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.

April 20, 2020

Do Your Keys, Phone, Money Need Disinfecting When You Return Home?

MONDAY, April 20, 2020 -- In the brave new world of COVID-19, home is your sanctuary, the one place you want to be sure is virus-free.

But if you have to head outdoors, what are the best practices for decontaminating your things when you return home? Does everything -- smartphones, wallets, money and keys -- need to be washed down with hot water and soap?

April 20, 2020

When U.S. Re-Opens, Will Those Exposed to Coronavirus Have Lasting Immunity?

TUESDAY, April 14, 2020 -- Once you've had COVID-19 and recovered, are you now immune from the virus?

That's the critical question that will help shape how the United States re-opens for business in the coming months.

April 9, 2020

Why Will It Take So Long for a COVID-19 Vaccine?

MONDAY, April 6, 2020 -- Public health officials have been warning that a COVID-19 vaccine will not be available to the public for 12 to 18 months, dampening hopes that there will be a quick end to the global pandemic nightmare.

But Chinese researchers cracked the virus' genetic code within weeks of its emergence late last year, and two vaccine candidates are already in early human trials -- one in China and the other in the United States.