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. 

• China's 'zero-COVID' limits saved lives but no clear exit | Associated Press3 days ago
  China’s strategy of controlling the coronavirus with lockdowns, mass testing and quarantines has provoked the greatest show of public dissent against the ruling Communist Party in decades. Most protesters on the mainland and in Hong Kong have focused their anger on restrictions that confine families to their homes for months. Global health experts have criticized China’s methods as unsustainable. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• COVID deaths and hospitalizations are falling in the U.S. | NBC News2 weeks ago
  As the flu and respiratory syncytial virus have spread rapidly this fall — inundating and overwhelming hospitals and their staff across the country — COVID has not. In fact, COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations have fallen in recent months, despite the emergence of new omicron subvariants that evade immunity from previous infections and vaccination. Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• New RSV vaccines are on track to make this one of the last bad cold seasons | Vox1 month ago
  All over the country, pediatric hospitals are packed to the gills. Although soaring rates of several cold viruses are to blame, one baddie in particular is responsible for much of the mayhem: respiratory syncytial virus, otherwise known as RSV. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Bivalent booster protects against omicron mutations ahead of winter | MyNorthwest1 month ago
  The new bivalent booster specifically targets the omicron variants of COVID-19 that have dominated the pandemic for much of the past year, but most Washington residents have not yet rolled up their sleeves. A chart on the Washington State Department of Health’s website shows only 16% of eligible people in Washington have gotten the new shot. Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Flu, RSV season already hitting parts of eastern US | Northwest News Radio1 month ago
  Flu season came early and spiked hard in Australia and New Zealand, and a UW doctor says with the flu already hitting parts of the eastern US hard, it'll probably do the same here with so many of us avoiding the flu for two years. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Global COVID cases will increase in coming months, but at a slower pace, analysis says | Reuters1 month ago
  Daily global COVID-19 infections are projected to rise slowly to about 18.7 million by February from the current 16.7 million average daily cases, driven by the Northern Hemisphere's winter months, the University of Washington said in an analysis. Far fewer infections are expected than last winter's estimated peak daily average of about 80 million cases in January of 2022 that was driven by the rapid spread of the omicron variant. A report from the UW's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is referenced.
• Biden gets updated booster ahead of possible winter surge | USA Today1 month ago
  President Joe Biden got his updated COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday and urged other Americans to do the same heading into the holiday season. The UW's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is referenced.
• No need to stress out about new COVID subvariant, UW doctor says | KIRO Radio1 month ago
  You may be concerned after hearing of a new Omicron subvariant, like the XBB variant in East Asia right now. Some are calling it the nightmare variant because of its ability to spread fast, but Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, says not to stress out about it.
• Health officials brace for new COVID strains ahead of potential winter surge | KUOW1 month ago
  In Washington state, like the rest of the country, the Omicron subvariant BA.5 remains dominant, but the virus continues to mutate and several other versions of the Omicron variant are on the horizon. Pavitra Roychoudhury, acting instructor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• With flu season looming, these tips will help boost your immune system | KUOW1 month ago
  Cold and flu season is on the way, in step with Covid Winter #3. Which begs the question, what are some best practices to prep our immune system to fight off viruses during our long, dark winter? Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• New Omicron booster could save the lives of senior citizens, says White House COVID czar Dr. Ashish Jha | Fortune1 month ago
  To get the new Omicron booster or not—it’s a life and death decision for American seniors, the White House’s COVID czar said Monday, encouraging those over 50 to get the updated jab ahead of an anticipated fall wave of cases. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• US warned to get ready as Europe deals with new COVID-19 rise  | The Hill2 months ago
  Rising COVID-19 cases in Europe are setting off warnings that the U.S. could experience a new surge this winter. Previous jumps in the U.S. have followed a pattern in which cases first rise in Europe, making officials nervous they could see a spike in U.S. cases as the weather turns. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Omicron COVID boosters appear to work, regardless of side effects | CNBC2 months ago
  If you already got your omicron-specific COVID booster, you might have experienced some side effects. Maybe even ones that were more intense than your previous shot. But there’s no need to worry: Experts and new data say the new shots appear to work — regardless of whether you experience moderate, mild or no side effects at all. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• How to boost your immune system during cold and flu season | The New York Times2 months ago
  As the days shorten and people trade their tank tops and shorts for sweaters and tights, the turn of autumn signals another new beginning: the start of flu and cold season, and COVIC winter number 3. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• What to know about the updated COVID booster in WA | The Seattle Times2 months ago
  The Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster arrived in Washington nearly two months ago, but rates for the shot remain low, and questions around eligibility, access and safety continue to pop up. Health experts want as many Washingtonians to receive it as possible, hoping to protect communities against possible fall or winter surges. Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Can the COVID vaccine make you test positive? What's the best booster timing? | NPR2 months ago
  A roundup of COVID vaccine-related questions from Goats and Soda listeners. Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Health disparities in Washington's Latinx communities | Northwest News Network2 months ago
  Latinx people make up about 13.7% of the population in our state, but their health is a mixed picture, said Dr. Leo Morales, professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and co-director of the UW Latino Center for Health.
