Texas’ announced it is ending its COVID-19 restrictions. Its vaccination rate is among the lowest in the U.S., and its case numbers are still high.
Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
The COVID-19 case spike in the summer of 2020 and earlier attempts to rely on personal responsibility, like wearing seat belts, showed that mandates make a difference.
College students are making plans to head home for the holidays at the same time U.S. COVID-19 case numbers are rising.
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Universities have seen widespread COVID-19 outbreaks this fall. Now students are preparing to travel for the holiday, and public health officials are worried.
SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (pink dots) on a dying cell.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, spreads faster than the H1N1 influenza virus and is much deadlier. SARS-CoV-2 is particularly skilled at keeping cells from calling out for help.
Authors
Benjamin Neuman
Professor of biology, Texas A&M University-Texarkana