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 receiving a shot from a healthcare worker.

How to prepare for getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Don’t worry—side effects are usually mild.

By Tara Santora

Pregnant woman checking phone notifications.

Pregnant people can—and should—get vaccinated against COVID-19

The risks of catching COVID-19 outweigh the risk of an mRNA or viral vector vaccine.

By Sara Kiley Watson

Two people wearing cloth face masks with their arms around each other on a New York City sidewalk on a sunny day.

How to wear a face mask for maximum protection

A good fit means it’s harder for the virus to slip through.

By Erin Fennessy

a kid sick in bed having his temperature taken

What COVID-19 will look like once the pandemic ends

Hint: it’s not going away.

Claire Maldarelli

New updates:

Does it matter which COVID-19 vaccine you get?
Americans won’t have a choice for quite a while, but it’s worth knowing the differences between the vaccines.
Maddie Bender27 minutes ago
US COVID-19 testing rates have plummeted
Here’s everything you need to know for this week.
By Rahul Rao5 hours ago
The FDA just authorized Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine
Doses should be available to states within days.
Claire MaldarelliFebruary 27, 2021
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine just passed the FDA’s final test
The potential third vaccine to hit the US market works a little differently from the rest.
By Philip KieferFebruary 26, 2021
Gyms are still hot spots for spreading COVID-19
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Sara Kiley WatsonFebruary 25, 2021
How to distinguish COVID-19 symptoms from a cold
You need to stay home either way.
Rachel FeltmanFebruary 25, 2021
Why are we still disinfecting surfaces to stop COVID-19?
Research shows that the coronavirus rarely spreads through contact with cash, groceries, and other objects.
By Hassan Vally/The ConversationFebruary 24, 2021
How Northern California’s COVID-19 variant stacks up against the rest
Mutations are normal, but there’s still a lot virologists don’t understand about the new variants.
By Sara Kiley WatsonFebruary 24, 2021
More than 500,000 people in the US have died of COVID-19
Here are the numbers you need to know.
By Erin FennessyFebruary 23, 2021
The surprising ways your immune system adapts to the flu virus you got as a kid
Immunity continues to be an incredibly complicated concept.
By Philip KieferFebruary 23, 2021
What pregnant, breastfeeding, and prospective parents should know about the COVID-19 vaccines
The risks of getting COVID-19 while pregnant far outweigh the risks of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Kat EschnerFebruary 22, 2021
Why COVID cases are falling around the world
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Rahul RaoFebruary 22, 2021
Storing the Pfizer vaccine could get a lot simpler in coming weeks
The mRNA vaccine can actually be stored at normal freezer temperatures, though the change can’t happen just yet.
By Philip KieferFebruary 19, 2021
Ramping up COVID-19 vaccine production is harder than it seems
Here’s how the coronavirus vaccines are produced, step-by-step.
Kat EschnerFebruary 19, 2021
COVID-19 testing is still falling short in the US
Government health agencies want to double testing capacity in coming weeks.
By Tara SantoraFebruary 19, 2021
COVID-19 is shortening US life expectancy—especially for people of color
Here’s what you need to know today.
By Sara Kiley WatsonFebruary 18, 2021
Solitary confinement can’t stop COVID-19 from spreading through prisons
In fact, it might make the public health crisis worse.
By Robin Blades/UndarkFebruary 18, 2021
The best treatments we currently have for COVID-19
We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic.
By Kat EschnerClaire MaldarelliFebruary 17, 2021
We’ve barely made a dent in vaccinating the world against COVID-19
Getting the vaccine to every country won’t be easy, but it can be done.
Kat EschnerFebruary 17, 2021
Facing COVID-19 variants, vaccine makers are weighing how to tweak their designs
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Rahul RaoFebruary 16, 2021
5 must-know tips for safely wearing a mask over facial hair
