UW researchers respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 experts for reporters

Here 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. 

• Fauci says he'll raise flags if corners are cut on a vaccine | MSNBC19 hours ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, talks about the effectiveness of a coronavirus vaccine and its role in ending the pandemic.
• The NIH launches a global hunt for animal-to-human diseases | WIRED19 hours ago
  On Wednesday, a group of scientists gathered — virtually, of course — to launch an international network to detect pathogens that can jump from wildlife to the human population. The UW's United World Antiviral Research Network is mentioned.
• When will a COVID-19 vaccine really be available? | MyNorthwest19 hours ago
  As skepticism about vaccines rises nationwide, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross interviews Dr. Keith Jerome, professor of laboratory medicine in the UW School of Medicine, to ask him the question on everyone’s mind: When can we expect a vaccine in pharmacies?
• Living with fire | Climate One1 day ago
  This fire season is on track to be the worst ever, with forests burning throughout the western United States. California alone has already seen over three million acres burn, with six of the top 20 fires in the state’s history occurring this year.  Even for those miles from the flames, the smoke from raging wildfires presents a severe health hazard in the age of coronavirus. Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Apple Watch 6 health review: blood oxygen and sleep app | Refinery 291 day ago
  This month’s Apple event dropped some big wellness-related releases on us, and they all center around the Apple Watch. Dr. Paul Pottinger, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, says the watch should not be use as a diagnostic tool for the coronavirus.
• PNW wildfire smoke has outdoor workers worried — and sick | Crosscut1 day ago
  Health experts warn effects of smoky skies could linger for months and even make some people more susceptible to the coronavirus. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
• UW releases new information about COVID-19 in homeless shelters | KVEW2 days ago
  Dr. Helen Chu, assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, discusses new research on coronavirus in homeless shelters and how many people are often asymptomatic.
• Dr. Vin Gupta: Vaccine rushed through by end of October 'is not going to end the pandemic | MSNBC2 days ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, discusses President Trump's predictions on a vaccine timeline, the state of the pandemic response and how smoke from the California wildfires could present new virus dangers.
• Can a watch detect COVID-19? Here’s how Apple and the University of Washington plan to find out | GeekWire2 days ago
  The blood oxygen measurement feature in the newly announced Apple Watch Series 6 will provide one of the key inputs for a study seeking to determine if the device can detect early signs of acute respiratory infection such as the flu or COVID-19. Apple and University of Washington Medicine researchers plan to launch the study later this year, tracking participants during the upcoming flu season. Dr. Jay Shendure, professor of genome sciences at the UW and director of the Brotman Baty Institute, is quoted.
• Video: Project highlight — Seattle Street Sink | Real Change News2 days ago
  Basic public health interventions, especially important during the coronavirus pandemic, can be out of reach to those without access to shelter and bathrooms. The Seattle Street Sink project has created low-cost accessible street sinks to make hygiene available to all. Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture at the UW, is featured.
• COVID-19 testing in Seattle homeless shelters highlights risks of communal conditions | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  Border detention facilities, prisons and refugee camps have something in common with communal homeless shelters, University of Washington School of Medicine researchers say. Researchers found that of the 1,434 homeless shelter residents tested for COVID-19 across 14 shelters, 29 turned up positive. Twenty-one had no symptoms when they were tested, and 24 of them had slept in a communal shelter in the prior week, as opposed to a private or family room. Dr. Helen Chu, assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Washington reports 9 deaths, 327 confirmed coronavirus cases | Patch3 days ago
  Officials reported 9 more coronavirus-related deaths and 327 more confirmed cases of the disease Tuesday. Dr. Helen Chu, assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Opinion: Pandemic shows telemedicine can work for patients and doctors | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  "Health systems’ imperative to focus on COVID-19 also forced them to make virtual care available to the rest of their patient populations. Hospitals and clinics everywhere scrambled to expand technologies and to train caregivers to conduct and document virtual visits. This immense effort created an opportunity that has met with massive public interest," writes Dr. John D. Scott, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and medical director of Telehealth at UW Medicine.
