"Connecting Communities for COVID19 News" 22nd Apr 2020
Isolation Tips
Isolation: tips and advice to help your children the situation manage well
Blandine Césard child and family psychologist, working for the city of Orleans, guides readers on how to best help children continue to grow without stress or anxiety during this period of unexpected house-bound confinement:
Eight tips to reduce parenting stress during pandemic
Parenting can be tough at the best of times, but family life has changed dramatically during social isolation that’s been mandated by COVID-19. The good news is children thrive in an incredible variety of settings. Emerging evidence suggests that a little stress, particular in the context of a supportive parent-child relationship, can actually be beneficial because it builds resilience when taking on future challenges. As clinical psychology scholars, our research looks at how parent-child relationships can promote healthy development, particularly in the context of stress.
Southsea woman transforms her kitchen for less than £100 in isolation creation DIY project
After being furloughed from her job as assistant manager of Dune in Gunwharf, Hayley Derry had plenty of time on her hands to take on some isolation creations.
‘I successfully taught myself how to tile, took the cupboards off the wall and put up industrial style shelves to open up the space. I upcycled the handles and cupboards all for under £100. ‘I just wanted to show that you don’t need to spend thousands of pounds ripping out a good kitchen.’
How to manage your relationship in self-isolation
As a result, many will find themselves in the novel position of the constant company of their partner, potentially for the first time ever. Others who are following the restrictions separately may experience the opposite and not see their loved ones for a long period of time. This will undoubtedly bring a new dynamic and new challenges to many relationships and is likely to leave many wondering how your relationship will fare through the next few weeks and months. Here are some tips to help you get through lockdown whilst looking after your mental health and relationship as best you can.
Loneliness, anxiety, grief — dealing with the mental health impacts of the coronavirus
We can see this mental health crisis coming, yet we lack both national and international programs to address it.
Fitness experts in Hunts provide isolation tips | Wisbech News
“Exercise boosts your levels of serotonin, known as the ‘happy hormone’, therefore boosting your mood and reducing levels of anxiety you may be experiencing right now,” Lauren Manlow, who is a personal trainer in the district, said. “Video sessions help give clients a structure and routine that’s as close to normality as possible.”
It comes as global health officials advised last week that people should “exercise, maintain a healthy diet and stop drinking and smoking” during the pandemic
10 hacks to make your food last longer during self-isolation
Research by environmental charity Hubbub in the UK reveals that almost half (45 per cent) of those surveyed are more worried about food than before the COVID-19 crisis began. Of the 2,000+ adults asked, 90 per cent said their shopping and/or cooking habits have changed since the lockdown started. On the plus side, over half are planning meals more carefully and 41 per cent are getting better at using leftovers. To help us all make the most of what we buy, Hubbub is offering ten tips to get us through this challenging period.
Tips to maintain your mental wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic
With lockdown extended, how are you coping mentally with the social distancing measures and isolation guidelines? ITV News Central has asked Dr Charlotte Hilton, a Chartered Psychologist from Derbyshire, to provide some tips for keeping up your mental wellbeing at this time.
Hygiene Helpers
How long does the coronavirus live on surfaces?
Can you contract coronavirus from your post, deliveries or groceries? How likely are you to be infected from touching something? And what cleaning products should you be using? We take a look at how to keep your home clean and the science behind the virus remaining on certain surfaces, according to experts.
Homemade masks can slow the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and help restore the economy #Masks4All
Homemade masks can slow the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and help restore the economy #Masks4All
Another flight bringing in PPE is planned on Saturday...
Another plane from China with PPE for Polish healthcare workers is arriving thanks to LOT Polish Airlines - This is the hallmark of the air bridge between China and Poland, created as part of the "Cargo for Poland" program.The entire flight can be followed by everyone via a tracker app on their mobilephone. We have almost 16 million zlotys in the WOŚP Intervention Fund account. We have spent over 36 million so far and we are still making further purchases. So far, PPE has been sent to 330 gynecology and obstetrics wards, to 318 hospitals, 312 Social Welfare Homes and 1032 ambulance stations. These are over 2,000 places where Poles' health and lives have been saved in part thanks to you all! Many thanks for your support and many thanks to those who use this equipment to care for us.