You should definitely shave, though.
By Sandra Gutierrez G.February 15, 2021
Neanderthal genes are still helping humans today
Anthropologists have found surprising traits in ancient DNA, including one that may trigger immunity against viruses.
Claire MaldarelliFebruary 13, 2021
The CDC says COVID-19 is no match for two masks
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Sara ChodoshFebruary 11, 2021
Can Louisiana’s COVID surge trace back to one Mardi Gras reveler?
A new preprint study suggests that last year’s Mardi Gras celebrations were responsible for roughly 50,000 COVID-19 cases across the state.
By Philip KieferFebruary 11, 2021
Why you shouldn’t ever wear your mask around your neck
Proper mask care is key to ensuring yours works effectively.
By Erin FennessyFebruary 11, 2021
How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a pandemic
Testing, masking, and social distancing are all love languages now.
Sara Kiley WatsonFebruary 10, 2021
One big hiccup in US efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines? Poor internet access.
Broadband-starved neighborhoods and seniors on their own have fewer avenues to pandemic resources.
By Tamra Burns Loeb, Et Al./The ConversationFebruary 10, 2021
Can you get COVID-19 again? We answered some common coronavirus questions.
We’ve learned a lot after a year of the pandemic.
By Molly GlickFebruary 10, 2021
Why South Africa stopped using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Rahul RaoFebruary 8, 2021
How to prepare for getting the COVID-19 vaccine
Don’t worry—side effects are usually mild.
By Tara SantoraFebruary 8, 2021
Women are more likely to take COVID-19 guidelines seriously
The global pandemic response has been gendered in multiple ways.
By Disha Shetty/UndarkFebruary 5, 2021
Even at half capacity, the Super Bowl could cause COVID-19 outbreaks
The safest way to celebrate is still at home.
Kate BaggaleyFebruary 5, 2021
The CDC declares Super Bowl parties a no-go
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Claire MaldarelliFebruary 4, 2021
How US veterans can get COVID-19 vaccines
The VA has vaccinated close to a million patients. Here are the qualifications.
James Clark/Task & PurposeFebruary 4, 2021
Here’s where all the COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently stand
More than a dozen frontrunners have reached late-stage clinical trials.
Kate BaggaleyFebruary 3, 2021
Israel leads the world in vaccination rates, but a key group is missing from the data
To reach herd immunity, the Israeli government needs to reserve doses for Gaza and the West Bank.
By Yara M. Asi/The ConversationFebruary 3, 2021
Pregnant people can—and should—get vaccinated against COVID-19
The risks of catching COVID-19 outweigh the risk of an mRNA or viral vector vaccine.
By Sara Kiley WatsonFebruary 2, 2021
How to wear a face mask for maximum protection
A good fit means it’s harder for the virus to slip through.
By Erin FennessyFebruary 2, 2021
The US finally has a national mask mandate
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
By Rahul RaoFebruary 1, 2021
The new COVID-19 team has a lot of work to do. Here’s how they should start.
They’re inheriting a mess, but they can turn this ship around.
By Erin FennessyFebruary 1, 2021
What you can do right now to protect yourself from the new COVID-19 variants
Staying vigilant during this crucial time is key.
Claire MaldarelliJanuary 29, 2021
COVID-19 vaccines could end the pandemic by eliminating severe cases
Here’s what it means for vaccines to prevent severe disease.
Kate BaggaleyJanuary 29, 2021
There’s a new COVID-19 vaccine in the running—but variants could pose a problem
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Sara ChodoshJanuary 28, 2021
The US is way behind on tracking COVID-19 variants
It makes it all the more difficult to stop new infections.
By Tara SantoraJanuary 27, 2021
The places where Americans aren’t wearing masks
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Rahul RaoJanuary 25, 2021
5 graphs that show how bad COVID-19 is in LA County
California as a state has had a rough fall and winter.
Sara ChodoshJanuary 25, 2021
How rural America is making the haphazard vaccine rollout work