• UW to offer extensive COVID-19 testing for faculty, students, staff | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  Hoping to head off a campus outbreak of coronavirus when students return to school this fall, the University of Washington is planning widespread, voluntary COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff. Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted. [This is part of coronavirus updates for Sept. 14.]
• Washington COVID Response Corps is recruiting young people to fight hunger during the pandemic | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  In an effort to involve young people in helping those impacted by the current pandemic, the Schultz Family Foundation has partnered with Serve Washington to form the Washington COVID Response Corps. A study by the UW on food insecurity during the pandemic is referenced. [This is part of coronavirus updates for Sept. 15.]
• Food insecurity rates have more than doubled since start of COVID-19 pandemic | KNKX3 days ago
  Since the onset of the pandemic, food insecurity rates have more than doubled in our state. That’s according to researchers at the University of Washington who have just compiled the results from their first round of a statewide survey. Jennifer Otten, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Steve Bannon is behind bogus study that China created COVID-19 | The Daily Beast3 days ago
  A new study purporting to show that the novel coronavirus was manufactured in a Chinese lab was published by a pair of nonprofit groups linked to Steve Bannon, the former top Trump strategist now facing felony fraud charges. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• Yes, you can get COVID-19 twice, but experts say it's rare | KREM4 days ago
  Dr. Seth Cohen, medical director of infection prevention and employee health at UW Medical Center Northwest, responds to a question about whether you can get the coronavirus twice.
• Dr. Vin Gupta: Trump’s indoor rally in Nevada was an ‘embarrassment to him and his administration’ | MSNBC4 days ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, slams Trump and his campaign team for holding an indoor campaign rally with thousands of people in Nevada, deliberately ignoring the state’s social distancing guidelines.
• Nearly 200,000 have died from the coronavirus | MSNBC4 days ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, talks about how the president didn't do contingency planning early on when he learned about the coronavirus.
• Worsening air quality raises questions about which COVID-19 masks work best for smoke | KOMO 44 days ago
  With the air quality only expected to get worse, a lot of people are wondering if their face covering to protect them from COVID-19 will work for smoke. Dr. Seth Cohen, medical director of infection prevention and employee health at UW Medical Center Northwest, is quoted.
• As WA restaurants struggle, workers weigh physical and economic survival | Crosscut4 days ago
  The pandemic hit those working in the food preparation and serving industry particularly hard. For the majority of the pandemic, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, cafeteria workers and others in the industry have made up the largest percentage of Washington’s unemployed — even as Gov. Jay Inslee relaxed restrictions this summer, allowing dining rooms to reopen at reduced capacity. Marissa Baker, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, and Crystal Hall, associate professor of public policy and governance at the UW, are quoted.
• 'Flattening the curve' saves more lives than thought | Health Day4 days ago
  Failure to "flatten the coronavirus curve" in the United States could lead to even more deaths than previously believed, a new study claims. The researchers concluded that every six additional intensive care unit beds or seven additional non-ICU beds filled by COVID-19 patients leads to one additional COVID-19 death over the following week. Anirban Basu, professor of health economics at the UW, is quoted.
• How public spaces like parks and streets will change after pandemic | Insider4 days ago
  Access to public space has been restricted in the pandemic, from libraries to parks to transit to sidewalks. While it's still too early to predict exactly how public space will evolve, some concerning patterns have emerged. Jeff Hou, professor of landscape architecture at the UW, is quoted.
• When will there be a COVID-19 vaccine and should you trust that it's safe? | Newsweek4 days ago
  Vaccine candidates emerged only weeks after scientists identified SARS-CoV-2 and sequenced its genetic code. Universities and Big Pharma formed teams to develop vaccine candidates in short order. But just as quickly, the search for a vaccine became a political issue, and the sad result is that while the chances of an effective vaccine are rising, so is public distrust. Hilary Godwin, dean of the UW School of Public Health, is quoted.
• Feeling guilty about not social distancing? Here's what to do | SELF4 days ago
  The stress and uncertainty involved with COVID-19 create fertile ground for guilt to arise. SELF shares advice on when guilt is healthy, when it’s not, and how to keep it under control. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.