Community Activities
Dubai launches One Million Arab Coders 'COVID-19 Hackathon'
Themed 'Coders versus Corona', a total of $50,000 is up for grabs by five teams who are able to present ideas that can mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through the use of technology.
Cyndi Lauper, Troye Sivan, Michelle Visage to appear at Stonewall benefit concert
Proceeds from the Stonewall Gives Back event will go to a fund where LGBTQ nightlife workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for a grant.
BBC to showcase comics in isolation
Comics including Bob Mortimer, Kerry Godliman and Tom Allen are to take part in a new series of BBC Two comedy shorts shot in isolation. In Comedians Playing With Themselves, comics will offer tips on coping with lockdown, including how to avoid arguments with your partner, finding new sports to play and perfecting a hit podcast.
Architects and medics collaborate on "unprecedented" project to develop open-source hoods to protect healthcare workers
Model for the hood, made from a single piece of folded plastic following an idea initially proposed by Saurabh Mhatre The idea for the hoods simultaneously emerged two weeks ago at Massachusetts General Hospital, where a Covid-19 innovations team co-led by Dr Sam Smith started to research better ways of protecting healthcare workers treating ...
Six Ways Educators Can Support LGBTQ Students During COVID-19
How can teachers support LGBTQ students during the school closure crisis?
I've shared several posts discussing ways educators can support particularly vulnerable student populations, including English-language learners and those with special needs. Today's post will address reaching another vulnerable group: our LGBTQ students.
How Yorkshire's schools and universities are helping healthcare workers during pandemic
“Every box that gets done, there’s a cheer because it’s another batch going to people who really need these,” says Bradfield’s Head of Design and Technology (DT) Sam Booth. “It’s amazing to be doing this and really quite emotional as well. Some of the places we’re delivering to, they are in tears when we’re giving this equipment...It feels like we’re making a difference, which is a great feeling." Helen Vardy, the head of DT at King Ecgbert School, agrees. She has been manufacturing using a laser cutter in her classroom and can make up to 200 visors per day. “I’ve seen in the media the fear that key workers have without the right PPE,” she says. “If we can make them feel safer, that is an amazing thing to do.”
Why this doctor helped to make coronavirus advice videos in different languages to help BAME people
'Some people might flout the rules, but it's different when they haven't been provided information in the first place'
Assist COVID-19 Research by Sharing Your Fitbit Data
I know that my Fitbit isn’t meant to be used diagnostically, but I’m also sure I’m not the first person to have noticed a correlation between, say, an increase in my resting heart rate a few days before the onset of a winter cold. That’s why I was very excited (and personally validated) to learn that Fitbit is now giving users the option to share our health data with Scripps and Stanford in the hopes that they might make similar correlations and connections in their COVID-19 research.
Little Free Pantries providing help to those food insecure during pandemic
The Little Free Library website has been updated to provide a map list of those libraries which have been converted into “sharing boxes” of food and household items during COVID-19. But Hillier hopes people will also register on the pantry project website, so people can easily see where the closest free pantry is.
Actors jump in to help the poor
Actors Israel Matseke-Zulu and Presley Chweneyagae have joined the fight in helping the underprivileged in Gauteng. The actors joined forces to donate food and COVID-19 essentials to the community of Alexandra, north of Joburg, yesterday. The two said their efforts were in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for all of us to do our bit to help alleviate the impact of the coronavirus especially on the poorest of the poor.
Working Remotely
Working remotely, Russian-style: Ballet practice at home
Russians from many walks of life, including Bolshoi Ballet dancers, musicians and a mixed martial arts trainer, are struggling to adapt to self-isolation because of the coronavirus outbreak. Principal dancers Maria Alexandrova and Vladislav Lantratov are rehearsing their parts online. Regular training is essential for the profession that that requires daily practice. Bolshoi orchestra concert master Boris Lifanovsky also spends hours rehearsing his cello parts at home.
Coronavirus: MPs approve new working arrangements as Commons returns
The House of Commons has returned in "exceptional and unprecedented" circumstances, the Speaker says. Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened the first day back since the Easter recess amid the coronavirus crisis. A "hybrid" Parliament - with some MPs in the chamber and others connected via video link - will begin on Wednesday after MPs approved the plan. Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the Commons could not let "perfect be the enemy of the good". Under the motion agreed by MPs, up to 50 MPs will be allowed inside the chamber, sitting apart from each other in line with social distancing guidelines.
