UW researchers respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 experts for reporters

Below are the most recent stories of UW experts commenting on the novel coronavirus epidemic

In addition to UW researchers from a variety of disciplines offering their expertise to journalists covering the novel coronavirus, UW Medicine researchers are leading the way in the detection and prevention of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. In fact, our researchers have sequenced COVID-19’s genome, identified the architecture and mechanisms of COVID-19, created a new laboratory test to expedite diagnostics and are crowd-sourcing a cure, among other efforts.

This page is updated every week day. For more information on the coronavirus, visit uw.edu/coronavirus. 

Some of the stories below may require a third-party subscription. 

• Biden: Unvaccinated deaths are 'an American tragedy' | MSNBC22 hours ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says he thinks people who are hesitant to get vaccinated are reachable.
• The fight against COVID-19 misinformation | MSNBC22 hours ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that health workers that don't get the COVID-19 vaccine should be fired. He also reviews what is known about the Delta variant.
• Dr. Vin Gupta on what the Biden Administration to boost COVID-19 vaccinations | MSNBC23 hours ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, speaks about the efforts he thinks the Biden administration should take when it comes to boosting vaccinations as the unvaccinated threaten the fights against COVID-19.
• 5 new things we learned about COVID-19 in July 2021 | Huffington Post24 hours ago
  Huffington Post covers five developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including a UW model suggesting that as many as 60% of COVID-19 cases have gone undetected as of this spring.
• Ross: Here comes the COVID-19 sequel | MyNorthwest24 hours ago
  Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, talks about the ways that social media is designed to surround people with their personal version of what’s true, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and other topics.
• The ‘fifth wave’ of COVID-19 is here — what you should know about the delta variant and masking | The Seattle Times24 hours ago
  The emergence of Delta coincides with what some public health officials are calling a “fifth wave” of COVID-19 infections that is tearing through the state’s unvaccinated population. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Why some states are pushing back on masks amid delta variant surge | ABC News1 day ago
  Masks are once again a flashpoint after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended this week that everyone in areas with substantial or high levels of transmission, regardless of their vaccination status, return to wearing a mask in public, indoor settings and in schools, amid a concerning rise in the delta variant. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• New vaccine policies for federal employees | BBC1 day ago
  Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says he supports any effort to get more people vaccinated, including employer mandates. [This is a BBC broadcast on NPR]
• Vaccines are best hope against COVID-19 variants | KOMO Radio2 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says that people in medicine are evangelical about vaccines because they are effective against variants.
• Masking recommendations | KGMI2 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says recommendations to return to masking helps slow the spread of the virus.
• City of Seattle testing and vaccination efforts transitioning to partners at the end of July | Q132 days ago
  Mayor Jenny Durkan announced on Wednesday that the city of Seattle will transition testing and vaccination efforts to partners on July 31. UW Medicine will carry out efforts by providing free testing at Aurora and SODO hubs with continued access to curative kiosks. Dr. Geoffrey Baird, associate professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• UW Medicine taking over Seattle's COVID-19 testing hubs | KING 52 days ago
  Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday that the city's COVID-19 testing efforts at its two hubs are being transferred from the fire department to UW Medicine beginning July 31. 
• City of Seattle to hand off COVID-19 testing sites to UW Medicine, close its last vaccine clinic | The Seattle Times2 days ago
  Seattle is getting out of the COVID-19 testing business after winding down city-run vaccination sites earlier this summer. The city announced Wednesday it would hand off operations of its current large testing sites in SODO and along Aurora Avenue in North Seattle to UW Medicine, beginning Saturday evening. Dr. Geoffrey Baird, associate professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Schedule of ‘planned COVID-19 variants’ is fake | Associated Press2 days ago
  A table shows a list of planned COVID-19 variants and when they will be “released” to the public. This schedule is fabricated. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• ‘We’ve been instrumental’: How Seattle became a hub for COVID-19 vaccine research | GeekWire2 days ago
  GeekWire reviews some of the COVID-19 vaccine research in the Seattle area, highlighting some of the factors that make the region's science ecosystem so vibrant: scrappy startups, stable funding support and strong research institutions. The UW School of Medicine's Deborah Fuller, professor of microbiology, and Dr. Larry Corey, professor of medicine and of laboratory medicine and pathology, are quoted. The UW's Dr. Keith Jerome, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology; Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine; David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry; Rhea Coler, affiliate professor of global health; and the Institute for Protein Design are mentioned.
• UW Medicine to take over city testing, vaccination efforts as city steps back | KOMO 42 days ago
  The city is ending its COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts, allowing the UW to take over.