• Should you send your child back to school? The expert consensus leans toward ‘yes,’ with caveats | The Boston Globe4 days ago
  As many schools begin opening this week, parents around the state are confronting a decision that few expected to face and most find agonizing: Is it safe to send children back into the classroom? Brandon Guthrie, assistant professor of global health and of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• How an unprecedented, indefinite crisis forced education leaders to change the ways school districts operate | The Seattle Times5 days ago
  Coronavirus forced districts to rewrite their playbooks. While it’s obvious how COVID-19 changed the structure of school, what’s less known is how districts had to overhaul their operations. Jessica Rigby, assistant professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• COVID-19 and flu season safety tips | Everyday Health5 days ago
  Flu season is approaching even as the novel coronavirus continues to spread. Everyday Health shares tip for how to lower your risk. Dr. John Lynch, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• US coronavirus: Nation could see a 'very deadly December' with tens of thousands of coronavirus death to come, model predicts | CNN5 days ago
  An influential model is predicting a catastrophic winter with a significant rise in coronavirus deaths. A possible scenario sees 415,090 COVID-19 deaths by January, the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• Trump on coronavirus: 'We're rounding the turn' | MSNBC1 week ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, refutes the claim by President Trump that the worst is over when it comes to the coronavirus.
• The Seahawks and NFL have successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic — can they keep it up? | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  So far the Seahawks are beating the odds and beating back the coronavirus better than even the most optimistic projections could have forecast. Benefiting from daily testing conducted in a parking-lot trailer at the team’s Renton headquarters, Seahawks players completed five weeks of summer training-camp practices without any reported coronavirus cases. Jennifer Balkus, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Daily US virus deaths decline, but trend may reverse in fall | Associated Press1 week ago
  The number of daily U.S. deaths from the coronavirus is declining again after peaking in early August, but scientists warn that a new bout with the disease this fall could claim more lives. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• The coronavirus may have reached Los Angeles by Christmas | Los Angeles Times1 week ago
  Was the novel coronavirus on the loose in Los Angeles way back in December, before the World Health Organization was even aware of an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China? Researchers from UCLA and their colleagues at the University of Washington documented an unmistakable uptick in patients seeking treatment for coughs. The increase began the week of Dec. 22, 2019, and persisted through the end of February.
• US coronavirus deaths may exceed 410,000 under current restrictions, IHME model predicts | International Business Times1 week ago
  The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 could range from 410,000 to 620,000 by the end of the year, according the latest statistical model from the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Officials fear colder fall and winter weather will keep more people indoors where the coronavirus thrives. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had a great coronavirus plan, but students partied on | The New York Times1 week ago
  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had one of the most comprehensive plans by a major college to keep the virus under control. Other researchers put together a detailed computer model that suggested these measures would work, and that in-person instruction could go forward this fall. But the predictive model included an oversight: It assumed that all of the students would do all of the things that they were told to. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• Study: Coronavirus may have hit Los Angeles in December, before Wuhan outbreak was reported | Forbes1 week ago
  Covid-19 may have begun to spread in Los Angeles as early as December 2019, according to research from UCLA and the University of Washington, before the World Health Organization even knew about the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China. 
• Coronavirus may have surfaced in Los Angeles just before Christmas | FOX News1 week ago
  The coronavirus may have been in Los Angeles around Christmas, before the novel coronavirus was officially identified in the United States, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Washington.
