Coronavirus: the latest news and tips

A new coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, China, has global health agencies on high alert. Here’s everything experts know about COVID-19 so far.

Shopping bags

How to shop in person on Black Friday as safely as possible

Online is still by far the safest option.

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Fogged glasses

The best ways to stop a mask from fogging up your glasses, ranked

Solve that fogging problem once and for all.

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

people walking around in masks

These countries managed to turn COVID-19 around. Here’s how we could do the same.

To bring caseloads down, the US can learn from what has worked in other countries: masks and social distancing.

Kate Baggaley

A kid gets a traditional nasal-swab test from a doctor in PPE

The FDA just okayed a rapid at-home COVID test—but it won’t work for everyone

You’ll need a prescription to buy it.

Tara Santora

New updates:

Mask up without breaking out. Here’s how to prevent pandemic acne.
Yes, maskne is real—and we hate it.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.December 3, 2020
The CDC says a shorter COVID quarantine is better than none
The CDC has added two additional quarantine options to increase compliance.
Kat Eschner and Claire MaldarelliDecember 2, 2020
COVID-19 is helping another terrible disease make a comeback in Afghanistan
Due to the pandemic, an estimated 50 million children missed polio vaccines this year.
By Ruchi Kumar/UndarkDecember 2, 2020
Dog owners may catch COVID-19 more often, but the reason will surprise you
You should treat them as a furry part of your lockdown bubble.
By Sara Kiley WatsonDecember 2, 2020
We’re just beginning to understand how our genes and COVID-19 mix
Genetics might explain why some people get severe COVID-19 and others don’t.
Kat EschnerDecember 2, 2020
The fight to stop the next pandemic starts in the jungles of Borneo
A conservation-minded healthcare model could provide a blueprint to stop diseases from making the deadly leap between wildlife and people.
By Brian BarthDecember 2, 2020
The US is in its third COVID-19 peak—and by far its largest
Here’s the latest case counts, death rates, and other data on the ongoing pandemic.
Sara ChodoshDecember 1, 2020
Public health officials expect COVID-19 cases to spike like never before
In the weeks ahead, wear a mask, social distance, and hunker down.
Claire MaldarelliNovember 30, 2020
Mouthwash won’t stop you from spreading COVID-19
Better keep the mask on.
By Rachael ZiskNovember 30, 2020
2020 isn’t all bad. Here are 13 science stories to be thankful for.
Because believe it or not, this year has had its positive moments.
By Rachel FeltmanSara ChodoshNovember 26, 2020
Four science conversations worth having this holiday
We got a lot of cool stuff done in space. And of course, there’s the pandemic.
By Purbita SahaNovember 25, 2020
How to livestream an event for all your friends and family
When in-person gatherings aren’t safe or aren’t possible, this is the skill you need.
By Harry GuinnessNovember 25, 2020
The best and safest ways to donate food and time this holiday season
You can do a lot just from home.
By Sara Kiley WatsonNovember 24, 2020
Why AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine is an important addition to the fleet of offerings
The drug company says it could produce three million doses of the vaccine in 2021 if it is approved.
Kat EschnerNovember 24, 2020
The WHO and FDA are at odds over remdesivir
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskNovember 23, 2020
When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19
North Dakota and Iowa recently made the switch. Now 14 states remain.
Tara SantoraNovember 20, 2020
That new study saying masks might not be effective? It has a few caveats.
Yes, you should still be wearing a mask.
Kate BaggaleyNovember 20, 2020
The FDA just okayed a rapid at-home COVID test—but it won’t work for everyone
You’ll need a prescription to buy it.
Tara SantoraNovember 20, 2020
The CDC says not to travel on Thanksgiving
As cases of COVID-19 spike around the country, the CDC advises revelers to stay put.
Claire MaldarelliNovember 19, 2020
A step-by-step guide to grocery shopping during a pandemic
Don’t clean your apples with soap or your Pop-Tarts boxes with disinfectant.
Amy SchellenbaumNovember 19, 2020
It might not always take years to develop vaccines
The tech, which has saved tens of millions of lives over time, keeps getting better.
By Ula ChrobakNovember 19, 2020
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is now 95 percent effective. Here’s what that actually means.
