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. 

• COVID-19: Latest IHME model shows mask wearing may prevent further lockdowns | KOMO 43 days ago
  Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says we’re being rewarded for continuing to wear masks and social distancing, even though mask wearing is only at 50% instead of the goal of 95%. The institute predicts we won’t need any further lockdown of the economy.
• COVID Chronicles, Vol. 10: Three scientists race to track deadly pathogen in their city | NBC News3 days ago
  An illustrated feature shares the story of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as told by the UW's Trevor Bedford, affiliate associate professor of genome sciences; Lea Starita, research assistant professor of genome sciences; and Dr. Helen Chu, assistant professor of medicine.
• Opinion: World Health Organization is wrong on dental care: Do not delay preventive exams | The Seattle Times3 days ago
  "The World Health Organization recently issued guidance on dental care during the pandemic that advised delaying routine preventive care. While WHO did provide some good information related to COVID-19 and transmission of the virus, its guidance unfortunately does not account for the high infection control standards in the United States and many other countries," writes Dr. Gary Chiodo, dean of the UW School of Dentistry.
• US adds 44,000 COVID-19 cases; new outlook sees 3,000 deaths a day by 2021 | UPI3 days ago
  The United States added more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases and almost 1,000 deaths on Thursday. An updated outlook from researchers at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation on Thursday said a "winter surge" could increase the national death toll to 3,000 per day in late December and a total of 371,000 deaths by Jan. 1.
• Masks are coveted items with COVID-19 and smoke sweeping West Coast | Bloomberg3 days ago
  The masks are recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to filter out small airborne smoke particles and COVID-19, but they were almost unfindable this month even as air quality in West Coast states ranged from merely unhealthy to hazardous. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
• Vaccine messaging faces unprecedented test with COVID-19 – success of a vaccine hinges on it | Yahoo! News3 days ago
  When the HPV vaccine was approved, uptake of the vaccine was abysmal, so the CDC launched a campaign to promote its importance. As scientists edge closer to finalizing vaccines for COVID-19, lessons from HPV and other vaccine messaging campaigns are suddenly more relevant than ever. Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• Winter weather could increase spread of COVID-19 | VOA News3 days ago
  As winter brings shorter days and lower temperatures to the Northern Hemisphere, there is a chance we could see more COVID-19 cases. But experts say it is still too early to know exactly how seasons will affect the virus. They emphasize that human behaviors are still the most important driver of the pandemic. Dr. John Lynch, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• COVID-19 death toll nears 1 million, but real number may be double | Bloomberg3 days ago
  The world will officially record 1 million deaths from COVID-19 in the next few days, but the real tally might be almost double that. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• UW study finds thousands of US coronavirus cases associated with in-person college instruction | Patch3 days ago
  A nationwide study co-authored by Anirban Basu, professor of health economics at the UW, found between 1,000 and 5,000 new coronavirus cases each day in places where colleges have reopened for face-to-face instruction. [This is part of coronavirus updates for Sept. 24.]
• Scientists find ingredients for COVID-19 ‘antibody cocktail’ | GeekWire3 days ago
  An international research team led by University of Washington biochemists — David Veesler, M. Alejandra Tortorici, Ha Dang, Matthew McCallum and John Bowen — has identified two kinds of “ultrapotent human antibodies” that could go into a drug cocktail for guarding against COVID-19.
• Opinion: Will the public trust a COVID-19 vaccine? | CNN3 days ago
  "What evidence of vaccine effectiveness — balanced by what assurance of safety — would prompt you to seek a dose of one of these novel vaccines to protect an elderly family member or for yourself?
  Optimal use of these COVID-19 vaccines will depend on the confidence of the American people in the processes leading up to the vaccines' release," writes Dr. Edgar Marcuse, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine.
• Developing a coronavirus vaccine | KHQ3 days ago
  Jesse Erasmus, acting assistant professor of microbiology at the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed about his work developing a coronavirus vaccine.
• Coronavirus challenges pandemic preparedness program | NPR4 days ago
  Making a drug or vaccine to fight a virus that's completely new to science is a tall order, especially when you're trying to do it in record time. The Defense Department is trying to speed up that effort, but the pandemic preparedness program still has a ways to go. Jesse Erasmus, acting assistant professor of microbiology at the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
• University of Washington to test smartphone technology that tells you if you were exposed to the coronavirus; here’s how it works | The Seattle Times4 days ago
  This fall, researchers at the University of Washington plan to test smartphone technology that tells users if they may have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Vindicated COVID-19 models warn pandemic is far from over | NBC News4 days ago
  Modelers have watched with a mixture of horror and frustration as their projections of the pandemic’s evolution have come to fruition. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is referenced.
• COVID-19 bites: Cracked teeth another coronavirus scourge | Health Day4 days ago
  Like sleepless nights and stomach jitters, teeth grinding is a telltale sign of stress. And the habit — which can damage and break your choppers — is sending people to dental offices in growing numbers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Avina Paranjpe, associate professor of dentistry at the UW, is quoted.