• Return of football renews fears over more virus spread | Associated Press1 week ago
  The kickoff of the NFL season Thursday with 17,000 fans in the stadium illustrates on a global stage the nation’s determination to resume its most popular sport in the middle of a pandemic that has already killed nearly 200,000 Americans. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• The NFL has a COVID-19 tracing system, but will it work? | The Daily Beast1 week ago
  As the National Football League races toward a resumption of football in America on Thursday, the league’s pandemic contact-tracing technology of choice is in for a trial by fire. Janet Baseman, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• This ER doctor says her hospital was 'treating COVID patients before we knew we were treating COVID patients' | MSN1 week ago
  Dr. Sachita Shah, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, shares her experiences in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
• App-based contact tracing has been a bust — Apple wants to try something new | Slate1 week ago
  So far, attempts to use apps for contact tracing in the U.S. have largely fallen flat. Each state has had to decide whether to issue an app at all, and then what kind of system to use. States that have created apps have struggled to get people to download them at all. But Apple is hoping it might change things. Ryan Calo, associate professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• A new COVID-19 forecast predicts more than 400,000 deaths by the end of 2020 — will the fall wave really be that big? | Yahoo! News1 week ago
  On Thursday, the team at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation released its latest pandemic forecast, predicting 410,000 deaths by the end of the year. Yes, the IHME’s forecast is frightening. The question is whether it’s credible.
• COVID risk assessment | KUOW1 week ago
  How at risk do you think you are for COVID-19? Has it changed over the course of the pandemic? Ann Bostrom, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, says our calculations may not be fully accurate – but there are ways to mitigate the danger of your optimism bias. [This is part of the Sept. 8 episode of "The Record."]
• Experts recommend staying inside, wearing masks as fire conditions worsen in Western Washington | KIRO 71 week ago
  The wildfires burning in Eastern Washington are sending smoke over the Cascades. Experts recommend residents stay inside and keep their windows closed if possible. If they need to go outside, they suggest wearing a mask. Dan Jaffe, professor of environmental chemistry at UW Bothell, is interviewed.
• Scientists design proteins that could block coronavirus’ spread | GeekWire1 week ago
  Imagine being able to ward off COVID-19 just by spritzing a nasal spray into your nostrils. It may not be just your imagination: Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a batch of synthetic proteins that could conceivably block the coronavirus behind this year’s pandemic from gaining a foothold. Longxing Cao, a postdoctoral scholar at the UW Institute for Protein Design, and David Baker, the director of the institute, are quoted.
• America is trapped in a pandemic spiral | The Atlantic1 week ago
  As the U.S. heads toward the winter, the country is going round in circles, making the same conceptual errors that have plagued it since spring. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• The underdog coronavirus vaccines that the world will need if front runners stumble | Nature1 week ago
  As leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies fast-track COVID-19 vaccines through clinical trials, smaller developers face a battle to get their candidates noticed. The UW's Neil King, assistant professor of biochemistry, is quoted, and David Veesler, assistant professor of biochemistry, is mentioned.
• COVID-19 deaths tick lower, for now | Wall Street Journal1 week ago
  The U.S. is catching its breath after a punishing six months of the coronavirus pandemic. Still, public health authorities and researchers are warning Americans not to let their guard down. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• COVID-19 deaths high among elderly, males due to delayed immune response | International Business Times (Singapore)1 week ago
  One of the most mysterious aspects surrounding patients with COVID-19 is the tendency of severe infection among males and older adults. The rudimentary mechanism leading to increased mortality among the two demographics remains largely unknown. However, a new UW study suggests that varying immune responses to the novel coronavirus due to age and sex may be related to the time-course of the infection and viral load.
• Are robots the answer to pandemic loneliness — or a moral trap? | Vox1 week ago
  Even before COVID-19 came around, robots were being introduced in nursing homes and other settings where lonely people are in need of companionship — especially in aging societies like Japan, Denmark, and Italy. Now, the pandemic has provided the ultimate use case for them. Nancy Jecker, professor of bioethics and humanities in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• How to vacation with friends during the pandemic | VICE1 week ago
  Blithely setting off for a fun group trip isn't an option right now. But people are finding ways to be more deliberate—and exclusive—about how they get away together in a pandemic. Steve Mooney, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• How COVID-19 is a threat to the premise of public transit | Grist1 week ago
  Public transit is valuable because of its ability to efficiently carry many passengers, a premise challenged by the coronavirus pandemic. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, comments on whether mask usage makes it safe to use public transit.
• College quarantine breakdowns leave some at risk | The New York Times1 week ago
  Colleges are trying to isolate students who have the coronavirus or have been exposed to it, but they are running into a host of problems. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• Men may have slower immune response to coronavirus than women | Business Insider1 week ago
  Men and elderly people could be more likely to die from COVID-19 than women because they have delayed immune responses, according to a study from University of Washington researchers.
