Health

Omicron Is Our Past Pandemic Mistakes on Fast-Forward

We’ve been making the same errors for nearly two years now.

The Things I Would Never Do

I’d survived two decades of cancer. But there was one loss I couldn’t accept.

The Great Shoplifting Freak-Out

Why is it so hard to figure out if America’s enormous surge in theft is real?

Sports Leagues Are Showing Us Just How Bad Omicron Could Get

Even some of the healthiest and most highly vaccinated communities in the country are being ravaged by the new variant.

There’s No Way Americans Will Cancel Their Travel Plans

Many people are gathering for the holidays no matter what. Here’s how to do that as safely as possible.

How Long Does Omicron Take to Make You Sick?

The new variant seems to be our quickest one yet. That makes it harder to catch with the tests we have.

I Canceled My Birthday Party Because of Omicron

Here’s how I thought through the decision.

Fully Vaccinated Is About to Mean Something Else

The CDC might update the definition very soon, even though we still don’t know for sure how many shots we’ll need.

The Death Toll Says It All

We know how America really feels about the 800,000 lives lost to COVID.

America Is Not Ready for Omicron

The new variant poses a far graver threat at the collective level than the individual one—the kind of test that the U.S. has repeatedly failed.

Don’t Be Surprised When You Get Omicron

America is in for a lot more breakthrough infections. Here’s what to do if you fall sick.

A Guide to Mixed-Vaccination-Status Holidays

We’ve broken down the chances of transmission at a gathering with one unvaccinated adult, multiple unvaccinated adults, and unvaccinated or semi-vaccinated kids.

I’m Starting to Give Up on Post-pandemic Life

Despair is not a mild symptom.

T Cells Might Be Our Bodies’ Best Shot Against Omicron

The new variant may undermine some vaccine-derived defenses. But the immune system’s best assassins are likely to hold the line.

The Pandemic of the Vaccinated Is Here

A coming winter surge and the spread of Omicron have made it clear that COVID is everyone’s problem.

Omicron’s Explosive Growth Is a Warning Sign

We don’t know how severe Omicron is, but we do know it’s spreading very fast.

Our First Preview of How Vaccines Will Fare Against Omicron

The variant will change the risk landscape for the vaccinated. The question is, how much?

Omicron Has Created a Whole New Booster Logic

For a while I was on the fence about getting another shot. Then came the newest variant of concern.

Jen Psaki’s Rapid-Testing Gaffe Is Not as Simple as It Seems

For months and months, we’ve been told that rapid COVID testing is the key to getting back to normal. It didn’t work out that way in other countries, though.

Why Are We Still Isolating Vaccinated People for 10 Days?

If vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the coronavirus, maybe they should be able to test out of isolation.