Hi, and welcome to Your Health Quickly, a scientific American podcast series.

On this show, we highlight the latest vital health news, discoveries that affect your body

and your mind.

Every episode, we dive into one topic, we discuss diseases, treatments, and some controversies.

And we demystify the medical research in ways you can use to stay healthy.

I'm Tony Lewis.

I'm Josh Fisherman.

We're a scientific American senior health editors.

And today's show, the official COVID public health emergency ended this month.

What will that mean to you?

Will it change how you get vaccines, tests, and treatments?

Will it change how much you pay for them?

And how will you hear warnings about new COVID waves?

The COVID pandemic isn't over, but many of the official emergencies are.

A few weeks ago, the U.S. government ended its public health emergency, which has been in

place since early 2020.

And the World Health Organization announced the disease, quote, no longer constitutes a public

health emergency of international concern.

It's important to keep in mind that the virus still poses a threat.

In the middle of May, about 4,000 people per day were being hospitalized with COVID in

the U.S.

And more than 800 were dying each week.

...