Why It’s So Hard to Make Antiviral Drugs for COVID and Other Diseases
Antibiotics abound, but virus-fighting drugs are harder to come by. Fortunately, scientists are getting better at making and finding them
"The Coronavirus Outbreak"
A Visual Guide to the New Coronavirus Variants
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus seems to be suddenly acquiring mutations at a rapid rate. The most worrying variants, first discovered in South Africa and Brazil, increase the virus’s contagiousness and may even help it evade the human immune system...
Why COVID Vaccines Are Taking So Long to Reach You
Bottlenecks in supply chains and difficult appointment-registration systems are slowing distribution
Is It Safe to Delay a Second COVID Vaccine Dose?
Some evidence indicates that short waits are safe, but there is a chance that partial immunization could help risky new coronavirus variants to develop
Safely Reopening Requires Testing, Tracing and Isolation, Not Just Vaccines
No matter how effective vaccines are, they are not enough
Why the U.S. Is Underestimating COVID Reinfection
Many U.S. states aren’t rigorously tracking or investigating suspected cases of reinfection
The Pandemic Has Caused a Steep Decline in Living Standards
A survey of more than 30,000 households in developing countries shows increased food insecurity
Pregnant during Pandemic: The Bump That No One Saw
Finding meaning for life’s milestones—in my case growing a child—can seem bizarre in COVID isolation
Why Are We Still Deep-Cleaning Surfaces for COVID?
The coronavirus behind the pandemic can linger on doorknobs and other surfaces, but these aren’t a major source of infection
Why COVID Vaccines Are Likely Safe for Pregnant People
The scantness of available data leaves the decision up to the individual and their doctors, though benefits can outweigh risks in some cases
A COVID Look-alike That Strikes Young Adults
A dangerous lung illness stems from substandard vape liquids
The Most Worrying Mutations in Five Emerging Coronavirus Variants
Here is a guide to novel versions of the COVID-causing virus—and genetic changes that can make them more contagious and evasive in the body
Stories from a Past Pandemic
Readers write in about their ancestors’ experiences during the 1918 flu
COVID-Overwhelmed Hospitals Strain Staff and Hope to Avoid Rationing Care
There are times when critically ill patients must wait for beds, and some facilities have contingency plans to limit scarce supplies to certain patients
COVID Vaccine Rollout Pits Fairness against Speed
Emergency physician Leana Wen says we must balance prioritizing those who most “deserve” a vaccine with getting people vaccinated quickly
Can Shocking Images Persuade Doubters of COVID’s Dangers?
Using pictures to convey the pandemic’s harsh reality is a communication strategy that requires nuance and empathy
Coronavirus News Roundup: January 16–January 22
Pandemic highlights for the week
Biden Aims for 100 Million COVID Vaccinations in First 100 Days
It will not be an easy task
COVID Can Cause Forgetfulness, Psychosis, Mania or a Stutter
The virus induces neurological symptoms that persist long after the pandemic ends
Black Americans Are Getting COVID Vaccines at Lower Rates Than White Americans
In 16 states that have released data by race, white residents are being vaccinated at much higher rates—in many cases two to three times higher
