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COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first appeared in humans in late 2019 and caused a pandemic starting in spring 2020. Related coronaviruses MERS-CoV (which causes MERS) and SARS-CoV-1 (SARS) have caused regional outbreaks but not pandemics at this point.

US COVID markers show more declines

Lisa Schnirring

Wastewater tracking in the US also showed a downward trend, with a new global update showing a further increase in  EG.5 proportion.

covid test one line
Masks and N95 respirators

Study on masks vs N95 respirators for health workers spurs concerns

Mary Van Beusekom | News Writer | CIDRAP News

Study suggests medical masks may offer similar protecion as N95 respirators, but experts say hold on.

COMMENTARY: Navigating COVID language traps

Peter M. Sandman, PhD

Public health professionals use some terms imprecisely, others incorrectly, and still others technically accurate but almost sure to be misunderstood by the public.

News briefs

Sepsis associated with COVID-19 infections more common than thought

Stephanie Soucheray

Evolving peak SARS-CoV-2 loads relative to symptom onset may influence home-test timing

Mary Van Beusekom

New poll finds nearly half of adults expect to get new COVID vaccine

Lisa Schnirring

Looking to general practice for clues about long COVID

Stephanie Soucheray

COVID-19 third leading cause of death in Australia in 2022

Stephanie Soucheray
COVID-19 isolate, first case - Yellow

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Listen to the Osterholm Update: COVID-19

Catch the latest episode!

Michael Osterholm

The answers to your COVID questions

Top COVID FAQs

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Read COVID-19 commentaries

By CIDRAP & other experts

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Our roundup of the best COVID visualizations

Up-to-date COVID-19 data

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Study shows elite athletes suffered no long-lasting heart damage after COVID-19

During follow-up testing beginning 4 months after infection, study participants with COVID-19 were offered structured, additional heart screenings, including cardiovascular MRI.

Stephanie Soucheray
water polo

ECDC details rising COVID-19 as more Asian nations report BA.2.86

In other developments, Danish researchers today reported on the country's first 10 BA.2.86 cases, none of which were severe.

Lisa Schnirring
ECDC flags

Common coronavirus may prime immune system to develop long COVID

The authors say the results point to immunologic coronavirus imprinting in patients with rheumatic disease and long COVID that may result in incomplete SARS-CoV-2 immunity, control, and clearance.

Mary Van Beusekom
Woman blowing nose

Higher rate of depression found in older cancer patients amid COVID-19

The risk of both new-onset and recurrent depression was greater in those who reported loneliness, had functional limitations, or experienced escalated family conflict.

Mary Van Beusekom

WHO airs concerns about global COVID trends

Meanwhile, several more BA.2.86 sequences were reported, as Moderna notes reassuring lab findings against BA.2.86 for its updated vaccine.

Lisa Schnirring

Long COVID less likely after Omicron than other variants, data show

Though more patients were infected during the Omicron phase of the pandemic, only 0.2% in the Omicron cohort were diagnosed as having long COVID.

Stephanie Soucheray

Previous COVID infection, side effects top reasons cited for not getting 2-strain booster

Other reasons included concerns about safety and efficacy beyond that of previous doses.

Mary Van Beusekom

Cancer diagnoses fell early in COVID pandemic, but many types eventually climbed again

Disruptions to healthcare during the pandemic may have led to missed cancer diagnoses and treatment delays.

Mary Van Beusekom
Woman with cancer on rock

More COVID-19 studies suggest BA.2.86 may be less immune-evasive than feared

Three lab studies now suggest antibodies from earlier vaccination or infection may provide a degree of protection against the highly mutated variant.

Lisa Schnirring
antibodies binding to cell receptors

COVID-19 exacerbated life expectancy trends in the US

Total US life expectancy fell from around 80 years in 2019 to 77 years in 2020.

Stephanie Soucheray
hourglass