Early data from clinical trials suggests that the immunization is promising, but we’ll still be waiting a while.
Claire MaldarelliNovember 18, 2020
The best ways to stop a mask from fogging up your glasses, ranked
Solve that fogging problem once and for all.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.November 18, 2020
These countries managed to turn COVID-19 around. Here’s how we could do the same.
To bring caseloads down, the US can learn from what has worked in other countries: masks and social distancing.
Kate BaggaleyNovember 17, 2020
How to shop in person on Black Friday as safely as possible
Online is still by far the safest option.
By María Paula Rubiano A.November 17, 2020
You can get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskNovember 16, 2020
A second COVID-19 vaccine just reported excellent results. What now?
Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine candidate is 94.5 percent effective in early late-stage clinical trials.
Claire MaldarelliNovember 16, 2020
How the COVID-19 pandemic might end
All major outbreaks eventually run their course. But history and science suggest many possible pathways.
By Wendy Orent/UndarkNovember 13, 2020
Masks protect the wearer from COVID-19, too
Wear one, if not for your neighbors, then for your own health.
By Sara Kiley WatsonNovember 13, 2020
Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard
From a backlog in benefits to overcrowded retirement homes, the pandemic has laid bare many problems with veterans' care.
By Jamie Rowen/The ConversationNovember 11, 2020
Across the US, COVID-19 slams rural towns, suburbs, and cities alike
Hospital beds are filling up quickly in some regions.
Rachel FeltmanNovember 10, 2020
Three easy ways to clean your reusable masks
Soap suds are your friends.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.November 10, 2020
Biden’s COVID-19 response plan is missing one major component
The President-elect’s team still needs to address pandemic misinformation.
Kat EschnerNovember 10, 2020
The CDC released a COVID-19 test knowing it had a high failure rate
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskNovember 9, 2020
The US hit 120,000 new COVID cases on Thursday, breaking records for the second day in a row
Case counts have been soaring for the past month.
By Sara Kiley WatsonNovember 6, 2020
Meet the illustrator who painted COVID-19′s infamous portrait
Here’s how the spikey coronavirus blob came to life.
By Kate BaggaleyNovember 6, 2020
A record number of kids got COVID-19 last week
Infection rates in younger people are on an upward trend.
Sara ChodoshNovember 4, 2020
Pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, but there’s no need to panic
The overall odds are still quite low.
By Claire MaldarelliNovember 4, 2020
We’re getting better at treating COVID-19
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskNovember 2, 2020
When it comes to airborne COVID-19 transmission, droplet size matters
But this doesn’t rule out the danger of inhaling tiny particles.
Kate BaggaleyNovember 2, 2020
How to prepare for in-person voting during the COVID-19 pandemic
Get ready and get out there.
By John KennedyNovember 1, 2020
Have no fear—healthy Halloween ideas are here
Protect your family from COVID-19 by treating them to something deliciously nutritious.
By Michael Goran/The ConversationOctober 30, 2020
How to plan a COVID-safe Thanksgiving, week-by-week
Want to gather with family for Thanksgiving? It’s time to start prepping.
Kate BaggaleyOctober 30, 2020
Rural America is now the center of the COVID pandemic
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskOctober 26, 2020
Science was a big winner—and loser—at this week’s presidential debate
The final debate featured three sections relating to health and science, but there was much confusion.
Sara ChodoshOctober 23, 2020
The current state of the pandemic in five graphs
Some eight months into the pandemic, we rounded up some key takeaways in graphical form.
Sara ChodoshOctober 23, 2020
Remdesivir is the first FDA-approved COVID-19 treatment. Here’s what to know about it.
A new wave of studies convinced the US government to make the drug an option for non-pediatric hospitalized patients.
Rachel FeltmanOctober 22, 2020
2020 is shaping up to be America’s deadliest year in recent memory
Nearly 300,000 people have died in excess compared to years prior.
Claire MaldarelliOctober 22, 2020
COVID-19 continues to make flying a risky proposition
Flying, and the activities in between a flight, can put you at risk of catching the coronavirus.
Kat EschnerOctober 21, 2020
Meet the disease detectives fighting to understand COVID-19
These epidemiological sleuths are on the case of every past, present, and future outbreak.
