Controlling this outbreak is a steep challenge. We must be clear about how the virus spreads and who is at highest risk. — Even as Covid-19 continues to mutate and spread, much of the world is now facing outbreaks of another disease threat that no one expected to see: monkeypox. The United States declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Thursday, following the lead of the World Health Organization.

What parents should know — With summer camps open and kids mingling and socializing more, many parents eagerly awaited the moment when COVID-19 vaccines would be available to their young children. With formal authorization from the FDA and CDC’s strong recommendation, the moment arrived three weeks ago. …

Yet another wave has begun and the virus continues to adapt — we must as well — The United States is facing yet another rise in Covid cases and many public figures have announced they’ve tested positive in recent days, including Jimmy Kimmel and US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. Test positivity in the US has climbed to above 11%, indicating that transmission is increasing — and that…

We’re now living with a less virulent, but more contagious, virus — Traveling in the United States just got less safe for immunosuppressed people and others at higher risk of severe illness from Covid. Hours after a judge’s unprecedented decision to nullify the federal mask mandate on public transportation, many airline companies, rideshare services and transit agencies announced that they would no…

Paid sick leave protects businesses, health care, and the public — Awards for “Perfect attendance” should be an idea of the past. Everyone gets sick, but not everyone can afford to take time off from work to get better. …

Omicron poses a serious threat, but we’re not back to square one — Omicron has quickly supplanted Delta to become the dominant variant in the United States after spreading widely in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world. In the past couple of weeks, Covid cases have set records in the U.S. — reaching almost triple the number of…

We need to maximize control of the virus while minimizing harm — Covid has changed the world as we know it, and virulent variants such as Delta have upended early hopes of a clearer-cut “back to normal.” Unfortunately, achieving herd immunity may now be an impossible dream, but we can limit death and disruption as we get to a new normal. Although…

We have the tools to go back to school safely — it’s up to us to use them — The end of summer is fast approaching and most students in the United States are preparing to go back to school soon. …

Long Covid can be debilitating. Getting vaccinated protects you from an unpredictable disease. — It’s impossible to predict with certainty how Covid will affect you if you get infected. Many Covid survivors fully recover within weeks of the onset of their illness, but for others, symptoms linger. Early in the pandemic, it became clear that many people infected with Covid continue to suffer from…