Medavie and Jack.org team up to support Canada's youth during - and through - COVID-19
TORONTO, June 2, 2020 /CNW/ - With one-third fewer Canadian youth reporting excellent or very good mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic*, Medavie, through its Foundation, is providing a $200,000 matching donation to Jack.org to accelerate and expand its digital transformation and empower Canada's youth to take care of their mental health now and beyond this pandemic. All donations made at Jack.org/Medavie will be matched by Medavie up to $200,000, allowing donors to double their impact.
Digital mental health education and resources are key to addressing the youth mental health crisis. With Medavie's support, Jack.org is able to connect with young people, determine their needs, and develop digital mental health resources that meet them, while reaching even more young people. This includes resources such as Be There, a comprehensive and award-winning online resource that teaches young people how to support themselves and one another through mental health struggle; extending the reach of the educational Jack Talks program with Virtual Jack Talks; creating a new on-demand Digital Mental Health Education Library; and expanding the Do Something mental health advocacy program.
"Recognizing the increased need for mental health resources and virtual outreach during these challenging times and going forward, we encourage others to support Jack.org's digital youth mental health revolution," said Bernard Lord, CEO, Medavie. "Ensuring Canada's youth have the skills, information and supports they need to take care of their mental health is of critical importance and aligns with our mission to improve the wellbeing of Canadians. We also encourage our youth - and all Canadians - to take care of their own mental health and to take care of each other during these trying times."
"We're so thrilled to be working with Medavie to address the mental health crisis facing Canada's youth. Their support means we can work to build a new future for youth mental health, one where all young people have access to timely supports, and understand how to look out for themselves and others. Medavie is making an extraordinary impact in these challenging times, not just on Jack.org, but on charities across the country. We whole-heartedly applaud their dedication to the communities that need them, especially now," said Eric Windeler, Founder & Executive Director of Jack.org.
This funding is part of Medavie's $5M COVID-19 Response Fund, which is helping communities address their immediate needs in the areas of food security and mental health. The Fund will also assist with much-needed recovery efforts as organizations manage through this pandemic and find new and innovative ways to provide essential services.
Through its Foundation, Medavie supports community-based programs aligned with adolescent mental health and post-traumatic stress, and initiatives that support active living and healthy eating.
*Youth are less likely to report excellent or very good mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those aged 15 to 24, 42% reported excellent or very good mental health during the pandemic compared to 62% in 2018. Statistics Canada, April 2020.
About Medavie Medavie is a national health solutions partner that integrates benefits management, health management and health care delivery. Together, with our more than 6,400 employees, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that improve the wellbeing of Canadians.
As a not-for-profit organization, Medavie oversees Medavie Blue Cross, a premier all-in-one benefits carrier and public health program administrator, and Medavie Health Services, a national primary health care solutions organization and the largest private provider of EMS management services in Canada.
We are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country's most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.
About Jack.org Jack.org is the only Canadian charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health. Through Jack Talks, Jack Chapters, Jack Summits and Be There, young leaders identify and dismantle barriers to positive mental health in their communities. Jack.org is working towards a Canada where all young people understand how to take care of their own mental health and look out for each other. A Canada without shame, where all those who need support have access to the help they deserve. Matching donations can be made at www.jack.org/medavie.
SOURCE Medavie
Top 10 countries conducting over 1,100 COVID-19 clinical studies
The Finbold.com in-house aggregated data shows that ten countries are currently conducting 1,141 Covid-19 related clinical studies. The studies are part of a global initiative to test and understand the Coronavirus pandemic.
US riots might spur second Coronavirus wave
The index has identified the United States as the leading country with Covid-19 clinical studies at 335. France comes second with 274 studies followed by Italy at 87 studies. Spain is fourth with 86 studies while China closes the top five categories with 78 clinical studies.
The United Kingdom occupies the sixth spot with 73 clinical studies followed by Germany at 55. Other countries with leading studies include Canada (54), Egypt (44), and Turkey (35).
Currently, the Coronavirus cases are at least 6.3 million globally with the United States leading with about 1.85 million infections. The Finbold.com Coronavirus calculator also ranks the United States' most infected regions by a percentage of the population.
New York which was the epicenter of the pandemic in the States has a rate of 1.91%. New Jersey is second with 1.76%of the population being infected. Massachusetts has a rate of 1.34% while Rhode Island stands in the fourth spot with 1.32%. District of Columbia closes the fifth slot at 1.16%.
