With the concerning Delta variant of Covid-19 and surging cases of infection, many public health officials think that tactics may need to change to increase vaccination rates. Vaccine mandates have been talked about, but the government and many businesses have not gone that way… yet. Many health experts think that could change once the FDA grants full approval to the current vaccines. Shannon Pettypiece, senior White House reporter at NBC News Digital, joins us for why mandates could be on their...
Jul 21, 2021•8 min
18-year-old Kara Eaker is the first U.S. athlete to test positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Tokyo for the Olympic Games. She is an alternate for Team USA Gymnastics and has been taken to a hotel to quarantine until she tests negative. While vaccination rates are low in Japan, about 85% of the delegations are expected to be vaccinated. Tina Reed, healthcare editor and author of VITALS at Axios, joins us for this early test to Olympic Covid protocols. Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
Jul 20, 2021•6 min
Pandemic reality check… we are getting further away from the end than we should be. To be clear, it is nowhere near as bad as it was at the height of the pandemic, but once again numbers are trending in the wrong way. Infections are going up, hospitalizations and deaths are going up, and in some places like L.A. County, mask restrictions are being re-imposed. Joel Achenbach, science reporter at the Washington post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Jul 20, 2021•7 min
Drug overdose deaths have risen sharply in the country by 30% in 2020 with over 93,000 deaths. A large driver of those deaths were the result of the synthetic opioid fentanyl as it has been frequently mixed into other drugs. The pandemic also played a role in this as people who were receiving treatment or wanted it had difficulty accessing it early on. Isolation and other life disruptions also fueled the uptick. Betsy McKay, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for the rise in overdose deaths. Lea...
Jul 19, 2021•7 min
Professional dog trainers are having to deal with an increase in misbehaving pandemic puppies. Because of quarantines and shutdowns many first time dog owners didn’t properly train or socialize their pups which led them to be overly reactive or have separation anxiety. The big worry for these trainers is that if people can’t get dogs under control, they may be surrendered. Bailey Berg, contributor to Vice News, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
Jul 16, 2021•7 min
Public health officials are once again worried about superspreader events as we see lagging vaccination rates and rising Covid cases. With less mask wearing and social distancing, people are going out more and attending larger gatherings. Studies have shown that 10 percent of people infected with Covid could be responsible for 80 percent of the spread. Denise Chow, science reporter at NBC News, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnyst...
Jul 15, 2021•6 min
Checking in on the restaurant and hospitality industry, things have not gotten much better yet. Businesses are still struggling to attract employees who in some cases have moved on to other sectors. Pandemic layoffs pushed many hospitality employees to seek jobs with better pay, more perks, and different career opportunities and some are not going back to their old jobs. Heather Haddon, restaurants reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
Jul 14, 2021•7 min
Most companies are simply encouraging employees to be vaccinated, but a growing number of them are starting to require it. In the tech world, some big software companies are marking a departure from industry leaders like Facebook and Google. Recent surveys found that the majority of professionals support vaccine mandates and say it would make them feel more comfortable about returning to the office. Allison Levitsky, reporter at Protocol, joins us for how vaccine requirements are popping up at t...
Jul 12, 2021•6 min
Throughout the pandemic, mental health has been a big issue with a lot of anxiety and depression going around, but there is a silver lining, the world’s psychological immune system turned out to be more resilient than we thought. Many people were able to weather the psychological challenges of the pandemic and focus on the positive, despite some real challenges. Elizabeth Dunn, psychology professor at the University of British Columbia and Chief Science Officer of Happy Money, joins us for how t...
Jul 09, 2021•7 min
The demand for mental healthcare has overwhelmed supply for most of the pandemic, and in some places like Massachusetts, the need for those services is critical. If traditional hospitals and treatment centers don't have available space for mental health services, some may need to go to the ER in what is known as emergency room boarding for psychiatric patients. These types of stays have risen between 200% and 400% in Massachusetts during the pandemic and ERs are not equipped for this type of tre...
Jul 08, 2021•10 min
The Delta Covid-19 variant continues to cause worry among public health officials especially in places like Wyoming where only 32% of people are fully vaccinated and big events are taking place like a 10-day rodeo set to start later this month. Hospitals are also seeing a rise in younger patients infected with this variant. Julie Wernau, health and science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how this variant is gaining ground among the unvaccinated. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
Jul 07, 2021•7 min
One of the bright spots that helped restaurants and businesses make it through the pandemic was the ability to extend out onto sidewalks and streets. It helped them continue to do business while indoor activities were restricted and in many areas these changes are being made permanent, but for disabled citizens, these changes can make sidewalks feel like obstacle courses. Calls are now being made for "mini equality impact assessments" which notify business owners of reasonable adjustments that c...
Jul 06, 2021•10 min
There is a lot of talk about infrastructure lately as the Biden administration tries to get a bill passed and one of the big questions being debated is how to pay for it. But why does it cost so much to build things in America? When it comes to mass transit and roads, we just don’t build enough and are out of practice. Every time a new project comes along it’s like starting from scratch. There is also the complexity of working across multiple jurisdictions and bottlenecks at every step of the pr...
Jul 02, 2021•11 min
We are seeing people leave unemployment rolls faster in states that have cancelled enhanced unemployment benefits than in those keeping them in place. Businesses are still having a tough time attracting workers and keeping them from quitting, and many suspected that workers were still reluctant to go back into the workforce because of these extra benefits. Eric Morath, labor and economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how people are looking for jobs now that unemployment benefits are ending....
