covid_19 Colin Steer | Cooperation, creativity and challenges in education amid COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:10:43 -0500 Public reaction to the initial threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was predictably mixed. While international news of the contagion across continents helped people to appreciate that this was not restricted to a particular region, not many people... Full Article
covid_19 G. Anthony Hylton | A glimpse of a post-COVID-19 world By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:13:49 -0500 The lessons of COVID-19 are yet to crystallise, but the evidence so far has yielded some early insights of developments that are likely to shape the national and global agenda for the immediate future. The speed and scale of the spread of the... Full Article
covid_19 M. Sevala Naik | India and Jamaica: United in combating COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 00:11:35 -0500 The global COVID-19 spread has gone from bad to worse, with over 3.2 million confirmed cases and close to 250,000 deaths, not only has this pandemic claimed innumerable lives, it has also destabilised economies by freezing trade and other economic... Full Article
covid_19 Peter Phillips | Protecting our people is priority in the COVID-19 fight By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 00:11:19 -0500 The national priority at this time must be the protection of the Jamaican people against the onset of COVID-19. This has to be done by striking the balance between implementing protective public-health measures and providing a supporting economic... Full Article
covid_19 Don’t be too hasty in lifting COVID-19 restrictions – PAHO head By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:13:15 -0500 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director, Dr Carissa Etienne, is warning that lifting COVID-19 restrictions too soon could accelerate the spread of the virus and open the door for a dramatic upsurge in countries of the region. The warning... Full Article
covid_19 Rare inflammatory condition affects some children with COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 17:11:53 -0500 Dozens of United States children have been hospitalised with a serious inflammatory condition possibly linked with the coronavirus and first seen in Europe. New York authorities announced Wednesday that 64 potential cases had been reported to... Full Article
covid_19 Can COVID-19 survive on my phone? By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 17:24:17 -0500 Can COVID-19 survive on my phone? Yes. That’s why a daily wipe down of “high-touch” surfaces like phones, keyboards and tablet computers is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A scientific test... Full Article
covid_19 COVID-19 crippling Caribbean football – McNab By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:05:46 -0500 FORMER NATIONAL footballer Aldrick ‘Allie’ McNab is concerned about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean’s football development. The coronavirus has caused the postponement, suspension, and cancellation of a number of sporting... Full Article
covid_19 Talk Evidence - Building an evidence base for covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:22:17 +0000 We're taking a break from the usual Talk Evidence to focus on the new corona virus that has emerged in China. With a brand new disease, we have to build our evidence base from scratch - basic virology, epidemiology, pathogenicity, transmissibility, and ultimately treatment are all unknowns. In this episode of Talk Evidence, we're trying to get... Full Article
covid_19 Organisational kindness during covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:52:48 +0000 Reports from Italy, and more recently from the U.S. show the strain the healthcare system is under during this pandemic. We know that staff will step up in an emergency, but this isn’t a fire or a bombing, this is going to last for months. So how can organisations be proactive in supporting staff, and how can leaders try to mitigate the... Full Article
covid_19 Talk Evidence Covid-19 update - Confused symptoms, fatality rate uncertainty, Iceland's testing By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:14:17 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give... Full Article
covid_19 WHO's response to covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:01:53 +0000 We knew a pandemic was coming at some point - it’s kind of why we have the WHO. We have had various smaller scale tests of the international response to an infectious disease outbreak - Ebola in west africa being the most recent. After that, reports criticised the WHO's response - citing problems around the swiftness of their action, the lack of... Full Article
covid_19 Look after yourself during covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:44:42 +0000 Continuing our series on wellbeing during the pandemic, in this podcast we speak to Occupational Psychologist Roxane Gervais about how doctors can look after themselves during the covid-19 pandemic. We discuss the importance of reaching out to friends and family during this difficult time, how to deal with the loss of control, as well how to... Full Article
covid_19 Talk Evidence covid-19 update - pneumonia, guidelines, preprints and testing By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:53:16 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give... Full Article
covid_19 Talk Evidence covid-19 update - hydroxy/chloroquinine, prognostic models and facemaskss By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 20:39:17 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give... Full Article
covid_19 Talk Evidence covid-19 update - lack of testing transparency, how to give good debate By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 16:25:18 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give you... Full Article
covid_19 Talk evidence covid-19 update: natural history of covid, include patients in guidelines By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:13:00 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give you... Full Article
covid_19 COVID-19 dents Mother’s Day sales By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:16:36 -0500 Vendors and store operators who would normally score big on Mother’s Day baskets are lamenting that the novel coronavirus has put a dent in their sales. Kaydyonne Thomas, owner of a gift store in the Pavilion Mall, located in Half Way Tree, said... Full Article
