-
China is seeing a surge in ‘unexplained pneumonia' — should we be worried here in the US?
A surge in respiratory illnesses across China has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization, but should we be worried about a similar outbreak here in the U.S.? China’s health ministry has said the “unexplained pneumonia” is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus. In other words, the recent clusters of respiratory infections are...
-
COVID Q&A: Final Episode on Ending Emergency Status
Top Boston doctors discuss the end of state and national public health emergencies related to COVID-19 and what that means moving forward during the final episode of this series.
-
‘A Much Better Place': Top Boston Doctors Explain Mass. COVID Rates, Wastewater Data
COVID rates and wastewater levels are declining in Massachusetts and across New England, which is giving top Boston doctors some cautious optimism about the course of the pandemic.
-
COVID Q&A: Top Boston Doctors Discuss End of Emergency, ‘Lab Leak' Theory
Top Boston doctors discuss the end of COVID-19 emergency declarations and the ongoing debate over the origins of the pandemic.
-
US to Stop Offering Free COVID Vaccines This Fall: What it Means For Mass.
Top Boston doctors are worried about equal access to care in Massachusetts now that the U.S. decided to stop giving out free COVID vaccines as early as this fall. Shifting vaccine distribution to the private market is part of President Joe Biden’s decision to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations related to the pandemic in May....
-
COVID Q&A: Top Boston Doctors on Ending Free Vaccines
The U.S. will stop providing free COVID vaccines and shift distribution to the private market as soon as early fall. Top Boston doctors explain what that means for Massachusetts.
-
COVID Q&A: Top Boston Doctors Look Back as Biden Ends Emergency Declaration
Top Boston doctors discuss President Joe Biden’s plans to end national and public health emergencies related to COVID-19 and reflect on the three year anniversary of the first case in Massachusetts
-
COVID Q&A: FDA Considers Annual Vaccine Strategy
Top Boston doctors discuss a potential shift to annual COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during NBC10 Boston’s weekly “COVID Q&A” series.
-
Have We Reached Herd Immunity From COVID? Here's What Boston Doctors Say
Since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world in 2020, many people have anticipated what’s known as herd immunity as the elusive finish line. One year ago, top Boston doctors couldn’t say when, if ever, we’d cross it. Now, it’s possible the finish line is in sight. Herd immunity relates to the idea that a high level of immunity to...
-
COVID Q&A: Cases, Wastewater Levels Trending Down in Mass.
Top Boston doctors talk about the latest data trends, subvariant XBB.1.5 and whether we’ve reached herd immunity during NBC10 Boston’s weekly “COVID Q&A” series.
-
Boston Doctors ‘Looking Forward' to Seeing Gov. Healey's COVID Response Plans
As freshly sworn-in Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey settles into the corner office, top Boston doctors are weighing in on how her administration should prioritize COVID-19 response. In an historic inauguration, Healey took the oath of office earlier this month. Healey’s rise to power marks the first time a woman has been elected governor in Massachusetts, and she is among the...
-
How COVID Subvariant XBB.1.5 Got Called ‘the Kraken' — and Is That Fearmongering?
The new, more contagious COVID subvariant XBB.1.5 that’s believed to be New England’s most dominant strain of the virus has acquired a dramatic nickname: “the Kraken.” The alias was coined informally by scientists on Twitter in an attempt to help differentiate between the ever-changing variants. This particular omicron descendant could very well be contributing to a recent rise in...
-
COVID Q&A: ‘This Is a Time to Be Vigilant,' Boston Doctors Say
Top Boston doctors talk about the latest data, hospitalizations and ‘the Kraken,’ a new nickname for subvariant XBB.1.5, during NBC10 Boston’s weekly “COVID Q&A” series.
-
Students in Some Mass. School Districts Urged to Mask Up After Break
Back to class means back to masks for some students and staff in Massachusetts. In an effort to keep flu and COVID cases down, some school districts have asked students to mask up after returning from holiday break. The move is temporary and is only a suggestion, not a requirement. Arlington, Boston, Newton and Watertown are among the school districts…
-
Boston Doctors Explain ‘Dramatic Uptick' in COVID Wastewater Levels as XBB Subvariant Spreads
Massachusetts COVID-19 wastewater levels have reached heights not seen since last winter’s omicron surge in what Boston doctors are calling a “dramatic” and “striking” increase. Virus levels started rising at the end of November and have now reached their highest point in about a year, data from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority shows. Cases and hospitalizations have also been...
-
COVID Q&A: Is XBB Contributing to Rising Wastewater Levels?
Top Boston doctors talk about what could be causing the biggest spike in COVID-19 wastewater levels Massachusetts has seen in a year during NBC10 Boston’s weekly “COVID Q&A” series.
-
Should We Be Worried About BF.7, China's Dominant Variant? Boston Doctors Explain
As China scales back restrictions amid surging COVID-19 cases, experts are worried about whether BF.7, the dominant strain there, could mean trouble for the U.S. The BF.7 subvariant, which descended from the BA.5 strain, is extremely adept at evading immunity and is believed to be driving China’s current surge. In the U.S., BF.7 currently accounts for just 3.9% of...
-
Should Boston Schools Bring Back Masks? Here's What Infectious Disease Experts Say
Infectious disease experts are split on whether Boston Public Schools should bring back a mask mandate after the holiday break as COVID-19 metrics continue to rise. Officials are considering a temporary mask mandate in an attempt to avoid repeating last year’s staffing issues and student absenteeism related to a surge in cases. In a letter sent to families, officials...
-
COVID Q&A: Cases Rising Amid New Dominant Variant
Top Boston doctors talk about rising COVID wastewater levels, the newly dominant XBB variant and whether Boston Public Schools should implement a temporary mask mandate during NBC10 Boston’s weekly “COVID Q&A” series.
-
Feel Like Everyone's Sick Right Now? Boston Doctors Explain What's Going Around
Feel like everyone’s getting sick right now? You’re not alone. Aside from “the big three” of COVID-19, RSV and influenza, Boston doctors say there are plenty of other upper respiratory viruses circulating right now that are causing people to be under the weather. Why does it seem like so many people are sick? Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Chief of...