• Washington's Latinx communities face numerous health disparities | Northwest News Radio2 months ago
  Washington's Latinx communities are hit harder than the overall population by diseases including COVID and monkeypox, but they fall far behind on health care access. These findings come from an analysis by Dr. Leo Morales, professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and co-director of the UW Latino Center for Health.
• Scientists identify molecule that can kill COVID with ‘hugs’ — but there’s a catch | The Daily Beast2 months ago
  Scientists have identified a molecule that just loves SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It loves it so much that it “hugs” it, practically to death — binding so tightly to the virus that the virus can’t infect our cells. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Flu season could be rough this year | NPR2 months ago
  The flu virtually disappeared for two years as the pandemic raged. But influenza appears poised to stage a comeback this year in the U.S., threatening to cause a long-feared "twindemic." While the flu and the coronavirus are both notoriously unpredictable, there's a good chance COVID cases will surge again this winter, and troubling signs that the flu could return, too. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Why you should rest if you have COVID-19 | Time2 months ago
  The only guaranteed way to avoid long COVID is not to get infected by SARS-CoV-2. But if someone does get sick, “Rest is incredibly important to give your body and your immune system a chance to fight off the acute infection,” says Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine.
• Biden's comments on the end of the pandemic could make things worse, says UW professor | Northwest News Radio2 months ago
  A local Covid forecaster from the University of Washington says the President made a mistake when he declared the pandemic over. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is referenced.
• Is the pandemic over? We asked an economist, an education expert and a public health scholar their views | The Conversation2 months ago
  President Joe Biden’s declaration that “the pandemic is over” raised eyebrows and the hackles of some experts who think such messaging could be premature and counterproductive. But to many Americans who have long since returned to pre-COVID 19 activities and are now being forced back into the office, the remark may ring true. The problem is that what “back to normal” feels like may differ from person to person, depending on the individual’s circumstances and by what criteria they are judging the pandemic to be over. The Conversation asked three scholars of different parts of U.S. society affected by the pandemic – public health, education and the economy – to evaluate just how “over” the pandemic is in their worlds. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is interviewed.
• End of coronavirus pandemic won’t mean end of COVID, boosters | Tacoma News Tribune2 months ago
  A recent news conference with global health officials on the world’s outlook for COVID-19 seemed like the news we’ve all been waiting for — that the end is “in sight” for the pandemic. The Sept. 14 briefing from the World Health Organization offered optimism over signs the pandemic is winding down globally. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced a milestone reached in the pandemic’s global numbers. Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Measuring blood oxygen levels on a smartphone | KCBS Radio2 months ago
  Conditions like COVID and asthma make it harder for our bodies to absorb oxygen, so these patients need a way to measure their oxygen levels. A team from the University of Washington has discovered a way for measuring blood oxygen levels by using a smartphone. Matthew Thompson, professor of global health and of family medicine at the UW, is interviewed.
