Your Health

do's and don'ts of caring for older people in the pandemic

11 Original NPR Comics That Brought Joy, Hope And Help During The Pandemic

3:16pm December 23, 2020

by Malaka Gharib

In 2020, NPR created and published more than a dozen comics for the pandemic — everything from how to explain it to kids to how to help the older people in your life.

Cars are lined up at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for coronavirus testing. Nearly 2 million people are getting tested a day in the U.S. A new analysis shows millions more are needed to protect the most vulnerable.

Health & Safety

Is Your State Doing Enough Coronavirus Testing? Use Our Tool To Find Out

11:53am December 22, 2020

by Rob Stein

The U.S. conducts nearly 2 million coronavirus tests daily. A new analysis shows millions more are needed to protect the most vulnerable. Use our tool to see how your state is doing.

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A scene from Priya's Mask, a new comic book and animated film that tackles the challenges around the pandemic. It's the latest installment of the Indian superhero series Priya.

India's Female Superhero And Her Flying Tiger Are Out To Fight The Pandemic

12:29pm December 21, 2020

by Sandip Roy

'Priya's Mask' is the latest in the Indian superhero comic series. This time out, she's trying to get important info to young people — and to stop a superspreading villain.

Science writer Robin Marantz Henig has written about dangerous emerging pathogens for 30 years. But none of what she learned could shed light on her own confusing encounter with the coronavirus.

I Felt Fine, But Tested Positive For The Coronavirus. What's That Really Mean?

12:24pm December 18, 2020

by Robin Marantz Henig

Science writer Robin Marantz Henig has written about dangerous emerging pathogens for 30 years. But none of what she learned could shed light on her own confusing encounter with this virus.

Health & Safety

Laura Spinney: What Does The 1918 Flu Teach Us About Our Response To Pandemics?

9:52am December 18, 2020

by NPR/TED STAFF

A century after the 1918 flu, we see similar patterns in the ways we've responded to COVID-19. Laura Spinney reflects on the Spanish flu and how societies learn to move forward after pandemics.

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Daniel Streicker: What If We Could Stop A Virus At Its Animal Source?

9:52am December 18, 2020

by NPR/TED STAFF

MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19—the viruses that cause these diseases likely have the same patient zero: bats. For researcher Daniel Streicker, the key to preventing an outbreak is the bats themselves.

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The holiday season is here, and with it comes questions on how to celebrate while keeping yourself safe from exposure to the coronavirus. We talked to epidemiologists and health experts about which holiday activities pose the lowest risks and which ones t

Health & Safety

'Tis The Season To Celebrate. Here's How To Do It Safely

6:27pm December 17, 2020

Many favorite holiday traditions could be treacherous this year because of the coronavirus. Here's how experts view the risks — and some creative, safer alternatives to keep up a festive mood.

A health care worker prepares COVID-19 vaccine doses at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Wednesday in Portland, Ore. Hospitals across the U.S. began getting their first doses of Pfizer's vaccine this week.

Without Resources, Vaccine Rollout Could 'Fall At The Last Hurdle,' Journalist Warns

2:09pm December 17, 2020

by Terry Gross

Atlantic writer Ed Yong says the COVID-19 vaccination program will be the most complicated the U.S. has ever attempted: "It's going to be a slow process, and there are a lot of possible roadblocks."

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A paramedic uses a pulse oximeter to check a patient's vital signs during an August home visit in the Bronx borough of New York.

Health & Safety

Devices Used In COVID-19 Treatment Can Give Errors For Patients With Dark Skin

6:24pm December 16, 2020

by Richard Harris

Fingertip devices that measure oxygen in the blood can sometimes give erroneous readings in people with dark skin, doctors report. The devices can say oxygen levels are normal when they're not.

Students wear masks at a school in Baghdad.

Coronavirus FAQ: Should I Wash My Kid's Clothes Every Day After School?

9:20am December 16, 2020

by Pranav Baskar

Plus: Can the virus make me sick many years later, like the chickenpox virus does?