States Ease Curbs as Cases Dip; J&J Nears U.S. Nod: Virus Update

February is on track to show just a third of the monthly Covid-19 cases seen during the worst parts of the holiday surge that drove U.S. infections to records, as states such as South Carolina and Wyoming plan to lift more restrictions.

Still, states should maintain restrictions such as mask wearing as the decline in cases begins to slow, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, citing the circulation of new variants and infection rates that remain alarmingly high. New York will also add hotel workers to the list of professions eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine.