Nsikan Akpan appears in the following:
Is Gov. Hochul's New Mask Mandate Actually Enforceable?
Friday, December 17, 2021
Some local government officials, including ones for all of Long Island, say they won't enforce the new rule.
NYS Health Commissioner Says Winter COVID-19 Surge Is Well Underway
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett says don't go to holiday parties unless masking or vaccinations are required.
Harlem Residents Push Back Against Opioid Clinics After Data Shows Most Are Used By Non-Residents
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Harlem residents say their neighborhood is bearing the brunt of opioid prevention programs that other neighborhoods fight to keep out. This trend puts commuter patients at risk, too.
Grading De Blasio: How He Weathered Being The Climate Disaster Mayor
Friday, December 10, 2021

The de Blasio administration has highlighted the complex challenges facing the people of many coastal cities around the world.
What New Yorkers Need To Know About Omicron's Arrival And The Delta Surge Hitting The Holidays
Friday, December 03, 2021
Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at NYU and Bellevue Hospital, gives advice and explains what's known about the newly arrived omicron and the ever-present delta.
Why It Could Take ‘Two Weeks’ To Learn If Omicron Impacts COVID-19 Vaccines
Thursday, December 02, 2021
Researchers walk through the step-by-step process and explain how much wiggle room is available with vaccine protection against infection.
A Straightforward Guide To Reducing Your Holiday COVID Risk
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
For any concerned parties, COVID-19 safety is all about layering on different types of protection.
NYC Schools Bought Weaker Air Purifiers. Now Underventilated Campuses Are More Prone To COVID Cases
Thursday, November 18, 2021
A WNYC/Gothamist investigation discovered that the Department of Education got those devices for a bargain after the supplier lobbied the city.
Science News Roundup: The Merck Pill, Vaccine Cross-Boosters and... William Shatner?
Thursday, October 14, 2021
WNYC's health & science editor Nsikan Akpan rounds up the latest science news about COVID vaccines and treatments -- and William Shatner's trip to space.
How Scientists Are Tracking Down The Hottest Parts Of New York City
Monday, October 11, 2021
Climate change is worsening extreme heat in New York City, but not everyone feels it equally.
Head Of NYC Test And Trace Discusses 1 Million Close Contacts, COVID In Schools
Friday, October 08, 2021
The reopening of businesses and schools means several more sources of infections to track, and the delta variant continues to linger stubbornly over the city.
How This Hudson Valley Town Turned A Defunct Prison Into A Thriving Cannabis Hub
Thursday, October 07, 2021
Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, which once counted people locked up on drug offenses among its inmates, is now populated by cannabis companies promising to vitalize the area's economy.
The First American To Get An Authorized COVID-19 Vaccine Just Got A Booster Shot
Thursday, October 07, 2021
Sandra Lindsay also says she wants more New Yorkers to get vaccinated.
A Brooklyn School Quarantined A Third Of Its Staff, But Parents Weren't Told
Friday, September 24, 2021
The episode happened at the Spring Creek school building in East New York, which houses staff and students for three separate schools.
These New Yorkers Are Willing To Risk Their Jobs Over COVID-19 Vaccines
Thursday, September 16, 2021
A steadfast contingent is resisting New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Temporary Restraining Orders Issued Against NY Vaccine Requirements
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Vaccine mandates in New York are facing challenges in court.
NY Releases Data On COVID Breakthrough Infections, Unvaccinated Make Up 21 Times More Hospitalizations
Friday, September 10, 2021
Vaccinated New Yorkers make up just 4% of COVID-19 infections so far this year, according to data provided by the New York State Department of Health.
9/11 and the Rise of the NYPD | PART SEVEN: Unity
Friday, September 10, 2021
Our sense of shared identities has evolved dramatically over the last 20 years.
9/11 and the Rise of the NYPD | PART SIX: The Sacrifice
Friday, September 10, 2021
First responders who worked at Ground Zero frequently run into red tape as they develop health conditions such as cancer.
As Kids Head Back To School, They’re Facing Allergies And A Double Surge Of Viruses
Thursday, September 09, 2021
The back-to-school season typically coincides with the annual resurgence of colds and allergies. But this year, there’s a COVID pandemic layered on top.