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.

person holding a thermometer

How long can the coronavirus live on surfaces, can I get COVID-19 twice, and every other question you might have about the pandemic

We asked an epidemiologist all your COVID-19 questions.

By Molly GlickMarch 13, 2020

medications

How long will COVID-19 last?

The actions we take now will make a huge difference.

Kate BaggaleyMarch 17, 2020

two yellow caution signs for cleaning laying on a tile floor

Everything you need to know about cleaning public surfaces in a pandemic

You’re better off sanitizing yourself, but it can’t hurt.

Katherine J. WuMarch 16, 2020

kid touching his face

How to stop touching your face

It will minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs.

By Benning, Labus & Barchard/The ConversationMarch 20, 2020

New updates:

A new vaccine protects mice from another dangerous coronavirus
A similar strategy might work for SARS-CoV-2, but the road to developing new vaccines is long.
Kate Baggaley52 minutes ago
Eighteen digital freebies and extended trials you can take advantage of right now
Free stuff for healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 and everyone helping others by staying inside.
David Nield6 hours ago
How to start your own survival garden
Prepare your own fresh fruits, herbs, and veggies.
By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor LifeApril 7, 2020
Tigers can get coronavirus—but you won’t catch COVID-19 from your cat
Everything you need to know about you, your cats, and the coronavirus.
Kat EschnerApril 7, 2020
A guide to buying (or making) a face mask for COVID-19
Even if you absolutely can’t sew.
Rachel FeltmanApril 7, 2020
How to brew beer at home in a week
From growing your own yeast to fermenting and carbonating your alcohol, you can get the process down to a science.
By Martha HarbisonApril 7, 2020
Social distancing works—just ask lobsters, ants, and vampire bats
By studying animal behavior, scientists can shape new approaches to preventing infectious diseases.
By Hawley & Buck/The ConversationApril 6, 2020
How the National Guard dresses for COVID-19 and other disasters
We got a virtual tour of the gear on hand at a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.
Rob VergerApril 6, 2020
Fight viruses in your home without making bacteria stronger
Using certain drugs inappropriately could actually worsen future infections by bacteria that become resistant.
Katherine J. WuApril 4, 2020
See when COVID-19 could hit your state hardest
These graphs show where we are in the course of the pandemic, based on the most recent data.
Sara ChodoshApril 3, 2020
COVID-19 has exposed serious food-security issues in the US. Technology can help.
Humans armed with creative solutions are finding ways to prop up supply chains.
By Robyn Metcalfe/MIT Press ReaderApril 3, 2020
Check these privacy and security settings before your next Zoom video chat
Some privacy tips will go a long way to protect you on Zoom video chats.
By Stan HoraczekApril 2, 2020
Homeless populations are among America’s most vulnerable to the coronavirus
People experiencing homelessness are more likely to catch the virus and experience complications from it.
Kat EschnerApril 2, 2020
COVID-19 has killed more than 5,000 people in the US, with new hotspots emerging
Hospitals in New York and other states are already overwhelmed.
Rachel FeltmanApril 2, 2020
Make your own face mask—no sewing machine required
You probably already have everything you need at home.
By Alden WickerApril 2, 2020
COVID-19 is interrupting lab animal research, sometimes fatally
Scientists across the country have needed to abruptly halt their work, leaving research animals in limbo.
Kat EschnerApril 2, 2020
An environmental stimulus bill could help us bounce back from COVID-19
Policy advisors have come together with a comprehensive proposal to recover the economy, help workers, and address the climate crisis.
By Ula ChrobakApril 1, 2020
The huge Navy hospital ships in Los Angeles and New York have a rich history
The former oil tankers are part of a line of medical vessels dating back more than 200 years.
Rob VergerApril 1, 2020
Tips for better sound on your video chats and conference calls
You won’t need to ask, “can you hear me?” over and over anymore.
By Stan HoraczekApril 1, 2020
A vegan world wouldn’t keep diseases like COVID-19 from infecting humans
We need to spend more energy monitoring the places where humans and animals meet.
Kat EschnerMarch 31, 2020
No cases of COVID-19 where you live? You should still stay home.
Don’t underestimate how quickly the new coronavirus moves.
Kate BaggaleyMarch 31, 2020
Scientists are experimenting with three kinds of COVID-19 vaccines
It can take years to develop a time-tested vaccine. But the world needs something faster.
By Jean Peccoud/The ConversationMarch 30, 2020
COVID-19 has cut air pollution in some countries—but will this blip make a difference?
What this means for the climate depends on what we do after the pandemic ends.
By Ula ChrobakMarch 30, 2020
Should we all wear face masks? The answer is complicated.
