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. 

• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids 12 to 15 expected to be authorized | KUOW1 day ago
  Cynthia Dold, associate vice president of clinical operations at UW Medicine, says that UW Medicine will be ready to vaccinate kids 12 and older, either by appointment or as walk-ins at their clinics.
• New vaccine clinics aimed at college students and young adults | KIRO 71 day ago
  KIRO 7 talks to UW students Alex Baker, Hameir Wright, Anna Wright and Grant Irving, who went to a vaccine clinic in the UW's Alder Hall.
• COVID-19 deaths may be more than double the official total | Vox1 day ago
  The world may have undercounted Covid-19 deaths by a staggering margin, according to an analysis released Thursday by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The actual count may actually be 6.9 million deaths, more than double official tolls. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• Mexico’s Covid death toll estimated at 600,000, new study finds | NBC News1 day ago
  The coronavirus has killed over 600,000 people in Mexico, according to health researchers who found that the Latin American nation's Covid-19 death toll is almost three times higher than the official total. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Can a patient ask whether the health care workers they see are vaccinated against COVID — and do they have to answer? | The Seattle Times1 day ago
  As more people are vaccinated and once again going to hospitals and clinics for checkups after many routine interactions were pushed online the past year, there is one question patients want to know: Has my health care provider been vaccinated against COVID-19? UW Medicine spokesperson Susan Gregg is quoted.
• New study says US COVID-19 death toll is actually 900,000, far higher than reported | Slate1 day ago
  It’s always been near certain that the U.S., along with every other nation, has severely undercounted the number of coronavirus cases and deaths attributed to the virus. A new analysis by researchers at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation puts the death toll in the U.S. at 905,000 deaths, far higher than than currently reported deaths.
• How to make sure your kid isn’t a superspreader | FiveThirtyEight1 day ago
  We don't know when younger kids will get the COVID-19 vaccine. But the problem is bigger than just whether the kids are all right. What about the people they could potentially spread COVID-19 to? Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed on "Podcast-19."
• Herd immunity illusive as vaccines, prior infections drive down US coronavirus cases | US News1 day ago
  The growing number of Americans protected from COVID-19 has returned focus to the idea of ‘herd immunity’ – a term some experts want to cast aside. Dr. Theo Vos, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• US coronavirus: Forecast predicts 185 million people vaccinated by September | CNN1 day ago
  The US will likely reach its Covid-19 vaccination goals for the summer, but vaccine hesitancy and variants could still cause a surge in the winter, an influential model predicted Thursday. A report by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is quoted.
• In COVID-19 vaccine data, LGBTQ people fear invisibility | The New York Times1 day ago
  Few states collect sexual orientation or gender identity data, so no one knows how many people in some communities are getting vaccinated. Meghan Romanelli, assistant professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• Asian American health workers fight virus and racist attacks | Associated Press2 days ago
  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have faced a tide of harassment and attacks in many settings during the pandemic. But those in health care are feeling the particular, jarring anguish of being racially targeted because of the virus while toiling to keep people from dying of it. Dr. Amy Zhang, a resident physician at UW Medicine, is quoted.
• UW researchers say the number of global deaths is double what's been reported | KIRO Radio2 days ago
  Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says COVID-19 will rival the Spanish flu at the global level before we see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Lebanese American epidemiologist visits family back home | Public Radio International2 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, has made headlines with his research on the coronavirus pandemic. Mokdad is interviewed about what it was like to finally be able to visit his mother and relatives in Lebanon for the first time since the pandemic began.
• Family of 7 received first vaccine shot but still contracted COVID-19 | KOMO 42 days ago
  Even though getting the first COVID-19 vaccine shot can feel liberating, doctors warn that the risk remains of contracting coronavirus before all of the antibodies develop in the patient's body. Dr. Paul Pottinger, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, and Dr. Theo Vos, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, are interviewed.
• Study: Global COVID-19 death toll more than double the estimates | Al Jazeera2 days ago
  The UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says the COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 6.9 millions deaths, much higher than the 3.25 million reported. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• Hesitation, resistance and convenience: The real work to get more of Washington vaccinated against COVID-19 starts now | The Spokesman-Review2 days ago
  Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine has appeared to wane statewide, especially in Eastern Washington and in some rural regions. Low vaccination rates are not necessarily all due to hesitancy, however. Real challenges exist for some people to access the vaccine, whether they live in a remote area, don’t have a health care provider or cannot find transportation to get to clinics. Dr. Aaron Bunnell, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Oregon COVID-19 cases are high but not so bad when compared to other states | KGW2 days ago
  Oregon's cases are trending upward while the nation's are trending down. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, explains why that is happening.
