Free Covid tests this winter, Twitter suspends some high-profile journalists, and  workers are taking less PTO after Covid-19. Here is everything you Need2Know for Friday, December 16, 2022.

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Need2Know: December 16, 2022

now let's get to your other need to know headlines this morning worried about covid ahead of the holidays. Well the biden administration is once again making free covid 19 tests available to all U. S. Households for rapid virus tests will be available per household through covid test dot gov. There's the website right there on the bottom of your screen. Now the cases have shown an increase after this thanksgiving holiday and overall cases are up across 90 percent of the country. According to the White House. Covid 19 coordinator deaths and hospitalizations are also on the rise with nearly 3000 deaths reported last week. Now most of those have been concentrated in people 65 older. Yeah I ordered my tests this morning. Meanwhile the drama over twitter continues. That is accounts of various journalists were mysteriously suspended yesterday reporters who cover the social media platform and its new owner musk from outlets like the new york times. The Washington post even CNN found their twitter account suspended thursday the company has yet to explain why they took down the accounts and made those profiles and their past tweets all disappear. However, must took to twitter thursday night accusing journalists of sharing private information about his whereabouts that he described as quote basically assassination coordinates. He provided no evidence for that claim by the way. A new study shows that unlimited time off. Well it may lead to more time at work. A survey from Sorbet says that in a post pandemic world workers left 55% of their P. T. O. Unused compared to 28% in 2019. And even though they were given more days, they're taking fewer off with an average employee taking 10 vacation days per year. It also showed that workers was so called unlimited time off. Actually wow taking 30% fewer days than those with traditional P. T. O. While those policies are increasing in popularity, only 8% of U. S. Workers are offered unlimited PTO. Meanwhile, Harvard has now appointed their very first president of Color University, announcing thursday that Claudine Gay will serve as Harvard's 30th. President Gay has served as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2018. She was born to Haitian immigrants. She received her PhD in from Harvard back in 1998 Gay takes over for current Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, who announced back in june that he'd be stepping down. And according to the Harvard gazette, Gay says she's humbled by the confidence that the governing board has placed on her to lead the institution. But no doubt big news there Shan I'm clapping for her. All right, well new york city is cracking down on unlicensed marijuana sales. New york state legalized recreational marijuana in 2021 but didn't issue any licensing for Legal sales until November of this year. So in the meantime other retailers have stepped in avoiding the taxes and regulations licensed sellers will have to abide by now according to Mayor Eric Adams, the city sees $4 million 500 civil summonses and 66 criminal charges in the past month as it prepares to legalize the sales here in New York City and speaking of New York adopt, don't shop now about to become the states official policy because governor Kathy huckle signing a bill banning the purchase of dogs, cats and rabbits from pet stores, prospective pet owners now will either have to visit an animal shelter or adopt a pet or buy one from a private breeder, and that ban will go into effect in 2024. New york joins California, Illinois, Maryland, maine and Washington and banning pet sales. Similar laws are considered in texas, massachusetts and New Jersey is all in a way to combat puppy mills.