The standard test for infection with the coronavirus looks for a genetic fingerprint. Laboratory errors, including contamination, can lead to false results, a problem seen with environmental testing.
Category: NPR
As California Trains 20,000 Contact Tracers, Librarians and Tax Assessors Step Up
California is paying to train a huge contingent of contact tracers by July. Many of the new recruits are librarians: they’re curious, tech savvy, and great at talking to strangers.
New Government Rule Removes Non-Discrimination Protections For LGBTQ In Health Care
The Trump administration has finalized a rule on Friday that would remove non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people when it comes to health care and health insurance.
Transgender Health Protections Reversed By Trump Administration
Trump has reversed Obama-era protections that prohibit discrimination in health care based on gender identity. Critics warn the rule could harm a vulnerable group — LGBTQ people — during a pandemic.
Intensive Care Nurse Shares Her Experience Of Working With Newborns During Pandemic
Claire Panke, a neonatal intensive care nurse, talks about the changes COVID-19 has brought to her unit. For example, parents must visit babies one at a time and wear masks.
Texas Cities Experience Disparities In Access To The Coronavirus Testing
Dallas is one of the major Texas cities facing disparities in access to COVID-19 testing, resulting in less testing in black neighborhoods. A visit to the city’s north and south reveals the divide.
Questions About How Crash Program Is Picking Coronavirus Vaccines To Back
As Operation Warp Speed pushes to develop a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, the number of candidates is being narrowed. The factors guiding the decision about which projects to fund is unclear.
First Known U.S. Lung Transplant For COVID-19 Patient Performed In Chicago
A young woman in her 20s was healthy before the coronavirus struck her. After two months on a ventilator and ECMO device, her transplanted lungs are now working
Nursing Homes Run Short Of COVID-19 Protective Gear As Federal Response Falters
At least 711 nursing homes reported running out of N95 masks at the end of May, and 1,963 said they had less than a week’s worth. “The federal government has got to step up,” says one advocate.
Public Health Officials Encounter Harassment And Threats For Using Contact Tracing
Public health officials have been harassed and threatened for using contact tracing and other strategies to contain the spread of the coronavirus. They say the threats are based on misinformed fears.