• Some COVID-19 patients show signs of heart damage months later | The Wall Street Journal4 days ago
  The new coronavirus can leave some patients with signs of heart inflammation and injury months after they get sick with COVID-19, even in cases where their illness wasn’t severe, researchers say. Dr. Charles Murry, professor of pathology, medicine and bioengineering in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• College openings fueled 3,000 COVID-19 cases per day: study | Los Angeles Times4 days ago
  Reopening colleges drove a coronavirus surge of about 3,000 new cases a day in the United States, according to a preliminary study posted Wednesday. Researchers from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Indiana University, the University of Washington and Davidson College tracked cellphone data and matched it to reopening schedules at 1,400 schools, along with county infection rates.
• A judge ordered him released from prison due to COVID-19 concerns — he died of the disease two months later in ICE custody | Buzzfeed4 days ago
  A 61-year-old Mexican man died in ICE custody from COVID-19 more than two months after a federal judge ordered his release from prison, saying his ability to defend himself from severe injury or death from the disease would be “substantially diminished” while locked up due to his chronic illness. Dr. Marc Stern, affiliate assistant professor of health services at the UW, is quoted.
• Dr. Vin Gupta: 70% of lives could have been saved if Trump acted earlier | MSNBC5 days ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, fact checks Donald Trump’s false claim that the coronavirus “affects virtually nobody” and to discusses how the Trump administration could have saved lives if they had taken “appropriate actions early” starting in early March.
• With COVID-19, vaccine messaging faces an unprecedented test | Undark5 days ago
  A COVID-19 vaccine is coming. Will public health messaging be enough to convince Americans to get it? Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• Will Halloween in Seattle be canceled by COVID-19? Not exactly — but here’s how the holiday will be different | The Seattle Times5 days ago
  Halloween has never been scarier for parents thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, a metaphorical Grinch who’s about to steal another holiday. Scott Meschke, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, is quoted.
• Exclusive: A new coronavirus school dashboard tracks infections | NPR5 days ago
  A new national effort asks K-12 schools to voluntarily — and anonymously — report their confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases, along with the safety strategies they're using. Dr. Danielle Zerr, professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• How coronavirus spotlights public health majors | US News5 days ago
  The COVID-19 pandemic promises to intensify the appeal of this hot field and its growing array of programs at the college level. The UW's Sara Mackenzie, a senior lecturer in health services and director of the public health-global health major, and student Olivia Ancrum are quoted.
• COVID-19 may have a hidden impact on the heart | The New York Times5 days ago
  Last month, several college conferences postponed their sports seasons, citing the risks posed to athletes by the coronavirus. A major factor in those decisions, according to some physicians, was the uncertain implications of a July paper in JAMA Cardiology, which showed signs of myocarditis in COVID-19 patients. Dr. Jonathan Drezner, professor of family medicine in the UW School of Medicine and director of the UW Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology, is quoted.
• US health agency sets Oct. 16 deadline for states to submit vaccine plans | Reuters5 days ago
  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday set an Oct. 16 deadline for states to submit plans for distributing COVID-19 vaccines — even before it becomes clear when any will be available — according to a presentation to a panel of experts who make recommendations on U.S. vaccines. Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the UW, is referenced.
• Daily smartphone tracking planned for first to get COVID-19 vaccine | Bloomberg5 days ago
  Americans that get the first COVID-19 vaccines will be closely monitored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through daily text messages and emails, according to a federal advisory group. Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• Some King County cities reopening parks, playgrounds as people practice responsible social distancing | KIRO 76 days ago
  Some cities have begun reopening public parks and playgrounds as people continue to wear masks and practice responsible social distancing while outside. Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed about how to stay safe.
• Where did the 200,000 COVID-19 victims die? A growing share in smaller towns | NPR6 days ago
  The coronavirus has shifted from dealing its heaviest blows to northeastern urban areas to now reaching all corners of the country. As the death count grows, smaller towns and rural communities bear a growing share of the burden of COVID-19. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Opinion: Amid challenging circumstances, school districts find promising ways to reach students, families | Forbes6 days ago
  "Our country’s school systems have responded to the pandemic with new innovations that have the potential to reshape teaching and learning for the better," write Forbes contributor Jim Cowen and Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at UW Bothell.
• The weekend’s deaths: 200,000, and 1 | Politico6 days ago
  As the country approached 200,000 COVID deaths this weekend, one death from cancer overshadowed them all. But the pandemic is still here. The country will record that 200,000th COVID death today, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• US coronavirus toll surpasses 200,000 | MSNBC6 days ago
  Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, talks about where we are when it comes to fighting the coronavirus as we head into the fall and winter.
