National Geographic | CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

National Geographic

Coronavirus Update

This week: Why the CDC reversed course on masks; disturbing new numbers in the U.S.; the science behind why we have trouble weighing risks; the threat of breakthrough infections.

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANCINE ORR, LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES

Behind the CDC's reversal on masks, a stark warning

The virus had more than a year to stumble upon mutations that let it more effectively enter human cells and evade our immune systems. Now, we have Delta: roughly twice as transmissible as earlier strains of the virus, and possibly as contagious as chickenpox.

NG STAFF

The U.S. is entering a new stage of the pandemic

As vaccine rates stagnate in the U.S., the highly transmissible Delta variant now accounts for more than 82 percent of new cases. "The war has changed," writes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an internal document leaked to the Washington Post.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT CAMAZINE, SCIENCE SOURCE

Struggling to assess pandemic risks? You're not alone.

Lots of psychological factors influence individual responses to danger, as well as our willingness to make less risky decisions.

What we're reading

'The war has changed': Internal CDC document urges new messaging (Washington Post) ››

The Delta variant is winning. How did it come to this? (The Atlantic) ››

PHOTOGRAPH BY GENARO MOLINA, LOS ANGELES TIMES, GETTY IMAGES

Severe breakthrough infections remain very rare, despite rising concerns

There also isn’t enough data to declare one vaccine better than others against severe illness and death, experts say.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MUHAMMAD FADLI

Indonesia is a new global epicenter. The peak has yet to come.

"After the pandemic we probably will have a lost generation."

MORE ON YOUR HEALTH

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN OEGGERLI

How trillions of microbes affect every stage of our life—from birth to old age

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

TY O'NEIL, SOPA IMAGES/SIPA/AP IMAGES

Wildfire smoke blowing across the U.S. is more toxic than we thought

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALESSANDRO GANDOLFI, PARALLELOZERO/INSITITUTE

This island unlocked the secret to long life

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEFAN WERMUTH, BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES

'Zoom fatigue' may be with us for years

MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Why do viruses mutate?

The latest news: Massachusetts COVID cluster was 75% vaccinated

Scientists urge local mask mandates as Delta sweeps the U.S.

A spritz instead of a jab? Future COVID-19 vaccines may go up your nose.

Vaccines are highly unlikely to cause side effects long after getting the shot

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