• Seriously, flu could be bad this year | The Atlantic3 months ago
  Sometime in the spring of 2020, after centuries, perhaps millennia, of tumultuous coexistence with humans, influenza abruptly went dark. Around the globe, documented cases of the viral infection completely cratered as the world tried to counteract SARS-CoV-2. This time last year, American experts began to fret that the flu’s unprecedented sabbatical was too bizarre to last. It didn't come in 2021, but as the weather turns colder, experts are nervously looking ahead. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• New COVID-19 mutations could make infected people sick for a longer time | The Daily Beast3 months ago
  When the pharmaceutical industry scrambled to develop the first COVID vaccines back in 2020, it made sense that developers focused on the part of the virus that allows it to grab onto and infect our cells: the spike proteins. The best vaccines contain a piece of the spike, or genetic data about the spike, either of which can spur an immune response. Not to be outdone, the virus has been mutating—with many of the changes occurring on that same spike. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Fall boosters coming soon - now what? UW doctor answers FAQs | MyNorthwest3 months ago
  The FDA has authorized fall COVID-19 boosters, and now the shots have just received the CDC’s signoff before they can get in the pipeline for widespread distribution. It is expected that they will hit pharmacies within days. Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• Puget Sound region school districts grapple with long-lasting impact to grades from pandemic | KIRO 73 months ago
  Thousands of students are heading back to school with no requirements on masks or social distancing for the first time in two-and-a-half years, but the pandemic had a major and long-lasting impact on learning and grades. KIRO 7 obtained data on failing and non-complete grades across several school districts, which appeared to show that student engagement is improving, but there is a ways to go. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• UW doctor's advice for those with BA.5 testing positive for 10 days | MyNorthwest3 months ago
  If you were one of the many people to catch COVID during this summer’s BA.5 surge, you might have noticed the little positive sign on your antigen tests sticking around for a week or more — even if you were already feeling better. Dr. Seth Cohen, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• 'Take the politics out': Advocates urge CDC to improve public trust | KUOW3 months ago
  From faulty COVID test kits and rapidly changing mask recommendations at the start of the pandemic, to confusion about how many vaccine doses make one fully vaccinated, the CDC's communication has been unclear during the pandemic. The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, recently acknowledged as much when she told her staff that the agency was involved in some dramatic and public mistakes. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Washington state plans for rollout of new COVID-19 booster | KUOW3 months ago
  Washington state is planning for the rollout of a new COVID-19 booster this fall. Drugmakers have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize bivalent shots that target the Omicron subvariants, which are dominant in Washington and across the country. Federal approval is expected in the coming weeks, according to Lacy Fehrenbach, chief of prevention, safety and health with the state Department of Health. Dr. Helen Chu, associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Think the CDC f–ked up Covid-19? Monkeypox and polio aren’t going any better | Rolling Stone3 months ago
  It's right there in the name: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is supposed to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases — or, failing that, control them. But the Atlanta-based CDC by its own admission screwed up the initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic back in early 2020. And now there’s a growing sense of worry among epidemiologists that the agency is screwing up the responses to outbreaks of monkeypox and polio, too. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, in quoted.
• How long does natural immunity from a Covid infection last? | Seattle Met4 months ago
  Back in the early days of sourdough starters and masked neighborhood strolls, we suspected Covid could only be contracted once. As the pandemic progressed, experts estimated natural immunity would last six months. Then 90 days. Now it’s all a guessing game with the emergence of new variants like BA.5. John Bowen, a biochemist in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Long COVID’s grip will likely tighten as infections continue | WebMD4 months ago
  COVID-19 is far from done in the United States, with more than 111,000 new cases being recorded a day in the second week of August, according to Johns Hopkins University, and 625 deaths being reported every day. And as that toll grows, experts are worried about a second wave of illnesses from long COVID, a condition that already has affected between 7.7 million and 23 million Americans, according to U.S. government estimates. Dr. Theo Vos, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Antibiotic-resistance bacteria on the rise in hospitals, according to CDC | KUOW4 months ago
  Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, discusses the findings by the CDC and the dangers of so-called "superbugs."
• Long-COVID treatments: Why the world is still waiting | Nature4 months ago
  Long COVID is a complex and sometimes debilitating syndrome that can linger for months or years after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. There is no proven treatment, leaving physicians and people with the condition to play whack-a-mole with its many symptoms. And sometimes, people with the syndrome turn to untested, self-prescribed therapies. Dr. James Andrews, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• COVID hospitalizations, deaths continue to rise in some states | Northwest News Radio4 months ago
  We're seeing an increase in COVID hospitalizations and deaths in some states, but we're not seeing a big spike in cases linked to the BA.5 subvariant. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says that's likely because more people are taking at-home tests and not reporting the results. Dr. Murray says we're not seeing as much severe COVID illness, which he attributes to immunity from vaccination or prior infection and widespread use of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid.
