This microbiologist endured a four-year court battle over COVID-19 testing0

• SCIENCE, Science / Health, Science Mission Directorate, scientists, Space, Space Communications & Navigation Program, Space Launch System (SLS), Space Telescope, space-x-ipo, SpaceX
• July 13, 2026

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep the world in February 2020, Linda Guamán, a microbiologist at the UTE University of Quito, was ready to serve her country. Ecuador announced its first case on February 29 and the disease spread rapidly. Guayaquil, the country’s largest city, was especially hard hit. Hospitals, funeral homes and mortuaries