This week, New York and California lifted nearly all restrictions tied to the pandemic. Vaccinated people there, and in most US states, no longer have to wear masks in most places. New York City celebrated with fireworks near the Statue of Liberty. It was a potent symbol of a promise US president Joe Biden made this month: that “America is headed into a summer dramatically different from last year’s—a summer of freedom, a summer of joy, a summer of get-togethers, and celebrations.”