Welcome!
A re-introduction to the site and everything you've ever wanted to know about the biology of the virus
Welcome to the COVID-Explained newsletter. We’ve launched this as a fast way to keep you updated on what’s new on the site, what we’re looking into, and to highlight some of our meatier content.
As re-opening begins, we know there are bound to be questions about how to keep you and your family safe. The site is being regularly updated in response to new developments and in response to your questions so please keep them coming! You can reach us via email, Twitter, Instagram, and the site itself. In addition to adding long-form explainers (like the one featured today!), we are also breaking down news stories and addressing common concerns.
Recent updates to the site include:
a news-in-context piece about superspreaders (what are they? do they even exist?)
a breakdown of a new study on remdesivir (is this is silver bullet we’ve all been waiting for? spoiler alert: no, but the results are very encouraging)
We don’t want to crowd your inbox, so we’ll send these out twice a week; one will highlight one of our Explainers, and the second weekly post will delve into one of our lifestyle questions.
We hope the site has been helpful in navigating these crazy times. Please help us get the word out: forward the newsletter, share us on social media, tell your friends! The wider we can spread clear and accurate information, the easier this crisis will (hopefully) get for all of us.
Explainer Highlight: Path of the Virus
This week we’ll be kicking things off with one of our earliest explainers: The Path of the Virus.
Why should you check this one out? In our view, the key to understanding how to avoid getting COVID is to understand how it spreads. What, really, is a virion? And how does it get in? How do viruses work once they’re inside you? How does your body fight them, and what does it mean to recover?
Bottom line: if you’ve ever wondered how all of this infection business works and wanted a no-frills, straightforward explanation of the basic biology of the virus, be sure to give this a read. And if you don’t have time to read the whole thing, check out the cheat sheet below!