• More than 900,000 have died of COVID-19 in US, study claims | New York Daily News2 days ago
  The worldwide COVID death toll is more than double the official count of 3.24 million, a controversial new study estimates. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• True COVID-19 death toll is double the official numbers, study finds | Axios2 days ago
  There have been twice as many deaths from COVID-19 around the world as have been reported, according to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which analyzed excess mortality and other factors.
• COVID-19 deaths twice as high as reported, global analysis finds | KING 52 days ago
  The researchers behind a key coronavirus projection now estimate the COVID-19 pandemic has actually caused 6.9 million deaths worldwide, more than double what official numbers show. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Worldwide COVID-19 death count is more than twice official tallies, study finds | Forbes2 days ago
  An estimated 6.9 million people have died from COVID-19 globally since the pandemic started, more than double the number recorded by governments, University of Washington researchers said Thursday in another grim sign COVID-19’s death toll is even worse than previously thought. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• UW study: True global COVID-19 death toll is more than double the official toll | KOMO 42 days ago
  The COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than twice as many people around the world as the official death counts show, according to a new analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• New study estimates more than 900,000 people have died of COVID-19 in US | NPR2 days ago
  A new study by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that the number of people who have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. is more than 900,000, a number 57% higher than official figures. Worldwide, the study's authors say, the COVID-19 death count is nearing 7 million, more than double the reported number of 3.24 million. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• IHME: Global COVID-19 death toll more than double official estimates | Reuters2 days ago
  The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 6.9 million deaths across the world, more than double the number officially recorded, a new analysis from the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• COVID-19 death toll is more than double the official count, UW analysis suggests | The Seattle Times2 days ago
  A new analysis from scientists at the University of Washington suggests 6.9 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19, more than double the official death toll. The study from the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates the total number of U.S. deaths at more than 905,000 — about 60% higher than the 561,594 deaths currently reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute, is quoted.
• COVID-19 might be responsible for more deaths than previously realized | NPR2 days ago
  Researchers at the UW have concluded that COVID-19 is responsible for 6.9 million deaths worldwide. [This is an NPR broadcast on KUOW]
• COVID-19 deaths are double what's being reported | KOMO Radio2 days ago
  Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says that the institute has been able to systematize all the data and implement an approach to COVID-19 deaths that includes underreporting and other factors.
• New IHME study says COVID-19 has caused over 905,000 deaths in US, 6.9 million deaths globally | Q132 days ago
  A new study concludes that COVID-19 has caused more than 905,000 deaths in America and more than double the number of global deaths that have been reported. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Seattle health expert says reaching herd immunity unlikely | KING 52 days ago
  While Washington state is making progress in getting people vaccinated against COVID-19, health officials said reaching herd immunity is looking more unlikely. Gerard Cangelosi, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is interviewed.
• New analysis finds global COVID-19 death toll is double official estimates | Stat News2 days ago
  A new analysis of the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests 6.9 million people worldwide have died from the disease, more than twice as many people as has been officially reported. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Pfizer seeks approval for 12- to 15-year-olds, local children react | KIRO 73 days ago
  The FDA is expected to grant emergency use authorization to Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old as early as next week. Dr. Janet Englund, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Fear of needles may play small role in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy | KOMO 43 days ago
  As health officials across the country urge people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, there are worries that people with a fear of needles may be avoiding the shot. Dr. Donald Chi, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is interviewed.
• Children ages 12 to 15 could soon be eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine | KING 53 days ago
  Children as young as 12 could start receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as soon as next week. Pfizer has asked the federal government for emergency use authorization of its vaccine for kids age 12 and older. Dr. Janet Englund, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• King County stays in Phase 3 | KUOW3 days ago
  After worries that King County would be knocked back to Phase 2, Gov. Inslee announced it would stay in Phase 3. Judith Malmgren, affiliate assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is interviewed on the "Seattle Now" podcast.
• Shift away from herd immunity goal | KPTV4 days ago
  Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, says that ever if we never reach herd immunity, dealing with COVID-19 will become more manageable.
• Inequitable worldwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines | KHQ4 days ago
  Nancy Jecker, professor of bioethics and humanities in the UW School of Medicine, says the U.S. is not doing enough to help other nations get the COVID-19 vaccine. One-tenth of 1% of vaccines are going to lower income countries.
