Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Omicron has set records. How much do case counts matter now?

COVID-19 cases are high, but it’s not 2020 anymore: Being nearly two years into the pandemic may make all the difference. “If we were seeing these numbers back in September of 2020, it would be a different story,” says Northeastern public health expert Neil Maniar.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 11, 2022

People wait in line to test for COVID-19 in Long Beach, Calif. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

When will the omicron surge be over? Very soon.

The omicron variant is driving a record-setting surge of COVID-19 cases across the nation. But coronavirus numbers are expected to plummet just as quickly as they soared, says Alessandro Vespignani, director of the Network Science Institute at Northeastern. And that may happen fast.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 6, 2022

Debra Smith holds her medical bills in her living room on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Spring Hill, Tenn. Smith figures she has around $10,000 in unpaid medical bills from a string of hospital stays over the past year, even though she has coverage through Medicare. She hasn't been able to make much progress paying them off. AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

Does Medicare actually provide universal, affordable healthcare?

“There’s this serious concentration of unaffordability among people who don’t have money or who have very high healthcare needs,” says Jeanne Madden, associate professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences at Northeastern. Madden led a new study finding that one in 10 Medicare recipients have had trouble paying medical bills, and the same proportion have delayed care due to worries about cost.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 5, 2022

Photo illustration of paper and cloth masks in the Northeastern studio on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Which is the best COVID-19 mask?

The threat of breakthrough infections brought on by the omicron variant has reinvigorated discourse about which face masks best protect you from the coronavirus. The answer, say Northeastern experts, is that it depends. Here are the factors to consider when putting on a mask.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 23, 2021

Students walk through Northeastern’s Boston campus. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Northeastern to remain open in January 2022

Northeastern University plans to remain open for fully in-person classes and research activities for the opening of the spring 2022 term. It has been clear during the pandemic, says Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning, that in-person learning, working, and discovering is invaluable and unrivaled.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 23, 2021

Which COVID-19 test should I take?

This holiday season has collided with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Many people have added another task to their travel and party planning to-do lists: Get tested. Northeastern public health experts break down the options.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 20, 2021

Omicron moves fast. Here’s what that means for the next few weeks.

A virus that moves as quickly around the globe as the omicron variant could spell disaster just as people are traveling and gathering for holiday and New Year celebrations. But the devil’s in the details when it comes to COVID-19. And, says Alessandro Vespignani, an infectious disease modeler at Northeastern, scientists have shared a “mixed bag of news” in recent weeks.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 16, 2021

Understanding how viruses evolve can help us understand what future variants of the coronavirus we might see—and whether or not we should fear them. Getty Images

Do viruses such as the coronavirus become less deadly?

Understanding how viruses evolve can help us understand what future variants of the coronavirus we might see—and why they might not necessarily be a specter of doom. “What’s the virus trying to do?” says Jared Auclair, associate teaching professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern. “If it kills the host, it dies with the host.”

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 13, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Should I still get a booster shot even though we don’t know much about omicron?

It’s unlikely that the omicron variant will evade COVID-19 vaccine protections entirely, says Mansoor Amiji, university distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern. But you will likely need that booster shot. Here’s why.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 3, 2021

Looking for a book to curl up with this winter? Try these recommendations.

Winter is settling in. As the mercury drops and the snow begins to fall, you may be wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket, pouring yourself a hot drink, and curling up with a good book. We asked members of the Northeastern community to recommend their favorite books for the cold weather—or a book that might make a good gift for a loved one this holiday season.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 1, 2021

Posts by Eva Botkin-Kowacki