The Daily

Could the U.S. See Another Covid Wave?

Mar 21, 2022

Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times, dives into the alarming rise of the BA.2 variant and its implications. She discusses the surge in COVID cases in China and Europe, set against the U.S. easing restrictions. The conversation highlights the concerning potential for a new wave in America, the uneven impact on vulnerable populations, and the ongoing debate around booster shots and vaccine effectiveness. Mandavilli sheds light on the stark divide between pandemic fatigue in the U.S. and the reality of rising cases abroad.

19:11

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Apoorva Mandavilli

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Resurgence of COVID-19: The BA.2 Challenge

6min

COVID-19's Uneven Presence: Surges Abroad and Eased Restrictions at Home

2min

Evolving COVID-19 Guidance and Booster Conversations

4min

The Unequal Toll of COVID-19

7min

More than two years into the pandemic, coronavirus infections are surging in China and nations in Europe. The reason: BA.2, a highly contagious version of the Omicron variant.

At the same time, the United States is doing away with a number of pandemic restrictions, with mask mandates ending and businesses no longer requiring proof of vaccination from customers.

We explore what these BA.2 surges look like and ask whether the U.S. is ready for a new wave of Covid cases.

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

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Background reading:

Another Covid surge may be coming, and some scientists are warning that the U.S. isn’t doing enough to prevent it from endangering vulnerable Americans and upending lives.
Many epidemiologists suspect that BA.2 may reverse the decline of cases in the United States. Here’s what we know so far about the variant.

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