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COVID-19

Those KN95 masks you just bought might not meet testing standards

by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst
Jan 20, 2022
We go shopping for face coverings with a self-professed “mask nerd”
A discarded face mask is seen on the ground. It can be difficult for consumers without specialized testing equipment to verify the quality of masks they purchase.
David Gannon/ Getty Images
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Survey finds many Americans unprepared for $1,000 emergency expense

by Justin Ho
Jan 19, 2022
According to the Bankrate survey, 20% would need to use a credit card to pay off a big emergency expense and 10% would borrow from family or friends.
Inflation is part of what's chipping away at Americans' savings.
szefei/Getty Images
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Health communication expert gives U.S. a "C" for pandemic performance

by Kai Ryssdal and Andie Corban
Jan 18, 2022
Cynthia Baur of the University of Maryland explains how health agencies get their messages out.
Warning sign: To end the confusion about pandemic information, said Cynthia Baur, officials need to "get back to the communication basics, which are to explain things very clearly and simply in a jargon-free way."
Mark Ralston/Getty Images
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COVID-19

New supply chain worries emerge as China races to contain omicron

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Jan 18, 2022
About 20 million people are in lockdown under China's zero-COVID policy, and economic disruptions may be ahead.
Lockdowns could affect the operations of the tech industry and Chinese ports.
Jade Gao
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Expect a messy tax season after last year's delays

by Kristin Schwab
Jan 17, 2022
Some 6 million returns from last year have yet to be processed. Delays could snowball for seasons to come.
File your taxes early, experts advise. Delays in moving last year's returns through the system could stall processing this year.
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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My Economy

Automotive supply chain issues haven't driven this mechanic mom out of business

by Anais Amin
Jan 17, 2022
When Erin Gomes opened her repair shop in March 2020, it was deemed an essential business. That helped keep it up and running.
Erin Gomes, owner of Bavarium Autoworks in Mountain View, California, at the shop with her youngest son, Johnny. The mother of three said running the business while taking care of her kids is no easy feat.
Erin Gomes
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COVID-19

A family’s struggle with the costs of coronavirus

by Maria Hollenhorst
Jan 14, 2022
“I know I’m not the only one going through this,” said Veronica Coon, a hairdresser in Henderson, Nevada.
The government wants to make it easy to get free at-home coronavirus tests, but there are costs to isolating after receiving a positive result.
Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Getty Images
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Nursing homes are in critical need of staff

by Blake Farmer
Jan 11, 2022
Some nursing homes say they can't compete for workers, as fast-food places and other retailers have raised wages.
Ashley Rose (left) and Patsy Wilkerson (right) are occupational therapy assistant who work at Knollwood Manor in Lafayette, Tennessee. They joke that they’re also certified nursing assistant assistants because the nursing home is so short on CNAs they end up picking up many of their duties.
Blake Farmer/WPLN
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COVID-19

Hospitals try to manage omicron surge along with staff shortages

by Samantha Fields
Jan 10, 2022
Many U.S. hospitals report being critically short-staffed. Some are reducing beds and services or bringing back infected workers.
With more hospitals critically understaffed during the omicron surge, some have had to reduce bed capacity or defer elective procedures.
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
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The economy is in good shape. Why are people feeling down about it?

by Justin Ho
Jan 6, 2022
Several indicators suggest that the economy is humming along. But recent surveys show, a growing number of people feel exactly the opposite.
Though inflation is hampering consumers' views of the economy, people often overestimate how high inflation really is.
Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
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