covid_19 PAHO calls for acceleration of COVID-19 testing in Americas By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 13:07:11 -0500 Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr Carissa F. Etienne, today called for accelerated and expanded testing for COVID-19 in countries of the Americas. “We need a clearer view of where the virus is circulating and how... Full Article
covid_19 Haiti receives US$16.1 million in assistance from US to fight COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:51:23 -0500 PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Government of Haiti has received funds amounting to US$16.1 million from the United States to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the United States Agency for International... Full Article
covid_19 PAHO calls for continued immunisation amid COVID-19 pandemic By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 16:13:26 -0500 Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Etienne, today urged for vaccination programmes to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. “If we fall behind on routine immunisations, particularly for children, we risk... Full Article
covid_19 Haiti records seventh death from COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:27:51 -0500 PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that a 20-year-old man has become the seventh person in Haiti to die of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is urging the population to follow restriction measures, including... Full Article
covid_19 Trinidad warns of fraud in COVID-19 support programme By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 10:07:31 -0500 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Saturday said it had uncovered a plot by persons to defraud the state and that a new mechanism would be put in place Monday in providing rental assistance to people impacted by... Full Article
covid_19 Bermuda records seventh COVID-19 death By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 13:05:35 -0500 HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Bermuda recorded its seventh COVID-19 death on Saturday as Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson announced that he would need to rewrite this year’s budget because of the battering from the global... Full Article
covid_19 Nevis: No active cases of COVID-19 on island By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:19:28 -0500 As of May 6, officials in Nevis are reporting that there are no active cases of the deadly COVID-19 virus on the island. This was confirmed Tuesday by Premier Mark Brantley, Minister responsible for Health, in the Nevis Island Administration.... Full Article
covid_19 Partha Kar: Covid-19—we must keep faith in our experts By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, March 19, 2020 - 17:10 Full Article
covid_19 Partha Kar: What will come after the covid-19 crisis? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 15:21 Full Article
covid_19 Still not prepared for COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:09:52 -0500 THE EDITOR, Madam: How many more will have to suffer? How many more will have to die to end the discrimination often meted out to persons suspected of or confirmed with COVID-19? The novel coronavirus is highly contagious, seems so mysterious, and... Full Article
covid_19 Letter of the Day | COVID-19 presents an opportunity for change By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 23:11:37 -0500 THE EDITOR, Madam: THE JAMAICAN economy has been underperforming for the last 40 years, during which economic growth averaged approximately one per cent per annum. One of the main reasons for this poor performance is the non-competitive nature of... Full Article
covid_19 Taking COVID-19 heads on - Student entrepreneurs’ inventions prove viable weapons against deadly virus By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:19:49 -0500 As the global battle against the deadly COVID-19 disease wages on, with each country’s government, healthcare industry, and general public playing its part in defeating this new and relatively unknown enemy, two seemingly unlikely foot soldiers... Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Nightingale hospitals set to shut down after seeing few patients By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: 2020-05-07T06:50:46-07:00 The mothballing of Britain’s Nightingale hospitals, some of which have yet to treat a single covid-19 patient, has raised questions about whether resources to fight the pandemic were... Full Article
covid_19 Adil El-Tayar: renowned NHS transplant surgeon who died from covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: 2020-05-07T06:51:23-07:00 bmj;369/may07_6/m1803/FAF1faPhoto credit: Abbas GhazanfarOn 25 March Adil El-Tayar, a renowned organ transplantation specialist, became the first working NHS surgeon to die from covid-19 in hospital... Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Trump says added deaths are necessary price for reopening US businesses By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: 2020-05-07T07:10:42-07:00 A rise in mortality is a price worth paying to restart the US economy, President Trump has said, as many states flout advice from scientists and reopen beaches, cinemas, or hair salons while new... Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Number of Germans infected could be 10 times higher than official estimates By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: 2020-05-07T07:16:18-07:00 The number of people in Germany infected with covid-19, could be 10 times higher than official government estimates, according to a new study by University of Bonn researchers.1The Heinsberg study is... Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Health needs of sex workers are being sidelined, warn agencies By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: 2020-05-07T08:46:13-07:00 Agencies have criticised the lack of action to protect the health needs of sex workers during the pandemic, with the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) warning of a “ticking time bomb of health... Full Article
covid_19 Prediction models for diagnosis and prognosis of covid-19 infection: systematic review and critical appraisal By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 09:01 Full Article