Clinics in the Southwest and Midwest bear the responsibility of connecting perishable COVID-19 vaccines with residents who often live miles away.
By Elizabeth Miller/UndarkJanuary 22, 2021
On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic
In Colorado, a woman released at the height of COVID-19 finds resilience.
Sarah ScolesJanuary 21, 2021
To get vaccines to more people, the priority system needs to loosen up
The vaccine rollout has been shaky, but it can still get on track.
Kat EschnerJanuary 21, 2021
What does it take to convince people to get vaccinated?
Americans have unrealistic expectations of how COVID-19 vaccines should be made.
By Matt Motta/The ConversationJanuary 20, 2021
When are two masks better than one for preventing COVID-19?
Some expert recommendations on how to mask up—twice.
By Tara SantoraJanuary 20, 2021
We may have grossly underestimated COVID-19 infection rates
Labs and blood banks collect millions of samples each month, offering a distinctive source of data to track cases and also study immunity before and after vaccination.
By Nathaniel Scharping/UndarkJanuary 19, 2021
What to know about new COVID-related travel restrictions in the US
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Rahul RaoJanuary 19, 2021
How does an mRNA vaccine work?
The technology is likely to be used for a variety of other diseases, so understanding them now is key.
Maddie BenderJanuary 19, 2021
What you need to know about Biden’s 5-point COVID-19 relief plan
His administration will rely on “science and scientists.”
Sara ChodoshJanuary 15, 2021
Already had COVID-19? You still need a vaccine.
The vaccine can reduce your chances of becoming reinfected and sick again in the future.
Kate BaggaleyJanuary 15, 2021
Flu cases have been shockingly low during the pandemic. Here why.
It’s probably a mix of things we can, and cannot, control.
By Sara Kiley WatsonJanuary 15, 2021
What COVID-19 will look like once the pandemic ends
Hint: it’s not going away.
Claire MaldarelliJanuary 14, 2021
More evidence points to long-lasting COVID-19 immunity
The studies so far are promising, though it doesn’t mean we can stop wearing masks.
Sara ChodoshJanuary 14, 2021
Hawaii managed COVID-19 better than any other state, but its residents are still at risk
If cases get worse, the state’s shortage of doctors could become a real problem.
By Tara SantoraJanuary 14, 2021
The US is averaging more than 250,000 COVID-19 cases a day
Here’s the latest case counts, death rates, and other data on the ongoing pandemic.
By Claire MaldarelliJessica BoddySara Kiley WatsonSara ChodoshJanuary 12, 2021
Is one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enough?
A slow vaccine rollout means many may be left waiting for their second dose. How much does that matter?
Kat EschnerJanuary 12, 2021
A psychologist explains how hope can make a difference in impossible times
It’s more enduring than optimism, but you to have to dig a little deeper to find it.
Jacqueline S. Mattis/The ConversationJanuary 11, 2021
COVID vaccines are getting thrown out thanks to strict distribution rules
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Claire MaldarelliJanuary 11, 2021
When it comes to COVID-19 risk, what counts as ‘outdoor’ dining?
Ranking risk from inflatable igloos to chilly patios.
By Sara Kiley WatsonJanuary 11, 2021
COVID-19 immunity could be long term
New findings suggest that immune response to COVID-19 may be long-lasting.
Kate BaggaleyJanuary 8, 2021
Vaccines conquered smallpox and polio, but COVID-19 looks like a tougher battle
For starters, the US has barely reached 25 percent of its vaccination target.
By Tara SantoraJanuary 8, 2021
COVID-19 could make malaria surge, but African aid workers are fighting back
Community efforts are stepping up as experts warn about an increase in malaria cases as the pandemic wears on.
By Ashley Stumvoll/UndarkJanuary 7, 2021
You can test positive for COVID-19 after a vaccine—but that doesn’t mean the shots don’t work
It takes time to develop antibodies against the novel coronavirus.
Kate BaggaleyJanuary 6, 2021
Is indoor dining safe? Five health experts weigh in.
The social isolation and economic fallout is real. But so is the risk of transmission.
