Selena Simmons-Duffin

To safely reopen without risking new COVID-19 outbreaks, states need staff to do the crucial work of contact tracing. Public health agencies report they have aggressive plans to grow their workforce.

As parts of the country reopen, states are looking to ramp up testing. NPR's health policy, economics and White House correspondents discuss whether states are doing enough to open up safely.

NPR's health policy and political correspondents discuss the latest developments in the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

NPR's health policy and national correspondents update on the latest coronavirus news.

Millions have likely lost their health insurance. If you're one of them, we want to hear about the decisions you're making. Go without? Find a new plan? Tell us what you're thinking.

Public officials across the U.S. are considering using contact tracing to ensure a safe reopening of the states. NPR's health policy correspondent answers listener questions on contact tracing.

With the nation's blood supply in shortage due to the coronavirus, the FDA recently eased restrictions on gay men donating blood. The letter argues those new rules are still too restrictive.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield outlined the agency's "contact tracing" strategy in an interview with NPR, as states scramble to prepare for reopening.

After promising on April 7 that data on how COVID-19 is affecting people of different races would be available in a few days, the Trump administration now says it won't happen until early May.

Political leaders want to reopen the economy soon, but public health experts say we first need to set up systems to prevent new flare-ups of the coronavirus. Here's what needs to get done.

It's a technique widely used in other countries to slow the spread of infection. Here's how contact tracing works — and how it can help the U.S. start to get back to normal.

We're in shutdown mode for now, but what comes next? Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is working on a plan to safely reopen the country.

An office of the Department of Health and Human Services surveyed 323 U.S. hospitals and found shortages of "intravenous therapy poles, medical gas, linens and food." Many are still scrambling.

A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General presents an overview of how America's hospitals are responding to the coronavirus crisis.

The coronavirus pandemic poses both a public health and an economic crisis. Squarely in the middle of those concerns are fears about medical bills and loss of employer-provided health insurance.

Buried inside the $2.2 trillion CARES law passed by Congress last week is a provision for using pre-tax health accounts for things such as Band-Aids, over-the-counter drugs, and tampons.

What's behind the "14 days of self-quarantine" guidance after exposure to someone with COVID-19 or after travel from a place with a high number of cases? Think of yourself as a potential incubator.

Aetna, Cigna and Humana now say they will waive most treatment costs associated with COVID-19 that would normally be picked up by patients enrolled in their health plans. Will other firms follow suit?

There is $100 billion for hospitals and health care providers, money for vaccine research and the national stockpile, but patients could still face high costs if they get sick.

To stop COVID-19, retired doctors are signing up to take clinical shifts. Specialists, including dentists, could move to front line care. And med students are fielding calls in overwhelmed clinics.