pandemic

On June 25, people queued up to register for a COVID-19 vaccine at a site outside a Hindu temple in Hyderabad. Vaccinations are now being administered after a series of missteps led to a shortage of doses. If all goes well, India's public health agency ho

Health & Safety

India Is The World's Biggest Vaccine Maker. Yet Only 4% Of Indians Are Vaccinated

10:00pm June 29, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

The Serum Institute began mass-producing COVID vaccines even before approval. They've made millions of doses. But so far only about 4% of people in India are fully vaccinated. What went wrong?

Queue Listen Now

A computer-enhanced image of the HIV virus.

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

6:50pm June 28, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

A sign urges people to get tested for a COVID-19 variant in Blackburn, England. The U.K. is experiencing a surge in the delta variant, which was first identified in India.

Coronavirus FAQ: I've Been Vaccinated. Do I Need To Worry About Variants?

12:00pm June 25, 2021

Here's what we know about the effectiveness of vaccines for variants of concerns, notably the delta variant, first identified in India and now responsible for more than 20% of new U.S. cases.

People line up in their cars to get tested for COVID-19 at a pop-up testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Friday. Parts of Sydney will go into lockdown late Friday because of a growing coronavirus outbreak in Australia's largest city.

New COVID-19 Outbreaks Are Driving Some Places Back Under Lockdown And Behind Masks

8:47am June 25, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Health officials around the world have announced renewed restrictions this week as they see clusters of outbreaks from the delta variant of the coronavirus.

An oxygen cylinder plant in Kampala, Uganda. The Ugandan army has started producing oxygen for state-run hospitals to ease the burden existing plants as COVID-19 cases — and demand for oxygen for severe illness — keep rising.

Health & Safety

Africa Is Running Out Of Oxygen

7:41am June 24, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

As COVID surges, so does demand for oxygen. And oxygen manufacturing plants simply can't keep up. That's bad news not only for severely ill COVID-19 patients but others in need, including newborns.

The trends of vaccine hesitancy and refusal in the U.S. are a sign of extreme privilege, Dr. Junaid Nabi says.

Opinion: Vaccine Hesitancy In The U.S. Is A Peculiar Privilege

11:46am June 22, 2021

by Junaid Nabi

That's Dr. Junaid Nabi's perspective as an immigrant when he hear Americans say they're going to "watch and wait" — while his family and colleagues abroad are desperate for a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Olympic Rings near the National Stadium in Tokyo. Critics of the decision to allow local spectators into the games warn the huge event could lead to an increase in coronavirus infections.

Tokyo Olympics Will Open Its Doors To A Small Fan Base — COVID Permitting

5:06pm June 21, 2021

Up to 10,000 domestic fans will be allowed at events, or 50% of the venue's capacity, whichever is less, Olympics organizers said Monday.

A tram drives through an empty downtown Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday. Portuguese authorities banned all weekend travel in and out of the capital to cut down on any further spread of the coronavirus to other parts of the country.

Europe Watches With Worry As The Delta Variant Spreads Fast In The U.K. And Lisbon

1:53pm June 21, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Cases remain low in Spain, Germany and France, but health ministers there say the fast spread of the delta coronavirus strain elsewhere shows a serious threat.

Education

Guilford County Schools Sees Record Summer School Enrollment

6:53am June 21, 2021

by Keri Brown

Security personnel stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the Feb. 3 visit of the World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggered a pandemic.

The Investigation Of The Pandemic's Origins Is At An Impasse

5:37pm June 17, 2021

by Will Stone

In the wake of heated debate over the unproven lab leak theory, the world is calling on China to cooperate with investigations. But efforts to delve into this matter seem to be stalling.