Other states with leading infection rate by population include Connecticut (1.14%), Delaware (0.92%), Illinois (0.88%) , Louisiana (0.81%) and Maryland (0.77%).
Oliver Scott, Editor in Chief at Finbold.com notes that the risk of infection continues to be high based on current happenings. According to him:
“Different states in the US had imposed lockdowns to contain the virus and the measures had begun to pay off for regions like New York. However, ongoing protests calling for justice in the murder of George Floyd might spur a second wave of the virus. Protestors in the countrywide mass action are not observing social distancing guidelines hence increasing chances of infection.”
About five months into the crisis, well-run trials have started to generate more reliable outcomes. However, the delay in coming up with a possible cure and vaccines is because there is a need to first understand the virus.
No Gym, No Problem – This Trainer’s Book Has Everything You Need to Stay Healthy from Home
Celebrity Trainer Oscar Smith brings over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness field to his book, ‘Natural Strength’.
Today’s workouts look much different from just a few months ago. Gyms across the country are closed, and clients are unable to make in-person appointments with their trainers. While at-home workout videos suffice, people still seem to miss the professional advice and inspiration found in the gym.
Oscar Smith’s book, Natural Strength, is full of motivation and training knowledge. He allows readers to take his workout plans and long-term, life-changing routines home with them. Smith is a well-known celebrity trainer with a personal training gym in Tribeca. He has trained celebrities that include: Katharine McPhee, Tom Brady, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, and many others.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege of training with Smith one-on-one. Even with such high-profile clientele and his chic private studio in NYC, Smith still wanted to reach more people and was finally able to do so with Natural Strength. He combined over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness field into a ten-year project – his book, Natural Strength.
Natural Strength allows people to workout anywhere, which has never been more critical. Typically, a client would meet at a gym to work with a personal trainer, or even welcome the trainer into their home, but Smith has created routines that are not limited to traditional workout areas. Smith has tailored specific workouts in Natural Strength, so people can exercise at home without a trainer, safely distanced at a park or beach, in the pool, or anywhere remotely.
While workout plans and healthy tips are important, Smith most importantly wants his clients to have fun and enjoy themselves while working out. In his experience, he knows that people will not create new healthy habits or see results if they are not excited about their workouts.
Training various clients that have different needs and abilities has allowed Smith to offer different types of activities, which include supermodel workouts, strength training with weights, plyometrics, and cardio days. He incorporates these different styles in Natural Strength, so the reader can apply the workout that best fits their own needs.
Smith’s effective routines for health also address eating habits. Staying on track with meal plans is especially crucial, since people are struggling to find routine during the pandemic. Fortunately, Natural Strength includes a very specific, 14-day meal plan with a healthy, daily menu of foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and even drinks.
Smith says, “If you learn how to cultivate natural strength in your life, my promise to you is that your sense of play, enjoyment, and life force will return to you.” He adds, “Practice seizing opportunities and learn that it feels good to take care of your body. You will feel good about your ability to focus on your goals and to take risks.”
Oscar Smith
Oscar Smith has a lifelong dedication to fitness as a lifestyle. Oscar has personally mastered multiple disciplines to develop a specialized training system for total body transformation. His fitness services are offered at his chic Tribeca personal training gym, O-D Studio. His level of experience and expertise has made him one of the most sought-out trainers in NYC.
With athletic experiences on his high school football and track and field teams, Smith went on to major in physical education, minor in kinesiology and biomechanics, and become a level two all-around gymnast. With over 25 years of experience, Oscar’s notable accomplishments range in scope. Oscar is a Certified Personal Trainer [ISSA-International Sports and Science Association], Certified Technician, Gymnastics Coach [USGF- United States Federation of Gymnastics], Kinesiology and Biomechanics Specialist (movement of the muscles and tendons), Senior Ocean Lifeguard and Ocean Rescuer (diver), USLA Competitor [United States Lifesaving Association], Six-Time Tri-Athlete (30-mile bike ride, six-mile run, one-mile swim), and a New York City Marathon participant. He was also a grade 3 ocean beach lifeguard and member of the lifeguard completion team, travelling to compete in worldwide events.
