National Geographic | CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

National Geographic

Coronavirus Update

This week: Why deadly variants emerge—and what could be coming next; visualizing 670,000 dead Americans; why you may not need a booster (yet); can a modern-day vaccine mandate really work?

PHOTOGRAPH BY ASHISH VAISHNAV, SOPA IMAGES, LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY

Is a variant worse than Delta on the way? Viral evolution offers clues.

Experts are exploring trends in the ways viruses mutate to understand why highly contagious variants like Delta emerge—and what might come next.

NG STAFF

Another tragic milestone: 1 in 500 Americans has died of COVID-19

Overall, 670,000 people have lost their lives to the disease in the United States—a toll that is on the brink of surpassing the 675,000 deaths the country recorded during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

PHOTOGRAPH BY WAYNE LAWRENCE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

670,000 flags on the National Mall pay tribute to America's COVID-19 dead

Covering 20 acres beneath the Washington Monument, the somber memorial leaves space for us to grieve.

SEE MORE PHOTOS

What we're reading

A boy went to a COVID-swamped ER. He waited for hours. Then his appendix burst. (ProPublica) ››

Sorry, a coronavirus infection might not be enough to protect you (The Atlantic) ››

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Why you may not need a COVID-19 booster after all

Given what we know about breakthrough infections, most experts remain unconvinced there’s enough data to justify an extra dose for most Americans.

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHEN ZENNER, SOPA IMAGES, LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY

Vaccine mandates have worked in the past. Can they overcome modern hurdles?

The public health directives are older than the U.S. itself. But it's unclear whether they will be effective at driving up COVID-19 vaccination among the nation's 80 million resistant adults.

MORE ON YOUR HEALTH

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAX AGUILERA-HELLWEG

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PHOTOGRAPH BY EZRA BAILEY, GETTY IMAGES

Why walking is good for you—and the planet

IMAGE COURTESY MUSEO DEL PRADO

How science found a cure for one of history's deadliest diseases

PHOTOGRAPH BY LOUISE JOHNS

Ew, gross! Why humans are hardwired to feel disgust

MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Why it's so tricky to trace the origin of COVID-19

The Mu variant is on the rise. Scientists weigh in on how much to worry.

Will Americans wear masks to prevent sickness beyond COVID-19?

The shaky science behind ivermectin as a COVID-19 cure

Why some COVID-19 infections may be free of symptoms but not free of harm

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