Mexico, facing its third COVID-19 wave, shows the dangers of weak federal coordination

COVID-19 cases in Mexico are approaching the highest levels seen during the second wave in late January 2021, with about 22,000 new infections a day. A slow vaccine rollout is stunting progress.

Felicia Marie Knaul, Director, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami • conversation
Aug. 18, 2021 • ~10 min

People gave up on flu pandemic measures a century ago when they tired of them – and paid a price

Americans were tired of social distancing and mask-wearing. At the first hint the virus was receding, people pushed to get life back to normal. Unfortunately another surge of the disease followed.

J. Alexander Navarro, Assistant Director of the Center for the History of Medicine, University of Michigan • conversation
March 23, 2021 • ~9 min

10 reasons why Anthony Fauci was ready to be the face of the US pandemic response

2020 was a big year for Fauci – but he's been on the national stage for decades. Here's more about his work before COVID-19 and why he was perfectly poised to help the US respond to the pandemic.

Barbara Gastel, Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University • conversation
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~10 min

Health insurers are starting to roll back coverage for telehealth – even though demand is way up due to COVID-19

Widely adopted in the US when pandemic precautions kept people home, telehealth faces a challenge as insurance coverage changes, right when its popularity had surged.

Steve Davis, Associate Professor of Health Policy, Management and Leadership, West Virginia University • conversation
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~8 min

279,700 extra deaths in the US so far in this pandemic year

Health statisticians keep careful tabs on how many people die every week. Based on what's happened in past years, they know what to expect – but 2020 death counts are surging beyond predictions.

Ronald D. Fricker Jr., Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Administration, Virginia Tech • conversation
Oct. 14, 2020 • ~7 min

Older people like President Trump are at more risk from COVID-19 because of how the immune system ages

Older coronavirus patients face grimmer outlooks. A virologist explains the aging-related changes in how immune systems work that are to blame.

Brian Geiss, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University • conversation
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~7 min

Up to 204,691 extra deaths in the US so far in this pandemic year

Health statisticians keep careful tabs on how many people die every week. Based on what's happened in past years, they know what to expect – but 2020 death counts are surging beyond predictions.

Ronald D. Fricker Jr., Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Administration, Virginia Tech • conversation
Aug. 13, 2020 • ~5 min

Scientists are working to protect invaluable living collections during coronavirus lockdowns

From fungi and flies to spiders and fish, living collections need care and feeding even when their human keepers are dealing with a pandemic and its resultant social distancing.

Rita Rio, Professor of Biology, West Virginia University • conversation
April 23, 2020 • ~9 min

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