Face masks alone won’t keep you healthy, and others may need them more.
Sara ChodoshMarch 30, 2020
A panic attack can mimic the symptoms of COVID-19. Here’s what to do about it.
Tips for dealing with all these feelings.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 30, 2020
Five beast-mode workouts PopSci editors are doing from home
Keep your immune system in good shape.
PopSci StaffMarch 29, 2020
Nature’s best toilet paper substitutes
For when you find yourself between a crack and a hard place.
By Bill Heavey/Field & StreamMarch 28, 2020
Your smartphone is gross. Learn how to clean it properly.
Everything you’ve touched is now on your face. Think about it.
By David NieldMarch 27, 2020
American Airlines hasn’t flown cargo-only flights since 1984. That just changed.
In a pandemic, if you can’t fly people, you might as well haul stuff. Here’s how that works.
Rob VergerMarch 27, 2020
COVID-19 is separating parents from their newborns
With limited evidence of mother-to-baby transmission, some hospitals are taking precautions with self isolation.
By Katharine Gammon/UndarkMarch 27, 2020
Four essentials you can donate to help healthcare workers fighting COVID-19
Supplies can be better than money.
By Sara Kiley WatsonMarch 26, 2020
With internet usage surging, companies are scrambling to keep it all running
What are companies like Netflix, Google, T-Mobile, and Comcast doing to keep people online during the coronavirus?
Stan HoraczekMarch 26, 2020
COVID-19 could be especially bad news for the South
With limited health care access, states like Mississippi and Alabama are ill-prepared to treat infected individuals with preexisting conditions.
By Laura Beil/UndarkMarch 26, 2020
Don’t take chloroquine to prevent COVID-19
There’s no proof it works, and others need it more than you do.
Kat EschnerMarch 26, 2020
Twelve meals you can make from frozen produce during uncertain times
Build a stash of chopped fruits and veggies to use in the days ahead.
By Catherine Tillman Whalen/SaveurMarch 25, 2020
Yes, the new coronavirus is mutating—but that’s not a bad thing
SARS-CoV-2 is changing at the rate scientists would expect for a coronavirus
Kate BaggaleyMarch 25, 2020
Fourteen mobile games to make your quarantine more fun
From logic puzzles to ghost adventures, here are one gaming expert’s favorites to help distract you and your kids.
By Shira Chess/MIT Press ReaderMarch 25, 2020
A guide to safe outdoor activities during the coronavirus pandemic
The first step is to check the local health orders or guidelines before going out.
By Ula ChrobakMarch 25, 2020
Confirmed US cases of COVID-19 have surpassed 50,000. How many are really out there?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 24, 2020
Why so many of the COVID-19 graphs you see are misleading
It’s difficult to grapple with the scale and complexities of this pandemic.
Sara ChodoshMarch 24, 2020
Everything you need to know about getting tested for coronavirus
More accessible testing is crucial.
By Kate Baggaley & Claire MaldarelliMarch 24, 2020
How to quarantine with your partner without destroying your relationship
Let’s be alone together.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 24, 2020
Losing your sense of smell could be a sign of COVID-19
Researchers are still cautious about this sensory connection, however.
Kat EschnerMarch 24, 2020
COVID-19 has turned tests and personal protective equipment into luxuries
The rich and famous are getting access to necessities before health care workers. Why?
By Devi Sridhar/UndarkMarch 23, 2020
The best tips for working from home, from people who do it all the time
It’s more than greasy potato chip fingers and lying on the couch.
By John KennedyMarch 23, 2020
Lime partially suspends its scooter service due to coronavirus
With people staying off the streets, the company is pulling its two-wheelers from 21 US states and several countries.
By Cycle Volta StaffMarch 21, 2020
Social distancing is a no-brainer when you’re already isolated in nature
An outdoors person’s perspective.
By Alex Robinson/Outdoor LifeMarch 19, 2020
How airlines are wrestling with the fallout of COVID-19
Delta, United, and others are cutting down flights and staff until early summer.
By Rob Mark/Flying MagazineMarch 18, 2020
What the 1918 flu pandemic can teach us about COVID-19, in four charts
One of the biggest pandemics in recent history shows the importance of social distancing.
Sara ChodoshMarch 18, 2020
Anti-inflammatory drugs might not actually make COVID-19 worse
NSAIDs like ibuprofen are commonly used to treat fever and pain.
Kat EschnerMarch 17, 2020
An expert guide to love and sex during a pandemic
We are all in long-distance relationships now.
By Sara Kiley WatsonMarch 16, 2020
No, you don’t need to hoard toilet paper to prep for a pandemic
Hoarding causes shortages that wouldn’t otherwise exist. But the impulse may be part of our biology and psychology.
By Jay L. Zagorsky/The ConversationMarch 15, 2020
Europe is the new epicenter of coronavirus, and the US may be next
Here are the latest updates.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 13, 2020
