Your Health

Tips For Staying Safe On July 4th This Year

7:11pm July 02, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

The Fourth of July is traditionally a time when Americans gather with family, friends and neighbors for celebration. NPR shares tips for staying safe during July Fourth festivities this year.

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Why Some People Don't Wear Masks

4:18pm July 01, 2020

by Maria Godoy

Health officials and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are urging Americans to wear face masks in public. NPR looks into several reasons people give for not wearing masks.

Carmen Quintero works as a supervisor at a distribution center for N95 masks. She owes $1,840 for other care she received when she tried to get a coronavirus test.

Health & Safety

Essential Worker Shoulders $1,840 Debt For Trying To Get A Coronavirus Test

12:43pm June 30, 2020

by Sarah Varney

Carmen Quintero couldn't get a coronavirus test but ended up with a huge bill for trying to. She also was told to self-isolate and had no choice but to use vacation time to stay home from work.

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Alexis McGill Johnson becomes the permanent president and CEO of Planned Parenthood after serving in the role on an interim basis. Here, she addresses a rally against white supremacy last year in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.

Planned Parenthood Elevates Interim CEO Alexis McGill Johnson To Permanent Status

7:11pm June 26, 2020

by Bill Chappell

McGill Johnson has been the group's interim leader for almost a year, taking up the position after the abrupt removal of its former president, Leana Wen.

This image shows the buildup of toxic tau proteins in the medial temporal gyrus of a human brain. Though some drugs can now remove these proteins, that hasn't seemed to ease Alzheimer's symptoms. It's time to look more deeply into how the cells work, scie

Alzheimer's Researchers Go Back To Basics To Find The Best Way Forward

11:28am June 25, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

After a decade of failure in treating Alzheimer's with drugs, the National Institutes of Health is funding a five-year effort in Seattle to learn more about how the disease starts in the brain.

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Before you visit older relatives this summer, plan ahead.

Taking A Trip To Visit Grandparents Or Older Relatives? Tips To Reduce The Risk

4:43pm June 24, 2020

If you miss your mom and dad — or they miss their grandkids — how safe is a summer trip? Older people are more likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, so consider these tips to reduce risk.

A man in a mask walks past a mural on the side of a building in New York City in April.

Health & Safety

Yes, Wearing Masks Helps. Here's Why

2:44pm June 21, 2020

by Maria Godoy

Politicians argue. Those opposed to mask mandates protest. But meanwhile, growing evidence shows that mask wearing is a critical tool in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

As normal activities such as dining out resume, there has been an increase in cases in people in their 20s and 30s in pockets around the country. Some experts say it's because of lack of social distancing and mask wearing.

Younger Adults Are Increasingly Testing Positive For The Coronavirus

9:09pm June 19, 2020

by Will Stone

In parts of the country, more people in their 20s and 30s are testing positive for the coronavirus. Experts say this is likely due to more testing and less adherence to distancing and mask guidelines.

A server wears a protective face mask while attending to customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bethesda, Md., on June 12.

Amid Confusion About Reopening, An Expert Explains How To Assess COVID-19 Risk

9:42pm June 17, 2020

by Terry Gross

Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm warns that the threat from the pandemic is ongoing. "We will all know somebody — we will all love somebody — who will die from this disease," he says.

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For the many Americans who have been protesting for racial equity and and an end to police brutality, there's a risk they've been exposed to coronavirus — and could bring the virus home to loved ones. Luckily there are smart ways to mitigate those risks

Protesting? Here's How To Help Keep Your Family Safe From COVID-19 When You Go Home

4:31pm June 10, 2020

by Maria Godoy

Crowded protests carry a risk of coronavirus transmission. But for some, showing up is nonnegotiable. Here's guidance to keep loved ones safe from the risk you might bring the virus home.