Nsikan Akpan appears in the following:
How climate change is making maple syrup less sweet — and sapping production in NY, NJ
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
The climate problem was so detrimental last year that it squeezed the global supply. Unabated, it could even end maple syrup production on this side of the northern border.
Manhattan's COVID risk levels move from low to medium: Here's what health experts recommend
Friday, April 01, 2022
The elevated risk level threatens to scupper the rollback of city and state health precautions and also comes as federal pandemic funding is evaporating.
Meet the COVID testers who've swabbed 150,000 noses in NYC since pandemic began
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
Frontline workers told Gothamist about their fatigue, their fears and their hopes for the future after nearly two years testing New Yorkers for COVID-19.
Why NYC isn’t recording most at-home COVID tests
Tuesday, February 08, 2022
Other jurisdictions are reporting success with self-test reporting, but moving from pandemic to endemic could mean getting used to not knowing exactly where the virus is thriving.
Military Medical Team Arrives At University Hospital In Newark
Friday, January 21, 2022
President Biden ordered the deployment to two short-staffed hospitals in New York and New Jersey.
A "Mild-To-Moderate" Case Of The Omicron Variant Can Still Be Serious
Monday, December 27, 2021
Despite hopes, New York City could still be weeks away from seeing the peak of the omicron surge.
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.
