#covid-19-pandemic
#covid-19-pandemic

German Bundestag considers COVID-19 inquiry DW 04/04/2024

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the suspension of basic rights and lockdowns globally.

Debate in Germany about how to address the political decisions made during the pandemic. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Health

U.S. life expectancy rebounded in 2022 but COVID and drug overdoses were still deadly

Life expectancy in the U.S. increased from 2021 to 2022 due to the fading COVID-19 pandemic.

Drug overdoses driven by fentanyl continued to rise in 2022 despite improvements in COVID-19 deaths. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Covid Became a Pandemic 4 Years Ago. How Does Your Life Look Now?

COVID-19 pandemic declared four years ago by WHO

Long-term impacts and new variants still affecting the world [ more ]

NZ Herald

Four years on, how Covid changed the work-life balance

Working from home became the norm during the pandemic.

Systems like Slack channels and online meetings remain effective post-pandemic. [ more ]

YourTango

Remote teams

Woman Forced To Go Into The Office To 'Collaborate' With Coworkers Realizes She's The Only One Not Working From Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently altered the way we work and the working environment.

Despite the benefits of remote and hybrid work, many employers are pushing for employees to return to the office. [ more ]

Yahoo Finance

Remote teams

The remote-work revolution is morphing into a perk for the wealthiest, most educated workers

Wealthy, college-educated employees are more likely to have the option to work from home compared to lower-income workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the divide in remote work opportunities based on sector, pay, and location. [ more ]

Twin Cities

Attention, Chicago White Sox fans: SoxFest will return in January 2025

SoxFest will return in 2025 after being canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event provides fans the opportunity to connect with players, coaches, and prospects while looking forward to the upcoming season. [ more ]

Twin Cities

Chicago White Sox

Attention Chicago White Sox fans: SoxFest will return in January 2025

SoxFest will return in 2025 after being canceled for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event provides fans the opportunity to connect with current and former players, coaches, and prospects while looking forward to the upcoming season. [ more ]

Yahoo Sports

Chicago White Sox

Attention Chicago White Sox fans: SoxFest will return in January 2025 - Yahoo Sports

SoxFest will return in 2025 after being canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event allows fans to connect with former and current players, coaches, and prospects. [ more ]

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago White Sox

No Fest for the weary (again)? White Sox just don't miss a chance to alienate down-and-out fans

Excitement and optimism surrounded the Chicago White Sox in the beginning of 2020, with high expectations for a successful season.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 season, causing disappointment and uncertainty for the team and fans. [ more ]

morechicago-white-sox

COVID-19 pandemic

www.mediaite.com

Europe politics

Boris Johnson Denies Deleting WhatsApp Covid Inquiry Evidence

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages from his phone during a crucial period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports indicate that approximately 5,000 messages from January to June 2020 are missing, raising questions about transparency and record-keeping of government communications. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Unprecedented' decline in global literacy scores, OECD report says

Global education survey reveals unprecedented decline in academic progress due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Mathematics and reading scores suffered significant setbacks, while science scores remained relatively stable.

Concerns raised about the impact of the pandemic on student performance in both rich and poor nations. [ more ]

New York Post

Teachers' union boss blames math test slide on COVID - after fighting to keep remote learning

US math scores on the PISA exam fell by 13 points between 2018 and 2022.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blames the drop in math scores on the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

www.dw.com

Germany's students fare worse than ever in PISA school tests DW 12/05/2023

German pupils perform worse than ever in international education survey

Standards of school education have slipped globally except in Asia [ more ]

Boston.com

Digital life

Internet casinos thrive in Connecticut and other states. So why hasn't it caught on more widely in the US?

Only six states currently offer internet casino gambling in the US.

The success of online casino gambling in New Jersey could lead to more states adopting it.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the need for new tax revenue may drive the expansion of online casino gambling. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

Canada news

Mastermind Toys get order for creditor protection, wants to close some stores | CBC News

Mastermind Toys has obtained creditor protection as it deals with financial challenges and a slowing economy.

All 66 of its stores in Canada will remain open for business, but some stores may close during the proceedings.

The company cites increasing competition and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic as significant challenges. [ more ]

moreCOVID-19 pandemic

Covid-19 pandemic

Independent

From China's infection wave to a new strain of swine flu - when to press the panic button

The Covid-19 pandemic has made the world more prepared to handle infectious diseases.

Health systems are now seeking real-time and rapid data to detect and assess the risk of diseases. [ more ]

The Nation

Medicine

Can Mandated Nurse-to-Patient Ratios Fix Hospitals' Staffing Crisis?

