Category: NPR

America’s rural hospitals were struggling even before the pandemic. Now, the loss of revenue from months of deferred treatments and surgeries have pulled more to the brink, as federal relief fades.

Many doctors are suffering burnout five months into the pandemic. But the toll is compounded for Latino doctors serving heavily affected Latino communities. Some are now beginning to seek help.

At least two thirds of U.S. families are struggling to find safe and affordable child care as the pandemic rages on. NPR asked infectious disease experts to help sort the health risks of each option.

Dr. Deborah Birx says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is creating a new way to track COVID-19 hospitalizations, just a month after such data collection was moved outside the agency.

Colleges are rolling out a dizzying diversity of COVID-19 containment plans for students and staff. Some have no plans for routine testing, while others aim to test everyone on campus twice a week.

A loved one’s health could depend on the truth if you get a call from a real contact tracer about your exposure to the coronavirus. But beware impostors who ask you for payment or to click on a link.

The federal government is in charge of distributing one of the few treatment options for COVID-19: the antiviral drug remdesivir. But how are decisions made about which states need it most?

Vaccine manufacturers have increased the production of flu shots for this season. Experts say a combination of the coronavirus and seasonal flu could be a lethal mix.

Many localities require a negative coronavirus test for various activities, such as traveling or visiting an older relative. But finding a test with a quick enough turnaround can be challenging.

People are worried that the virus could be spread by air conditioning systems. Here’s what researchers do — and don’t yet — know.