
Tracking the Coronavirus Pandemic
Everything you need to read about the deadly outbreak: what it is, how it’s spreading, and how to stop it.
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Don’t Touch Your Face: What the AIDS Epidemic Tells Us About COVID-19
On our final episode (for now), we examine an older public health crisis and the lessons it offers.

Coronavirus in the Corridors of Power
Which Politicians and Senior Officials Have the Coronavirus?

America’s Vaccine Diplomacy Is AWOL in the Middle East
China and Russia are spreading their vaccines—and forging new ties—to some of Washington’s closest allies.

Coronavirus Hasn’t Killed Belt and Road
As the pandemic rages, China’s strategy is becoming more high-tech and sophisticated.

Cheap Mass Testing Is Vital for Pandemic Victory
Switching from expensive, slow PCR tests to self-administered antigen tests could work wonders.

The Pandemic Remade the Chinese Economy
Other countries should prepare now for their own reformations.

The World After the Coronavirus
We asked 12 leading thinkers to predict what happens in 2021 and beyond.

At State Department, Some Concerned That Political Appointees Are Jumping the Line to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Lack of communication over surplus doses has prompted suspicion and anger.

Our Top Arguments of 2020
From the pandemic to Black Lives Matter and the U.S. election, five articles from the year that changed everything.

Boris Johnson’s Year From Hell
Britain’s prime minister promised to take back control. When it comes to the coronavirus, he has lost it.

How Press Freedom Came Under Attack in 2020
Citizens hungry for information turned to the media during the pandemic, but governments around the world used the crisis to restrict journalists.

East Asia Takes a Cautious Coronavirus Victory Lap
Here are five of our best pieces on how East Asia handled the pandemic.

How China Fought the Pandemic—and Lied About It
A look back at our best essays on the onset of the coronavirus.

Will Virus Mutations Threaten COVID-19 Vaccines?
We don't yet know whether new variants of the coronavirus may impede vaccines’ efficacy. But they shouldn’t change anything about our approach to public health.

The Deadly Crash of Europe’s Second Wave
The continent thought it had the coronavirus beat—and had its guard down when it mattered most.

WHO Confronts Mutating COVID-19 Threat
With little known about whether the virus mutation will react differently to existing treatments, BioNTech’s CEO is optimistic.

Boris Johnson’s Christmas Coronavirus Nightmare
The British government squandered the chance to contain the virus in hopes of economic recovery.

The Vaccine Has a Serious Side Effect—A Positive One
It could make 2021 the year Americans rediscover science.

Our Top Weekend Reads
Swedes can’t figure out their government’s coronavirus approach, a progressive push on U.S. foreign policy, and an honest assessment of the Arab Spring’s fallout.

Is the Cyberattack Big News—or Just a Footnote In a Year Like No Other?
Will 2021 be full of foreign-policy crises and domestic drama or dull compared to 2020?

Sweden’s Second Wave Is a Failure of Government—and Guidance
The country’s contrarian approach to the COVID-19 pandemic was meant to prove that trust in authorities could avert lockdowns. Instead, mixed messaging and political squabbles have led to an exploding epidemic.

Numbers Aren’t Reality, but You Can’t Govern Without Them
Picking the right statistics has been critical to handling—or botching—the coronavirus pandemic.

The Virtual Transition
Biden’s landing teams are steering clear of an administration that has often served as a COVID-19 superspreader event.

Our Top Weekend Reads
EU member states find commonality in crisis, Afghans accuse donor countries of hypocrisy on corruption, and how Biden’s climate plans could shape energy markets.

Europe Needed Borders. The Coronavirus Built Them.
The pandemic has the continent increasingly discussing its common boundaries—and common identity.

Pompeo Plans Parties Flouting COVID-19 Guidelines as Death Toll Mounts
The U.S. secretary of state plans massive holiday gatherings, while department catering and event staff mostly lack employer health insurance.

Don’t Count on China’s Help With a Coronavirus Inquiry
Beijing’s COVID-19 response has been a success story, and the Communist Party wants to keep it that way.

Where Do Things Stand With the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout?
The U.K.’s quick approval of the Pfizer vaccine means some Britons will get shots starting next week—but in the rest of the world, it’s going to take a while for regular people to get inoculated.

Election Déjà Vu for Israelis
A move to dissolve parliament could mean a fourth ballot in less than two years.

After the Travel Collapse, Build Tourism Back Better
To bring back jobs and make travel sustainable, Biden should reverse decades of neglect and reestablish a national U.S. tourism policy.

Why Does Belgium Have the World’s Highest COVID-19 Death Rate?
Individualism, regional divisions, and fragmented government authority have led the capital of Europe to fail where many poorer and less-connected countries have succeeded.

Trump’s Scorched Earth Farewell
Not only is Trump attempting a coup, he’s trying to leave everything in flames for the Biden administration.

Why the United States Can’t Defeat the Coronavirus
For too many Americans, disasters are things that happen to other people, never themselves.

