The State of the Pandemic

The coronavirus seems to be in retreat in the United States, with the number of cases across the country down about 25 percent compared with a couple of weeks ago. Hospitalizations and deaths are also falling.

So, what stage are we in with the pandemic? And how will developments such as a new antiviral treatment and the availability of booster shots affect things?

Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times.

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Background reading:

• The authorization for booster shots applies to groups of people in the United States fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine • , but about 45 percent of the country’s fully inoculated people received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson doses. • Merck said it would seek authorization for molnupiravir, an antiviral pill that the company says is effective against Covid. Experts said such treatments could be a powerful tool against the virus • . • Despite a fall in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths • , public health officials said the pandemic remained a potent threat.

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