• COVID-19 is tougher on older men, and scientists may now know why | Health Day1 week ago
  Key differences in immune system function may help determine why severe, life-threatening COVID-19 tends to target older men, according to a team of researchers led by Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine in the UW School of Medicine, and Nicole Lieberman, a research scientist in Greninger's lab.
• Study pinpoints two critical factors driving male COVID-19 fatality rates | Inverse1 week ago
  Men and women have similar odds of contracting COVID-19, but men face a higher risk of death. Being older than 65 also increases one’s chance of becoming severely ill from the novel coronavirus. A new study suggests these risk factors are primarily driven by the same mechanisms. Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• What Google Trends doesn't say about the spread of COVID-19 | Quartz1 week ago
  Last week, Google made public its data on search trends related to COVID-19 symptoms. This kind of data could be used to connect searches for COVID-19 symptoms to an uptick in cases, even before an outbreak has been detected. Steve Mooney, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Wildfire smoke exacerbates COVID-related respiratory concerns | KUOW1 week ago
  Several massive wildfires burning in eastern Washington have led to extremely unhealthy air quality in the Puget Sound region. Right now, the air quality from Bellingham down to Seattle is considered unhealthy for everyone. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is interviewed.
• AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine study paused after one illness | Associated Press1 week ago
  Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot. Deborah Fuller, professor of microbiology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• White House advisor calls COVID death projections 'ridiculous' and 'absurd' | CNN1 week ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, explains the latest projections from the institute in response to criticisms from the White House.
• US surpases 6.3M cases and 190K deaths | MSNBC1 week ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, argues that there should be more penalties for failing to wear a mask to control the coronavirus pandemic.
• New hope in fight against COVID-19 | KIRO 71 week ago
  Brian Kraemer, research associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, talks about research into whether two antiviral drugs used to treat hepatits C could potentially block an important protein in the coronavirus.
• As autumn nears, fears about COVID-19 impact on the rise | KOMO 41 week ago
  With just a few weeks before the official start of the fall weather season, fears are rising among some health officials who worry about the impact COVID-19 could have on top of the cold and flu season. Dr. John Lynch, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• The coronavirus could be here to stay — your privacy may be another victim | Mashable1 week ago
  From location-tracking apps to health-monitoring devices, surveillance technology and data collection are being used to protect us from the coronavirus. History has repeatedly shown that once a new form of surveillance technology has been deployed, it's often repurposed for wildly different purposes. Ryan Calo, associate professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• COVID-19: 200,000 more US deaths by Jan. 1, model predicts | KING 51 week ago
  A COVID-19 model previously touted by the White House projects 410,451 U.S. coronavirus deaths by Jan. 1 if the United States continues with its current measures at mitigation. But it says that could be greatly reduced if nearly everyone wears a face mask. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• How many Americans will die of COVID-19? Here’s what to know about all the predictions | Miami Herald1 week ago
  A new forecast says the United States can expect a total of over 410,000 deaths by Jan. 1, according to a model from the University of Washington. That’s an additional 225,000 deaths from now until the end of the year.
• Key model predicts more than 410,000 coronavirus deaths in the US by January | US News1 week ago
  More than 410,000 people are projected to die from the coronavirus in the United States by the end of the year, according to the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
• Opinion: Can the American university be saved? | The Nation1 week ago
  "The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the glaring contradictions in American higher education. State research universities are preparing to decrease services in light of anticipated budget shortfalls as small liberal arts colleges teeter on the brink of financial ruin. Meanwhile, Ivy League and other rich universities have refused to dip into their massive endowments and have instead chosen to pursue austerity while increasing tuition — and increasing debt — for their students," writes Daniel Bessner, associate professor of international studies at the UW.
• India may soon overtake US to have most coronavirus cases in world | Newsweek1 week ago
  India could become the world's worst affected country for coronavirus cases, potentially overtaking the U.S. in the relatively near future should current trends continue. A forecast for India by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is mentioned.

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