The World’s Wild and Crazy Vaccine Ride Is Just Starting
Is it possible to have too many vaccines? We may soon find out.

The Coronavirus Is Now Another Risk of U.S. Migration
At least 2,500 Mexicans in the United States, many of them essential workers, have died from COVID-19. Back home in Mexico, their grieving families are left without support.

The Coronavirus Is Killing Westerners. Immigrants Are Saving Them.
Foreign-born doctors and entrepreneurs are at the forefront of fighting the pandemic and resuscitating economies, but nativist politicians still want to keep them out.

Our Top Weekend Reads
America’s democracy demotion, U.N. peacemaking in the age of plague, and Biden’s Putin challenge.

Almost Every U.S. State Is Now Officially a Coronavirus Hot Spot
This is what an utter pandemic catastrophe looks like.

Vaccine Inequality Fuels Suspicion and Division
The world can’t repeat the mistakes of polio, tuberculosis, and measles.

Kremlin Spin Doctors are Leading Russia’s Vaccine Development
With Sputnik V, the country is conflating good headlines with good health.

The United States Got the Pandemic Economic Response Right
It spent early and spent big—and is now poised to reap the rewards.

As Vaccine Hopes Grow, Poorer Countries Are Last in Line
A vaccine candidate closely linked with Operation Warp Speed is expected to produce preliminary results similar to the blockbuster Pfizer findings.

Is Big Tech Setting Africa Back?
Data colonialism is rampant on the African continent. Smart regulation can stop it.

Switzerland Is Choosing Austerity Over Life
Why Switzerland became one of the world's worst coronavirus hotspots.

The Vaccine News Is Good. Here’s the Bad News.
Even if the coronavirus treatment works as advertised, there are plenty of reasons to worry about how much good it can do.

Biden Can Make the United States a Global Health Leader Again
Trump withdrew from the WHO. Biden can rebuild ties with the organization and make the United States an influential player in the fight against COVID-19.

Our Top Weekend Reads
Election chaos could be a boon for U.S. adversaries, what Europe’s anti-lockdown protesters really want, and musings on the state of the nation.

Europe Doesn’t Want Lockdowns. It Wants Government.
The continent’s second wave of the coronavirus has produced angry protests against state overreach—and new demands for state help.

America Has Elected Either Death or More Death
The options are either an ineffective pandemic response—or an utterly catastrophic one.

Why the Pandemic Didn’t Hurt Trump
Americans have no point of comparison for the coronavirus.

The Pandemic Really Is Fake News: It’s Deadlier Than Anyone Realized
Good riddance to a superspreading coronavirus election campaign.

Why Inclusion Is Important for U.S. Foreign Policy
If Washington chooses to reengage with the world, it will need to first champion diversity and gender equality.

Brazil’s First Wave Isn’t Over Yet
Coronavirus cases are spiking again in the country’s north, threatening to increase strain on public hospitals. This time, local governments face even more political pressure to lift restrictions.

China Has the V-Shaped Recovery of Which Trump Can Only Dream
But the structure of its comeback may create problems at home—and abroad.

They Conquered COVID-19. Now They’re Struggling.
From the Czech Republic and Germany to the Indian state of Kerala, governments that dealt decisively with the first wave of the coronavirus are drowning in the second wave.

Moving Beyond a Post-Pandemic World
In a new book, Fareed Zakaria draws some hard but unavoidable conclusions about dealing with future viruses.

The Rise of the COVID Dictatorships
Around the world, emergency powers are chipping away at democracy—sometimes with public support.

Democrats Push for Foreign Aid in Coronavirus Stimulus Fight
While Congress and the White House remain far apart on COVID-19 stimulus talks, some Democrats hope to restore lost U.S. prestige by adding foreign aid to the bill.

The Government Can’t Save Ultra-Orthodox Jews From COVID-19. Religious Leaders Can.
The coronavirus has hit Haredi enclaves hard, but without clear directives from rabbis, isolated communities from Jerusalem to New York will continue to suffer.

Our Top Weekend Reads
A history lesson on pandemics and their aftereffects, Putin becomes Pashinyan’s playmaker, and Selina Meyer humbles Donald Trump.

COVID-19 Might Not Change the World
Pandemics are not always transformative events. While some worrying preexisting trends could accelerate, it’s incorrect to assume that the coronavirus will end globalization, kill liberal democracy, or enhance China’s soft power.

Coronavirus Is Pushing Lebanon Over the Brink
It’s time to add an uncontrolled outbreak to the country’s long list of woes.

Trump, COVID-19, and the Future of International Order
In a new survey, international relations experts are pessimistic about the years to come.

Lockdowns Have Been Hard on Organized Crime, Too
And a rise in cyber-ransoms is the result. To stop the cycle, businesses should stop paying up.

Trump’s Illness Is Not a National Security Crisis
A reality check about the foreign-policy implications of a sick president.

The Peruvian Poor Can’t Breathe in the Pandemic
The mountainous country is the hardest-hit in the world, partly thanks to a critical lack of oxygen.

