Coronavirus Response

Carl Bergstrom, biology professor, explains that Easter travel will likely not bring the same surge in cases as past holiday season travel.

Though COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out and some restrictions are easing, experts warn that some may feel anxious or fearful about a "return to normal." Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

In an effort to protect the Native American community, the elders of Washington’s tribes and the state government have been forced to shut down large competitive and traditional powwows as a matter of social distancing, leaving this important emblem of Native American community, cultural visibility and in some cases, livelihood, on indefinite pause. Scott Pinkham, lecturer in American Indian studies at the UW, is quoted.

“Ever since early February, when some software volunteers debuted a website to help the public find COVID-19 vaccine appointments, they’ve had a unique window into the ebb and flow of what one engineer there dubbed ‘the spice.’ Who wants the vaccines, and who doesn’t? Where in the state are the shots snapped right up, and where are they left wanting?” writes columnist Danny Westneat. Jessica Chong, assistant professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, and Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, are quoted.

Students across western Washington are returning to the classroom this month. After a year of isolation, mental health experts say some students may be struggling with the idea of heading back to school. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

The term “herd immunity” has been thrown around frequently as vaccinations in the United States have ramped up, with many viewing it as the end goal for the COVID-19 pandemic. But as Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, detailed in a thread posted to Twitter, it may not be that simple.

Many states use color-coded tiers to signal coronavirus restrictions. Why are they all wildly different? Karen Cheng, professor of visual communication design at the UW, is quoted.

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the “what ifs” having come true, therapists hear story after story of collective trauma, grief and loss, all through a computer or phone screen. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

Psychology professor Jane Simoni explains the mental health implications of the COVID-19 vaccine phase.

Before March 2020, home was separate from work, school and day care. Now all these things are centered at home. Parents are adjusting to new roles, routines and relationships, and beginning to wonder if their old ones will ever return. The UW’s Julie Brines, associate professor of sociology, and Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology, are quoted.

The Univeristy of Washington, which was the first large university to begin remote instruction, is mentioned in this article about Seattle's successes in COVID-19 safety measures.

A new study authored by Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, a postdoctoral researcher at the UW Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, has found that "identification with all of humanity" preditcts whether someone will engage in "prosocial" behaviors during COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who recognize the connections they share with others are more likely to wear a mask, follow health guidelines and help people, even at a potential cost to themselves, a new University of Washington study shows.

With the COVID-19 pandemic confining many Americans to their homes, a significant number of people used the money they might otherwise have spent on travel or eating out to invest in rooftop solar systems. Daniel Gamelin, professor of chemistry at the UW, is quoted.

Each week, the UW chorale practices for a half-hour in a parking garage, standing 6 feet apart while wearing masks. The story includes audio of the chorale singing a South African Sesotho wedding song.