EXPLAINER: Why expansion of vaccine to smokers caused a stir

New Jersey this week made millions of people eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including smokers, a move that prompted gripes about them skipping to the front of the inoculation line. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy made people 65 and older and those 16 and older with medical conditions eligible to get the vaccine. That started […]

EXPLAINER: Why the smallest state has a big virus challenge

For a few days in December, Rhode Island was one of the worst places on the planet when it came to new cases of COVID-19 per capita. Hospitals hit capacity as the rate of new cases topped the nation, nearly double the rate in neighboring Connecticut. The state’s record for daily COVID-19 deaths, set in […]

EXPLAINER: What to know about COVID-19 vaccination in the US

The first shots of COVID-19 vaccine are being delivered, but it will likely be months before doses are widely available for everyone at U.S. drugstores and doctor’s office. Details are still being worked out, but officials expect widespread availability by the middle of next year. A second coronavirus vaccine is being reviewed this week by […]

EXPLAINER: How much COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped in US

COVID-19 vaccines have begun shipping in the U.S. after getting emergency authorization, setting off the nation’s biggest ever vaccination push. But supplies are expected to be limited for some time. The first wave of shipments is going to health care workers and nursing home residents. Officials say vaccines should be available to everyone by the […]

Explainer: what is contact tracing and how does it help limit the coronavirus spread?

You might have heard about contact tracing which, when combined with social distancing, has proven a powerful asset in controlling the spread of COVID-19. In short, it means assigning a “contact tracer” to interview each person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The contact tracer, through painstaking and quick detective work, finds out who else […]

Explainer: How will the emergency release of NSW prisoners due to coronavirus work?

The New South Wales government has passed emergency legislation providing the Corrections Commissioner with powers to release some of the state’s 14,034 prisoners. This legislation was introduced in the wake of the global release of prisoners to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, the United States has begun to release thousands of prisoners across […]