Skip to main content

Covid-19

Evidence-based explanations of the Covid-19 pandemic, including how it started, how it might end, and how to protect yourself and others.

Politics
The partisan divide on vaccination, explained in 3 chartsThe partisan divide on vaccination, explained in 3 charts
Politics

More Americans than ever are willing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, but a partisan divide remains.

By Anya van Wagtendonk
Technology
The number of Americans getting back on planes is taking offThe number of Americans getting back on planes is taking off
Technology

TSA data shows Americans are flying more than last year, despite the threat of another wave of Covid-19 cases.

By Rani Molla
Future Perfect
When states should reopen, briefly explainedWhen states should reopen, briefly explained
Future Perfect

Herd immunity isn’t the right goal. Here are the right metrics.

By German Lopez
Politics
As more adults get vaccinated, kids’ lives can start returning to normal tooAs more adults get vaccinated, kids’ lives can start returning to normal too
Politics

Toddlers and teenagers might have pretty different summers.

By Katherine Courage
Money
This actually might be the best summer everThis actually might be the best summer ever
Money

Go ahead, romanticize your summer self.

By Rebecca Jennings
Explainers
What the heck is going on with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe?What the heck is going on with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe?
Explainers

The EU’s top health regulator ruled the vaccine “safe and effective” after a distribution pause.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
The new suit attacking the stimulus law, explainedThe new suit attacking the stimulus law, explained
Politics

Ohio wants red states to be able to get something for nothing from the federal government.

By Ian Millhiser
Future Perfect
When it’s safe to go back to normalWhen it’s safe to go back to normal
Future Perfect

Covid-19 experts explain when individuals and states can expect to ease up — and what could still go wrong.

By German Lopez
Science
Please, Trump: Keep telling your supporters the Covid-19 vaccines workPlease, Trump: Keep telling your supporters the Covid-19 vaccines work
Science

Republicans are the most Covid-19 vaccine hesitant group. Trump can help.

By Brian Resnick
Explainers
Trump’s tepid, halfhearted endorsement of Covid-19 vaccines, explainedTrump’s tepid, halfhearted endorsement of Covid-19 vaccines, explained
Explainers

Trump’s base is remarkably vaccine-hesitant, so what he says about vaccination matters.

By Aaron Rupar
The Plague Prophets
One Year Later

From Contagion to World War Z to Palm Springs, what the artists who foresaw the pandemic are thinking now.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Money
We’re ready for the pandemic to end. So are brands.We’re ready for the pandemic to end. So are brands.
Money

Brands want to help consumers imagine a post-pandemic world, but they’re cautious about celebrating prematurely.

By Terry Nguyen
Future Perfect
Houseless Americans are eligible for stimulus checks. Here’s how they can get their $1,400.Houseless Americans are eligible for stimulus checks. Here’s how they can get their $1,400.
Future Perfect

Benefits don’t do any good if they don’t reach their recipients. They often don’t.

By Kelsey Piper
“You can’t get away from the idea that you’re just lucky to be alive”
Features

Pandemic survivor guilt may be pervasive, but it’s hard to detect, leaving many struggling in silence.

By Katherine Courage
Politics
What the pandemic taught us about America’s working classWhat the pandemic taught us about America’s working class
Politics

Democrats are doing a lot to help workers. They can — and should — go further.

By Emily Stewart
3.9 million years
One Year Later

The pandemic took lives far too soon. How much human potential has been lost?

By Terry Nguyen and Brian Resnick
Money
How 9 Americans are spending their stimulus checksHow 9 Americans are spending their stimulus checks
Money

The dentist, a rare book, family, bills — how some Americans are spending their economic payments.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Politics
Poll: 79 percent of parents want a return to in-person schoolingPoll: 79 percent of parents want a return to in-person schooling
Politics

Vaccination rates are on the rise, and parents are eager to send their kids back to the classroom.

By Jerusalem Demsas
Explainers
Why the decline in US Covid-19 testing is so alarmingWhy the decline in US Covid-19 testing is so alarming
Explainers

Testing is critical for staying ahead of the new variants.

By Umair Irfan
Technology
Facebook is doing its best to counter anti-vaccination damage done by FacebookFacebook is doing its best to counter anti-vaccination damage done by Facebook
Technology

To get 50 million people vaccinated, Facebook will have to do more than just PR.