• Updated mask guidance from the CDC | KUOW3 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says that updated mask guidance will reduce the risk that people will get other respiratory viruses along with COVID-19.
• Researchers: Masking up stops spread | Q133 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says that masking up helps with the spread of all respiratory viruses, not just COVID-19.
• Masks will slow the spread of COVID-19 variants and save lives | KXL3 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says that masks will reduce spread of COVID-19 as well as other viruses.
• Returning to masking while indoors is the right call | KOMO Radio3 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says people shouldn't be going back to how life was before the COVID-19 pandemic because there is still a lot we're learning about the virus.
• CDC recommends everybody wear masks indoors | KIRO Radio3 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, says you should wear face masks around people while indoors. He says that he sees the practice continuing past the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In most Washington counties, fewer than a third of eligible kids are vaccinated against COVID-19 | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  A majority of Washington’s eligible schoolchildren still aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, state data shows, and experts warn that we’ve reached a critical moment: in most corners of the state, school starts in about five weeks. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• UW researcher: CDC's mask announcement does not undermine COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness | KING 53 days ago
  The vaccine is effective against protecting those vaccinated from severe illness but new science has raised concern over who can spread the delta variant. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is interviewed.
• The CDC's mask guidance gives vaccines a fighting chance | The Atlantic3 days ago
  America’s split with masks turned out to be a brief hiatus. After getting their shots in the spring and early summer, many people figured they could dump their face coverings for good — a sentiment the CDC crystallized in May, when the agency gave fully immunized people its blessing to largely dispense with masking, indoors and out. Yesterday, the agency pivoted back, recommending that even fully vaccinated people wear masks under certain high-risk circumstances. Marion Pepper, associate professor of immunology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Here's where you should wear a mask indoors under new CDC guidance | The Hill3 days ago
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released updated guidance that recommended many Americans again wear masks when they venture into indoor public spaces such as grocery stores, theaters and arenas. Dr. Joshua Liao, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Oregon recommends masks as state tops 1,000 daily coronavirus cases, hospitalizations climb 25% overnight | The Oregonian3 days ago
  Oregon’s tenuous position against the coronavirus teetered further Tuesday as the state reported its highest daily case count in at least three months and a 25% single-day surge in people hospitalized with COVID-19, prompting state officials to recommend universal masking in indoor public spaces. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Experts back CDC change on masks as delta variant spreads | NBC News3 days ago
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Tuesday, recommending that everyone, whether they are vaccinated or not, wear a mask indoors in places where the coronavirus is spreading widely. The change was met with relief from experts who said masking up again is essential to combat the highly contagious delta variant. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Timeline of CDC mask guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic | Los Angeles Times3 days ago
  The story of mask requirements in the United States has had many twists and turns since the early days of the pandemic. The UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is quoted.
• CDC backtracks with new mask guidance | The Hill3 days ago
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday reversed guidance from just two months ago by saying fully vaccinated people should now mask up in certain areas, underscoring the growing threat posed by a new strain of the coronavirus. Dr. Joshua Liao, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• The pandemic hurt these students the most | The New York Times3 days ago
  New research shows that all groups are behind in math and reading after disruptions during the pandemic. But it’s the most vulnerable students who experienced the steepest setbacks. Ann Ishimaru, associate professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• What to know about new CDC mask guidelines for the vaccinated | The New York Times3 days ago
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Tuesday that people vaccinated against the coronavirus resume wearing masks in schools and in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging, marking a sharp turnabout from their advice just two months ago. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• CDC says some vaccinated Americans should wear masks again | The New York Times3 days ago
  In communities with growing caseloads, vaccinated and unvaccinated people should return to wearing masks indoors in public areas, health officials said. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Biden administration to recommend the vaccinated wear masks in areas with low vaccination rates | NBC News4 days ago
  The Biden administration is issuing new guidance Tuesday recommending indoor mask use in areas with high transmission rates after reviewing new data suggesting fully vaccinated individuals are not just contracting COVID-19, but could also be carrying higher levels of virus than previously understood and potentially able to infect others, according to multiple sources close to the discussion. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Calls grow for vaccinated to mask up | KING 54 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says health officials need to reinstate a mask mandate. It's not enough to recommend that people wear masks.
• WSU football coach's vaccine decision puts school in awkward position | KOMO 44 days ago
  Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich has chosen not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for personal reasons. Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Moderna seeks to expand COVID-19 vaccine trial for kids | FOX News5 days ago
  Moderna intends to expand a COVID-19 vaccine trial among kids under 12 to better monitor for potential rare side effects. Comments by Pfizer's Dr. Alejandra Gurtman and Moderna's Dr. Sabine Schynder Ghamloush, from the Johns Hopkins-UW symposium, are referenced.