By Laurie Archbald-Pannone Et Al./The ConversationJanuary 6, 2021
Boost your mood with emotional brain training
Don’t let your COVID-19 worries overwhelm you.
By Laurel Mellin/The ConversationJanuary 4, 2021
The world may be at risk of a new COVID-19 surge
As the new coronavirus variant spreads, it might create spikes in cases around the globe.
Claire MaldarelliJanuary 4, 2021
Meet the nurse who’s running a Texas COVID-19 clinic all on her own
Elizabeth Ellis keeps her community healthy, and her community keeps the clinic running.
By Tara SantoraJanuary 4, 2021
The new, more-contagious UK COVID-19 strain is officially in the US
Though there’s no reason to panic.
Sara ChodoshDecember 30, 2020
Ending the pandemic means vaccinating the whole world—but the US is focusing on itself
Getting rid of COVID-19 in the United States won’t solve the pandemic.
Kat EschnerDecember 29, 2020
The ‘darkest days’ of COVID-19 are still to come
Here’s what you need to know this week.
By Sara Kiley WatsonDecember 28, 2020
Can you spread COVID-19 after vaccination? Here’s what we know.
Even if you’ve been vaccinated, it’s important to keep masking up.
Kate BaggaleyDecember 28, 2020
Why two doses of the new COVID-19 vaccines are better than one
One dose can be effective, but for how long?
By Tara SantoraDecember 26, 2020
How to guarantee a safe, COVID-19-free holiday
The end of the pandemic is in sight, but it’s not over yet.
Rachel FeltmanDecember 23, 2020
With two COVID-19 vaccines available, the CDC updates its guidance on who gets them first
Here’s everything you need to know this week.
Sara ChodoshDecember 22, 2020
Rural America may miss out on early COVID-19 vaccines
No rural counties in Texas received Pfizer’s vaccine this week.
By Tara SantoraDecember 18, 2020
What you should know about allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine
Allergic reactions to vaccines are rare but not unheard of.
Kate BaggaleyDecember 17, 2020
There’s a new coronavirus strain in the UK, but don’t panic
This new mutation is one of 4000 strains found in SARS-CoV-2 samples around the globe.
Kat EschnerDecember 16, 2020
COVID-19 testing scientists are the unsung heroes of the pandemic
Lab work isn’t often in the spotlight, but it is essential to public health.
By Rodney E. Rohde/The ConversationDecember 16, 2020
What the Dippin’ Dots ‘cold chain’ can teach us about COVID-19 vaccines
Both require a delicate (and chilly) shipping process.
Maddie BenderDecember 15, 2020
Pfizer is shipping millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses this week
American healthcare workers are beginning to receive their first doses.
Jessica BoddyDecember 14, 2020
The FDA just green-lit America’s first COVID vaccine
But we’ve got a long way to go before the pandemic is over.
Sara ChodoshDecember 11, 2020
Can’t smell or taste the bacon? It’s probably a sign of COVID-19.
Stop putting extra salt on everything and go get tested.
By Tara SantoraDecember 11, 2020
Pfizer’s COVID vaccine just hit a major milestone on its way to FDA authorization
But it hasn’t been approved just yet.
Rachel FeltmanDecember 10, 2020
Eight face masks for people you care about
Face masks are the new socks.
By John KennedyDecember 10, 2020
Shaming the public into smarter COVID-19 decisions won’t work. This will.
We can’t expect people to avoid risks entirely.
By Maia Szalavitz/UndarkDecember 10, 2020
See how COVID-19 vaccines will get to your neighborhood
A pharmaceutical supply chain expert explains the challenges of distributing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
By Bahar Aliakbarian/The ConversationDecember 9, 2020
Mask up: The CDC is doubling down on its recommendations
Social distancing and masks are even more important as the temperature drops.
Claire MaldarelliDecember 7, 2020
COVID-19 may have been circulating in the U.S. as early as last year
A new CDC report found evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in blood samples from late 2019.
Kat EschnerDecember 4, 2020
Two very different colleges share how they kept COVID-19 off campus
Part of the trick is quitting while they’re ahead.
By Tara SantoraDecember 4, 2020
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

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