• Heat wave exacerbating symptoms for those with long COVID | KUOW4 months ago
  This week's sweltering temperatures are adding yet another challenge for people experiencing long COVID. Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• 'Living with COVID': Where the pandemic could go next | Reuters4 months ago
  As the third winter of the coronavirus pandemic looms in the northern hemisphere, scientists are warning weary governments and populations alike to brace for more waves of COVID-19. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Little-known adeno-associated viruses may be key to unexplained hepatitis in kids, studies say | CNN4 months ago
  Scientists in the United Kingdom say they've found "strong circumstantial evidence" linking an obscure type of sidekick virus called adeno-associated virus to unexplained cases of liver damage in children around the world. The research also suggests that affected children may share a genetic susceptibility, though it's not clear what role it plays. Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Negative flu tests could point towards new viruses, UW study finds | KUOW4 months ago
  New research from the UW's Dr. Natalie Cobb, a UW Medicine physician in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, shows that an increase in flu-like cases that aren't influenza might indicate a new virus.
• Second booster shot for younger adults on hold | Northwest News Radio4 months ago
  It was supposed to happen this summer. The flood gates were to open and everyone who wanted a second booster could get one. But the clearance is on hold, with the Biden administration instead aiming for September when the new vaccine that better protects against BA.4 and BA.5 is available. John Bowen, a biochemist in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• President Biden's lingering COVID-19 symptoms and Monkeypox | MSNBC4 months ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, discusses President Biden's current COVID-19 symptoms and the outbreak of the Monkeypox.
• CDC: These 12 Washington counties should wear masks indoors | KOIN4 months ago
  Doctors at the University of Washington say the COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.5’s strength in evading previous immune protection is driving a summer surge in new virus cases – and some counties in Washington are seeing that surge more than others. Dr. John Lynch, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• COVID reinfections are now common — will getting a booster even help? | HealthDay4 months ago
  Everyone in the United States knows someone -- often multiple someones -- who have been reinfected with COVID-19. John Bowen, a biochemist in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• BA.5 variant one of the largest COVID surges to date, UW researchers say | KOIN4 months ago
  As the BA.5 variant causes a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, researchers at the University of Washington are sounding the alarm. Dr. John Lynch, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• COVID-19 reinfections on the rise as officials call for a new booster | MyNorthwest4 months ago
  The Washington State Department of Health has released a new report showing that COVID-19 reinfection rates are rising as the new BA.5 strain becomes the most infectious yet. Dr. Keith Jerome, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Surprise: Boosters still work | Fortune4 months ago
  The latest Omicron subvariant may be a master at evading the immune response our bodies produce from the vaccine or previous COVID-19 infection, but a new study suggests existing booster shots will still help. The UW School of Medicine’s Veesler Lab is mentioned.
• Booster shots improve protection against Omicron subvariants | KING 55 months ago
  New research from the UW suggests that boosters do provide enough immune protection to prevent severe cases of infection from Omicron and its subvariants.
• New UW research stresses importance of booster shots against subvariants | FOX 135 months ago
  The study looked at seven vaccines, including Moderna and Pfizer, and found that a full-series plus a booster of any of them provides the best protection against Omicron subvariants.
• Current COVID vaccines effetive against current subvariant | Northwest News Radio5 months ago
  A UW study found that with a full vaccine dose plus a booster from any of the three manufacturers, you're as protected as you can be. John Bowen, a biochemist in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• University of Washington: COVID booster could offset some omicron immune evasion tactics | KOIN5 months ago
  An international study, led by the University of Washington School of Medicine, shows booster shots with existing vaccines offset some omicron immune evasion tactics.
• COVID-19 vaccine boosters protect against ‘severe disease’ from omicron, UW-led study finds | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  While omicron subvariants evolved to evade antibody responses from the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, a new laboratory study led by researchers at UW Medicine suggests boosters may offer some protection against serious disease. David Veesler, associate professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• Pregnancy, other risk factors open up additional COVID treatment options | FOX 135 months ago
  Additional treatment options, including monoclonal antibodies and antiviral medication, are available for those who test positive for COVID and are pregnant or have other risk factors. Dr. Alisa Kachikis, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• What new parents should know about parechovirus | The New York Times5 months ago
  Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert notifying doctors, nurses and public health departments to the fact that the virus has been circulating nationally since May. The C.D.C. is urging clinicians to consider it as a possible diagnosis for any babies with unexplained fever, seizures or sepsis-like symptoms. Dr. Alex Greninger, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Local efforts to tackle long COVID underway | Northwest News Radio5 months ago
  Some 26 million people in the U.S. are developing long COVID after an infection. Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed about the symptoms of long COVID and its effects.
