As we continue to reopen the country many eyes will be on Europe as they begin to roll out contact tracing apps across various countries there. Germany just became the latest to release their app, but its effectiveness will depend on how many people actually download and use it. Bojan Pancevski, Germany correspondent for the WSJ, joins us for how the apps work and privacy concerns. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Jun 18, 2020•9 min
As we learn more about the virus, some good news for policymakers facing tough decisions about how to reopen schools and daycare centers. A recent study finds that children and teenagers are only half as likely to get infected with the coronavirus as adults aged 20 and older. They also don’t usually develop harsh symptoms even if they get infected. Joel Achenbach, science writer at the Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com Se...
Jun 18, 2020•8 min
Many people have a problem with tech companies tracking your location in order to send you ads, but during the coronavirus pandemic, some governments are OK with it. Public health officials are setting aside privacy concerns as they use location data to track the movement of people to help inform them on how to reopen economies. Patience Haggin, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how we are always being tracked. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystud...
Jun 17, 2020•6 min
Can people who are asymptomatic spread COVID-19? The WHO last week said it was “very rare” and then had to walk it back clarifying that the error was confusion due to a muddling of scientific jargon and that there is a difference between asymptomatic and presymptomatic people. Either way, the virus can be spread whether the person exhibits symptoms or not. Greg Barber, staff writer at Wired, joins us for more on the COVID confusion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...
Jun 16, 2020•8 min
While the majority of people who contract COVID-19 only develop mild symptoms, there are those extreme cases where the virus wreaks havoc on the body. In one such story, we are hearing of a patient in her 20s who received a double lung transplant, the first of its kind in the U.S. since the pandemic began. Tests confirmed that her lungs were beyond repair and she would not survive without a transplant. She is now recovering, but faces a long rehabilitation. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine r...
Jun 15, 2020•8 min
When the country shut down to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, it was also thrust into the learning experiment of mass remote learning. As the end of the school year approaches, the results are in: It didn’t work. The problems quickly stacked up in school districts ill equipped to make such drastic changes. Some students lacked access to computers or internet, teachers had no experience with remote learning, and some parents were unavailable to help. Lee Hawkins, education reporter at the...
Jun 12, 2020•13 min
News that we did not want to hear… several states have seen an increase of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations following Memorial Day. Data from the states that are reporting some of their highest seven-day averages of new cases also suggests that the increases are not just due to more testing. What is more concerning is that some states are nearing hospital bed capacity. Jacqueline Dupree, who keeps track of coronavirus numbers for the Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about you...
Jun 11, 2020•8 min
This summer will be very important in the fight against COVID-19. Three coronavirus vaccine candidates will be entering phase 3 of clinical trials in the race for an effective treatment. Each of these trials will involve tens of thousands of people and researchers hope to get some results within six to eight months. Peter Loftus, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the race to a vaccine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...
Jun 11, 2020•7 min
The pandemic has led to the fastest rise in food prices in more than 40 years and consumers are on the hunt for more value. Shutdowns at meat processing plants, increased costs for labor and transportation, and a pullback on promotions at grocery stores all contributed to the price raises. Annie Gasparro, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why your grocery bill is so high. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 10, 2020•7 min
One thing that has eluded the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic is accurate counting of cases and deaths. Every state counts the numbers differently, despite guidelines from the CDC to count both lab confirmed cases and “probable” cases of COVID-19. The goal is to get accurate national statistics that inform public health decision making. Beth Reinhard, investigative reporter at the Washington Post joins us for how cases are counted. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
Jun 10, 2020•8 min
The country continues to make its way back from the shutdowns of the coronavirus pandemic. NYC, the hardest hit area in the U.S., began reopening Monday with construction, agriculture, and manufacturing sites opening including retail stores offering curbside and in-store pickup. Stephanie Yang, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the first day of reopening in NYC. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 09, 2020•7 min
As we continue to reopen the country after the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, one industry that has yet to formalize a plan to get back is the entertainment industry. What we do know, is that whatever the plan is that eventually comes out, it will be expensive to restart production. There will be shorter shooting days and longer shooting schedules, casts and crews will be put in quarantine, breaks for temperature checks and COVID testing, and new personnel dedicated to health and saf...
Jun 08, 2020•17 min
Right now there are over 100 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of testing and when one finally breaks through, it may not be as simple as one shot and you’re done. There is a high likelihood that an eventual vaccine could be a two-dose protocol given a month or two apart, with the first injection priming the immune system and the second strengthening the immune response. Elizabeth Weise, reporter at USA Today, joins us for why you might need two coronavirus shots. Learn more about...
Jun 05, 2020•8 min
The coronavirus pandemic has reduced public education in the U.S. to a shell of its former self. A Reuters survey of several school districts found that students aren’t having enough facetime with teachers, some districts don’t even take attendance for online classes, and access to classes is also difficult at times. Michael Pell, reporter at Reuters, joins us for how schools have been affected. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Jun 04, 2020•7 min
There have been over 40,000 deaths tied to U.S. nursing homes because of COVID-19 according to a USA Today analysis. It is about 40% of nation’s coronavirus death toll. Limited testing, a lack of personal protective equipment, and poor infection control at these facilities has hit this vulnerable population hard. Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative reporter at USA Today, joins us for how there is growing concern of more infection as states reopen. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...