Nurse staffing crises have intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A growing number of states are considering minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as a policy solution. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

My family was threatened with having their throats cut during pandemic Van-Tam

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam received extremely hateful messages, including threats to his family, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hate mail made him consider stepping down from his role as England's deputy chief medical officer.

Sir Jonathan expressed concern that future crises may deter people from taking up similar roles due to the implications and abuse that come with them. [ more ]

Harvard Business Review

Artificial intelligence

How Global Companies Use AI to Prevent Supply Chain Disruptions

Global companies are using AI tools to quickly find and engage with alternative suppliers

The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a focus on de-risking supply chains

Certain companies like Walmart, Tyson Foods, Koch Industries, Maersk, Siemens, and Unilever are leading the way in using AI technologies for supply chain resilience [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Whitty: Britain's Covid plans were woefully deficient' even for a flu pandemic

Britain's pandemic plans before Covid were not helpful and would have been deficient for any pandemic.

The UK's pandemic preparedness plans were drawn up for flu, not coronavirus. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Scientists set to expose chaos and disagreement in UK government at Covid inquiry

Explosive evidence regarding tensions and disagreements between Boris Johnson, his ministers, and top scientific advisers during the Covid-19 pandemic will be made public at the official inquiry.

Key scientists, including Sir Patrick Vallance, Prof Chris Whitty, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, and Prof Dame Angela McLean, will provide testimonies that are expected to shed light on the chaos in the government's response to the virus.

The inquiry will explore whether scientists were adequately consulted and if they faced political pressure to downplay the dangers and miscommunicate the extent of the crisis to the public. [ more ]

moreCovid-19 pandemic

Fast Company

3 weeks ago

4 years later it's official: WHO says COVID spreads 'through the air'

Defining disease transmission through the air to improve prevention strategies post-COVID-19 confusion. [ more ]

www.dw.com

German Bundestag considers COVID inquiry DW 04/04/2024

The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany led to the suspension of basic rights and strict lockdowns globally.

There is now a debate in Germany on how to address the intense period of the pandemic and the political decisions made. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

The Fourth Anniversary of the Covid Pandemic

Pandemic's global impact on excess deaths

Surge of social ills in the U.S. [ more ]

time.com

The Isolation of Having Long COVID as Society Moves On

The long-term impact of Long COVID on patients' daily lives is significant, despite the waning attention on the pandemic.

Patients with Long COVID and immunocompromised individuals face challenges in a society where COVID prevention measures have been relaxed. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Four Years Since California Declared a Covid Emergency

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on California and the United States.

Variants of the virus and the toll on lives emphasize the need for ongoing protective measures. [ more ]

PortlandTribune.com

Oregon pharmacist prepares documentary to spotlight industry changes

Pharmacist Anaïs Webster Mennuti realized the brokenness of her profession while working part-time at a retail pharmacy chain in Eugene.

Pharmacy workers felt understaffed, overstressed, and at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased demands and productivity tracking. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

3 weeks ago

Mental health

I go from rude health to dying in minutes': a day in the life of a hypochondriac

Health anxiety is exacerbated by modern factors like access to medical information online and heightened awareness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

NESN.com

3 weeks ago

Boston Bruins

Bruins Fan Created His Own Unique Tribute To Franchise History

The Covid-19 pandemic allowed a Boston Bruins fan to create a tribute to the team's history during lockdown. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

4 weeks ago

LA food

French Onion Ramen

The recipe for French onion ramen was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide comfort using shelf-stable goods.

The Mythical Kitchen YouTube channel, launched before the pandemic, embraces the mantra of 'EVERYBODY IS TRYING THEIR BEST!' [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

LA food

Pioneering restaurateur behind celebrity hangout Antonio's dies at 85

Antonio Gutierrez, owner of iconic L.A. restaurant Antonio's, has died at age 85

Antonio's was known for its authentic Mexican dishes and was a popular spot for Hollywood celebrities [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Wellness

When the Pandemic Hit Home

Memories of the pandemic vary in clarity, impacted by trauma or a blurred sense of time.

Personal experiences of Covid-19 lockdowns are diverse and emotional, demonstrating the varied impacts of the pandemic on individuals. [ more ]

IndieWire

Film

'Grand Theft Hamlet' Review: Shakespeare Comes to Los Santos in a Poignantly Hilarious Documentary About Creating Art in a Crisis

Artists faced existential crisis during COVID pandemic.

Virtual worlds offer creative outlets for artists. [ more ]

time.com

Public health

Experts Can't Agree If We're Still in a Pandemic

Many people are starting to refer to the COVID-19 pandemic in the past tense, even though the virus is still present and causing deaths worldwide.