House leader Hoyer recommends remote work, amid coronavirus
A top U.S. House of Representatives Democrat recommended measures on Tuesday to allow members to vote and do committee work remotely, even when they are back in Washington, to comply with social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote to the leaders of the House Rules and Administration committees urging them to update congressional rules to allow votes using videoconferencing technology.
Staying home: Job analysts expect remote work opportunities to increase after coronavirus subsides
"Remote work has been a growing trend in the workforce in recent years. However, until now, it has not been widely adopted. The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent social isolation measures have caused companies to explore remote work options and implement collaborative tools in an attempt to sustain business through the crisis," says Rick Gibbs, a performance specialist with Insperity, a human-resource solutions firm based in Houston, Texas. "As the number of remote workers increases and teams prove they can maintain productivity outside the office, some employers may consider remote work as a permanent solution."
Virtual Classrooms
Educating Yorkshire's Matthew Burton joins David Attenborough and Jodie Whittaker for BBC virtual learning scheme
Thornhill headteacher Matthew Burton, who starred in Educating Yorkshire, is involved in the new BBC Bitesize virtual learning programme. Laura Reid reports.
Anchor University classes go virtual as students begin online sessions
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Afolayan had suggested that should the lockdown become prolong, the University would have to administer classes online. “We didn’t plan for classes outside of the University campus before the lockdown order as the University had concluded the first semester and students had gone on semester break. However, we will continue to observe the developments and may revert to online classes if the need arises,” he said while discussing the possibility of classes going virtual after the lockdown.
Cleveland Metroparks Hosting Virtual Classrooms For Earth Day
On Wednesday, April 22, the Metroparks will host an all-day virtual classroom on a variety of Earth Day topics, offer tips for a greener planet and collect a list of 50 ways to celebrate Earth Day from home. "Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is dedicated to securing a future for wildlife," said Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar. "By visiting the zoo's website, you can join our conservation community to protect animals and the environment. Securing a future for wildlife is more important now than ever."
TechSpires, K12 to Boost Nigeria’s Education with Online Classroom Initiative
According to the Director of TechSpires, Mr. Smart Nwachukwu, their objective is to strengthen the academic achievements of students in Nigeria and West Africa who are preparing to sit for the West African Examination Council’s (WAEC) whether it is “O” levels, “A” level or regular examination. “Techspires in partnership with K12 is geared towards putting the Nigerian students on the same academic path with their counterpart in the US, UK and Canada in Science, Mathematics, History, Geography, Core Learning, Counselling, Arts and Linguistic (English, and French)
Virtual session tackles Jordanian experience with remote learning
Minister of Education Tayseer Nueimi and Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) Zaid Eyadat on Monday held a virtual dialogue session to discuss the Jordanian experience with remote learning. “Remote learning is no new concept, but its requirements and challenges have quickened within the framework of what is happening across the globe due to the pandemic,” the minister expressed during the virtual dialogue session, organised by Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, via the video conferencing platform Zoom which was live-streamed on the foundation’s Facebook page. The novel coronavirus has undoubtedly posed tremendous challenges to all sectors, including the educational sector, Nueimi noted, adding Jordan has taken the initiative of providing education remotely through televised lessons and virtual learning platform Darsak.
Public Policies
Angela Merkel Is Germany’s Scientist in Chief
The chancellor’s rigor in collating information, her honesty in stating what is not yet known, and her composure are paying off.
Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown
Milan is to introduce one of Europe’s most ambitious schemes reallocating street space from cars to cycling and walking, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The northern Italian city and surrounding Lombardy region are among Europe’s most polluted, and have also been especially hard hit by the Covid-19 outbreak. Under the nationwide lockdown, motor traffic congestion has dropped by 30-75%, and air pollution with it. City officials hope to fend off a resurgence in car use as residents return to work looking to avoid busy public transport. The city has announced that 35km (22 miles) of streets will be transformed over the summer, with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
Dutch extend ban on major public events until Sept. 1
The Netherlands on Tuesday extended by three months a ban on major public events, including professional sports and music festivals, until Sept. 1, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. At the same time, Rutte said an “encouraging” slowing of the spread of the coronavirus would enable elementary schools and daycare centres to reopen in May. Rutte said the limited easing of restrictive measures was necessary to prevent a strong resurgence of COVID-19.
