John Kopp
John Kopp is the Chief Health Reporter/Assistant Editor at PhillyVoice. He joined the newsroom after spending five years reporting for the Delaware County Daily Times. He spent the prior year covering state and local politics, including a $4 million Pennsylvania state Senate race. He previously covered Chester city government, the Chester Upland School District and high-school sports. A Temple University graduate, John enjoys long-distance running, watching baseball and exploring new places.
December 11, 2020
Illness
FDA authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been granted an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, kicking off a massive distribution effort to inoculate the American public. Health care workers and nursing home residents will be the first to receive the immunization.November 6, 2020
2020 Election
Josh Shapiro tops Heather Heidelbaugh in Pennsylvania Attorney General race
Josh Shapiro was re-elected as Pennsylvania's attorney general, defeating Republican challenger Heather Heidelbaugh. The Democratic incumbent focused his first term on a range of issues, rooting out sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and challenging myriad Trump administration polices. He also took on opioid and e-cigarette manufacturers.October 5, 2020
Illness
COVID-19 can spread via airborne transmission, revised CDC guidelines say
The coronavirus can spread through aerosols that linger in the air for "minutes to hours," according to the CDC's new guidelines. But airborne transmission is "uncommon," with most spread stemming from close, person-to-person contact, the agency says.September 21, 2020
Mental Health
For colleges, online mental health services are a 'silver lining' of COVID-19 crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted an increase of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, among U.S. college students. With many campuses closed, universities are responding to the influx through virtual counseling sessions and digital outreach – forums that come with a variety of advantages and disadvantages.September 7, 2020
Labor Day
University of the Arts faculty planning to form labor union
Faculty members at the University of the Arts announced their intentions to unionize on Labor Day. The faculty would be represented by the United Academics of Philadelphia, a union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. They seek to secure better compensation and benefits from the art school.September 7, 2020
Police
Arsonist watches North Philly house go up in flames after lighting porch on fire, police say
Philadelphia police are looking for the person who lit the porch of a North Philly home and watched as the flames engulfed the house. The suspect was seen observing the fire from across the street.September 7, 2020
Deaths
La Salle College High mourns death of 'kind and thoughtful' football player
Isaiah Turner, a two-sport athlete at La Salle College High School in the Philadelphia suburbs, died after suffering a "sudden catastrophic medical event" at football practice Friday. His family, friends and teammates mourned his death over Labor Day Weekend, describing him as "kind and thoughtful," with a "warm, inviting smile."August 21, 2020
Mental Health
CHOP researchers see sense of altruism in people's COVID-19 worries
People are less worried about getting COVID-19 than they are that a family member will get it – or that they might unknowingly spread the coronavirus, according to a study conducted by Penn Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The research also examined the effect of resiliency on anxiety and depression.June 29, 2020
Fitness
As youth sports return, doctors urge athletes to take 'quaranteam' pledge
Children need to stay physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic, but restarting youth sports requires a balancing act. Pediatricians from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a set of recommendations to guide athletes, parents and coaches as athletics resume.June 16, 2020
Health Stories
Former Tony Fauci trainee steering Jefferson Health through COVID-19 crisis
Dr. John Zurlo trained under Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the 1980s, conducing HIV/AIDS research. Now, he's serving as Jefferson Health's top infectious diseases expert amid the COVID-19 pandemic, directing the health system on everything from treatment guidelines to personal protective equipment.Just In
- Vaccine committee votes to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns despite outcry from health experts
- Atlantic City teacher teams up with Jimmy Fallon and Jonathan Groff on 'Password' holiday special
- Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast nominated for new Golden Globe Award
- These Philly groups are accepting food, clothes and gift donations during the holidays
- Know your enemy: Justin Herbert's injury should give Vic Fangio, Eagles the upper hand
- Brazil, France among teams playing World Cup matches in Philadelphia
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