Eleanor CumminsOctober 20, 2020
One motorcycle rally may have triggered COVID-19′s new Midwest surge
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskOctober 19, 2020
The ‘near-Herculean’ effort by daycare workers to prevent COVID-19 spread is working
Childcare providers who took precautions while working during the pandemic didn’t have a heightened risk of catching COVID-19.
Kate BaggaleyOctober 19, 2020
Is the FDA being guided by science or politics?
Experts worry that decisions made by the Trump administration will undermine COVID-19 therapies.
By Teresa Carr/UndarkOctober 16, 2020
Don’t worry. Your dentist probably won’t catch COVID-19.
Early on in the pandemic, there was worry that dental offices could be a source of infection for both patients and dentists.
Kat EschnerOctober 15, 2020
The NBA bubble was a one-of-a-kind COVID-19 success story
Masks and social distancing were crucial elements.
Kate BaggaleyOctober 15, 2020
National Parks are logging record crowds. Here’s how to visit safely.
Treading lightly is especially important now.
By Ula ChrobakOctober 14, 2020
COVID-19 cases are on the rise yet again
This graph shows the track we’re on as we head into the coldest months.
Sara ChodoshOctober 14, 2020
COVID-19 might not ever truly go away
It’s unclear how long vaccines and other modes of immunity will last.
By Hans Heesterbeek/The ConversationOctober 13, 2020
COVID-19 doesn’t have to jump from mother to newborn
With proper precautions, COVID-19 transmission from mother to newborn baby is low.
Kat EschnerOctober 13, 2020
Tracking down ‘patient zero’ is a crucial piece of the pandemic puzzle
Epidemiologists pair gumshoe detective skills with fancy lab equipment to work backwards and stave off viral spread.
By Jack HerreraOctober 13, 2020
Five states saw COVID-19 rates increase by 50 percent in a single week
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskOctober 12, 2020
A taskforce of Black doctors is independently evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidates
There are many reasons why some Black Americans are wary of participating in vaccine trials.
Kate BaggaleyOctober 12, 2020
President Trump wants to hold rallies this weekend. Could he spread COVID-19?
His physician’s assessment may be overly optimistic.
PopSci StaffOctober 9, 2020
We already know how to keep the next pandemic from catching us off guard
It all starts with hurricane preparedness.
Rob VergerOctober 8, 2020
How to enjoy fall festivities without spreading COVID-19
Some traditions are riskier than others.
By Rachael ZiskOctober 7, 2020
Why COVID-19 attacks aging immune systems so fiercely
The US president’s age makes him more vulnerable to the virus and its many side effects.
By Brian Geiss/The ConversationOctober 6, 2020
Here’s what Donald Trump should know about recovering from COVID-19
The outbreak of high-profile COVID-19 cases is a reminder that no one is completely protected from the novel coronavirus.
Kate BaggaleyOctober 6, 2020
The pandemic could end Texas’s oil boom—and start something better
Profits from the Permian Basin are falling and renewable energy is surging. Here’s what that means for the Lonestar State’s future.
By Justin Miller/Texas ObserverOctober 5, 2020
These are the best COVID-19 treatments right now
Plus: what we know about what Trump is (and isn’t) taking.
Claire MaldarelliOctober 5, 2020
President Trump’s COVID-19 treatment includes an experimental antibody cocktail
The chosen drugs might offer more clues to his condition.
PopSci StaffOctober 4, 2020
How does contact tracing work, and how extensive will it be for Trump?
The President tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
Nina PullanoOctober 2, 2020
All the conditions we know increase your risk of dying from COVID-19
The president’s age and weight put him at high risk, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll have severe symptoms.
By Sara Kiley WatsonOctober 2, 2020
How do we know if medicines are safe during pregnancies?
Expectant mothers have long been excluded from clinical trials. Some experts say this practice needs to change.
By Jyoti Madhusoodanan/UndarkOctober 2, 2020
President Trump has COVID-19, according to White House statements
Here’s what we know.
By PopSci StaffOctober 2, 2020
Keeping older folks out of COVID-19 vaccine trials hurts everyone
Failing to include older people in later-stage trials could make the treatment seem less safe.
Kat EschnerOctober 1, 2020
Five key science takeaways from the first presidential debate
When in a pandemic, talk about it.
By Purbita SahaSeptember 30, 2020
One-third of US parents say they won’t get their kids the flu vaccine
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Rachael ZiskSeptember 28, 2020
