As the omicron surge continues, health officials in some states have given up trying to trace close contacts in all cases. That shift, combined with recent changes in isolation guidelines, is leaving many confused and unsure what to do.
Elizabeth Caudle/for Side Effects Public Media
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It's been a year since the COVID crisis began to dominate our lives. To mark that milestone, Side Effects is producing a series of non-narrated features in March that reflect on COVID's impact.
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New research finds a strong association between a rare genetic mutation and early-onset heart failure and hospitalization among Black Americans. Patients of African descent carrying this genetic mutation developed heart failure four years earlier than those not carrying it. -
COVID has handed society the biggest natural experiment in health and economic equity – and social scientists say the scorecard is far from stellar.
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Families with loved ones in facilities for the developmentally disabled are especially eager to spend the holidays together. But as the pandemic continues, they face new uncertainty and continuing lockdowns even as the rest of the country tries to get back to normal.
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The coronavirus swept through the nation’s meat processing facilities in 2020. Nearly two years into the pandemic, many are still searching for answers — and calling for change.
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Immigrants make up an estimated 40 percent of the U.S. meat processing workforce. Last year’s wave of COVID outbreaks at meatpacking plants exposed many vulnerabilities among the industry’s diverse workforce.
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Nationwide, COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color — in part because the U.S. relies on immigrant workers in food and agriculture.
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This year, 25 percent fewer teens reported using marijuana, alcohol or nicotine in the past year compared to 2020. It’s the largest year to year drop in teen substance use in the 46 years the survey has been conducted.
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Many employees are turning to religious exemptions as vaccine mandates become more common in workplaces. Exemptions are federally protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But what is the history of these exemptions — and what are the consequences?
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Not a single scientific or health authority in the U.S. recommends the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. Still, some Americans see the unproven drug as a way out of the pandemic.
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The first U.S. omicron case was identified Wednesday – about a week after its discovery in South Africa. While there are concerns about the variant’s transmissibility, the number of mutations it possesses make it easier to detect than other strains.
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Libraries play a central role in many communities, providing books and information and helping people navigate challenges. Increasingly, those challenges are beyond the scope of what librarians are trained to handle — like housing insecurity and mental illness. To meet the need, some libraries are hiring social workers.
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If a judge decides someone is not able to make their own decisions, the person can be placed under a court-appointed guardianship, which is also known as a conservatorship. Some states allow less-restrictive alternatives, but it’s unclear how widely they’re used.
Incarcerated people are some of the sickest people in our country. Many have chronic conditions such as diabetes or lung disease. And they’re far more likely to suffer from mental illness and addiction. On Season 2 of Sick, listen to stories of what goes wrong in corrections facilities — places meant to keep people healthy, but built to punish them.
Our journalism starts with you. What questions and concerns do you have about health care? Join our text group and let us know.
The COVID pandemic has exposed deep flaws in the way America handles children’s mental health. More and more children are facing anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. But there’s a shortage of providers and services — and no quick way to increase them. As a result, many children and families are scrambling for help.
The new coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, have changed our lives in countless ways. Side Effects will explain the important medical issues, as well as their impact on the Midwest.
Side Effects examines the health care challenges that refugees and immigrants face in the U.S.
Front-line workers on the COVID-19 crisis
Stories examining the effect of COVID-19 on rural health care.
Stories highlighting what climate change means for Great Lakes cities.