Jul 01, 2021•7 min
Car dealers are selling more vehicles above the sticker price as demand continues to remain high while supply is low. Dealers are loading cars with extra additions and in some cases charging 10,000 over MSRP. Nora Naughton, auto industry reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why dealers are selling cars for so much, the short answer… is because they can. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 30, 2021•7 min
A new study has some good news for the lingering question about how long immunity lasts after being vaccinated. The mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna set off a persistent immune reaction in the body that could protect against the virus for years. The study suggests the most people immunized with mRNA vaccines might not need booster shots, unless the virus and variants evolve too much. Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
Jun 29, 2021•8 min
The same mRNA technology that is used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could be used to help treat cancer. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for how mRNA tech is being used for more than Covid. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 28, 2021•9 min
We have been hearing a lot about unruly passengers on flights recently and the thousands of dollars in penalties they face, but now Airline industry groups, flight attendants and lawmakers want more done to help out. Airline reps want the Attorney General to prosecute unruly passengers and there are even call for mandatory self- defense training for flight attendants who have to deal with angry flyers. Leslie Josephs, airline reporter at CNBC, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices ...
Jun 24, 2021•8 min
The Delta variant of Covid-19 is getting a lot of attention lately as it is likely to become the dominant strain in the U.S. in the near future. This variant is more transmissible, can infect a large portion of those who have only had one dose of the vaccine, and can also cause more severe disease. Sarah Zhang, staff writer at the Atlantic, joins us for why health officials are using this variant of concern to push more people to be vaccinated. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihe...
Jun 23, 2021•7 min
More companies are pushing for employees to prove they are vaccinated for Covid-19. Most employers have not mandated that workers get vaccinated, but are implementing policies for those who choose not to get the shots like continued mask wearing. Employers are bolstered by new guidance that says they can require all workers entering a workplace to be vaccinated. Orla McCaffrey, consumer finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
Jun 22, 2021•6 min
We have been seeing a lot of bad behavior on airplanes recently. Disruptions by passengers due to alcohol and especially their refusal to wear masks has been on the rise. The FAA has not been shy about publicizing the fines associated with unruly passengers and proposed a $15,000 fine for one man who wasn’t wearing his mask and drinking alcohol on the plane when it was prohibited. Hannah Sampson, travel reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the rise of conflicts in the air. Learn more ab...
Jun 21, 2021•8 min
Even as more parts of the country continue to fully reopen from the pandemic, you’re going to keep seeing what many are calling “Hygiene Theater.” Think plexiglass dividers, scanning QR codes for menus, and the constant cleaning of surfaces, despite surface contact not being a significant transmitter of the virus. These actions have much more to do with making customers feel better than it does with science. Marc Fisher, senior editor at The Washington Post, joins us for how long this “hygiene t...
Jun 18, 2021•8 min
The housing market continues to have a much lower supply of homes needed to meet demand and now we have a better idea of how many are needed. A new report by the National Association of Realtors says we need 5.5 million more housing units, everything from single family homes to multi-family units. The report does call for policy responses, some of which are in President Biden’s infrastructure proposal. Nicole Friedman, housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choi...
Jun 17, 2021•6 min
Be warned when making plans this summer… everyone has the same idea as you. Right now, national and state parks are being overwhelmed with people trying to enjoy outdoors activities. At Arches National Park in Utah, they reach capacity and close gates to visitors most days before 9am. You have to also be ready for long lines just to get in anywhere. Allison Pohle, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how it’s packed everywhere, even outdoors. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...
Jun 16, 2021•6 min
A new study done by the National Institutes of Health is showing that in five states, some people were infected with Covid-19 before those states recorded their first cases. Blood samples collected between January and March of 2020 were tested for antibodies… out of 24,000 samples, nine came back positive. While these cases were earlier than previously recorded it does show that there wasn’t much community spread at the time. Betsy McKay, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more a...
Jun 16, 2021•8 min
A new coronavirus vaccine may soon be available from Novavax as they say their two-dose shot is 90% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19. While it may not make much of an impact in the U.S., it is expected to be a welcome addition to global vaccination efforts. Approval may still take a few months as they ramp up their manufacturing processes, but it is still a big win for Novavax who has never won an approval for a vaccine. Peter Loftus, pharmaceutical reporter at the WSJ, joins us for ...
Jun 15, 2021•8 min
Over the weekend a judge threw out a lawsuit by employees of Houston Methodist Hospital after the hospital mandated that they get Covid vaccines. 117 employees joined the failed lawsuit alleging they did not want to be part of the vaccine experiment. Many legal experts agree that employers can mandate vaccinations as conditions of employment. The G-7 summit also agreed this past weekend to give one billion vaccine doses to poorer countries, half of which will be supplied by the U.S. Ginger Gibso...
Jun 14, 2021•8 min
Some good news on the coronavirus front as we might be closer herd immunity than you think. More than 64% of adults have had at least one vaccine dose, and for those who haven’t had the vaccine, about half of them have natural immunity from prior infection. When you factor in natural immunity, the number of individuals protected is more than we think. Dr. Marty Makary, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of “The Price We Pay: What Broke American Healthcare and How to Fix...
Jun 11, 2021•8 min
Plant-based meats were already having a moment before the pandemic showing up in your grocery stores, fast food chains, and restaurants, but as meat and pork prices were going up do to the pandemic, these alternative meats were surging in options and dropping in price. In 2020, we saw 112 new plant-based meat, egg, and dairy brands hit the shelves and people aren’t just trying them once, we are seeing repeat customers. Laura Riley, business of food reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for h...
Jun 10, 2021•10 min
The FDA has approved a new drug that could help all those that suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. This is the first new Alzheimer’s drug approved in almost 20 years and targets proteins called amyloids that are thought to play a part in cognitive decline. More studies on its effectiveness will continue to be done and the treatment is very expensive, coming in at over $50,000 a year. Robert Langreth, science and health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices ...
Jun 09, 2021•7 min