Government Documents Reveal Scenarios Agencies Using For Coronavirus Planning : Shots - Health News
Federal health officials estimated in early April that more than 300,000 Americans could die from COVID-19 if all social distancing measures are abandoned, and later estimates pushed the possible death toll even higher, according to documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. Some outside experts say even that grim outlook may be too optimistic.
Houston organizations pivot to telemedicine and remote care amid COVID-19 crisis
HCA Houston Healthcare's CareNow locations have implemented Virtual Care, a telehealth urgent care service. Patients can check in online during the urgent care center's operating hours to gain one-on-one access to care from a CareNow physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Providers, via video chat, will evaluate minor conditions and can prescribe non-narcotic medications when indicated.
UK Govt taking 'deliberately cautious' approach and rejects swift lifting of lockdown restrictions
Michael Gove insisted the country should “not get ahead of ourselves” and that the Government was using a “balanced judgement” based on scientific advice and that restrictions would be lifted “in the right way with safeguards. However, he did accept that pubs, restaurants and hotels would be the last to emerge from the lockdown. The minister admitted the Government was looking at which areas of the current restrictions could be lifted and in which way but stressed lifting them too early would be dangerous.”
Maintaining Services
CDC To Expand Public Health Workforce To Support Contact Tracing : Shots - Health News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is funding 650 health workers at state health departments to supplement more than 600 CDC staff already in place, according to director Dr. Robert Redfield. Redfield says it's part of an effort to expand the nation's public health workforce. The goal is to ensure every community can do enough testing and contact tracing to prevent any big new outbreaks from occurring. "As we open up, we need to reset our sights on what the primary strategy is to control this virus and that has got to be containment. And that means we have to have the testing and capacity to contain-contain-contain this virus," he says.
British energy startup launches campaign supplying power banks to frontline workers fighting coronavirus
A British energy startup is providing power banks to NHS staff and frontline workers so they can stay connected whilst on shift during the coronavirus pandemic. A Lifesaver's campaign, Lifeline To The Frontline, has supplied 400 pre-charged power banks using 100 per cent renewable energy from Octopus Energy to the University Hospital in Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London.
Healthcare Innovations
Human coronavirus vaccine trials to start this week in the UK
The UK Health Ministry has announced plans to start human trials of a coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday the COVID-19 vaccine was being developed by scientists at Oxford University and a separate team at Imperial College in London.
How drones are used for life-saving healthcare
Traditional approaches for connecting and supplying people with care and medicines are not just antiquated, they are increasingly inadequate. This is where we have a new possible solution - namely, drones - to address this challenge and bring medicines to patients faster, when they need them the most.
Putting AI to work against COVID-19
Until the coronavirus pandemic took hold, it seemed that at least every other headline about healthcare innovations was related to machine learning or other forms of artificial intelligence (AI) - systems that can mimic human processes such as the capacity to learn and adapt on the basis of new information increasingly used in technology. We have heard a great deal about how AI might improve healthcare, but what use is it in the face of the massively disruptive effects of a serious infectious disease outbreak?
Coronavirus health monitoring app launched encouraging 'good neighbours'
Lord (Paul) Drayson, CEO of Sensyne Health, said: “Current social distancing and self-isolation advice is limiting people’s ability to care for the ones we love. While physical isolation during the crisis makes sense, social isolation doesn’t. In line with Sensyne’s aim to improve patient care, I hope CVm-Health becomes an app for everyone, including the digitally disconnected, and enables people to volunteer, from their laptop on their sofa, or at a safe distance in their neighborhood, to help look after those most vulnerable in society.”
University College London and Causaly to partner on COVID-19 research
The AI and innovative technology company Causaly has announced that they will be partnering with UCL Innovation & Enterprise, in the UK, to help advance their ongoing research into COVID-19. The company have granted several UCL researchers access to their software, with a view to opening up access to others in the future.
How technology innovation is boosting healthcare systems
On International Creativity and Innovation Day, a look at technology advancements and their impact on healthcare infrastructure. Let us have a look at some of these technologies
