Covid-19 Updates

Covid-19 Updates Archive

Ahh, the perfect fall look: chunky cardigan, boots, COVID-19 vaccine... and fancier mask?

The vaccine taught my body to make antibodies against COVID-19. But do I have enough antibodies to prevent a breakthrough infection? Can I take a test to find out?

The Delta variant is a lean, mean, COVID-19 infecting machine. But can it make you contagious and sick faster? Here comes the science...

It’s been weeks, but my COVID-19 symptoms are hanging around. Am I still contagious? 

Taking a taxi? Hopping in a friend’s backseat? Don’t take COVID-19 on a joy ride.

Mom gave COVID-19 to Dad, then Dad gave it to Brad, then Brad infected Chad and now everyone in the house is sad. Are we doomed to repeat this cycle forever? If so, we are NOT glad.

Confused about the CDC’s new options for shorter quarantine periods after exposure to COVID-19? Why the change? How does it work? And which option would apply to me?

Beth, Chris, and Nicole: They’re not just your best lunch buddies, they’re also lean mean aerosol machines. So if you want to avoid COVID-19, you’re gonna want to eat your submarine sandwich solo, or make that takeout order for one.

Your mom just called. Aunt Martha insists on hosting Turkey day this year. She says it’ll be safe — everyone just needs to get a COVID-19 test before the feast. So, as long as everybody has a negative test it’s fine, right? The biggest danger is Uncle Walt’s deep-fried turkey exploding… right?

Isn’t romance wonderful? Long walks on the beach, dining al fresco by candlelight, having no idea what the bottom half of your date’s face looks like… Wondering how you can take your budding relationship indoors while minimizing your COVID-19 risk? It might be time to propose a romantic bubble.

Her brother recovered from COVID-19 in March. Now he says he’s immune and doesn’t need to use a mask or take other precautions. Is he right?

Wondering how safe it is to use public transportation during a pandemic? This is the article for you! Dying to know the size and MERV-rating of every HVAC filter on the Red Line? Yup, you’ll find that here too.

You won't get COVID-19 frolicking alone on a mountaintop, but in the real world, social distancing isn’t as easy. We've teamed up with Tim the beaver to create the Do-Re-Mi’s of COVID-19 risk—a handy poster guide for those of us who don’t have access to a pristine alpine meadow.

It will soon be too cold to swim outdoors, but is it safe to use an indoor pool? What guidelines can we use to assess risk in this situation and others?

So many masks, so many features, so many different fabrics! What does MIT Medical recommend?

Plastic cups and utensils. Throwaway plates and bowls. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a sea of single-use, disposable EVERYTHING. I miss my favorite coffee mug. When will reusables be safe again?

MIT Medical answers your questions about COVID-19. Today’s topic? How safe is air travel? What about that re-circulated air in the cabin? And should I look for an airline that’s still blocking middle seats?

MIT Medical answers your COVID-19 questions. Today’s topic? Glasses and masks. It’s not a great face-wear combination, but millions of us have been trying to make it work. Could face shields be the answer?

No school. No daycare. No play dates or sleepovers. And now summer camp is canceled too? Daily life during the pandemic has been especially tough for parents and kids. MIT Medical pediatricians think “bubbles” may be the answer.

As states reopen, we can get haircuts, eat at a restaurants, and go back to work in our labs. But when can the kids see grandma or have a play date? When can I start hanging out with the friends I used to hang out with in those pre-coronavirus days? 

Kids don’t get very sick with COVID-19. Or do they? Recently, we’ve been hearing more about a serious illness connected to the virus that is affecting children, teens, and even some young adults. What is it, and how worried should you be? 

May 28: MIT Medical answers your COVID-19 questions. Does wearing short sleeves and shorts increase risk?

May 26: We’re staying home, social distancing, and avoiding contact with all kinds of germs. Will this weaken our immune systems? What happens when we start going out again?

May 13: MIT Medical answers your COVID-19 questions. After having COVID-19, how and when do you know you are truly recovered and no longer infectious? 

April 16: MIT Medical answers your COVID-19 questions. Today’s question: Do anti-inflammatory drugs make COVID-19 symptoms worse? 

April 8: Could I get COVID-19 from eating take-out food that had somehow become contaminated by airborne viral particles?  

Recent research showed that #COVID19 can live for up to 3 days on some surfaces and may remain suspended in the air for as long as a half-hour. So how safe are home-delivered groceries? Mail? Take-out food? A walk around the block?