Jun 03, 2020•7 min
While COVID-19 was initially thought to be a respiratory disease, many of the symptoms have another thing in common, poor blood circulation and blood vessel damage. This is why 40% of deaths from coronavirus are related to cardiovascular complications. Dana Smith, senior writer at Elemental, joins us for how the disease is starting to look like a vascular infection instead of a purely respiratory one. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/lis...
Jun 02, 2020•7 min
While unrest continues across the country, concerns about the coronavirus pandemic still remain. We are still waiting for a treatment or vaccine, but there’s also some uncertainty to immunity for those that have had the disease and recovered. We still don’t know for how long someone might be protected from COVID-19 after they have gotten it. And in your body, it’s not just antibodies that are fighting the virus, B cells and T cells also help fight illnesses after antibodies have disappeared. Kat...
Jun 01, 2020•9 min
Antibody tests and issues with their accuracy have led to more questions for many who felt they were ill before the first reported coronavirus case in January. After looking at their personal histories and antibody test results some think that the coronavirus could have been circulating as early as November of last year. Dan Frosch, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 29, 2020•5 min
Las Vegas has a date to reopen! On June 4, selected casinos will be open for business. Temperatures will be checked and employees will wear masks. Bars and restaurants will be open, but buffets will continue to be closed. On the gambling floor, there will be increased cleaning and less people a table. Bailey Schulz, reporter at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, joins us for the plans to open Vegas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener f...
May 29, 2020•7 min
South America has now become a new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Brazil now has the second most cases of COVID-19 only behind the United States, and President Bolsonaro is still refusing to impose strict measures to curb the spread. Other countries like Peru and Chile are also facing increased numbers. Alex Ward, reporter at Vox and co-host of the Worldly podcast, joins us for how South America’s numbers are going up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork....
May 28, 2020•8 min
The whole reason behind flattening the curve was so that the healthcare system would not be overwhelmed. But as many hospitals prepared for the worst, in some areas the cases never came. One example is the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center where a whole floor was cleared for COVID-19 cases. Despite the cost, officials don’t regret over preparing. Jim Carlton, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See...
May 28, 2020•6 min
As the country is on the road to reopening many cities are closing the roads to make way for restaurants and people. In order to allow for people to properly social distance, some public roads are being closed to allow restaurants to expand their seating arrangements and provide more space for residents to run, walk, and ride. Mike Laris, transportation reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how cities are making more room. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...
May 28, 2020•7 min
The economy is slowly starting to come back and hopefully the worst of the shutdown is over. For the first time since forced shutdowns began in March, spending on hotels, restaurants, and airlines are picking up. While there is some uncertainty going forward with high unemployment and consumer spending, we are hoping that we have hit peak economic loss. Harriet Torry, economics reporter for the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See o...
May 27, 2020•7 min
Some people haven’t seen or touched others for 3 months because of COVID-19 and while the country is in the beginning stages of getting back out there, some will continue to isolate. Alan Gomez, reporter for USA Today, joins us for how some in the elderly and medically vulnerable communities and those skeptical of their government’s reopening plans are keeping the quarantine going. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
May 27, 2020•7 min
Hair salons and barbershops can now reopen in California, LA County will still have to wait a little longer though. But while things have been shut down, there has been an underground world of haircuts. Barbers and stylists have made house calls under fear of potential penalties and people have gotten freshened up under fear of potential shaming. Emily Guerin, reporter for KPCC and LAist.com, joins us for how people got their haircuts despite quarantine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
May 27, 2020•9 min
As the country continues to reopen for business, one of the hardest hit industries will still have a difficult time recovering. Restaurants will see a long slow ramp up back to the way things were. Real-time industry data is showing that while people are starting to get out there, restaurants are only seeing a fraction of the business they used to have, partly due to capacity limits for social distancing. The estimates are still dire as to whether some businesses can remain open after the comeba...
May 26, 2020•7 min
Coronavirus has been tearing through jails and prisons across the country. A recent analysis by Reuters has found that there has been an undercounting of COVID-19 cases in the system and that some state prisons are seeing infection rates of up to 65%. While there is a worry that inmates could be getting ill in such close quarters, the other concern is all of the corrections officers and workers that could also be infected and then spread the virus throughout their communities. Research shows tha...
May 25, 2020•11 min
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a lot of flaws in the way business is done in the U.S. Flaws in the supply chain were especially evident all over. But the “Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020” shows how something so mundane represents a complex supply chain. Because of what is called “just in time” manufacturing and distribution, toilet paper is still only seen in limited quantities and manufacturers are still playing catch up on back orders. Manufacturers have also had to adjust their packagi...
May 22, 2020•12 min
As all 50 states are reopening in some form, how ready are gyms to reopen? For a lot of gym owners, there is a frustration in the lack of any strict guidelines. Temperature checks, extra cleaning, and hand sanitizer are a must, but face masks still present an uncertainty with some gyms letting the customers decide on whether to wear them. Hilary Potkewitz, contributor to the WSJ, joins us for how the first gyms are handling the comeback. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
May 21, 2020•8 min
Some good news for regions that are reopening their economies, a recent study from South Korea is showing that COVID-19 patients that have tested positive after recovering, are not infectious. Theses so called “re-positive” patients weren’t spreading any lingering infection and were shedding only dead virus particles. Emma Court, health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what we are learning about how contagious someone is after recovering from the virus. Learn more about your ad-choices a...
May 21, 2020•7 min
