Many U.S. states are preparing to emerge from their quarantine cocoons, hoping to get their economies back on track. But experts are concerned that these states have not yet created the public health infrastructure needed to safely reopen without causing a second wave of COVID-19 infections. In particular, tens of thousands of new public health…  read on >

Love to cuddle up? It might bring a ‘mind meld,’ too, new research shows. People in close physical contact appear to have synchronized brain patterns, a revolutionary new MRI technique has revealed. A functional MRI scan of two people cuddling under a blanket showed that their brains appeared to be falling into similar patterns of…  read on >

The coronavirus pandemic shouldn’t stop people with heart problems from seeking medical care, experts say. “Either call your doctor or come to the emergency department. Don’t take chances with heart disease,” said Dr. Sam Torbati, co-director of the emergency department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “We are very concerned that fears over COVID-19…  read on >

It’s good for you to take a run during the coronavirus pandemic — and safe if you take precautions, an expert says. “It’s good to get outside, get moving and get some sanity back in such a crazy time,” said Grace Neurohr, a physical therapist and running specialist at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Running “can…  read on >

If warning labels on cigarette packs discourage smoking, could warning labels on alcohol products discourage drinking? Researchers in Canada decided to find out. In the study, which began in 2017, the researchers applied about 300,000 colorful, highly visible warning labels to 98% of alcohol containers in the largest liquor store in the Yukon, which has…  read on >

The coronavirus pandemic has families spending plenty of “quality time” together, but living under the same roof 24 hours a day can tax relationships, an expert in child development says. This is “a completely new and unique situation,” said Murray Krantz, a professor in the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University, in Tallahassee.…  read on >

Though most Americans are well aware that protecting themselves from sunburn is important, many don’t take precautions, a new survey finds. Protecting yourself from exposure to sunlight is the best way of preventing skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The results of the AAD survey show that 76% of Americans know…  read on >

Spaced-out seating in schools, virtual or outdoor religious services, and disposable menus, plates and utensils at restaurants are among U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft guidelines for reopening certain aspects of daily life during the coronavirus pandemic. Six categories are included in the document– child care programs; schools and day camps; communities of…  read on >

The severity of COVID-19 illness may be influenced by what researchers call “cytokine storms.” In a new study, investigators assessed 522 COVID-19 patients, aged 5 days to 97 years, who were admitted to two hospitals in Wuhan, China, in December and January. The study also included a “control group” of 40 healthy people. Compared to…  read on >

As national guidelines on social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic expired Thursday, the White House announced an initiative to produce a COVID-19 vaccine that could be available nationwide by January. President Donald Trump said it is not too optimistic to try to produce roughly 300 million doses of vaccine in eight months, enough for all…  read on >