• US coronavirus cases may be double the official tally | Los Angeles Times5 days ago
  By early March 2021, roughly 65 million people in the U.S. — or one out of every five people — had been infected by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new analysis shows. The findings, described in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that roughly 60% of coronavirus infections had gone uncounted at that point — adding to a growing body of evidence that the pandemic’s true toll is far greater than official tallies show. Nicholas Irons, a doctoral student in statistics at the UW, is quoted.
• Up to 60% of US COVID-19 cases unreported, disease model says | Bloomberg5 days ago
  As many as 60% of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. have gone unreported, and the coronavirus has infected nearly 1 in 5 Americans, according to a new model out of the University of Washington. The UW's Nicholas Irons, a doctoral student in statistics, and Adrian Raftery, professor of statistics and of sociology, are quoted.
• More coronaviruses have 'pandemic potential' than thought, study suggests | The Telegraph5 days ago
  There are more animal coronaviruses with the potential to “spill over” to humans and cause pandemics than scientists previously thought, new research from a leading US institute has suggested. By tracking existing coronaviruses, a team from the found that only small mutations could allow many pathogens that currently circulate in bats to jump over to humans. Jesse Bloom, affiliate associate professor of genome sciences in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• Data about vaccine effectiveness not being collected by CDC | KOMO Radio5 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that the CDC should collect data about breakthrough rates for each of the vaccines instead of relying on data from other countries or clinical trials.
• Local public health expert calls for return of universal masking | KOMO Radio5 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that the sooner we return to universal masking, the more likely it will prevent a surge in COVID-19 infections.
• Teens and the vaccine: Answers to your frequently asked questions | NPR5 days ago
  NPR asked teens to share their most pressing questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and solicited answers from several ace pediatricians and trusted sources of health information. Dr. Ben Danielson, clinical professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• Grim months projected as delta tears through Oregon: ‘I wasn’t afraid 2 months ago — I’m afraid now’ | The Oregonian5 days ago
  The lack of statewide action by the governor, the voracious delta variant and the overwhelming pushback from a steadfast portion of Oregonians shunning masks and COVID-19 vaccinations have prompted two new forecasts to predict a deeply concerning future for the state in coming months — mirroring predictions for much of the nation. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Opinion: Want to make in-person school safer in the fall? Use lessons from behavioral science | Forbes1 week ago
  Dr. Joshua Liao, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, writes about policies for returning children back to school while keeping them from COVID-19: "Too much emphasis on flexibility could create confusion, leaving issues open to potentially contentious, drawn-out debate even when the science is clear and swift action is needed. How can communities and their leaders avoid that trap as they bring students back through school doors? One way is to build on public health guidance using nudges, methods based on behavioral science that are designed to influence people’s behavior without restricting choice or applying heavy-handed financial incentives."
• Olympics amid a pandemic | KREM1 week ago
  David Coppel, clinical professor of neurological surgery in the UW School of Medicine, says that some Olympic athletes will need to adjust to keep up with all the challenges that come with competing in the Olympics during a pandemic.
• Stress of pandemic could affect athletic performance at the Olympics | KOMO News1 week ago
  David Coppel, clinical professor of neurological surgery in the UW School of Medicine, says that the stress caused by the pandemic adds to the anxiety they are already experiencing related to athletic performance.
• Doctor says more than mandates needed to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations | KOMO 41 week ago
  Recent calls to require people to get a COVID-19 shot are complicated by the fact that the vaccines are only authorized for emergency use and have yet to receive formal approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Joshua Liao, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• CDC warns US is at a pivotal moment in pandemic | MSNBC1 week ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that it's possible to reach people who are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine through personalized engagement.
• Some COVID-19 testing sites seeing recent surge in traffic | KOMO 41 week ago
  Some Seattle-area COVID-19 testing sites are seeing their highest traffic levels in months as concerns over the highly-contagious Delta variant continue to rise across the country. Dr. Patrick Mathias, assistant professor of laboratory medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• CDC considers third COVID-19 shot for immunocompromised people | KING 51 week ago
  A CDC advisory group mulled COVID-19 booster shots for immunocompromised Americans Thursday, as states across the country have dropped many or all pandemic restrictions, and cases fueled by variants rise. Rodney Ho, professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, is interviewed. Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is referenced.
• Should CDC change its guidance on indoor masking? | NPR1 week ago
  The summer surge in COVID-19 cases is an unwelcome surprise for health officials and experts who thought, for a brief period, that the U.S. had the coronavirus pandemic largely under control. With vaccination progress stalling, a growing chorus of doctors and experts is saying the CDC let up on masking too early. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Combatting vaccine hesitancy | MSNBC1 week ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that getting full approval of COVID-19 vaccines from the FDA will help combat vaccine hesitancy.