The Dangerous Foreign-Policy Fallout of Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis
The four ways the president’s illness can complicate national security decision-making—or invite foreign attacks.

Sweden and the World-Historical Power of Conformity
From socialism to the coronavirus, a unified theory for why everyone thinks Swedes have all the answers.

What Happens If a Presidential Candidate Dies Before Election Day?
Trump’s physician expressed optimism about the president’s health after he tested positive for the coronavirus. But his hospitalization brings to light new questions on what happens if a worst-case scenario hits while Americans are casting their votes.

What Happens When Presidents Get Sick?
Just when the U.S. public needs clarity about Trump’s health, tradition and the president’s proclivities make that unlikely.

Only State-of-the-Art Medicine—and Luck—Can Save Trump Now
The president has treatment options for his coronavirus infection. None are very good.

Will Trump’s Case of COVID-19 Endanger U.S. National Security?
Officials are warily watching for adversaries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea to exploit the moment.

Syria’s Forgotten Displaced Aren’t Equipped to Fight the Pandemic
The regime has restricted aid to those who fled Afrin in 2018, leaving them without test kits, basic supplies, or access to specialist care.

How Italy Snatched Health From the Jaws of Death
Those who used to scoff at its mismanagement should take note of Rome’s strategy for defeating COVID-19.

The World Is Winning—and Losing—the Vaccine Race
Immunization to COVID-19 is supposed to solve our problems—but it's starting to trigger even bigger ones.

How Politics Are Compounding Israel’s COVID-19 Crisis
Bibi succumbs to pressure from religious factions even as he imposes a second nationwide lockdown.

Will COVID-19 Kill Democracy?
In Tanzania and elsewhere, the pandemic and creeping authoritarianism are colliding, making both problems far worse.

Joining COVAX Could Save American Lives
The vaccine partnership would help ensure equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine—including in the United States—but Trump won’t participate.

Will Schools and Universities Ever Return to Normal?
Nine experts on the future of education after the pandemic.

After COVID-19, Latin America Braces for ‘Lost Decade’
Already one of the most unequal regions in the world, it may face an unprecedented rise in inequality and poverty due to the economic carnage of the pandemic.

To Fight the Coronavirus, Myanmar Needs a Cease-Fire in Rakhine
With humanitarian aid and internet services restricted, the conflict-torn state could soon face a public health disaster.

Trump’s Vaccine Can’t Be Trusted
If a vaccine comes out before the election, there are very good reasons not to take it.

Why COVID-19 Is Ravaging Iran Again
Poor governance, disinformation, censorship, and punishing U.S. sanctions have turned a crisis into a disaster.

Argentina’s Economy Crumbles as Buenos Aires Lockdown Continues
The nation was already on the economic brink before COVID-19 hit.

Inside Syria’s Secret Coronavirus Crisis
The Assad regime is suffering a massive outbreak—and burying the bodies in silence.

South Korea’s COVID-19 Church Scapegoat Is Fighting Back
As mainstream denominations see their own outbreaks, Shincheonji members say they were unfairly targeted.

Culture Shock
Eight voices on the future of entertainment, culture, and sports.

Coronavirus Victories May Not Be Enough for Cuba
Health care success could inspire economic change, but the future still looks bleak.

The COVID-19 Global Response Index
From FP Analytics: A country-by-country assessment of government responses to the pandemic.

COVID-19 Heats Up the New Great Game in Central Asia
Washington has a golden opportunity to counter China’s gains.

Latin America Can’t Survive the Coronavirus Crisis Alone
Countries are too rich to access conventional aid, but they can’t cope by themselves.

The Sociologist Who Could Save Us From Coronavirus
Ulrich Beck was a prophet of uncertainty—and the most important intellectual for the pandemic and its aftermath.

America’s Schools Are a Moral and Medical Catastrophe
A guide to understanding the science, and the politics, preventing U.S. children from being educated this year.

Offline and Out of School
In India, education under lockdown and a deep digital divide threaten to undo real progress in rural areas.

Israel’s Cautionary Coronavirus Tale
A country that stopped the virus cold now faces an ominous second wave.

How the Coronavirus Crisis Is Silencing Dissent and Sparking Repression
A look at how protests, political violence, and conflict have played out during the pandemic.

Uruguay Emerges as a Rare Pandemic Winner in Latin America
Despite the border with hard-hit Brazil, the coronavirus is well under control in the country.

It Is Too Late to Save These Victims of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 catastrophe is shrinking remittances from the United States and creating a looming humanitarian disaster.

As the U.S. Exports Coronavirus, Trump Is Blaming Mexicans
As his poll numbers fall and coronavirus cases rise, the U.S. president needs a scapegoat—and he’s turning to his usual target, Mexico.

China’s Second Wave of Coronavirus Censorship Is Here
After a brief period of praising whistleblowers, Beijing is targeting medical staff and COVID-19 victims again.

In Syria, a Grim Trade-Off Between Tackling Pandemic and Famine
The pandemic-fueled food shortage in Syria suggests the worst is yet to come in other conflict-riven countries around the world.