• King County jails struggling with high vaccine rejection among inmates | Crosscut4 days ago
  Despite COVID-19 outbreaks in the county’s jails, some incarcerated individuals say they're not getting enough information about vaccine safety. Dr. Marc Stern, affiliate assistant professor of health services at the UW, is quoted.
• Learning more about asymptomatic spread | KATU4 days ago
  Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, compares the effect of COVID-19 on cells to a bad Airbnb guest who stays briefly but makes a huge mess.
• UW study of variants | KOMO 44 days ago
  UW scientists have found that human behavior and government restrictions play a bigger role than variants in the spread of COVID-19.
• Study: New variants may not drive spread | KAPP4 days ago
  UW researchers have found that people's behavior has been more important than variants in shaping the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington.
• Vaccinated and ready to celebrate? Not so fast | KUOW4 days ago
  Washington Governor Jay Inslee is expected to announce which counties will have to fall back a phase in the state's reopening plan. Judith Malmgren, affiliate assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is interviewed.
• Psychology behind vaccine hesitancy key in reaching high immunization, experts say | KOMO 44 days ago
  Medical experts said addressing the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy could be critical in reaching high numbers of immunization. Dr. Christopher Sanford, associate professor of global health and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• India crosses 20 million COVID-19 cases as critical shortages worsen | NPR4 days ago
  India has now reported more than 20 million coronavirus infections, including nearly 3.5 million people who are actively being treated for COVID-19. The country's health system is in a state of collapse as hospitals and clinics face dire shortages of beds and lifesaving supplies. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Health experts disagree on whether 'herd immunity' can be achieved | NPR5 days ago
  "Herd immunity," in which the vast majority of a population has immunity, has been cited as the key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. But public health experts are split on whether it can be achieved. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is interviewed.
• India’s catastrophic coronavirus surge highlights global vulnerabilities | US News5 days ago
  Some countries have started looking toward relaxing mitigation measures in the not-so-distant future, but the crisis in India highlights that the pandemic is still far from over. A report by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is quoted.
• It’s not just India — new virus waves hit developing nations | Bloomberg5 days ago
  It’s not just India. Fierce new COVID-19 waves are enveloping other developing countries across the world. Nations ranging from Laos to Thailand in Southeast Asia, and those bordering India such as Bhutan and Nepal, have been reporting significant surges in infections in the past few weeks. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Opinion: Vaccinations are key for Kitsap County health | Kitsap Sun5 days ago
  "Right now is a crucial time for all of us to get vaccinated against coronavirus. Our case rate is going the wrong direction, and younger people are being hospitalized. We can reverse this ... but we need everyone who can get vaccinated to get their shots. We also need to continue with masking, social distancing and handwashing," writes Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the UW.
• Major increase in projected number of deaths | KOMO Radio5 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, explains the factors that went into a dramatic increase in the institute's COVID-19 projections, including undercounting of previous deaths and inclusion of suicides, caused by increased mental health strain during the pandemic.
• An artist was targeted in a hate crime — so she designed a video game | WIRED5 days ago
  The pandemic saw a spike in xenophobia against Asians. Digital artist Chanee Choi, a doctoral student in digital arts and experimental media at the UW, decided to fight back in a way only she could.
• King County businesses brace for COVID-19 rollback | KIRO 76 days ago
  King County leaders are almost certain the county will have to rollback to phase 2 of Washington’s reopening plan on Tuesday. Deborah Fuller, professor of microbiology in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Reaching ‘herd immunity’ is unlikely in the US, experts now believe | The New York Times6 days ago
  More than half of adults in the United States have been inoculated with at least one dose of a vaccine. But daily vaccination rates are slipping, and there is widespread consensus among scientists and public health experts that the herd immunity threshold is not attainable — at least not in the foreseeable future, and perhaps not ever. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• Younger people make up growing share of serious COVID-19 cases | NPR6 days ago
  After spending much of the past year tending to elderly patients, doctors are seeing a clear demographic shift: young and middle-aged adults make up a growing share of the patients in COVID-19 hospital wards. Judith Malmgren, affiliate assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is interviewed.
