Health & Safety

News Brief: Town Halls, Amy Coney Barrett, Europe's COVID-19 Cases

5:49am October 15, 2020

President Trump and Joe Biden each have town halls Thursday. Trump's third nominee to the Supreme Court appears to be on track for confirmation. And, coronavirus cases are spiking in Europe.

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Patient groups on social media are fighting COVID-19 misinformation.

Health & Safety

When False Information Goes Viral, COVID-19 Patient Groups Fight Back

5:01am October 15, 2020

by Alex Smith

Health communication experts say that misinformation spread through support groups can undermine trust in medicine and science. But some patients work to counter falsehoods with facts.

When the pandemic first hit, corporate executives thought video meetings were awesome and productive. Now, CEOs are questioning how much those meetings really achieve.

CEOs Want To Ditch Sterile Zoom Calls: From The Folks Who Brought You Boring Meetings

8:56pm October 14, 2020

by Pallavi Gogoi

Draining. Awful. Those are the words being used to describe virtual meetings. "What we as human beings need, want, seek ... is human contact," says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Russia's Vektor State Enterprise, a former Soviet-era bioweapons lab that has developed a new and yet-to-be-proven coronavirus vaccine, shown in 2018.

Putin Announces Approval Of A Second Unproven Coronavirus Vaccine

8:41pm October 14, 2020

by Scott Neuman

The announcement comes two months after the Russian leader touted "registration" of what was billed as the world's first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. But neither drug has completed large-scale human trials.

Health & Safety

Barron Trump Tested Positive For Coronavirus, But Now Negative

7:37pm October 14, 2020

by Vanessa Romo

First lady Melania Trump says she dreaded the diagnosis after she and the president got sick. "Luckily [Barron] is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms."

Brain cells that monitor liquid, mineral and salt levels in the body influence what types of drinks we crave when thirsty.

Water Or A Sports Drink? These Brain Cells May Decide Which One We Crave

6:59pm October 14, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have identified specialized brain cells that create two distinct kinds of thirst. Some cells respond to a need for water alone, while others produce a craving for water and salt.

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Map of which states meet contact tracing needs

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce Barely 'Inching Up' As Cases Surge

6:59pm October 14, 2020

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The number of people working to stop COVID-19 outbreaks from spreading is far from the level needed in most states, according to a new NPR survey and analysis. Find out how your state is doing.

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French President Emmanuel Macron is ordering nightly curfews for Paris and other large cities, hoping to control the coronavirus. A woman wears a protective face mask as she sits in the Louvre Museum's courtyard Wednesday in Paris.

Paris Under Curfew: Europe Reacts As Countries See Highest-Ever Coronavirus Numbers

5:58pm October 14, 2020

by Bill Chappell

President Emmanuel Macron announced nightly curfews for Paris and other cities Wednesday, part of a wave of new coronavirus restrictions in Europe.

Amid the pandemic, Americans are experiencing sleeplessness, headaches, stomach upset and more symptoms of chronic stress.

Health & Safety

Sleepless Nights, Hair Loss And Cracked Teeth: Pandemic Stress Takes Its Toll

5:15pm October 14, 2020

by Aneri Pattani

Reports are on the rise of symptoms such as headaches, stomach problems and flare-ups of autoimmune disorders. Here's why chronic stress can make our bodies hurt, and what to do about it.

A judge has blocked an emergency order issued last week by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration that caps the capacity of bars and other indoor establishments.

Judge Blocks Wisconsin Governor's Indoor Capacity Limits Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases

4:59pm October 14, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The rules issued last week limited indoor public gatherings to no more than 25% of total occupancy limits. The state's Tavern League argued the caps would effectively put its members out of business.