Health

In June, Houston’s United Memorial Medical Center was so overwhelmed by the pandemic that two of its wings had been transformed into Covid-19 wards. Now, there are three. Dr. Joseph Varon, chief medical officer, hadn’t had a day off since the virus hit months earlier. He still hasn’t. Back then, ICU nurse Tanna Ingraham was

As so many people around the globe contemplate what their lives might look like after the pandemic, new research on smallpox might help provide insight. Researchers revealed nearly three centuries of data showing repeated smallpox epidemics in London in a study published Monday in the open access journal PLOS One. “This study reveals detailed patterns

Researchers studying the new UK strain of the coronavirus think it likely arrived in the US in mid-November, and that many people in the United States could already be infected. “If I had to guess, I would say it’s probably in hundreds of people by now,” said Michael Worobey, head of the department of ecology

A new strain of coronavirus first detected in the UK has prompted dozens of travel bans and widespread concern about what this means for the world. While scientists dig deeper, here’s what this new strain means for you: Why is this strain important? The new variant has a series of mutations, the US Centers for

Dr. Anthony Fauci, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins received their first doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine Tuesday. The shot, which Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, received in the left arm, was administered at the NIH Clinical

Across the country, some state leaders are having to impose stricter health orders as communities deal with the latest surge in coronavirus cases. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced statewide restrictions on capacity for businesses and lowered limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings. Beginning Saturday, businesses in “most industries” will need to limit their

In this long and difficult year, pandemic fatigue has caught up with so many people who just want to be with their loved ones during the holiday season. The reality, however, is that even as the vaccine rollout is underway the United States surpassed 18 million reported Covid-19 cases Monday. At least 319,000 people nationwide

It’s been a tough year to be a child. The pandemic shut down schools, took kids away from cherished friends and helpful routines, and made it nearly impossible to visit grandparents or even play outside without social distancing restrictions. Parents are worried about the impact of the pandemic on their children, a new national poll

Pfizer and Moderna are testing their coronavirus vaccines to see if they work against the mutated version of the virus found in the United Kingdom and other countries, the companies said. The variant has not been identified in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Tuesday brief, but

If you’re thinking about having a Lean Cuisine meal for dinner tonight, you might want to rethink your dinner plans. After several consumer complaints, Nestlé Prepared Foods is recalling more than 92,000 pounds of its Lean Cuisine Baked Chicken frozen meals. The meals contain white meat chicken with stuffing, red-skinned potatoes and gravy. The US

As vaccine distribution ramps up across the United States, advocates and public health experts are warning that more steps must be taken to make sure millions of undocumented immigrants have access to vaccines — and aren’t too scared to sign up. “I’m very, very concerned,” says Dr. Ranit Mishori, senior medical advisor for Physicians for

With everyday life disrupted due to the ongoing pandemic, stress is at an all-time high. Fears of getting sick, uncertainty of jobs, uneasiness about sending kids to school and cold winter weather (and flu season) all are sources of stress in the lives of many. Add to that the pressures of the holidays and overturned

Even as we count down the final days of December, many of us are still coming to terms with the fact that holiday events and gatherings are looking very different than Christmases past. Christmas 2020, however, isn’t canceled unless you decide it is. This season, don’t say “bah, humbug!” Say “why not?” and start new