• Yes, 'COVID arm' delayed side effect is real | KING 56 days ago
  As thousands of people get the COVID-19 vaccine each day, a new but uncommon side effect has emerged among the vaccinated. Some are already calling it "COVID arm" to describe a delayed side effect that includes redness and itchiness at the injection site that can resemble a rash. Dr. Paul Pottinger, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Health officials say we will likely need a booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine | KOMO 46 days ago
  As more people continue to get vaccinated, both Moderna and Pfizer are expecting people will need to get a booster shot roughly a year after they receive their second dose of the vaccine. Deborah Fuller, professor of microbiology in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Extra Pfizer vaccines administered at UW Medicine | KOMO Radio1 week ago
  Cindy Sayre, chief nursing officer at UW Medicine, said that UW Medicine worked with stakeholders to distribute extra doses of Pfizer vaccine before they expired.
• Verify: How long do COVID-19 vaccines last? At least 6 months, experts say | KREM1 week ago
  Experts say people will likely need a COVID-19 vaccine booster within 12 months of being fully vaccinated to protect against emerging variants of the virus. Dr. Anna Wald, professor of medicine, of epidemiology, and of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW, is interviewed.
• India's real death toll may be many times higher than the official count | NPR1 week ago
  This second wave of the coronavirus in India has also been breaking records for new infections, but scientists say the country's official numbers are almost certainly a vast undercount. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is interviewed.
• Russia creates 17K doses of COVID-19 vaccines for animals as other countries show interest | Newsweek1 week ago
  Russia has produced the first round of COVID-19 vaccines for animals, and other countries have already expressed interest in the doses, too. Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and director of the Center for One Health Research at the UW, is quoted.
• Mask guidance: Experts are divided — here's what they're saying | CNN1 week ago
  New mask guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week has divided experts and fueled a new debate about the best way to steer Americans out of the pandemic. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is interviewed.
• Ventilation is key to school safety during the pandemic. How are Washington schools refreshing classroom air? | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  As Washington schools reopen to more students, one concern at top of mind for many families and teachers is this: How are schools ventilating classrooms to reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19? Marissa Baker, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Can fully vaccinated people return to indoor dining? It’s complicated | Vox1 week ago
  Epidemiologists want the U.S. vaccination rate to get a little bit higher before resuming eating indoors at restaurants. Marissa Baker, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Verify: Does the COVID-19 vaccine affect menstrual cycles? | KING 51 week ago
  Doctors say simply receiving the COVID-19 vaccine could be stressful enough to trigger a change in menstruation, but the vaccine itself has nothing to do with it. Dr. Lora Shahine, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Counties at highest risk for COVID-19 harm often have lowest vaccination rates | ProPublica1 week ago
  The vaccine rollout was meant to prioritize vulnerable communities, but four months of data shows healthier — and often wealthier — counties have been faster to vaccinate. Janet Baseman, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• How to reach the ‘fence sitters’? Men lag behind women on COVID-19 vaccination in Washington state | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  Men in Washington state — who represent 53% of deaths from the coronavirus — are at the same time receiving far less than their share of life-protecting vaccines. Samantha Clark, a doctoral student in pharmacy at the UW, is quoted.
• Explainer: What we know about the Indian variant as coronavirus sweeps South Asia | Reuters1 week ago
  India has recorded the world’s sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month, with political and financial capitals New Delhi and Mumbai running out of hospital beds, oxygen and medicines. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Editorial: Fully vaccinate before relaxing use of masks | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  "This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its guidance about wearing masks in certain outdoor situations. At the same time, rising COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations place several Washington counties in danger of backsliding to phase two of the state reopening plan ... The good-news, bad-news announcements share a common denominator: vaccination. Washingtonians should take the hint and get their shots," writes The Seattle Times Editorial Board. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Analysis: How small-scale seafood supply chains adapt to COVID-19 disruptions | The Conversation1 week ago
  "In the early months of the pandemic, community lockdowns and public health risks combined with restrictions on worker movement and seafood trade forced small-scale fishing communities in several parts of the world to close down their businesses ... Some small, local seafood vendors, like Indonesian pedagang along-along who sell fish, vegetables and other perishable foods from motorbikes, adapted," write Hannah Bassett, a doctoral student in aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW; Sahir Advani of the University of British Columbia; Jacqueline Lau of James Cook University; and Sharon Suri of the University of Amsterdam.
• A year later, what has the pandemic taught us about how to prepare for the next great emergency? | KUOW1 week ago
  Benjamin Brunjes, assistant professor of public policy and governance at the UW, describes what we've learned about government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the lessons from that and past emergencies can help us prepare for the next crisis. [This is the first segment on "The Record"]
• India reports another day of record deaths and cases | CNN1 week ago
  Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, talks about what the institute's model show for the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
• Combating vaccine hesitancy | Q131 week ago
  Dr. Leo Morales, professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine, discusses why some people are still shying away from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

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