• Updating masking guidance | MSNBC1 week ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that he doesn't think that mask guidance needs to be updated in light of the uptick in COVID-19 cases.
• UW COVID-19 treatment study | Q131 week ago
  UW researchers are looking for volunteers who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 for a nationwide study. They are testing four different treatments, including an inhalant, infusions and injections.
• Concerns over spread of Delta variant affecting the economy | KOMO 41 week ago
  The stock market staged a big comeback after plummeting Monday due to COVID-19 concerns. Economists believe the resiliency is a good sign as the COVID variants become more and more dangerous for the unvaccinated. Kevin Boeh, associate teaching professor of finance at the UW, is interviewed.
• COVID-19 vaccine for kids coming in weeks, Biden says — Pfizer says fall | USA Today1 week ago
  President Joe Biden is optimistic that vaccines for children under 12 years old could be available as early as August. Comments by Pfizer's Dr. Alejandra Gurtman, from the Johns Hopkins-UW symposium, are referenced.
• COVID-positive people wanted for UW study | KING 51 week ago
  Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio, assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, says a UW study will test four different COVID-19 medications at once, which means that people who take part in the study will have a smaller chance of being randomized to receive a placebo.
• Facebook and YouTube are still full of COVID misinformation | The Washington Post1 week ago
  Facebook, YouTube and Twitter all banned harmful COVID-related misinformation as the pandemic took hold throughout the world. But the false claims are still proliferating. Jevin West, associate professor in the UW Information School, is quoted.
• UW Medicine seeks COVID-19 patients for new treatment study | Patch1 week ago
  UW researchers are recruiting volunteers who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 to participate in a nationwide study of four potential treatments. Harborview Medical Center's AIDS Clinical Trials Unit will conduct the latest study, known as ACTIV-2, joining more than 200 sites across the nation. Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio, assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Breakthrough COVID-19 cases prompts new calls to mask up in Washington state | KOMO 41 week ago
  The upswing in COVID-19 cases around Washington and the increased danger from variants are causing some of the state's health leaders to mask up, including those who are fully vaccinated. Jesse Erasmus, acting assistant professor of microbiology in the UW School of Medicine, and Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, are interviewed.
• Evictions slowed during pandemic but some Washington renters still faced pressure to move, UW report says | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  Although a statewide moratorium sheltered many tenants from eviction over the last year, some renters still lost their housing in more informal ways, according to a recent report from researchers at the UW. The UW's Rachel Fyall, assistant professor of public policy and governance, and Matthew Fowle, a doctoral student in public policy and governance, are quoted. 
• Coexisting with the Coronavirus | The New Yorker1 week ago
  After getting the virus, the vaccine, or both, at least a hundred and sixty million Americans have acquired some form of immunity. Still, it is likely that the virus itself is here to stay. The UW School of Medicine's Jesse Bloom, affiliate associate professor of genome sciences; Marion Pepper, associate professor of immunology; and Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology, are quoted.
• Vaccinations slow the rate at which COVID-19 variants are developing | KIRO Radio1 week ago
  David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine, says COVID-19 vaccination rates need to be as high as possible to avoid opportunities for variants to emerge.
• Tracking the Epsilon variant | KAPP/KVEW1 week ago
  David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine, says that as long as people aren’t vaccinated, there will be more COVID-19 variants, like Epsilon.
• Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 variants | KXL2 weeks ago
  David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine, says many COVID-19 variants have the ability to evade immunity built from vaccines to some extent, but not enough to make vaccines ineffective.
• New tool tracks vaccine hesitancy | KREM2 weeks ago
  A new tool developed by the UW allows researchers to track vaccine hesitancy by county and zip code all over the country.
• Vaccine reliability and COVID-19 variants | KOIN2 weeks ago
  David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine, says that it is likely that COVID-19 will evolve at a faster rate than researchers will be able to study them.
• Cruise lines navigate complex rules as Alaska sailings resume from Seattle | The Seattle Times2 weeks ago
  The long anticipated return of cruising in Seattle continues this month as seven cruise lines resume sailing, among them Seattle-based Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. But this resumption also highlights the complexities of cruising in the current stage of the global pandemic. Janet Baseman, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Facebook defends mishandling of misinformation | MSNBC2 weeks ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, talks about imbalance between the clear information that the public needs and what doctors are trained to do, which contributes to the misinformation spread on social media.
• Biden says social media companies are 'killing people' through the spread of misinformation and disinformation | BBC2 weeks ago
  Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, talks about the relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington lawmakers and the role of social media platforms in the spread of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation.

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