Epidemiology
People with Long COVID May Still Have Spike Proteins in Their Blood
A possible biomarker for long COVID suggests some people with the condition never fully cleared the virus
"Coronavirus"
Medicine
The Hunt for Drugs for Mild COVID
People who are unlikely to develop severe COVID-19 have no widely approved medications to ease the illness
Public Health
COVID Virus May Tunnel through Nanotubes from Nose to Brain
Nanotubes may provide a cunning answer to the mystery of how the virus that causes COVID infects neurons and produces long-lasting neurological symptoms
Epidemiology
COVID Variants Found in Sewage Weeks before Showing Up in Tests
A technique that detects coronavirus strains circulating in a community could become an early-warning system
Vaccines
Omicron-Specific COVID Boosters Are Coming
The FDA has called for updating COVID vaccines to address the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. But will the shots keep up with the virus?
Animals
A Person Got COVID from a Cat in First Confirmed Case
Scientists in Thailand have established that a tabby passed SARS-CoV-2 to a veterinary surgeon—although such cases of cat-to-human transmission are probably rare
Epidemiology
This AI Tool Could Predict the Next Coronavirus Variant
The model, which uses machine learning to track the fitness of different viral strains, accurately predicted the rise of Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant and the Alpha variant
Vaccines
COVID Vaccines for Kids Younger Than Five Get Green Light from Regulators
An advisory committee voted unanimously to recommend authorizing the Moderna and Pfizer shots for the youngest children
Public Health
We Need to Improve Indoor Air Quality: Here’s How and Why
Upgrading buildings’ ventilation, filtration and other factors would not only decrease COVID transmission but also improve health and cognitive performance in general
Epidemiology
How to Compare COVID Deaths for Vaccinated and Unvaccinated People
The death rate among unvaccinated people is still far higher than that among the vaccinated even though vaccinated people now make up a significant proportion of deaths
Epidemiology
Long COVID Risk Falls Only Slightly after Vaccination
Results from a large study suggest that vaccines offer less protection against lingering symptoms than expected
Public Health
‘When Will Kids under Five Get COVID Vaccines?’ and Other Questions
Experts address when the youngest children could be eligible for the shots, why that has taken so long, and more
Public Health
How Accurate Are Rapid COVID Tests?
Two testing experts explain the latest data on how well the assays perform
Medicine
How To Treat COVID at Home
Some over-the-counter medications can help symptoms, and there are ways to ease isolation
Public Health
Is It COVID, or Is It Allergies?
Patient history, context and a few symptoms may help distinguish between the conditions
Epidemiology
A Guide to the Different Omicron Subvariants
How to tell the different versions of SARS-CoV-2 apart, and how well vaccines protect against them
Epidemiology
How to Judge COVID Risks and When to Wear a Mask
Scientific American asks experts in medicine, risk assessment and other fields how to balance the risks of COVID with the benefits of visiting public indoor spaces
Epidemiology
What We Know about Omicron’s BA.2 Variant So Far
Does the new strain sweeping the globe mean COVID will become ever more contagious?
Medicine
A Simple Solution Would Make COVID Antivirals More Accessible, Pharmacists Say
The Biden administration’s Test to Treat program aims to make the treatments available at pharmacies, yet it requires a medical provider to prescribe the drugs
Public Health
New COVID Spit Tests May Be More Accurate and Easier Than Nasal Swabs
Saliva PCR tests may detect disease earlier in the course of an infection