covid_19 Webinar: European Union – The Economic and Political Implications of COVID-19 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:25:01 +0000 Corporate Members Event Webinar 26 March 2020 - 5:00pm to 5:45pm Online Event participants Colin Ellis, Chief Credit Officer, Head of UK, Moody’s Investors ServiceSusi Dennison, Director, Europe Power Programme, European Council of Foreign RelationsShahin Vallée, Senior Fellow, German Council of Foreign Relations (DGAP)Pepijn Bergsen, Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham HouseChair: Hans Kundnani, Senior Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House In the past few weeks, European Union member states have implemented measures such as social distancing, school and border closures and the cancellation of major cultural and sporting events in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Such measures are expected to have significant economic and political consequences, threatening near or total collapse of certain sectors. Moreover, the management of the health and economic crises within the EU architecture has exposed tensions and impasses in the extent to which the EU is willing to collaborate to mitigate pressures on fellow member states.The panellists will examine the European Union's response to a series of cascading crises and the likely impact of the pandemic on individual member states. Can the EU prevent an economic hit from developing into a financial crisis? Are the steps taken by the European Central Bank to protect the euro enough? And are member states expected to manage the crisis as best they can or will there be a united effort to mitigate some of the damage caused? This event is part of a fortnightly series of 'Business in Focus' webinars reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on areas of particular professional interest for our corporate members. Not a corporate member? Find out more. Full Article
covid_19 Belarusians Left Facing COVID-19 Alone By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:19:10 +0000 16 April 2020 Ryhor Astapenia Robert Bosch Stiftung Academy Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme @ryhorastapenia LinkedIn Anaïs Marin Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme LinkedIn The way the epidemic is being mismanaged creates a risk of political destabilisation and leaves the country exposed to external influence. 2020-04-16-Belarus-COVID-Football Playing accordion in front of dummy football fans in Brest, Belarus as the country's championship continues despite the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images. Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, few countries have chosen to ignore social distancing recommendations. But, even among those states which have, the Belarusian official response to its epidemic remains unique.President Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s statements that vodka, sauna and tractors are protecting Belarusians from coronavirus attracted amused attention in international media. Lukashenka also described other societies’ response to COVID-19 as ‘a massive psychosis’.Although Lukashenka is notorious for his awkward style of public communication, the fact that Belarus is refusing to impose comprehensive confinement measures is of concern. Belarusians continue to work, play football and socialise.Lukashenka, himself playing ice hockey in front of state cameras, claims it is the best way to stay healthy. Belarusian authorities clearly appear to be in denial – and this could have dire humanitarian consequences.From denial to half measuresBelarus actually has one of the largest numbers of hospital beds in the world per 1,000 of the population. But in the absence of quarantine measures its health system, already crippled by corruption and embezzlement, is likely to be overwhelmed.Patients being treated for pneumonia in hospitals have suggested medical staff are uninformed and inadequately equipped. It is claimed doctors are not reporting COVID-19 as the suspected cause of death, either through a lack of testing or for fear of reprisals.Observers believe the real mortality rate is already well above official figures (40 deaths as of 16 April). Based on an Imperial College London model, between 15,000 and 32,000 people could die under the current mild confinement regime – and such a high death toll would hugely impact the country’s political stability. Citing personal data protection, the Ministry of Health has imposed a total news blackout; the only cluster officially acknowledged so far is the city of Vitsebsk.Although specific Belarusian cities and some individuals started changing their approach – by extending school vacations or cancelling weddings – such measures remain half-hearted.Clearly a major reason for such an apparently irresponsible reaction is that Belarus cannot afford a massive lockdown that would freeze its already underdeveloped economy and drive it deeper into recession. Unlike many other nations, Belarus lacks budgetary resources for a sizable stimulus package. But a delayed response might backfire on the economy.Economic recession has been forecast to amount to at least 10% of GDP. For Lukashenka, who openly challenged conventional wisdom regarding the need for quarantine and isolation, such an economic downturn would harm his confidence rating in the eyes of Belarusian voters, mindful of the state’s mismanagement of the crisis. And it could create doubt within the ruling elite itself, with Lukashenka seeking re-election for a sixth mandate in late August.Against this backdrop, a radicalization of the opposition-minded part of society is also to be expected, with greater reliance on social networks in the face of official secrecy and disinformation. The expected response of the regime is then likely to be pre-emptive repression. Evidence is emerging that law enforcement agencies have already stepped up judicial and paralegal harassment of dissenters, notably independent journalists and bloggers.Russia’s initial reluctance to address the coronavirus crisis may also have influenced Belarus. Lukashenka and his administration often react to public health challenges by the Soviet rulebook, reminiscent of the Soviet authorities’ mismanagement of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.Russia has unilaterally closed its borders with Belarus and, as bilateral relations continue to deteriorate, this casts further doubt on the viability of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Pro-Russian media forecast Moscow will be unwilling