In the News

Free tests and free masks are finally here — after some public health experts have been calling for them since omicron was first detected around Thanksgiving or even earlier. But the tests and masks might not arrive in Americans’ hands until the end of the month.
 

Omicron is still wreaking havoc in parts of the country, but infectious disease experts are optimistic that relief is around the corner.
 

Sex differences in Covid death rates vary widely from state to state, suggesting they are rooted in behavior as well as biology.
 

In the coming weeks, millions of Americans will receive a set of at-home COVID-19 tests by mail, after a federal government order form launched Tuesday. The tests, while extremely useful, are part of the reason why coronavirus case tallies only represent a fraction of the virus’s true toll, experts say.
 

At this difficult moment of the pandemic, a great deal of distress is the result of a basic disconnect. Even as Americans hear frightening news about record numbers of infections and hospitalizations, there is growing confusion about testing, booster doses and medications — the very tools we use to protect ourselves from Covid-19. [Opinion]

High demand and scarce supply opened the door to bad actors, and officials in some states are having a hard time keeping up their oversight amid the proliferation.
 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said Americans should wear the most protective mask they can, but stopped short of recommending an N95 or similar face covering.
 

Pandemics do end, even if Omicron is making it difficult to know when. But when it does, it will not completely go away. The world will have to learn to live with this virus. Luckily, there are some defenses now.
 

Could the omicron surge be starting to peak in the United States? Some researchers see early signs in some areas of the country.
 

Americans' views of life with COVID, and the ultimate goal we're trying to achieve, appear to be evolving quickly at this point in the pandemic.

As evidence mounts that the omicron variant is less deadly than prior COVID-19 strains, one oft-cited explanation is that viruses always evolve to become less virulent over time. The problem, experts say, is that this theory has been soundly debunked.
 

Here's what we know so far about the different ways to swab for COVID-19 rapid tests and how effective they are.