Coronavirus Research

Person lying on back in hospital bed receiving oxygen via a mask.

Nearly 1 in 10 COVID patients return after leaving emergency department

A new Penn study finds patients with low pulse oximetry readings or fever were more than three times as likely to require hospitalization after their initial discharge, as compared to other COVID patients.

a person in a mask looking at bugs on a tarp below a canopy of tree branches

Research Recovery Program supports scholars impacted by the pandemic

A new funding mechanism offers grants designed to help researchers mitigate unexpected costs and provides opportunities for scholars to delve into new areas of study.

Multiple vaccine syringes standing upright on a surface.

Who should get the COVID-19 vaccine first?

A group of global experts led by Penn offer a model that lays the groundwork for fair distribution and prioritize reducing premature deaths.

healthcare professional with syringe and vaccine

Ensuring an ethical path to a ‘warp speed’ vaccine

Penn scholars consider the ethical implications of the development and allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine.

hand holding a smartphone in a public transit station tracking human images on the screen in red or green indicating covid exposure

Cell phone location used to estimate COVID-19 growth rates

Cell phone location data shows that in counties where activity declined at workplaces and increased at home, coronavirus infection rates were lower.

Penn Medicine helps power international COVID-19 data consortium

An international consortium involving Penn researchers pools electronic health record data from around the world to discover clinical insights about COVID-19.

Cellphone tracking can help predict pandemic’s spread

Joshua Baker of the Perelman School of Medicine authored a study that found that counties with greater declines in workplace cellphone activity during stay-at-home orders had lower COVID-19 rates. “This analysis supports the incorporation of anonymized cellphone location data into modeling strategies to predict at-risk counties across the U.S. before outbreaks become too great,” he said.

closeup view of gloved hand holding a vial and pipette in a medical lab.

Existing drugs like statins may be promising COVID-19 treatments

Commentary by two Penn researchers outline a systematic framework for repurposing existing drugs to quickly find new therapies, after an observational study suggested statins may be helpful in combating COVID-19.

COVID-19 ‘long haulers’ face uncertain future

A Penn clinic run by Robert Kotloff of the Perelman School of Medicine is studying and treating patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms.

Beauty and the mask: People who wear face masks rated ‘far more attractive,’ study finds

David Sarwer of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about research he helped conduct about perceptions of mask wearing. “For people who might self-conscious or concerned about how they look in a mask when they go in the public, we now have evidence that says, in reality, people are going to see you as more attractive,” he said.

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