to alleviate the expected socio-economic crisis, as it continues to reject Minsk’s demands regarding subsidised oil deliveries. Yet the Kremlin might use the crisis as an opportunity to resume its integrationist pressure on Belarus.China, with which Belarus engaged in a seemingly privileged strategic partnership in the 2010s, was actually the first country to dispatch humanitarian aid to beef up Belarusian capacity to fight the virus.But Minsk should not expect Beijing to rescue its economy and, unless it commits to more internal reforms, Belarus is not likely to receive much from the EU either. The regime has already applied to the IMF for emergency financial support, but conditions are attached and, even if successful, the funds would amount to no more than $900m.The government’s decision to take only half measures so far is rooted in the hope COVID-19 is not as bad as foreign experts fear. But, unless the leadership acknowledges the public health crisis and mitigates its economic impact, COVID-19 will accelerate Belarus’s slide back into international self-isolation. If combined with a humanitarian crisis, this will put the Belarusian regime under considerable stress.This crisis does risk a new ‘Chernobyl moment’ for the authorities, but the population could react more vocally this time. As volunteers self-organise to fight the epidemic, it might become more difficult for the authorities to say that it is efficient in running the country. But the bottom line is Belarus desperately needs money. Whoever steps up to support Belarus financially will also be able to heavily influence its politics. Full Article
covid_19 Webinar: Turkey’s Challenging Post-COVID 19 Outlook By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:05:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 7 May 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Event participants Dr Murat Ucer, Turkey Country Analyst, GlobalSource Partners Chair: Fadi Hakura, Manager, Turkey Project, Europe Programme, Chatham House Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has so far refused to impose a nation-wide lockdown to suppress the spread of coronavirus in the country. In late March, Turkish health officials announced that they expect the virus to peak in three weeks' time and for Turkey to overcome it quickly. At the same time, Turkey has ruled out turning to the IMF for help in dealing with the crisis despite growing pressures on the Lira and the wider economy. The country's relations with its traditional allies, the US and Europe, remain thorny. This event will focus on the likely impact of the epidemic on Turkey's economy and politics. What are the reasons behind Erdogan’s reluctance to implement a comprehensive lockdown to break the chain of virus transmission? Why is Turkey resolutely opposed to agreeing a funding package with the IMF? What is the macro outlook for 2020 and beyond for the country's economy? And how may the government's long-term popularity be affected? Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project Europe Programme, Turkey Project Alina Lyadova Europe Programme Coordinator Email Full Article
covid_19 Virtual Breakfast: Europe in the Age of COVID-19: Priorities and Debates By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 12:15:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 6 May 2020 - 9:00am to 10:00am Event participants Duncan Robinson, Charlemagne Columnist; Brussels Bureau Chief, the EconomistChair: Pepijn Bergsen, Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House The new European Commission had a bold new agenda when it began its work in December 2019, with climate change, digital transformation and strengthening European democracy among its priorities. Less than six months later, the European continent is in the midst of the worst crisis since the second World War and business as usual has been taken over by crisis management.Has COVID-19 monopolized the agenda in Brussels? What priorities are still on the table and what debates have fallen victim to the coronavirus? Is the current crisis reigniting and exacerbating existing faultlines in the EU or creating new ones?Reflecting on his first four months as the Economist’s Charlemagne columnist, the speaker will share what decision-making in Brussels looks like during a pandemic and what debates are dominating conversations in the EU capital today. Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project Europe Programme, Britain and Europe: The Post-Referendum Agenda Alina Lyadova Europe Programme Coordinator Email Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Home testing programme across England aims to help define way out of lockdown By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, May 1, 2020 - 12:17 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19’s impact on US medical research—shifting money, easing rules By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, May 1, 2020 - 13:37 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19 is no worse in immunocompromised children, says NICE By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, May 1, 2020 - 14:22 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Coroners needn’t investigate PPE policy failures in deaths of NHS staff, new guidance says By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Monday, May 4, 2020 - 10:35 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: NHS bosses told to assess risk to ethnic minority staff who may be at greater risk By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Monday, May 4, 2020 - 14:16 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: GPs have a fortnight to start organising weekly care home reviews, says NHS By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - 11:01 Full Article
covid_19 Partha Kar: Covid-19 and ethnicity—why are all our angels white? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - 11:31 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: UK advisory panel members are revealed after experts set up new group By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - 12:31 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: Lack of capacity led to halting of community testing in March, admits deputy chief medical officer By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 12:25 Full Article
covid_19 Covid-19: the challenge of patient rehabilitation after intensive care By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 12:36 Full Article