There is uncertainty around whether we are still in a pandemic, as different experts have varying opinions on what defines a pandemic. [ more ]

PortlandTribune.com

Public health

Oregon Gov. Kotek announces $25 million partnership with coordinated care organizations

Oregon Medicaid insurers will pay $25 million from their profits to fund behavioral health projects for youths

The request for funding comes in response to the insurers reaping record amounts of money during the COVID-19 pandemic [ more ]

www.berkeleyside.org

Public health

Dozens of Berkeley restaurants went years without health inspections. Why?

Health inspectors in Berkeley had not visited dozens of food facilities, including restaurants, for years due to a shortage of staff and strain from the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was a major foodborne illness outbreak in Berkeley that was not linked to the restaurant, but highlighted the need for regular inspections. [ more ]

Cbsnews

NYC politics

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed to testify before Congress about his handling of nursing homes during COVID

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed to testify before Congress over nursing home handling during COVID pandemic.

Cuomo's team criticizes the unnecessary subpoena, claiming he had offered to testify and provide written answers beforehand. [ more ]

New York Post

NYC politics

New York state won't regain all jobs lost from COVID pandemic until at least 2026, analysis shows

New York is not expected to recover all jobs lost during the pandemic until late 2026.

New York's slow jobs recovery compared to the rest of the country is a growing concern. [ more ]

NBC Sports Bay Area & California

San Francisco 49ers

NFL increases 2024 salary cap to $255.4M in historic spike

The NFL's 2024 salary cap will be $255.4 million per team, a significant increase from 2023.

The spike in the salary cap is due to full repayments of amounts advanced during the COVID-19 pandemic and new media rights deals. [ more ]

Sacramento Bee

California

More California homeowners can now get mortgage help via state program. Are you eligible?

California has extended the requirements for the California Mortgage Relief Program to provide additional assistance to eligible homeowners.

The program aims to help those with missed property taxes, late mortgage payments, reverse mortgages and partial claims or loan deferrals taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

oaklandside.org

Free tuition at Peralta Colleges sees students returning to school in big numbers

The Peralta Community College District in Oakland has waived tuition and fees for students who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, leading to an increase in student diversity and enrollment.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted community college enrollment in California, but federal relief funds have helped provide financial aid to colleges and universities. [ more ]

www.bostonherald.com

One-on-one outreach shows promise in cutting school absenteeism

Regular school attendance has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 30% of public school students being chronically absent in the 2021-2022 school year.

Experts believe that lack of connection to school is a major factor contributing to high rates of absenteeism. [ more ]

Chalkbeat

I was told my high school had a bad reputation. I'm glad I didn't listen.

The author faced doubts and negativity when applying to a high school with a poor reputation but stayed enthusiastic about their choice.

The author struggled to find their place and make friends during their freshman year of high school. [ more ]

Chalkbeat

NYC says its long-awaited school bus GPS app is available citywide. There are caveats.

The New York City School Bus App, developed in partnership with Via, allows caregivers to track their kids' school buses in real time.

The app, which was announced in 2019, took over two years to roll out citywide due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

New York Post

Teachers' unions should stop claiming credit for COVID classroom wins

The American Federation of Teachers falsely claimed to have encouraged in-class learning during the pandemic, despite evidence to the contrary.

US student test scores have declined and the AFT is being accused of deflecting blame for this decline. [ more ]

BBC News

Labour plans to use AI to tackle school absence

Labour Party plans to make tackling poor school attendance a top priority if it forms the next government.

Plans include using AI to spot trends in absence and implementing measures such as a register for home-schooled pupils and free breakfast clubs for all primary-aged children in England. [ more ]

Ars Technica

OMG science

A puzzling illness paralyzed US kids every other year-until it didn't

Cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a mysterious paralyzing condition in children, have been linked to the enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) virus.

There is concern that a surge of AFM cases may occur in 2022 due to disrupted transmission cycles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Right-wing politics

Opinion | Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and the Right's Abnormality Problem

Progressive radicalism and institutional groupthink were leading to a potential defeat for American liberalism in 2024.

Liberalism is surviving its disconnect from American normalcy due to conservatism's inability to be 'normal.' [ more ]

SFGATE

SF food

San Francisco mall suing restaurant for more than $1.4 million

Stonestown Galleria mall in San Francisco is suing its former tenant, Gangnam Korean BBQ, for over $1.4 million in unpaid rent and fees.

The restaurant initially signed a two-year lease but later extended it to April 2026.

