Coronavirus Tests Explained

Rediscover The Joy Of Biking

Shots Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images  Can Getting Tested Before You Visit Family Keep Everyone Safe? +More Testing FAQs If you want to visit family, or share a vacation cabin with friends, and you don't want to risk infecting each other, what do you do? Is it as easy as everyone getting a negative result on a coronavirus test? It turns out, nothing's simple when it comes to this pandemic. We spoke to researchers about how reliable a negative result is (not very) and what you can do to ensure you aren't infectious before spending time indoors with loved ones. Read on to learn what you can do to make your results more reliable -- and more answers to your testing questions. BONUS: Are neck gaiters a safe face covering? And what's up with face shields -- worth wearing?  Newsletter continues after sponsor message Cornelia Li for NPR  Dear World, You're Not Going To Have The Year You Thought You'd Have "You aren't going to have the year you thought you'd have." That's what a nurse told writer Marc Silver's wife after she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. "The cancer news came as a shock, as it often does," Silver writes. "There were no warning signs. The tumor was picked up on a routine mammogram. "It was hard to take in what the nurse was telling us. We had plans and projects and dreams for the months ahead. Then suddenly — surgery, chemotherapy and radiation were the top items on our agenda. We were mad. How dare cancer interfere? "I was reminded of our year of cancer when the pandemic was declared." Read Silver's essay on how coping with the uncertainty of the pandemic starts with acceptance. smartboy10/Getty Images  Cabin Fever? Here's How To Rediscover The Joy Of Biking Six months in to this pandemic, if you're feeling more than a little stir crazy, it might be time to rediscover a healthy outdoor activity: biking. Out on the open road with the breeze in your face, it's an easy way to let cares roll off your back. Plus it's great exercise and can give a welcome change of scene. If you've not been on a bike lately, don't be intimidated. NPR"s Life Kit producers spoke to bike lovers and bike experts to get advice for getting started.   Read on for simple, fuss-free advice for getting back on two wheels. BONUS -- Desperate to be buff: Underground gyms take off in the pandemic More of this week's health stories from NPR What contact tracing is teaching us about how COVID spreads Can air conditioners transmit the coronavirus? How one church choir kept the music alive   We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots editor, Carmel Wroth What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy