Pandemic

COVID-19 antigen home tests indicating a positive result are photographed in New York, April 5, 2023.

Pandemic recovery will require much focus and attention, Dr. Atul Gawande says

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed about 7 million people worldwide, ravaging health care systems and economies. Dr. Atul Gawande, head of global health at the US Agency for International Development, spoke with The World's Carolyn Beeler about how pandemic recovery "will require as much focus and attention as it did when it first started."

Pandemic recovery will require much focus and attention, Dr. Atul Gawande says
A woman walks outside of a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, on Feb. 10, 2023. 

'The pandemic is still with us': The bumpy road to the end of COVID

'The pandemic is still with us': The bumpy road to the end of COVID
White Sand beach on Boracay Island, in the Philippines.

The return of Chinese tourists restores hope in the Philippines' tourism industry

The return of Chinese tourists restores hope in the Philippines' tourism industry
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, waves hello to the committee at the start of a House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

People shouldn’t put their guard down when it comes to COVID, Fauci says

People shouldn’t put their guard down when it comes to COVID, Fauci says
President Joe Biden meets with the White House COVID-19 Response Team on the latest developments related to the omicron variant in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, Jan. 4, 2022

‘Hope is not a plan’: Dr. Atul Gawande says global COVID funding is dwindling but the crisis continues

‘Hope is not a plan’: Dr. Atul Gawande says global COVID funding is dwindling but the crisis continues
People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk along the street in Tokyo, Japan

Discussion: What researchers have learned about the omicron variant

Some parts of the world are still battling the omicron variant of COVID-19, while others seem to be somewhere around its peak. Join The World's reporter Elana Gordon for our regular series of conversations about the pandemic. She will moderate a panel on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 12 p.m. Eastern time, and will be speaking with epidemiologist Bill Hanage of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Discussion: What researchers have learned about the omicron variant
A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. 

At least 9 African countries set to produce COVID vaccines, Africa’s CDC chief says

Despite Africa's low vaccination rates, the continent's early, robust response has helped mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the continent so far, says Dr. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And he predicts many more vaccines will be available in 2022, with a strong emphasis on distribution.

At least 9 African countries set to produce COVID vaccines, Africa’s CDC chief says
People wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 walk in downtown Lisbon

A COVID variant of concern or just another 'scare-iant?'

There have been hundreds and thousands variants of COVID-19. Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland, explained to The World's host Carol Hills when a variant actually becomes a variant of concern.

A COVID variant of concern or just another 'scare-iant?'
A pregnant woman wearing a face mask and gloves holds her belly as she waits in line for groceries at St. Mary's Church in Waltham, Mass.

Discussion: The pandemic, women's health and pregnancy

The coronavirus has affected women in various ways, including physically and socially. As part of The World's regular series of conversations about the pandemic, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with Ana Langer, Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Director of the Women and Health Initiative at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health about the pandemic-related challenges affecting women in particular.

Discussion: The pandemic, women's health and pregnancy
The exterior of Pfizer in Groton, Conn. Pfizer Inc.

Pfizer announces ‘highly effective’ pill to combat COVID

Pfizer announces its Paxlovid pill as highly effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19 among at-risk people. Also, the US approves its first major arms sale under the Biden administration to Saudi Arabia. And, nine groups in Ethiopia form an alliance — including Tigray forces and the Oromo Liberation Army — against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to seek a political transition, as rebel forces near the capital.

Pfizer announces ‘highly effective’ pill to combat COVID
A nurse prepares a syringe for a patient infected with the coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the Syrian American Medical Society Hospital

Discussion: The challenges of vaccinating people in conflict zones

As part of The World's series of conversations on the coronavirus pandemic with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion about a pandemic ceasefire to vaccinate people in conflict zones.

Discussion: The challenges of vaccinating people in conflict zones
Before the pandemic, each student in the Uruguayan public system already had a personal computer under Plan Ceibal, which started in 2007. 

Uruguay's virtual education was ahead of the curve when the pandemic hit

The country's Plan Ceibal program had already been supplying students with tablets and computers for 15 years.

Uruguay's virtual education was ahead of the curve when the pandemic hit
In this Aug. 22, 2019, file photo, signs on a bank of computers tell visitors that the machines are not working at the public library in Wilmer, Texas. 

Checking in on the pandemic: Part II

How did the pandemic change the world of cybercrime? Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive into how people exploited the pandemic online.

Checking in on the pandemic: Part II
Men in suits, some wearing masks and sunglasses stand together

Will Ghebreyesus’ pandemic report card earn him a second WHO term?

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, has been a mainstay face of the COVID-19 pandemic response over the past year.

Will Ghebreyesus’ pandemic report card earn him a second WHO term?
A photo of a bin of used syringes inside a trailer.

Pandemic report: ‘We are not short on recommendations. We are short on action.’

Dr. Joanne Liu, a member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic and Preparedness Response, discusses the new pandemic report and recommendations on preparedness.

Pandemic report: ‘We are not short on recommendations. We are short on action.’