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Coronavirus

Vaccine makers racing to update COVID shots, just in case

Vaccine makers racing to update COVID shots, just in case

While the available COVID-19 shots are still useful, companies are beginning to update their formulas in response to emerging variants. “Whether it turns out to be a false alarm, it would be really good to know if we can actually do this—get a new vaccine rolled out and be ready,” said E. John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine.

Biden administration aims to make at-home COVID-19 tests more available; critics cite flaws

Biden administration aims to make at-home COVID-19 tests more available; critics cite flaws

Judith O’Donnell of the Perelman School of Medicine said there are a number of quality COVID-19 rapid tests available in the U.S. “Being able to do a test in your own house, rather than having to schedule an appointment to go to an urgent care center or go to an emergency room or to a testing site, is a level of convenience that we didn't have a year ago,” she said.

New COVID pills offer hope as Omicron looms

New COVID pills offer hope as Omicron looms

Sarah Cherry of the Perelman School of Medicine welcomed the arrival of two new antiviral drugs for COVID-19, which she said will be particularly helpful if the Omicron variant reduces the effectiveness of the vaccines. “That will definitely help us as a stopgap, if we really do need to change the vaccines,” she said.

Four big questions about Omicron

Four big questions about Omicron

Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine said scientists aren’t yet sure if the Omicron variant is more likely to cause severe COVID-19 than other variants. “We may just not have had enough time to see severe disease develop,” he said.

A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Side by side panels that compare before treatment with after treatment with ACE2 gum show a marked decline in bubbles, indicating the virus.

A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission

In experiments using saliva samples from COVID-19 patients, the gum, which contains the ACE2 protein, neutralized the virus, according to research led by School of Dental Medicine scientists.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure
two panels depicting conditions in philadelphia public schools. the one on the left is a cartoon of students working in a classroom with issues such as mold, vermin, and asbestos and lead highlighted. on the right is an updated version of the same classroom with these issues removed and text below asks "what is your dream for philadelphia schools?"

Renderings developed by students in Planning Public Schools as Infrastructure, one showing deteriorating conditions in buildings and the other encouraging viewers to envision their future, on display outside of City Hall. (Image credit: Akira Drake Rodriguez)

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure

Urban planners and architects are working to address one of the many challenges faced by public schools by designing healthy and engaging outdoor educational spaces.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Navigating holidays in a pandemic, again
A piece of pumpkin pie on a serving spatula, a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Navigating holidays in a pandemic, again

Experts from Penn’s Center for Public Health Initiatives and Positive Psychology Center offer six tips for making the holiday season joyful, fun, and safe.

Michele W. Berger , Erica K. Brockmeier

What COVID-19 precautions should I take over the holidays?

What COVID-19 precautions should I take over the holidays?

Richard Wender of the Perelman School of Medicine said COVID-19 precautions are still needed this holiday season. “When you’re dealing with something like a global pandemic, you just gotta take life day-by-day and not act as if the ending has already arrived, because it hasn’t, and in many parts of the country, COVID rates are quite high right now,” he said.