June 18, 2020

Masks and Summer Heat: Not a Great Mix, But Experts Have Tips

WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2020 -- Dr. Teresa Murray Amato rode the subway into Manhattan from Queens the other day and found that summertime and face masks aren't an easy fit.

"It was a warm day. I definitely felt it was a little hot," said Amato, director of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in Queens, N.Y.

June 15, 2020

More Evidence Do-It-Yourself COVID Tests Work Fine, Without the Discomfort

FRIDAY, June 12, 2020 -- Most Americans have winced watching one of those nurse-administered COVID-19 nasal swab tests, where the swab reaches painfully farther up the nose than anyone would want.

Well, the days of "nasopharyngeal" swab tests, administered only by health care workers, may be drawing to a close: New studies find a much more comfortable swab test, performed by patients themselves, works just as well.

June 15, 2020

Experts Optimistic in Search for COVID-19 Vaccine

MONDAY, June 8, 2020 -- Americans are ready to rip off their face masks and just have a nice dinner in a restaurant, but the best shot at returning to normalcy -- vaccines to prevent COVID-19 -- will be in clinical trials for months or longer.

The good news is that there are more than 100 vaccines of varying types and in various stages of development. As of this month, eight of these vaccine candidates were already in early human trials. One research team hopes to have a vaccine available in September. Another is hoping their vaccine will be available by the start of 2021.

May 19, 2020

People Mount Strong Immune Responses to Coronavirus, Boding Well for a Vaccine

MONDAY, May 18, 2020 -- As the drive towards a vaccine against the new coronavirus accelerates, there's some good news: People with COVID-19 have robust immune responses against the virus, scientists say.

The researchers based their conclusions after testing immune T-cell counts in 20 patients who recovered from the infection.

May 5, 2020

Can Survivors Get Reinfected With Coronavirus?

MONDAY, May 4, 2020 -- People all over the globe who've recovered from the new coronavirus want to know the same thing: Am I immune, at least for a while? A new study of common coronaviruses is not exactly reassuring.

Researchers found it was "not uncommon" for people with run-of-the-mill coronaviruses (not the one that causes COVID-19) to have a repeat infection within a year. Of 86 New York City residents infected with those coronaviruses, 12 tested positive for the same bug again.

May 5, 2020

As States Reopen, What Is 'Contact Tracing' and How Does it Work?

MONDAY, May 4, 2020 -- Many U.S. states are preparing to emerge from their quarantine cocoons, hoping to get their economies back on track.

But experts are concerned that these states have not yet created the public health infrastructure needed to safely reopen without causing a second wave of COVID-19 infections.