By Rani Molla
Covid-19
Americans have been shockingly good at getting their second Covid-19 shotAmericans have been shockingly good at getting their second Covid-19 shot
Covid-19

Patients are usually terrible at getting their second shot. Not with the Covid-19 vaccine.

By Dylan Scott
Politics
Republicans shamelessly take credit for Covid relief they voted againstRepublicans shamelessly take credit for Covid relief they voted against
Politics

And it’s not going over well.

By Aaron Rupar
The problem is work
Features

Pandemic parenting is impossible. American work culture is a big reason why.

By Anna North
One Year Later
Covid-19’s big public health lesson: Ask people to be careful, not perfectCovid-19’s big public health lesson: Ask people to be careful, not perfect
One Year Later

Harm reduction works. Covid-19 has proved it.

By German Lopez
Technology
Who isn’t getting vaccinated, and whyWho isn’t getting vaccinated, and why
Technology

A new report highlights why different groups are hesitant to get the coronavirus vaccine and what can be done about it.

By Rani Molla
Politics
Stimulus payments are already arriving. Americans say they really need them.Stimulus payments are already arriving. Americans say they really need them.
Politics

Days after Biden signed his relief bill into law, Americans are receiving much-needed payments.

By Zeeshan Aleem
Politics
Biden’s speech promised Covid-19 vaccines for all US adults in May. It’s really possible.Biden’s speech promised Covid-19 vaccines for all US adults in May. It’s really possible.
Politics

Covid-19 vaccines truly are coming for everyone soon.

By German Lopez
Money
In praise of the vaccine ’fitIn praise of the vaccine ’fit
Money

Clothing has long been a celebratory tool. Covid-19 vaccinations are no different.

By Melinda Fakuade
Biden charts a path to a post-pandemic normal, with July 4 as his target
Politics

Biden marked a grim anniversary but has hope for the future in his first primetime address.

By Ella Nilsen
Money
The frustrating reality of having vaccine-hesitant family membersThe frustrating reality of having vaccine-hesitant family members
Money

More Americans are comfortable with getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Still, about 30 percent of adults plan to refuse it.

By Terry Nguyen
One Year Later
How scientists correctly predicted the pandemic would last more than a yearHow scientists correctly predicted the pandemic would last more than a year
One Year Later

By March 2020, researchers knew that uncontrolled spread would be disastrous.

By Brian Resnick
Explainers
When to expect your stimulus check, and other questions, answeredWhen to expect your stimulus check, and other questions, answered
Explainers

Biden just signed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package, which includes $1,400 direct payments.

By Cameron Peters
Culture
Plague journals and the need to capture timePlague journals and the need to capture time
Culture

Why do we preserve the scary, endless pandemic days?

By Alissa Wilkinson
Covid-19
The emotional toll of living with a health care worker in the pandemicThe emotional toll of living with a health care worker in the pandemic
Covid-19

We’re not on the front lines like our partners. But many of us still carry the weight of secondary trauma.

By Sam Busa
Politics
Why our Latino community vaccine program is workingWhy our Latino community vaccine program is working
Politics

We’re health disparities experts in Baltimore. Here’s how we’re helping more Latinos get their shots.

By Kathleen Page
Video
Can we get rid of Covid-19 forever?Can we get rid of Covid-19 forever?
Play
Video

How to eradicate a disease, in four steps.

By Kimberly Mas
How Chile built one of the world’s most successful vaccination campaigns
Explainers

The Latin American country bet big on vaccines and relied on a strong primary health care network. Now, a quarter of the country has had at least one shot.

By Jen Kirby
Technology
Facebook is finally cracking down hard on anti-vaccine content. It is facing an uphill battle.Facebook is finally cracking down hard on anti-vaccine content. It is facing an uphill battle.
Technology

Facebook critics say the anti-vaccination communities that have flourished on the platform are fueling Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy.

By Rebecca Heilweil
Future Perfect
You’re fully vaccinated? The CDC says you can now have friends and family over for dinner.You’re fully vaccinated? The CDC says you can now have friends and family over for dinner.
Future Perfect

The guidelines still urge caution around meeting up with unvaccinated people at high risk for severe disease. But the new rules are a big step toward normalcy.

By Kelsey Piper
One Year Later
How boomers got so good at ZoomHow boomers got so good at Zoom
One Year Later

What my mother’s Zooms taught me about friendship.

By Alex Abad-Santos