DISEASE

Coronavirus News Digest

The non-stop news about coronavirus and COVID-19 can cause a lot of anxiety. Here's our weekly digest of useful information, uplifting stories, and surprising tidbits to help you cope during the pandemic.

Stained-glass windows showing Saints Victor and Corona in Redeemer Church in Trentino, Italy.

Is St. Corona Really the Patron Saint of Pandemics, Epidemics, or Plagues?

The coincidence that Corona happens to be the patron saint of epidemics or infectious diseases seems a little fishy.

Rotavirus—from the Latin rota, for "wheel"—is named for the wheel-like appearance of its particles.

How Coronavirus and 31 Other Infectious Diseases and Viruses Got Their Names

‘Coronavirus’ is named for how it looks under a microscope, but that’s not the only way to name a virus or disease.

Prostock-Studio, iStock via Getty Images

Can't Find a Medical Thermometer? Use a Digital Meat Thermometer to Take Your Temperature

You can take your own temperature with a meat thermometer, just as long as you sanitize it properly.

SeanPavonePhoto, iStock via Getty Images

#WaffleHouseIndexRed: Waffle House Has Closed 365 Restaurants Across the Country

For people who use the Waffle House Index to gauge disasters, the novel coronavirus pandemic just got real.

Pornpak Khunatorn, iStock via Getty Images

12 Facts About Human Papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus is the leading cause of cervical cancer, but most people with HPV never show symptoms.

Mary Mallon, an unwitting typhoid carrier and unwilling hospital patient, in the early 1900s.

Super Spreader: The Strange Story of Typhoid Mary

Mary Mallon’s asymptomatic spreading of typhoid fever is a cautionary tale about the importance of washing your hands.

Isolation and health fears are affecting everyone.

8 Tips to Manage Your Coronavirus and Social Distancing Anxiety, According to an Expert

The current public health crisis and extended alone time caused by the coronavirus is raising anxiety levels all over. A psychologist has some advice that can help.

5 People Who Were Amazingly Productive In Quarantine

It's not a myth: William Shakespeare really did write 'King Lear' during the plague. From Edvard Munch to Isaac Newton, here are a few more people who made the most of being isolated.

Can Farts Spread Disease?

A couple of long-suffering scientists from Australia donated their time—and their gas—to figuring out whether farts can spread disease.

As long as you're careful, cleaning your laptop can be an easy DIY project.

How to Clean Your Germy Laptop in 4 Easy Steps

All it takes is a can of compressed air and a little homemade computer cleaner to keep coronavirus and other germs away from your laptop.

Coronavirus: 7 Ways You Can Help Your Community

Beyond practicing good hygiene and social distancing, you can help your community during the coronavirus outbreak in a number of ways.

It's fine to use a disinfectant wipe on your iPhone—just be gentle.

Apple Confirms That Cleaning Your Phone With a Disinfectant Wipe Is Totally Fine

Your phone is one the filthiest things you own, but cleaning it is as easy as wiping it down with a disinfectant wipe.

Coronavirus precautions have led to questions over methods of isolation.

Isolation vs. Quarantine: What's the Difference?

Viral outbreaks often necessitate patient isolation or quarantine. But what separates each separation?

Wash Your Hands to Your Favorite Songs With This Website

Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is the best way to protect yourself from coronavirus. If you're looking for a way to pass that time, this tool can help.

The Psychological Reason Coronavirus Is Prompting People to Hoard Toilet Paper

Of all the personal essentials needed in the event of a national health concern, why are people stocking up on Charmin?

To some people with asthma, these albuterol inhalers are literal life-savers.

The FDA Has Approved the First Generic Albuterol Inhaler for Asthma

At last, people with asthma will be able to buy potentially life-saving medicine without breaking the bank.

8 Ways You Can Prepare for a Coronavirus Outbreak

The CDC warns that Americans should start preparing for a coronavirus outbreak. Here's what you should know to keep yourself and your community safe.

If scientists can't develop a vaccine for a new virus quickly enough, an epidemic can turn into a pandemic.

Pandemic vs. Epidemic: What’s the Difference?

Definitions of 'pandemic' and 'epidemic' differ, but it’s not always clear which one best describes a disease outbreak like the new coronavirus.

Fat Bats Might Be Resistant to Deadly White-Nose Syndrome

Good news: chubby little brown bats might be genetically resistant to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that’s killed more than 5.5 million bats since it was first documented in 2006.

Washing your hands is the best protection against germs.

Why You're Probably Washing Your Hands All Wrong

Washing your hands might be the most repetitive activity any of us will ever do. So why do so many of us get it wrong?

Coronavirus fears have spread throughout China and beyond.

China's Coronavirus App Is Alerting Citizens When They're in Danger of Being Infected

The smartphone app developed by the Chinese government warns users when they've been in close contact with someone likely to be infected with the new coronavirus.

Does Wearing a Face Mask Really Help Protect Against Coronavirus and Other Illnesses?

Masks have become a part of daily life for millions in response to the spread of coronavirus. But can they really lessen the spread of disease?

Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Coronavirus

The outbreak started in Wuhan, China, and now five cases have been confirmed in the U.S. Here are the details.

PREV NEXT