Health Archives

A strong majority favor keeping indoor mask requirements even as several states are ending the requirement, according to a new survey by researchers from Northeastern and partner universities. The findings suggest many people will continue to wear masks in bars, restaurants, and other indoor venues. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Is indoor mask-wearing still popular?

Wearing masks indoors is strongly supported nationwide, including in several blue states that plan to ditch the requirement soon, according to a new U.S. survey by researchers at Northeastern and partner universities. See which parts of the country are in favor of and opposed to wearing masks inside.

by Peter Ramjug February 17, 2022

lab technician holding a pool of covid tests

Pooled testing can make COVID-19 surveillance more efficient. But is it accurate?

Many coronavirus testing labs combine samples for faster, less costly results. But the pooled testing approach doesn’t mean the same thing in all labs. Jared Auclair, who runs Northeastern University’s COVID-19 testing facility, explains how pooled testing works and what results mean.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki February 16, 2022

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

COVID-19 isn’t going away. But now we know how to live with it.

The COVID-19 toolbox is starting to look a lot more like the approach to battling other viruses. “So 2022 is sort of about making that transition to the new endemic world,” says Jared Auclair, director of the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki February 15, 2022

Actor Bob Saget attends the premiere of Netflix's 'Fuller House' at Pacific Theatres at The Grove in Los Angeles, California in this file photo. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Bob Saget died from a head injury. What should you do if you hit your head?

A medical examiner has ruled that actor and comedian Bob Saget died after suffering a head trauma before going to sleep. Gian Corrado, head team physician for Northeastern athletics and an expert in emergency sports medicine, explains how and when to take head trauma seriously.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki February 11, 2022

COVID-19 cases are dropping in the US. What comes after the omicron wave?

Coronavirus cases have been halved since the peak of the omicron surge in mid-January, and they continue to decline. If we can make it to the summer with no new major disruptive variants, says Alessandro Vespignani, director of the Network Science Institute at Northeastern, “We might have a considerable break from COVID-19.”

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki February 9, 2022

Breakthrough infections over the winter may have raised doubts about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, causing the childhood vaccination rate to stall, according to a newly released survey from Northeastern and partner universities. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Omicron wave didn’t spur parents to get their kids vaccinated

Children’s COVID-19 vaccination rates slowed during the winter wave of omicron infections. A new survey by researchers at Northeastern and partner universities explains why.

by Peter Ramjug February 8, 2022

Walter Frankel talks with members of his team at Clearhaven recovery center in Waltham, Massachusetts on Jan. 25, 2022.

He did not expect to be helping victims of the opioid epidemic. Then came COVID-19.

Walter Frankel, a Northeastern graduate and former employee, was seeking a new career when the pandemic forced him to reconsider his options. He responded by opening Clearhaven Recovery Center, an outpatient substance-use disorder treatment center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

by Ian Thomsen February 7, 2022

Quick-result home COVID-19 tests are more popular with young people, the wealthy, and highly educated, according to a new survey by Northeastern and other partner universities. Photo illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Should I report my at-home COVID-19 test results?

Millions of rapid COVID-19 tests are being mailed out to homes across the country. Who’s using them, who isn’t, and how reliable are they? A survey by researchers from Northeastern and partner universities answers those questions.

by Peter Ramjug January 25, 2022

Social media sites, especially Facebook, were the top conduits for vaccine misinformation, according to a U.S. survey of health care workers who treated unvaccinated patients. The findings point to an 'urgent' misinformation problem. Photo Illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Vaccine misinformation on social media can be a life-or-death problem

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals say that COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on social media channels is an “urgent” problem that may be negatively influencing people’s decisions to get inoculated, according to a survey by researchers from Northeastern and partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug January 20, 2022

Only 21% of people wore a high-quality mask such as the N95, according to a U.S. survey by Northeastern and other partner institutions. Cloth masks, gaiters, bandanas, and surgical masks remain the top choice of most people. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

N95, bandana, or something in between: Which masks are the most popular?

Masks remain a vital tool in limiting the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions looked into which face masks are most preferred.

by Peter Ramjug January 19, 2022

Health