Novel CoronavirusWBUR's ongoing coverage of the new coronavirus.Final report: Massachusetts wasn't ready for pandemicEven as Massachusetts climbed the state rankings for shots administered last year, the Baker administration's choice to deliver many of those shots at mass vaccination sites rather than through local...HealthJun 30, 2022A Provincetown outbreak upended the 'hot vax summer,' but showed how to contain COVIDThe Provincetown outbreak is seen as a critical moment in the pandemic. It showed that vaccines would not end COVID, but it also held lessons on how to contain the...PlayHealth05:03Jun 30, 2022Advertisement After two years of COVID, many hospitals feel unprepared to manage future crisesMany hospital leaders feel ill-equipped to face another public health emergency because their workforce is tired and depleted.HealthJun 29, 2022What to know about getting COVID vaccines for kids under 5 in Mass.Unlike earlier rollouts, vaccines for the youngest kids will happen more in doctors offices and less in retail pharmacies.HealthJun 18, 2022Study linking COVID in utero to increased risk of developmental delays spurs debateThe research, conducted by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital, examined electronic medical records from more than 7,500 patients at six hospitals.HealthJun 17, 2022FDA advisers back Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for older kidsThe Food and Drug Administration's outside experts voted unanimously that Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective enough to give kids ages 6 to 17. If the FDA agrees, it would...HealthJun 15, 2022Massachusetts to distribute 2 million COVID-19 testsThe tests will be sent to the 264 municipalities across the state that requested them, and officials in those cities and towns will then determine how to distribute them among...HealthJun 14, 2022Why this wave of COVID hospitalizations in Mass. is differentFor much of the past two months, COVID hospitalizations in Massachusetts have been rising again. But this COVID "creep" has been more manageable than prior surges.PlayHealth04:24Jun 1, 2022Kids afraid of getting shots? Here are 3 easy ways for parents to help themWhile getting shots provokes anxiety in most children, the degree of anxiety can be lessened. As a parent, there are three things you can do to improve the vaccine experience...HealthMay 24, 2022Cambridge issues mask advisory, as COVID cases riseOn the same day , Brookline reinstated a mask mandate for town-owned buildings, including public schools and libraries. HealthMay 24, 2022How to get the most out of your mask — in a mask-optional worldMany officials are reassuring people that even if others aren’t masking, you can protect yourself by wearing a mask. Here's what you should know. PlayHealth06:00Apr 27, 2022Experts predict a COVID ‘swell’ — rather than a ‘wave’ — as cases tick upward in Mass.While a swell in COVID cases isn't as dramatic as a wave, it can last longer and be disruptive. “Acting now is the best thing we can do,” said Sam...PlayHealth04:55Apr 14, 2022Was omicron more deadly than it needed to be in Mass.? Some experts say yesThe numbers suggest Massachusetts fared better than many other states during the omicron wave, but also could have done better. Some experts question whether enough was done to get boosters...PlayHealth05:18Mar 29, 2022Worcester to dedicate memorial for public to reflect and remember pandemic victimsA permanent plaque will be unveiled Tuesday at Elm Park. It will become a place of reflection for those seeking solace due to the hardship, loss and grief caused during...HealthMar 27, 2022In a first since the pandemic started, an ICU without COVID patientsFor a single day this week, Tufts Medical Center had no COVID patients in any intensive care units. Across the state, the number of COVID patients in ICUs is dwindling.HealthMar 25, 2022'Crucial' weeks ahead for COVID in Mass. as experts track Europe's BA.2 spike"If COVID history has taught us anything, we should be looking to the UK and Europe as a signal of what to expect locally,” said Bronwyn MacInnis, of the Broad...HealthMar 18, 2022Checking in on the state of the pandemic, 2 years after Mass. emergency declarationIt's been two years since Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19. WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy and infectious disease specialist Dr. David Hamer...PlayHealth04:30Mar 10, 2022Massachusetts will close 30 of its free COVID testing sites this monthGov. Charlie Baker's administration announced Friday that they will wind down the "Stop the Spread" program — which offers free PCR tests with no insurance or ID necessary — to...HealthMar 4, 2022Fewer than 10% of applicants have been granted medical parole, frustrating some Mass. lawmakersSeveral lawmakers visited a health unit at MCI-Norfolk this week. They, along with prisoner advocates, say the Department of Correction is too reluctant to approve the release of seriously ill...PlayHealth04:35Mar 3, 2022Boston to lift mask mandate for businesses, other venuesBoston is planning to lift its indoor mask mandate for businesses and many other venues starting this weekend. Masks will still be required in schools, public transportation, and health care...HealthMar 1, 2022Next Page
