Debt ceiling deal will mean even less COVID-19 funding

June 4, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

In order to reach the debt ceiling deal, Biden had to make a lot of compromises—including limiting funding for COVID-19 and other public health needs. The deal could make it harder for state and local governments to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, track disease through programs like wastewater surveillance, and prepare for future health threats.

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Ending emergencies will lead to renewed health equity issues

May 14, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

Last week, I gave you an overview of the changes coming with the end of the federal public health emergency (PHE). This week, I’d like to focus on the health equity implications of the PHE’s end. With the end of extra supplies and resources tied to the emergency, people who are already vulnerable to other health issues will become more at risk for COVID-19.

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The federal public health emergency ends next week: What you should know

May 7, 2023.Reading time 18 minutes.

We’re now less than one week out from May 11, when the federal public health emergency (or PHE) for COVID-19 will end. While this change doesn’t actually signify that COVID-19 is no longer worth worrying about, it marks a major shift in how U.S. governments will respond to the ongoing pandemic, including how the disease is tracked and what public services are available. Here’s all the key info you should know about this, in one place.

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What the public health emergency’s end means for COVID-19 data

February 5, 2023.Reading time 8 minutes.

This past Monday, the White House announced that the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 will end in May. While this decision might be an accurate reflection of how most of the U.S. is treating COVID-19 right now, it has massive implications for Americans’ access to tests, treatments, vaccines—and data.

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Looking ahead to the big COVID-19 stories of 2023

January 15, 2023.Reading time 11 minutes.

As someone who’s been reporting on COVID-19 since the beginning, a new year is a good opportunity to parse out what feels like an eternity of pandemic reporting. So this week, I reflected on the major trends and topics I hope to cover in 2023—both building on my work from prior years and taking it in new directions.

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NYC’s wastewater program models the challenges facing local public health agencies

December 18, 2022.Reading time 10 minutes.

My second big story this week is a detailed report about New York City’s wastewater surveillance program, highlighting its lack of transparency. I’m particularly excited to share this one with NYC-based readers, as it uncovers a public program that’s been running under our feet for nearly three years.

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Sources and updates, December 4

December 4, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

Sources and updates for the week of December 4 include new CDC grants to support public health infrastructure, breakthrough COVID-19 deaths, monoclonal antibodies, and more.

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