President-elect Biden's new COVID-19 task force gives the US a fresh chance to turn around a public health disaster

Biden will begin his presidency in the midst of a global public health crisis that's already killed over 240,000 people in the US alone. His team is already planning how to get COVID-19 under control.

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An epidemiologist explains the new CDC guidance on 15 minutes of exposure and what it means for you

New guidance from the CDC says that 15 minutes of exposure – regardless of whether that occurs at one time – can result in transmission of the coronavirus.

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Do we have to toss Halloween out the window this year, too? Public health experts give some guidelines

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday without trick-or-treating, but you still need to make sure you are socially distancing and wearing a mask – and not just one for Halloween.

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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.

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History tells us trying to stop diseases like COVID-19 at the border is a failed strategy

The US response to the coronavirus was slow and problematic, but it also was rooted in a 19th-century way of viewing public health.

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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.

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covid-19 coronavirus statistics centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention cdc significant-figures death-rates coronavirus-pandemic deaths death-rate us-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention causes-of-death flu-deaths death-tolls death-toll-estimates statistical-model centers-for-disease-control

Video: Who controls pandemic data?

A White House decision to take over collection of COVID-19 data from the CDC sparked worries over political interference. A public data expert talks about the importance of transparent public data.

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