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  • A “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVID

    A “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVID

    Corina Maller

    People are experimenting with transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), with mixed results, ahead of medical guidelines Read more…

Recent articles

  • Research updates, April 21
    Science
    Miles W. Griffis

    Research updates, April 21

  • National COVID-19 trends, April 21
    COVID-19
    Betsy Ladyzhets

    National COVID-19 trends, April 21

  • I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me.
    Commentary, International
    Mustafa Talat

    I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me.

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I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me.I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me.Mustafa Talat
Long COVID is significantly underreported across the globeLong COVID is significantly underreported across the globeJamie Ducharme
A “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVIDA “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVIDCorina Maller
I moved into a tiny home in the woods after getting Long COVID.I moved into a tiny home in the woods after getting Long COVID.Jasper Brown
National COVID-19 trends, April 21National COVID-19 trends, April 21Betsy Ladyzhets

Policy & Advocacy

  • A collage graphic shows an image of a Black woman wearing a KN95 mask and headscarf, against a background with images of the coronavirus and the ocean.
    April 14, 2026

    Long COVID is significantly underreported across the globe

  • ID: Alice Wong, an Asian-American woman in her early 50s, wears a black blouse and black and white pants. She rocks a rich red lipstick and has a watermelon pin on her shirt in support of Palestine. She has a tracheostomy attached to a ventilator.
    April 10, 2026

    Alice Wong showed us Disability Justice makes our advocacy stronger

  • This graphic features a screenshot of the HHS's new webpage about Long COVID, with a black and white filter. The page reads: "Invisible Illness - Long COVID. Understanding Long COVID, Supporting Patients, Advancing Solutions. What is Long COVID? Long COVID is a serious chronic disease that can affect multiple body systems and significantly disrupt daily life. Long COVID affects 5-7% of U.S. adults -- roughly 18 million people, according to the CDC. Long COVID remains an ongoing public health challenge requiring continued research, clinical innovation, and coordinated response." Behind the screenshot, there is a photo of the HHS headquarters in D.C., a cement building with many windows. The photo is colored with a red filter and looks ominous.
    March 31, 2026

    “Not a whole lot of substance”: HHS posts Long COVID website, six months after making big promises

  • Katie Drackert delivers a speech at the Austin city council meeting where councilmembers recognized International Long COVID Awareness Day, while fellow advocates look on in the background. Katie is wearing a black respirator with a mask chain.
    March 17, 2026

    Austin recognizes Long COVID Awareness Day, events happen around the world

  • An edited photo shows Los Angeles's City Hall building in a teal filter. The building is tall and pointy. Trees are in the bottom portion of the photo while a beautiful cloud appears behind the building in the blue sky.
    February 25, 2026

    Los Angeles recognizes Long COVID Awareness Day

  • A graphic shows Maryland Delegate Greg Wims reading off of a computer during a House of Delegates event. Behind him, the photo is overlaid with a screenshot from the Maryland legislature's website showing the progress of HB0027, the Long COVID innovation bill's designation in the House. It is currently in the "referral to committee" phase and soon to have a hearing. The background behind that timeline is the Maryland state flag.
    February 6, 2026

    Maryland considers Long COVID innovation bill

1 2 3 … 16
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Science

  • A dark purple textured background. On the left, a black generic transauricular vagus nerve stimulation device. It's oblong-shaped with a digital display and two headphone-like cords plugged into the top. On the right, the profile of a woman's face zoomed in on her ear. There are green dotted lines connecting the device to the ear.
    April 21, 2026

    A “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVID

  • A photo shows a California public school classroom without any students in it. Teal colored chairs and desks are neatly arranged in rows. A pencil and piece of paper lay on each desk.
    April 21, 2026

    Research updates, April 21

  • A microscopic scientific shows blood cells floating through an artery. They are small red disks and they hover in the scene encased in a blood vessel with yellow inner lining.
    April 14, 2026

    Research updates, April 14

  • An ECG showing inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Fast heartbeats are shown on ECG results on graph paper, with persistent spikes. A orange and purple filter colors the results and makes them very eye-catching.
    April 7, 2026

    Research updates, April 7

  • A photo taken through the window of a laboratory shows a scientist in PPE working to sequence measles virus samples. A sign on the window shows this is a BL2 (biosafety level 2) lab.
    April 3, 2026

    U.S. scientists sequence 1,000 genomes from measles, a disease long eliminated with vaccines

  • A scientific illustration shows the human heart and arteries in red, with a glowing outline of a blue chest, neck, and arms.  A black background accentuates the blue and red colors that glow like a neon sign.
    March 31, 2026