The CDC thinks 90 percent of the US could still catch COVID-19
At a senate hearing, Anthony Fauci and other public health experts testified on the search for a vaccine, herd immunity, and more.
By Purbita SahaSeptember 24, 2020
It’s never been more important to get a flu shot
There’s a bit of good news, but the US may still suffer a particularly nasty winter.
Sara ChodoshSeptember 23, 2020
A Brazilian city may have achieved herd immunity to COVID-19—but not without a cost
Though the study has yet to be peer-reviewed, it’s largely in line with what epidemiologists have previously predicted.
Kate BaggaleySeptember 23, 2020
These COVID symptoms could last for months
Long-haulers have been suffering from a variety of ailments, some of which may not sound like typical coronavirus issues.
By Sara Kiley WatsonSeptember 22, 2020
The pandemic is teaching us how to better fight climate change
The public has become more adept at following, understanding, and acting on science in the past several months.
By Dr. Robin E. Bell/UndarkSeptember 22, 2020
The CDC finally acknowledged that COVID-19 is airborne—and then took it back
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Rachael ZiskSeptember 21, 2020
Outdoor heaters, video chat, and other hacks for surviving winter with COVID-19
Winter during a pandemic will be tough, but we can avoid the worst hits.
By Sara Kiley WatsonSeptember 21, 2020
Big Ten football players will get daily COVID-19 tests, but that might not be enough
Fast, frequent testing may be less reliable, but could help teams identify infections as they happen
By Rachael ZiskSeptember 18, 2020
A coronavirus vaccine will save more lives if we share it widely
Influenza modelers estimate that equitable vaccination could prevent the most deaths from the novel virus.
Kat EschnerSeptember 17, 2020
Why you should vote as early as possible (and how to do it)
Casting a ballot shouldn’t be a miserable experience.
By John KennedySeptember 17, 2020
Some kids have been suffering from COVID-19 for months
The long-haulers, as they’re called, are baffling medical experts who’ve been studying the virus for months.
By Megan E. Doherty/UndarkSeptember 16, 2020
COVID-19 may one day come and go like the flu, but we’re not there yet
For now, too few people are immune for weather to halt the novel coronavirus.
Kate BaggaleySeptember 16, 2020
Google search data can help pinpoint COVID-19 hotspots before they flare up
Scientists are using Google Trends data to detect coronavirus cases early.
Kat EschnerSeptember 15, 2020
AstraZeneca resumed its COVID-19 vaccine trials after uncovering a mysterious reaction
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Claire MaldarelliSeptember 15, 2020
Make online classes easier with these laptop shortcuts
Gather 'round, kids—we’re taking a stroll down Old Technology Lane.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.September 15, 2020
How well do fancy mask designs actually protect against COVID-19?
The pandemic has led to a surge in new personal protective equipment that claims to be more comfortable, sustainable, or accessible. But health standards are all over the place.
By Hannah Thomasy/UndarkSeptember 11, 2020
Trump downplayed the threat from COVID-19. Here’s how we could’ve fought back harder.
Why minimizing a pandemic to avoid panic is the ‘opposite response any expert would suggest.’
Kate BaggaleySeptember 11, 2020
Wearing a mask could protect you from COVID-19 in more ways than you think
Some researchers think masks could expose wearers to just enough of the virus that it helps trigger immunity.
Kat EschnerSeptember 10, 2020
Times of strife can lead to medical innovation—when governments are willing
The Civil War saw a record number of health-related patents. Can we replicate that during the current pandemic?
By Jeffrey Clemens/The ConversationSeptember 9, 2020
AstraZeneca just paused its COVID-19 vaccine trial, and that’s a good thing
The company is reviewing an adverse reaction that occurred in a patient in the U.K.
Claire MaldarelliSeptember 9, 2020
The safest ways to exercise during a pandemic
Is it worth it to go back to the gym?
By Sara Kiley WatsonSeptember 9, 2020
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally may account for 19 percent of US COVID-19 cases in August
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Claire MaldarelliSeptember 8, 2020
Data on COVID-19 outbreaks in schools was sparse, so this teacher collected it herself
Now anyone can use the tracker to look for warning signs in their state.
By Audrey Goodson Kingo/Working MotherSeptember 3, 2020

Information will be added to this page as it's published online. Keep checking back!