Coronavirus

On the fourth anniversary of the WHO declaring COVID a pandemic, what does the illness look like today, and what do we now know about long COVID?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Out-of-pocket costs for Paxlovid have shot up for Medicare patients, and programs to help get the COVID-alleviating drug for less aren’t well known.

from KCRW Features

California will spend $2 billion to address learning loss, settling a lawsuit that alleged it violated children’s rights to equal education during the pandemic.

CA students stuck with pandemic learning loss win settlement

California will spend $2 billion to address learning loss, settling a lawsuit that alleged it violated children’s rights to equal education during the pandemic.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

UV light is a revolutionary tech that could crush viruses before they strike. So why aren't we embracing it?

Using UV light to kill COVID, flu, common cold

UV light is a revolutionary tech that could crush viruses before they strike. So why aren't we embracing it?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

People can still go to work or school if they have COVID but no symptoms, says the California Health Department. It cites vaccinations, natural immunity, and Paxlovid as its reasoning.

California bucks CDC: No COVID symptoms, no problem

People can still go to work or school if they have COVID but no symptoms, says the California Health Department. It cites vaccinations, natural immunity, and Paxlovid as its reasoning.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham is out with his first novel in nearly a decade. It’s set during COVID, but the word “pandemic” doesn’t appear once.

‘Pandemic tackled all of us’: Michael Cunningham on ‘Day’

Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham is out with his first novel in nearly a decade. It’s set during COVID, but the word “pandemic” doesn’t appear once.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The LAUSD board has ended its mandate that school employees be vaccinated against COVID. Workers who were laid off for defying the rule can apply for new jobs.

LAUSD walks back COVID vax mandate for teachers and other staff

The LAUSD board has ended its mandate that school employees be vaccinated against COVID. Workers who were laid off for defying the rule can apply for new jobs.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

New COVID infections and hospitalizations are steadily increasing again, but deaths remain low. Will it remain this way with new variants and a fall booster?

COVID cases and hospitalizations are up. Time to bring out the mask?

New COVID infections and hospitalizations are steadily increasing again, but deaths remain low. Will it remain this way with new variants and a fall booster?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Ivy Pochoda’s latest novel, “Sing Her Down,” focuses on two formerly incarcerated women making their way to and through LA in the early days of the COVID pandemic.

‘Sing Her Down’: Ivy Pochoda brings female rage to the forefront

Ivy Pochoda’s latest novel, “Sing Her Down,” focuses on two formerly incarcerated women making their way to and through LA in the early days of the COVID pandemic.

from Greater LA

With COVID slightly up in LA, residents are wondering about masking up again and getting boosted.

Another COVID uptick means doing the math on masks and boosters

With COVID slightly up in LA, residents are wondering about masking up again and getting boosted.

from Greater LA

After three long pandemic years, employers say recent college graduates lack the hard and soft skills needed for the modern workplace.

Has remote learning set back new hires? Employers say they lack basic skills

After three long pandemic years, employers say recent college graduates lack the hard and soft skills needed for the modern workplace.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The CDC says COVID hospitalizations started to tick up toward the end of July – to around 8,000 a week. How worrisome is this, and when could another booster shot roll out?

Remember COVID? It’s back. Here’s what to do about the uptick

The CDC says COVID hospitalizations started to tick up toward the end of July – to around 8,000 a week. How worrisome is this, and when could another booster shot roll out?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

More than three years after the U.S. declared a public health emergency, KCRW looks at how COVID-19 has changed our lives.

As pandemic health emergency ends, what have we learned?

More than three years after the U.S. declared a public health emergency, KCRW looks at how COVID-19 has changed our lives.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The White House is launching a $5 billion program to research the next generation of COVID vaccines and what it’ll take to bring them to market.

‘Warp Speed’ successor ‘Project Next Gen’ takes on COVID vaccines

The White House is launching a $5 billion program to research the next generation of COVID vaccines and what it’ll take to bring them to market.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

COVID-19 may be linked to raccoon dogs that were illegally being sold at a seafood market in Wuhan, China. That’s according to a team of international researchers.

Raccoon dog: Culprit in COVID origin theory. What’s this animal?

COVID-19 may be linked to raccoon dogs that were illegally being sold at a seafood market in Wuhan, China. That’s according to a team of international researchers.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The U.S. Department of Energy announced an accidental lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19, but added a caveat of having “low confidence.”

No longer a conspiracy: COVID lab leak theory is entertained by the mainstream

The U.S. Department of Energy announced an accidental lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19, but added a caveat of having “low confidence.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Panelists discuss the origins of COVID-19 and misinformation, national implications of Chicago’s mayoral race, and why both political parties should stop freaking out.

COVID might’ve come from a lab leak. Was the conspiracy theory label used too early?

Panelists discuss the origins of COVID-19 and misinformation, national implications of Chicago’s mayoral race, and why both political parties should stop freaking out.

from Left, Right & Center

Researchers are honing in on why some people develop long COVID, which includes symptoms such as lingering fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath.

Is long COVID a neurological disease? Scientists are doing more research

Researchers are honing in on why some people develop long COVID, which includes symptoms such as lingering fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Starting May 11, the U.S. government will no longer fully pay for COVID testing, treatment, and vaccines for people who don’t have health insurance.

Federal COVID emergency declaration ends in May. What’s changing?

Starting May 11, the U.S. government will no longer fully pay for COVID testing, treatment, and vaccines for people who don’t have health insurance.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in China, just weeks after the country abruptly ended its zero-COVID policy. Now with restrictions gone, hospitals are overflowing.

17,000 deaths a day: Hospitals overflowing as China ends its zero-COVID restrictions

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in China, just weeks after the country abruptly ended its zero-COVID policy. Now with restrictions gone, hospitals are overflowing.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand