COVID-19

It wasn't easy in early March to get a test in the U.S. confirming you had the coronavirus — scarce availability of tests meant patients had to meet strict criteria linked to a narrow set of symptoms and particular travel history.

Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills

3:40pm July 06, 2020

by Julie Appleby

People with COVID-19 symptoms in March and April were often billed for expensive scans and bloodwork because they didn't qualify back then for a confirmatory coronavirus test. Some are crying foul.

Specimens collected from multiple people can be combined into one batch to test for the coronavirus. A negative result would clear all the specimens.

Health & Safety

Pooling Coronavirus Tests Can Spare Scarce Supplies, But There's A Catch

11:42am July 06, 2020

by Richard Harris

Instead of running a coronavirus test on every specimen, a lab combines multiple samples. If the batch is negative, then everyone is in the clear. A positive leads to a second round of testing.

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NC High Schools Postpone Fall Sports Workouts, Wait For State Guidance

7:41am July 06, 2020

by Keri Brown

Many North Carolina high schools were set to resume workouts for fall sports on Monday. But some are pushing back the start date.

A pedestrian in a mask passes a sign urging people to practice social distancing, on Saturday in Miami Beach, Fla. Just as residents flocked outside to enjoy the Fourth of July, states such as Florida were reporting skyrocketing numbers of confirmed coron

States Shatter Coronavirus Records As Officials Eye Holiday Weekend With Alarm

6:26pm July 04, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

Both Florida and South Carolina reported their highest-ever daily totals for new cases. They're not alone: The number is spiking across the U.S., and July Fourth celebrations may only make it worse.

Passengers are tested for COVID-19 at Beirut International Airport on July 1.

International Flights Are Ramping Up. Slowly. And With Plenty Of Caveats

7:01am July 04, 2020

by Jessica Craig

Many countries shut down international air travel when the pandemic began. Routes are reopening again, but you may need a COVID-19 test before you board.

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Easier Voting By Mail In Alabama During Coronavirus

3:55pm July 03, 2020

by David Welna

A lower-court judge had allowed less rigorous terms for absentee voting because of the pandemic. That ruling was blocked a dozen days before a primary run-off there.

Medical personnel prepare to test hundreds of people for the coronavirus. They lined up in vehicles last week in a Phoenix neighborhood.

Health & Safety

Drill Down To County Level And The U.S. COVID-19 Outbreak Looks Even Worse

7:00am July 03, 2020

by Nurith Aizenman

Local data reveal a deeper picture of where the current hot spots are in the United States — and where new ones could surface.

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Vivian Garcia Leonard (left); Marissa Sofia Ochs (middle), holding her daughter, Liana; and Vivian J. Leonard (right) talk about being pharmacists in New York, a city that has been especially hard hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

3 Generations Of Pharmacists Reflect On The Coronavirus Pandemic

5:01am July 03, 2020

Despite her dedication to her work, a pharmacist is following the advice of her daughter and granddaughter — who are also pharmacists — to stop working during the coronavirus pandemic.

People get tested for the coronavirus at a drive-through site in Phoenix last month. In Arizona, the portion of tests coming back positive now hovers around 24%, more than three times the national average.

In Arizona, Nearly 1 In 4 Coronavirus Tests Now Comes Back Positive

9:13pm July 02, 2020

by Will Stone

The percentage of positive tests in Arizona is more than three times the national average, and hospital capacity has become a concern.

Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safe To Dine Indoors — Or Outdoors?

8:38pm July 02, 2020

by Pranav Baskar

We look at the risks to consider (and precautions to take) before a restaurant meal. Also: How risky is it to fly on fully booked flights?