18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic – a retrospective in 7 charts

A lot has happened since the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. A portrait in data highlights trends in everything from case counts, to research publications, to variant spread.

Katelyn Jetelina, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston • conversation
Sept. 9, 2021 ~10 min

Spread of Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant driven by combination of immune escape and increased infectivity

Findings suggest infection control measures against variants will need to continue in the post-vaccination era. 

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Sept. 6, 2021 ~6 min


Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant were more likely to be admitted to hospital compared to patients with Alpha variant

Largest study to date analysing more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases (including a combination of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals) confirmed by virus genome

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Aug. 31, 2021 ~4 min

Social media messages from health care workers help reduce travel-related Covid-19 spread

Large-scale video campaign allowed physicians and public health messengers to encourage staying home over the 2020 holidays.

J-PAL North America • mit
Aug. 23, 2021 ~4 min

Italy – once overwhelmed by COVID-19 – turns to a health pass and stricter measures to contain virus

After enduring a devastating wave of infections, deaths and lockdowns at the start of the pandemic, Italy is putting in place tougher anti-COVID measures, including a vaccine passport.

Sara Belligoni, Ph.D. Candidate in Security Studies, University of Central Florida • conversation
Aug. 23, 2021 ~11 min

After India's brutal coronavirus wave, two-thirds of population has been exposed to SARS-CoV2

A public health scholar based in New Delhi explains how India has emerged from the massive spike in COVID-19 cases, even as the country braces for a new wave.

Rajib Dasgupta, Chairperson, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University • conversation
Aug. 20, 2021 ~10 min

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

Study provides suggestions for keeping classroom air fresh

MIT team looks at classroom configurations and offers modifications to enhance safety during Covid-19 pandemic.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office • mit
Aug. 13, 2021 ~10 min


New device can diagnose Covid-19 from saliva samples

The tabletop diagnostic yields results in an hour and can be programmed to detect variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
Aug. 6, 2021 ~7 min

A new way to detect the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in wastewater

SMART researchers have developed an innovative method to detect and quantify the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant of concern via wastewater epidemiology.

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology • mit
July 28, 2021 ~8 min

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