The owners of Gangnam Korean BBQ claim they were unable to obtain a PPP loan and struggled during the pandemic closure. [ more ]

Forbes

Career

Council Post: Three Ways To Make Communications A Strategic Part Of Your Business

During the Covid-19 pandemic, communications professionals played an important role in crafting and delivering messages related to operational changes.

Communications leaders are now taking a more active role in executive teams and their influence in the C-suite has grown. [ more ]

Bloomberg

Privacy technologies

Bloomberg

Global vehicle sales are expected to decline by around 20% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The transition to electric vehicles presents challenges related to the cost of batteries, range anxiety, and the need for charging infrastructure. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles

L.A. moves to protect renters who got a pet during the pandemic lockdown

The Los Angeles City Council voted to protect tenants who took in pets during the pandemic, even if it was against their leases.

Tenants must notify their landlords within a month if they have unauthorized pets, and the ordinance does not apply to pets brought in after January 31, 2023. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles

After more than a year of discussion, L.A. is ready to make outdoor dining permanent

The L.A. Al Fresco dining program, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, is being made permanent by the Los Angeles City Council.

A last-minute amendment to the program's regulations mandating a parking spot for disabled people is creating challenges for smaller businesses. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

Canada news

CBC Toronto's Sounds of the Season raises more than $1 million for local food banks | CBC News

Sounds of the Season raised over $1 million for food banks in the Greater Toronto Area in 2023, marking the third time the fundraiser has surpassed the million-dollar mark.

Enquiring Minds Montessori won the 2023 Sounds of the Season School Challenge for collecting the most food per student among participating schools. [ more ]

Poynter

Media industry

A fierce critic of news websites isn't backing off - Poynter

Digital news reports are often seen as an "inferior good" compared to print newspapers.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary surge in paid digital subscriptions, but the bounce faded once the crisis receded. [ more ]

Fatherly

Parenting

Working From Home Is Stressful For Dads - But Being There Is Worth It

Working from home during the pandemic increased parenting stress for fathers.

Dads reported being twice as likely to find parenting stressful when working from home. [ more ]

Truthout

Left-wing politics

As Housing Costs Skyrocket, Homelessness in U.S. Hits Record High

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States reached a new record, largely due to an increase in first-time homelessness.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, extra assistance helped to prevent a further rise in homelessness. [ more ]

english.elpais.com

Europe politics

Rishi Sunak faces a revolt in the UK Parliament over his Rwanda plan after a grilling on Covid-19

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces rebellion over immigration policy

Sunak denies taking risks with public health during COVID-19 pandemic [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Europe politics

UK leader faces a Parliament in revolt over Rwanda plan

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces a rebellion over his immigration policy and tough questions about his judgment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sunak's signature immigration policy, which aims to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, faces a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Former UK leader Boris Johnson returns for second day of COVID-19 inquiry testimony

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is testifying in the public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson admitted to making mistakes and that his advisers failed to adequately raise the alarm about the virus. [ more ]

Cbsnews

Surge in respiratory illnesses among children in China swamping hospitals

Hospitals in China are seeing a surge in respiratory illnesses among children, primarily in Beijing and northern regions

Health experts say there is no immediate cause for international concern and the new cases are not on the scale of the initial COVID-19 outbreak

Increased vulnerability in children may be linked to the use of masks and lockdowns during the pandemic [ more ]

www.standard.co.uk

London

Covid Inquiry: Sadiq Khan made private plea to Boris Johnson for London to go into early lockdown

Sadiq Khan warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the current approach and messaging to the public in London regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was failing.

Khan urged for an immediate strengthening of public health messaging and for a hardline lockdown order to be made by Downing Street.

Khan suggested a clear reassurance about the supply of food to avoid panic buying and stockpiling. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Social justice

As a Muslim prisoner in the US, I worry I will be cremated when I die

Prisoners at New Jersey State Prison are requesting a process to ensure Islamic burial rites for Muslim prisoners.

The prison has a large Muslim population, with around 400 Muslim prisoners out of 1,300 total.

The lack of Islamic burial rites in the prison system is especially significant given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]

MarTech

Environment

How to talk to consumers about climate change | MarTech

Marketers can play a role in combating climate change through cutting CO2 emissions from digital marketing and communicating with sustainability-focused consumers.

October 2023 is projected to be the warmest year in 125,000 years due to record-breaking temperatures in October 2021, leading to stronger and more frequent extreme weather events. [ more ]

New York Post

NYC adds 8K students thanks to migrant crisis after years of decline

The New York City public school system has seen an increase in student enrollment for the first time in eight years.

The increase in enrollment is attributed to an influx of migrant families.

Enrollment in the city's public school system had been steadily declining over the past decade. [ more ]

Axios