COVID-19

The U.S. public health emergency declaration helped marshal resources during the worst of the COVID crisis, when the virus was spreading rampantly. This week, the declaring expires.

The COVID public health emergency ends this week. Here's what's changing

4:43pm May 08, 2023

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Three years ago, the emergency declaration enabled certain tools for fighting the pandemic and protecting Americans. Now that it's expiring, here's what is changing — and what's not.

On Friday, World Health Organization director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated: "With great hope, I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency."

WHO ends global health emergency declaration for COVID-19

2:52pm May 05, 2023

The World Health Organization today lifted its Public Health Emergency of International Concern for COVID-19. That declaration went into effect three years ago on Jan. 30, 2020.

Scientists haven't unraveled the cause of long COVID. But evidence is growing that an ongoing viral infection could be driving the symptoms, at least in some patients.

Health & Safety

Why viral reservoirs are a prime suspect for long COVID sleuths

10:41am May 02, 2023

by Will Stone

Scientists are turning up more evidence that some people may harbor a viral reservoir in the wake of COVID-19. What could that tell us about long COVID?

Queue Listen Now

Children play outside in Kensington, a neighborhood in Philadelphia known for open-air drug markets and gun violence. Last year, due to safety concerns, the Philadelphia Police Department downsized its outdoor summer play program.

Health & Safety

Study finds gun assault rates doubled for children in 4 major cities during pandemic

9:26pm April 26, 2023

by Sammy Caiola

A study of roughly 2,700 shootings in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia found widening racial disparities after the pandemic began, with black children the most frequent victims.

A COVID infection during pregnancy could raise baby boys' risk of some neurodevelopmental delays, study finds.

COVID during pregnancy may alter brain development in boys

5:08am April 18, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

Boys born to mothers who got COVID-19 while pregnant seem to have a higher risk of subtle developmental delays, including those associated with autism spectrum disorder.

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington.

National

Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts

4:35am April 11, 2023

by The Associated Press

The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years.

NCDHHS announces changes to COVID-19 response as pandemic ebbs

10:24am April 03, 2023

by Neal Charnoff

The changes are being made as COVID-19 evolves into a routine part of public health and health care activities.

map shows all counties in NC have low community levels of COVID-19

Health & Safety

Triad health care systems go mask optional

3:32pm March 28, 2023

by Paul Garber

The Triad area’s major health care providers have dropped the requirement for masks.

A kiosk outside of the health department

Health & Safety

New kiosk at Forsyth County Department of Public Health adds another option for COVID-19 testing

4:33pm March 21, 2023

by Bethany Chafin

Winston-Salem residents have a new way to get COVID-19 testing — a kiosk outside of the Forsyth County Department of Public Health.

These two photos, taken in 2014 by scientist Eddie Holmes, show raccoon dogs and unknown birds caged in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. GPS coordinates of these images confirm that the animals were housed in the southwest corner of the market, where researchers found evidence of the coronavirus in January 2020.

WHO calls on China to share data on raccoon dog link to pandemic. Here's what we know

4:11pm March 17, 2023

Data was released briefly, then rescinded. As NPR reported previously, there is already strong evidence pointing to these animals in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.