• A look back at first death from COVID-19 in the US | NPR6 days ago
  Janet Baseman, professor of epidemiology at the UW, and Trevor Bedford, affiliate associate professor of genome sciences and of epidemiology at the UW, are interviewed.
• UW researchers discuss long term effects of COVID-19 on the heart | KOMO 46 days ago
  Researchers at the University of Washington Medicine Heart Institute are looking at how COVID-19 affects the heart. Dr. April Stempien-Otero, associate professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Childhood vaccination rates plummet during the pandemic | NPR6 days ago
  Year after year, one of the biggest success stories has been the vaccination of children. Then the pandemic hit — grounding planes that transport vaccines, sidelining health workers who administer them, prompting parents to stop taking their children for checkups out of fear they'd get infected with the coronavirus at the doctor's office. Stephen Lim, professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Seattle Now: COVID-19 reality check | KUOW6 days ago
  COVID-19 cases are declining across Washington, even prompting some schools to consider a return to in-person learning. But we're not out of the woods yet. Judith Malmgren, affiliate assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is interviewed.
• Scientists advance on one of technology’s holy grails | The New Yorker6 days ago
  Designer proteins could help us build new materials, clean up the environment and even fight COVID-19. If there’s one scientist who seems closest to making that possible, it’s David Baker, the director of the UW Institute for Protein Design. Neil King, assistant professor of biochemistry at the UW, is quoted.
• Many small COVID-19 outbreaks reported in Tri-Cities area | Tri-City Herald7 days ago
  The Benton Franklin Health District was investigating 31 separate outbreaks of COVID-19 in the two counties as of Wednesday. Dr. April Stempien-Otero, associate professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine, warns about the affect it can have on your heart.
• Dr. Vin Gupta: 'Evidence that 70% of lives could have been saved' from COVID-19 | MSNBC7 days ago
  As the U.S. nears 200,000 deaths, Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says “if we adopt universal masking right now, we can potentially save up to 200,000 lives according to estimates from the University of Washington, by Dec. 1.”
• AI model uses smartphone location data to predict power grid usage | Venture Beat7 days ago
  In a paper published on the preprint server Arxiv.org, Microsoft and the University of Washington researchers propose an AI system that uses smartphone location data to forecast electrical load. The pandemic shows no sign of abating, and it’s made a striking impact on the global electrical grid.
• Coronavirus in Washington: Positivity rates, cases, deaths all trending downward | The Seattle Times7 days ago
  Things are looking better to those of us who track the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases in earnest. Daily confirmed case counts, hospitalizations and deaths have all dropped since spiking in July. David Pigott, assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.
• Universities operating online K-12 schools report enrollment boost due to COVID-19 | Inside Higher Ed7 days ago
  Dissatisfied with the way local schools are responding to the pandemic, families increasingly turn to online K-12 options to educate their children — including schools run by universities. Bree Dusseault, the practitioner-in-residence at the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the UW Bothell, is quoted.
• COVID-19 restrictions wreak wedding chaos for Washington couples | KIRO 71 week ago
  When Jack Sorensen asked Ali Schultz for her hand in marriage, they booked their big day at the 162-acre Saltwater Farms in Friday Harbor. But now the couple is lawyering up. Not for a pre-nup, but to deal with their venue. Jane Winn, professor of law at the UW, is interviewed.
• How to create a pandemic pod for safe social interaction | The Philadelphia Inquirer1 week ago
  Outdoor summer barbecues, socially distanced hikes, and mask-wearing play dates at the park have helped people maintain in-person contact with friends and family during the coronavirus pandemic. But those outdoor gatherings will become less feasible as the pandemic stretches into the fall and temperatures drop, leaving many grasping for an alternative. Alison Drake, assistant professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: What the fall and winter of the pandemic will look like | The New York Times1 week ago
  "The deadliest month in American history was an October during a global pandemic. In 1918, after waning through the long summer, Spanish flu came roaring back to claim nearly 200,000 lives, just in that one month, just in the United States ... Coronaviruses have little in common with influenza viruses. (For one thing, coronaviruses mutate less frequently, and almost never in ways that make them deadlier). But we’re grasping for comparisons because we are living in a fog right now," writes Jeneen Interlandi, a New York Times Editorial Board member. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
• Fauci says he'll raise flags if corners are cut on a vaccine | MSNBC1 week 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 | WIRED1 week 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? | MyNorthwest1 week 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 week 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 292 weeks 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 | Crosscut2 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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 Times2 weeks 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 | Patch2 weeks 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 Times2 weeks 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 Times2 weeks 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 Times2 weeks 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 | KNKX2 weeks 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 Beast2 weeks 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 | KREM2 weeks 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’ | MSNBC2 weeks 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 | MSNBC2 weeks 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 42 weeks 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 | Crosscut2 weeks 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 Day2 weeks 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 | Insider2 weeks 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? | Newsweek2 weeks 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.

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