The Coronavirus Outbreak

The huge number of Omicron infections could add a lot more people with disabling long-term symptoms. Vaccinations could blunt the impact

Endless boosting might not be a practical or sustainable strategy, scientists say

It depends, but vaccinated people should generally wait five days after exposure before taking an antigen test. Here’s why

COVID shutdowns limited the spread of influenza in 2019–2020. Several factors could mean this season will be more severe

The huge jump in cases means more hospitalizations. And children’s small airways can be more easily blocked by infections

But shortages mean that new antivirals and other drugs may be hard to come by

Early studies show that to fight new variants like Omicron boosters are necessary

We should work to protect others from falling into long-term social withdrawal

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

You can listen to all past episodes here.

The new normal this winter is longer drives for kids’ tests, multiday waits for results, drug-store restock alerts and social media tips

Vaccine makers worry yet another variant will start dominating in the months it takes to roll out shots against this one

Impaired blood flow leads to loss of limbs