May 24How Protected Are You From Covid?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…Science4 min read
Apr 22Do You Still Need to Wear a Mask?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…Covid 194 min read
Published in Elemental·Mar 11Why Paid Sick Leave Is EssentialPaid 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. …Science4 min read
Published in Elemental·Jan 24What Are the Facts on Omicron? The Picture Is Getting ClearerOmicron 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…Coronavirus6 min read
Published in Elemental·Oct 15, 2021What Will the Next Few Months Look Like? Your Covid Questions, Answered.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…Covid 196 min read
Published in Elemental·Aug 2, 2021As Schools Open, How Can We Protect Our Kids From Delta?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. But the doubly infectious Delta variant is causing a resurgence in Covid cases, and I’m hearing from concerned parents wondering how to keep kids safe — especially those…Covid 195 min read
Jul 9, 2021For Many Covid Survivors, the Battle Isn’t OverLong 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…Covid 194 min read
Jul 3, 2021Only 20 States and DC Have Met Biden’s July 4 Vaccine Goal. Where Does That Leave Us?Delta’s rise makes it more crucial that people roll up their sleeves — Although more people are getting the Covid vaccine, the Biden Administration won’t meet its goal of having 70 percent of American adults receive at least one dose of vaccine by July 4 — it will take a few more weeks to reach this level. …Science5 min read
Published in Elemental·Jun 24, 2021Three Factors to Consider When Deciding Whether to MaskWho you are, where you are, and what you’re doing — In the United States, most adults are now fully vaccinated, and hundreds of thousands more people are getting vaccinated every day. Covid case counts are falling, often dramatically, in communities with high rates of vaccination. …Science6 min read
Jun 17, 2021Covid Delta Variant Is Dangerous Yet Manageable, and Offers an Important WarningThe vast majority of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by the Delta variant occur in unvaccinated people — As predicted and feared, viral variants are now causing many of the new cases of Covid disease in much of the world. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2), which appears to have spread widely in India starting last October, appears to be extremely transmissible and might cause more severe illness. The more…Covid 194 min read