Jul 01 Delta variant exploits low vaccine rates, easing of rules By Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press The latest alarming coronavirus variant is exploiting low global vaccination rates and a rush to ease pandemic restrictions. That's adding new urgency to the drive to get more shots in arms and slow its supercharged spread. Continue reading
Jul 01 Half of U.S. fears another COVID wave even as optimism grows By Laura Santhanam About one in four predict that it will take another year or more -- if ever -- before life can return to what it was, while 12 percent of Americans say they have already regained a sense of normality, according… Continue reading
Jun 30 Over 100 deaths may be tied to historic Northwest heat wave By Jim Morris, Andrew Selsky, Associated Press Health officials say more than 60 deaths in Oregon have been linked to the historic heat wave in the Pacific Northwest as dozens of others in Canada, Washington state and elsewhere are investigated for ties to the hot weather. Continue reading
Jun 30 Watch 7:59 School districts intensify summer programs to combat learning lost during the pandemic By Stephanie Sy Summer is here, but the disruptions caused by the pandemic are affecting summer plans of some students and teachers. Educators around the country are scrambling to help students catch up. Many are utilizing billions in federal stimulus funds to beef… Continue watching
Jun 30 Watch 5:36 Deaths from drug overdoses surge in some Black communities amid COVID-19 By Amna Nawaz, David Coles, Mike Fritz As the pandemic filled American hospitals and brought life to a near standstill in 2020, the longstanding opioids epidemic was only intensifying, essentially out of sight. As Amna Nawaz reports, the death toll from that epidemic, once centered on rural,… Continue watching
Jun 30 Desperate for home care, seniors often wait months with workers in short supply By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News A shortage of nursing assistants and home aides caused by low pay and lack of benefits is making it difficult for seniors to find help. Continue reading
Jun 29 Watch 3:33 Highly contagious delta variant on path to become dominant strain in the U.S. By William Brangham The U.S. is in a far better place this summer than many other countries witnessing new COVID cases. But the delta variant of the virus — now expected to become the dominant strain in the U.S. — is posing serious… Continue watching
Jun 29 Watch 8:35 Dr. Fauci on delta variant, booster shots and masks for the vaccinated To understand more about the threat to Americans from the delta variant of the novel coronavirus, including the need for vaccinated individuals to wear masks or require booster vaccines, Judy Woodruff turns to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci is the director… Continue watching
Jun 29 How singing could help people with long COVID breathe easier By Lydia Zuraw, Kaiser Health News Long before COVID, music therapists used singing and wind instruments to help COPD and asthma patients. Continue reading
Jun 29 4 COVID-era habits that people aren’t ready to lose By Laura Santhanam Actions we took under duress have become hardwired habits and may endure after the pandemic has receded. They may help us think and live differently — maybe even better — in the future. Continue reading