Final report: Massachusetts wasn't ready for pandemicEven as Massachusetts climbed the state rankings for shots administered last year, the Baker administration's choice to deliver many of those shots at mass vaccination sites rather than through local...HealthJun 30, 2022
A Provincetown outbreak upended the 'hot vax summer,' but showed how to contain COVIDThe Provincetown outbreak is seen as a critical moment in the pandemic. It showed that vaccines would not end COVID, but it also held lessons on how to contain the...PlayHealth05:03Jun 30, 2022
After two years of COVID, many hospitals feel unprepared to manage future crisesMany hospital leaders feel ill-equipped to face another public health emergency because their workforce is tired and depleted.HealthJun 29, 2022
What to know about getting COVID vaccines for kids under 5 in Mass.Unlike earlier rollouts, vaccines for the youngest kids will happen more in doctors offices and less in retail pharmacies.HealthJun 18, 2022
Study linking COVID in utero to increased risk of developmental delays spurs debateThe research, conducted by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital, examined electronic medical records from more than 7,500 patients at six hospitals.HealthJun 17, 2022
FDA advisers back Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for older kidsThe Food and Drug Administration's outside experts voted unanimously that Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective enough to give kids ages 6 to 17. If the FDA agrees, it would...HealthJun 15, 2022
Massachusetts to distribute 2 million COVID-19 testsThe tests will be sent to the 264 municipalities across the state that requested them, and officials in those cities and towns will then determine how to distribute them among...HealthJun 14, 2022
Why this wave of COVID hospitalizations in Mass. is differentFor much of the past two months, COVID hospitalizations in Massachusetts have been rising again. But this COVID "creep" has been more manageable than prior surges.PlayHealth04:24Jun 1, 2022
Kids afraid of getting shots? Here are 3 easy ways for parents to help themWhile getting shots provokes anxiety in most children, the degree of anxiety can be lessened. As a parent, there are three things you can do to improve the vaccine experience...HealthMay 24, 2022
Cambridge issues mask advisory, as COVID cases riseOn the same day , Brookline reinstated a mask mandate for town-owned buildings, including public schools and libraries. HealthMay 24, 2022
How to get the most out of your mask — in a mask-optional worldMany officials are reassuring people that even if others aren’t masking, you can protect yourself by wearing a mask. Here's what you should know. PlayHealth06:00Apr 27, 2022
Experts predict a COVID ‘swell’ — rather than a ‘wave’ — as cases tick upward in Mass.While a swell in COVID cases isn't as dramatic as a wave, it can last longer and be disruptive. “Acting now is the best thing we can do,” said Sam...PlayHealth04:55Apr 14, 2022
Was omicron more deadly than it needed to be in Mass.? Some experts say yesThe numbers suggest Massachusetts fared better than many other states during the omicron wave, but also could have done better. Some experts question whether enough was done to get boosters...PlayHealth05:18Mar 29, 2022
Worcester to dedicate memorial for public to reflect and remember pandemic victimsA permanent plaque will be unveiled Tuesday at Elm Park. It will become a place of reflection for those seeking solace due to the hardship, loss and grief caused during...HealthMar 27, 2022
In a first since the pandemic started, an ICU without COVID patientsFor a single day this week, Tufts Medical Center had no COVID patients in any intensive care units. Across the state, the number of COVID patients in ICUs is dwindling.HealthMar 25, 2022
'Crucial' weeks ahead for COVID in Mass. as experts track Europe's BA.2 spike"If COVID history has taught us anything, we should be looking to the UK and Europe as a signal of what to expect locally,” said Bronwyn MacInnis, of the Broad...HealthMar 18, 2022
Checking in on the state of the pandemic, 2 years after Mass. emergency declarationIt's been two years since Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19. WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy and infectious disease specialist Dr. David Hamer...PlayHealth04:30Mar 10, 2022
Massachusetts will close 30 of its free COVID testing sites this monthGov. Charlie Baker's administration announced Friday that they will wind down the "Stop the Spread" program — which offers free PCR tests with no insurance or ID necessary — to...HealthMar 4, 2022
Fewer than 10% of applicants have been granted medical parole, frustrating some Mass. lawmakersSeveral lawmakers visited a health unit at MCI-Norfolk this week. They, along with prisoner advocates, say the Department of Correction is too reluctant to approve the release of seriously ill...PlayHealth04:35Mar 3, 2022
Boston to lift mask mandate for businesses, other venuesBoston is planning to lift its indoor mask mandate for businesses and many other venues starting this weekend. Masks will still be required in schools, public transportation, and health care...HealthMar 1, 2022