in 1967. [AP]

4. Transgender health protections are restored in the U.S.

The Biden administration today revived protections against discrimination in health care based on sexual orientation and gender identity, marking a significant victory for transgender people.

Today’s news reverses a Trump-era policy that sought to limit the definition of discrimination based “on sex” included in the Affordable Care Act. The Obama administration said it includes transgender people, but Trump officials defined “sex” to mean the gender assigned at birth.

LGBTQ advocates say transgender people need direct protections as they seek gender transition treatment. More than 1.5 million American identify as transgender, according to an LGBTQ-focused think tank at the UCLA School of Law. [AP]

5. Ransomware attack on U.S. pipeline further raises questions about the country’s cybersecurity

The largest petroleum pipeline between Texas and New York remains shut down after a cyberattack last week, raising questions about the security of critical pieces of the country’s infrastructure.

The attack comes as President Joe Biden is expected to issue an executive order any day now that seeks to strengthen cybersecurity for federal agencies and contractors, reports The New York Times, but it’s not clear if the order goes far enough in light of the attack on the pipeline.

According to the newspaper, the order will require federal agencies and contractors to create a series of security standards, such as the kind of multifactor authentication consumers go through with banks. The order would also create a review board that would investigate cyberattacks. [NYT]

Meanwhile, it’s not clear when the pipeline will reopen, sparking concerns that the price of gasoline could increase in some Southeast states. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter are all “effectively unsafe for LGBTQ users,” according to a new report by GLAAD. [NPR]
• Prices are increasing on everything from used cars to food as some economists warn about the risk of inflation in the U.S. [Washington Post]
• Director Barry Jenkins was on Fresh Air today to talk about his adaption of the critically acclaimed novel The Underground Railroad. [NPR]
• Pet cats can also be tricked by optical illusions, according to a study. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

I got my COVID-19 vaccine in a random pharmacy with a low-budget cubicle set up in an aisle that was barely big enough for two people.

But people in Transylvania, Romania, can get a shot at Bran Castle, which is also known as Dracula’s Castle. The castle is said to be the inspiration behind Dracula’s home in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, though that’s debated.

People who get a shot at the castle receive a “vaccination diploma” that features an illustrated medical worker with fangs and a syringe.

“Besides the diploma, people benefit with free entry to the (castle’s) torture rooms, which have 52 medieval torture instruments,” a spokesperson for the castle said. [AP]

Tell me something good …

As we get closer to the big reopening, I’d like to know what you’re looking forward to as life gets more normal.

Me? I’m looking forward to going to the beach finally after they were all closed in Chicago last year. I go to the gay beach and do David Attenborough narrations of people trying to gain the attention of someone special.

I’m also looking forward to finally being able to play Dungeons & Dragons in a poorly ventilated room without worrying about getting COVID-19.

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

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