• CDC ups Tri-Cities COVID rating, recommends masks | Tri-City Herald5 months ago
  Both Benton and Franklin counties have new ratings of “high” for COVID-19 community levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s the worst rating for the counties in recent months and up from ratings of “low” just a week ago. The CDC recommends that people in the two counties wear masks indoors in public. The rating also triggers a requirement that workers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford nuclear reservation wear face masks. Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• BA.5 COVID-19 omicron variant: How FDA, CDC are failing us | Rolling Stone5 months ago
  The latest subvariant of the novel coronavirus is spreading fast. And the federal government is struggling to keep up. There’s a lot the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can do to slow the BA.5 subvariant and prevent deaths. But both the FDA and CDC have dragged their heels. The FDA still hasn’t taken arguably the most important steps — approving both second boosters for Americans under age 50 and new booster formulations for subvariants such as BA.5. The CDC meanwhile isn’t clearly communicating to the public just how serious BA.5 is. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Just how big is this COVID surge? It's gotten harder to say | Los Angeles Times5 months ago
  The boom in home testing for the coronavirus has meant that health officials never hear about many COVID cases, deflating official counts. Federal funding to test uninsured patients also dried up this spring, pinching the availability of free testing for some Americans. California has sought to continue providing testing for uninsured people through its own programs, and in Los Angeles County, the Department of Health Services said the number of its own sites — which offer COVID testing without out-of-pocket charges to L.A. County residents — has remained stable since the beginning of this year. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• King County considers mask mandate indoors again | KING 55 months ago
  New and highly transmissible COVID-19 variants have King County health leaders “actively considering” bringing back a mask mandate. County health officials said at a briefing Thursday that COVID-19 cases are higher than the peak of last year's delta wave. Health leaders believe these case numbers are likely an undercount because many people use rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, which are rarely included in official numbers. Pavitra Roychoudhury, acting instructor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Long COVID affecting many King County residents | Northwest News Radio5 months ago
  Local hospitals are once again dealing with a large number of COVID cases. Doctors say some of those patients will develop long COVID, and people need to know it doesn't just strike those who are seriously ill. Some of the most common and disturbing symptoms of long COVID include fatigue and "brain fog," or cognitive impairment, according to Dr. Janna Friedly, professor of medicine and of rehabilitation medicine in the UW School of Medicine. Dr. Jeff Duchin, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is referenced.
• Experts reveal how likely reinfection is from COVID with spread of omicron subvariant BA.5 | ABC News5 months ago
  Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevailing theory was that if someone was infected with the virus, they were immune — at least for a while. But a growing number of Americans seem to be contracting the virus more than once. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation,is quoted.
• Bill Gates wants to help prevent next pandemic with ‘best bargain you’ll ever see’ | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  To Bill Gates, it’s obvious world leaders will fund a global health team to prevent the next pandemic. “We’re just not that irrational,” the billionaire philanthropist and self-proclaimed data nerd said of the alternative. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is referenced.
• Why the Omicron offshoot BA.5 is a big deal | CNN5 months ago
  After the Omicron tidal wave washed over the United States in January and the smaller rise in cases in the spring caused by the BA.2 subvariant, it might have seemed like the coronavirus could be ignored for a while. After all, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in December that nearly all Americans had been vaccinated or have antibodies from a past infection. Surely all that immunity bought some breathing room. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• The BA.5 wave is what COVID normal looks like | The Atlantic5 months ago
  After two-plus years of erupting into distinguishable peaks, the American coronavirus-case curve has a new topography: a long, never-ending plateau. Waves are now so frequent that they’re colliding and uplifting like tectonic plates, the valleys between them filling with virological rubble. Pavitra Roychoudhury, acting instructor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• 'Highly-transmissible' COVID-19 variant fueling rise in cases | KING 55 months ago
  It’s being called highly transmissible, elusive and it’s fueling a rise in coronavirus cases in Washington state and across the country. The omicron subvariant BA.5 is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Washington and now throughout the U.S., according to public health officials and new data released Wednesday. Pavitra Roychoudhury, acting instructor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Experts rue simple steps not taken before latest COVID surge | Associated Press5 months ago
  With new omicron variants again driving COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths higher in recent weeks, states and cities are rethinking their responses and the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the public. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• BA.5 most contagious strain yet, second booster on the way | MyNorthwest5 months ago
  It’s being called the worst version of COVID to date by some doctors — and now the BA.5 subvariant of omicron is becoming the dominant strain in the U.S. after sweeping across Europe, Africa, and Australia. Deborah Fuller, professor of microbiology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• What should we be thinking about in the face of BA.5 variant? | MSNBC5 months ago
  Interview with Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation on the future of COVID vaccines.

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