    Research updates, March 31

1 2 3 … 33
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Covid-19

  • Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for April 21, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "medium" (represented with a dark yellow color) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and slightly decreasing; and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is low (lighter yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."
    April 21, 2026

    National COVID-19 trends, April 21

  • Against a black background with charts, text reads: "The Sick Times. COVID-19 spreads year round. Here's how to track it. Tuesday, April 28. 6 PM - 7 PM ET. Learn more about the BA.3.2 ("Cicada") SARS-CoV-2 variant. This webinar will help you find data on COVID-19 and other pathogens in your area, and interpret those data to inform safety measures for you and your community." The graphic also includes photos of the event's three speakers: Betsy Ladyzhets from The Sick Times, Tea Burns from Action Readiness Collective of NYC, Caitlin Rivers from Force of Infection.
    April 14, 2026

    Event announcement: COVID-19 spreads year round. Here’s how to track it.

  • Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for April 14, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "medium" (represented with a dark yellow color) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly decreasing (directly down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is low (lighter yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."
    April 14, 2026

    National COVID-19 trends, April 14

  • Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for April 7, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "medium" (represented with a dark yellow color) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and stable (side to side arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is low (lighter yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."
    April 7, 2026

    National COVID-19 trends, April 7

  • Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for March 31, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "medium" (represented with a dark yellow color) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly decreasing (directly down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is low (lighter yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."
    March 31, 2026

    National COVID-19 trends, March 31

  • Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for March 24, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "medium" (represented with a dark yellow color) and stable (represented with a side to side arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "low*" (dark yellow) and significantly decreasing (directly down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is low (lighter yellow) and significantly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."
    March 24, 2026

    National COVID-19 trends, March 24

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Health

  • A dark purple textured background. On the left, a black generic transauricular vagus nerve stimulation device. It's oblong-shaped with a digital display and two headphone-like cords plugged into the top. On the right, the profile of a woman's face zoomed in on her ear. There are green dotted lines connecting the device to the ear.
    April 21, 2026

    A “muddy intervention”: The complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVID

  • A collage graphic shows an image of a Black woman wearing a KN95 mask and headscarf, against a background with images of the coronavirus and the ocean.
    April 14, 2026

    Long COVID is significantly underreported across the globe

  • A photo taken through the window of a laboratory shows a scientist in PPE working to sequence measles virus samples. A sign on the window shows this is a BL2 (biosafety level 2) lab.
    April 3, 2026

    U.S. scientists sequence 1,000 genomes from measles, a disease long eliminated with vaccines

  • David Putrino speaks on stage behind a lectern while giving a keynote speech on Long COVID and IACCs. He is a white man with a shaved head and wears a white button up shirt and a black respirator. On screen beside him is a slide from his presentation that reads, "What are infection associated chronic conditions and illnesses and how should they be diagnosed?"
    March 30, 2026

    California clinicians gather for Long COVID forum. Recent guides offer direction.

  • A collage with two types of alternating images: First, in black and white, a fetal ultrasound with heartbeat. Second, with colorful overlays, photos of a woman in bed, a woman holding a baby directly after birth, and a woman getting an MRI.
    March 24, 2026

    “It felt like a life-or-death choice”: Pregnancy with Long COVID has many unknowns

  • Graphic highlighting the cover of the PLRC-RTHM Long COVID Treatment Guide, featuring both organizations' logos and text sharing the guide's title. Behind the cover, there is a zoomed-in image of a blister pack holding pills.
    March 12, 2026

    A new aid in the doctor’s office: Introducing the Long COVID Treatment Guide

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Commentary

  • December 19, 2025

    Telehealth is vital for people with Long COVID. Don’t let it disappear.

  • December 9, 2025

    Doctors who refuse to engage with administrative work are abandoning their poorest and sickest patients

  • November 28, 2025

    You know someone with Long COVID. They need you to ask about it genuinely.

  • A graphic featuring a photo of the Long COVID Treatment Trial testing kit: a package, colored teal on the inside, that includes a Garmin device, smart scale, and other supplies for the trial, along with instructions. The kit is shown three times, with a background that is light orange with white spots
    October 30, 2025

    We need more at-home clinical trials for Long COVID. Here’s how we designed the largest one yet.

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The Sick Times is an independent news site founded by journalists Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis. We report on the Long COVID crisis, COVID-19, and infection-associated illnesses.

Contact:
editors@thesicktimes.org

PO Box 331009
Brooklyn, NY 11233

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