How the COVID-19 mask shortage imperils virus research
Scientists are being forced to hit the pause button on high-risk projects.
By Katherine J. Wu/UndarkMarch 12, 2020
Eleven soup recipes perfect for freezing and hoarding
These are great for when you’re tired of canned food.
By John KennedyMarch 12, 2020
Here’s how much internet bandwidth you actually need to work from home
Millions of American students and employees lack the necessary connection.
Stan HoraczekMarch 12, 2020
Flattening the curve, pandemic, and other helpful COVID-19 terms, explained
A glossary to get you through this epidemic—or is it a pandemic?
Sara ChodoshMarch 12, 2020
Gotta fly? Wash your hands early and often to keep COVID-19 from following you home
Airports are crowded, confined areas that microbes thrive in.
Kat EschnerMarch 12, 2020
Who’s responsible for containing COVID-19?
It’s written in the Constitution (sort of).
By Brian Labus/The ConversationMarch 11, 2020
COVID-19 symptoms typically appear 5 days after infection
But the incubation period can vary from roughly 2 to 12 days.
Kate BaggaleyMarch 11, 2020
COVID-19 has now killed 29 people in the U.S.
Here’s everything we know about the fatalities.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 11, 2020
Why COVID-19 can’t beat a good hand-washing
And pretty much any other contagious disease.
Kat EschnerMarch 9, 2020
The American healthcare system is only making COVID-19 worse
“We don’t really have a system.”
Kat EschnerMarch 9, 2020
The melting Arctic gives scientists valuable access to long-dead viruses
Climate change is unlocking a vault of biological mysteries that may help us keep some of the deadliest diseases at bay.
By Marlene Cimons/Nexus MediaMarch 6, 2020
DIY hand sanitizer for fighting COVID-19 on the go
We’ve got liquid and gel for all your germ-killing needs.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.March 5, 2020
What the official COVID-19 mortality rate actually means
The new coronavirus is a moving target for the WHO.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 5, 2020
Why sanitizer works, but hand washing works better
An expert guide to the great hand sanitizer debate.
By Sara Kiley WatsonMarch 5, 2020
These charts show who is most vulnerable to COVID-19
An analysis of more than 70,000 cases in China can give us some clues as to who might fall ill elsewhere.
Sara ChodoshMarch 5, 2020
Thirteen science questions about COVID-19 from teens
How to stay safe and where it all began.
Rachel FeltmanMarch 4, 2020
Your travel-related COVID-19 questions, answered
It’s all about managing risk.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.March 4, 2020
What pregnant people need to know about COVID-19
For now, there are more questions than answers.
Kate BaggaleyMarch 4, 2020
COVID-19 is exposing dangerous flaws in how we make and prescribe drugs
Our supply chain is far from stable.
Kat EschnerMarch 3, 2020
Music videos, TikTok, and other creative ways people are fighting COVID-19
A catchy 20-second riff could save a life.
By Sara Kiley WatsonMarch 2, 2020
All the ways you can—and can’t—catch the coronavirus
Little is known for sure, but sneezes are still the main thing you should watch out for
Kate BaggaleyMarch 2, 2020
How to prepare for a viral outbreak like COVID-19
Don’t panic. Plan.
By John KennedyFebruary 28, 2020
How to tell if a cold is COVID-19
It’s probably just a cold, but you should still cover your coughs.
Rachel FeltmanFebruary 28, 2020
What COVID-19’s ‘inevitable’ spread in the United States actually means
“We are asking the American public to prepare in expectation that this will be bad."
By Molly GlickFebruary 26, 2020
Just how contagious is COVID-19? This chart puts it in perspective.
Everything epidemiology can tell us about the new coronavirus.
Matthew R. FrancisFebruary 20, 2020
The prejudice stemming from the coronavirus outbreak isn’t new
As anti-Asian sentiment surges amid the growing COVID-19 crisis, experts point to history and warn of consequences.
By Marisa Peryer/UndarkFebruary 19, 2020
Want to stay healthy? Learn to wash your hands the right way.
It’s the best way to avoid diseases like COVID-19.
Rachel FeltmanFebruary 18, 2020
The novel coronavirus finally has a name—two of them, actually
The virus is SARS-CoV-2, but the disease is COVID-19.
Kat EschnerFebruary 13, 2020
Coronavirus shows our health agencies are ill prepared for fake news
Disinformation spreads even faster than disease—and it can be just as deadly.
Kat EschnerFebruary 11, 2020
A small coronavirus breakthrough could aid in the search for a vaccine
With viral proteins, scientists can start to develop antigens over many months.
Ian Christopher Davis/The ConversationFebruary 1, 2020
We’re still not sure where the Wuhan coronavirus really came from
China’s wet markets don’t tell the whole story.
Kat EschnerJanuary 28, 2020
A mysterious virus is sickening people in China
We don’t know much about the new disease, but there’s a lot we do know about how outbreaks happen.
Kate BaggaleyJanuary 8, 2020

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