Smith started his personal training gym, O-D Studio in 2003, before anyone knew what a personal training gym was. He had a simple vision: to create somewhere where people could work out with a one-on-one trainer, where people didn’t pay for the use of a building, but for the use of a trainer. What he didn’t realize in creating his vision is that his gym would come to attract celebrities, because they could work out without the prying eyes of the public. O-D Studio has since attracted celebrities that include: Katharine McPhee, Tom Brady, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, and many others.
Smith is the author of the book Natural Strength, which focuses on how readers can overcome their weight loss plateaus, and also encourages readers to reconnect with their inner child and try different things to have fun working out again. He also has a YouTube show, S.W.E.A.T., which explores the latest trends in working out, from aerial silks to trampoline workouts to underwater spin.
America's PTSD Pandemic ̶ Why COVID Survivors Are At Risk
New York, NY, June 2, 2020 ̶ "Most disasters are finite. They have a beginning and an end. The world's tallest buildings collapsed in minutes; mass shootings take a few seconds, but the event ends and we start picking up the pieces," explains disaster stress expert Laurie Nadel, Ph.D. "COVID is like a fog that lightens and darkens and permeates everything, but never completely goes away. The fear and uncertainty of this reality are heightened for people who are still physically recovering from the virus."
In June 2019, 44 million Americans reported having PTSD, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Nadel expects a new wave of PTSD to flare up from September through October, six months after the start of lockdown. The threat of a second lockdown, the fear of contagion for someone who has already been infected once, and loss of work/income will trigger feelings of horror and helplessness, along with flashbacks, phobias and hypervigilance … waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Dr. Laurie shares Emotional First Aid Tools which she developed specifically for disasters to calm the mind and balance the brain in times of stress; they’re particularly helpful when people are agitated by sudden acute stress or troubling symptoms or situations. In her book, The Five Gifts, she shares 5 spiritual gifts that leaders, including Jacinda Ardern, George W. Bush and Gov. DeWine, have implored fellow citizens to cultivate as we persevere through COVID. They are:
Patience: Recovery takes longer than anticipated, so survivors must be patient with themselves, doctors, and family who think it's all in their head.
Humility: We must come to accept that in the grand scheme of life, we have no control.
Forgiveness: Survivors must let go of survivor guilt; forgive themselves for possibly unknowingly infecting others, and forgive others who refuse to wear masks or say "It's just the flu."
Empathy: We must have empathy for ourselves and others.
Growth: People need tools to remain psychologically resilient so that post-traumatic stress is channeled into post-traumatic growth.
"We cannot go back," says Dr. Laurie. "The future is a question mark that beckons us forward. These five gifts are found in many cultures. They serve to open the way for us to take the next step with courage, resilience, and hope."
About the Author:
Laurie Nadel, PhD., is an expert on disaster, mental health and climate change. She has been interviewed in The New York Times, on National Public Radio, Reuters and CNN.com. A specialist in acute stress, she is a member of a critical incident stress management team working with first responders. After losing her home to Hurricane Sandy, she ran long-term support groups for survivors and directed a program for teenagers whose fathers were killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
A journalist for 20 years, Laurie Nadel reported for Newsweek and United Press International in South America, wrote TV news for CBS, ABC News and Reuters Television, and was a religion columnist for The New York Times' Long Island section. She also helped create the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization which since 1981 has fought for the rights of journalists around the world. For more, please visit: www.laurienadel.com or drlaurienadel@msn.com.
The Five Gifts: Discovering Healing, Hope and Strength When Disaster Strikes
Temporary Isolation Can Be TheOpportunity To Permanently Transform Your Weight And Health
Los Angeles, CA, June 2, 2020 ̶ Not sure how to eat and stay healthy this quarantine season without resorting to your familiar diet of spaghetti, bread, pizza, and sugar? Candice Rosen, R.N., MSW, and author of the upcoming book Forget Dieting: It’s All About Data-Driven Fueling! encourages "trophology," or "food combining," which is one of the foundations of Rosen's Data-Driven Fueling Plan. As you combine foods, Rosen adds that "monitoring blood glucose is the key to weight gain vs. weight loss; good health vs. poor health."
1. Make Wednesdays and Fridays Vegan Days. According to Rosen, avoid dairy! Try vegan yogurts, cheeses, and milks. Dairy is inflammatory and will deplete your bones of calcium (it’s true!). There are unsweetened milks of almond, hemp, cashew, etc., and all are available in grocery stores. A low blood glucose breakfast idea would be a sprouted grain English muffin, spread with a tofu or nut-based cream cheese, some sliced tomatoes, and topped off with sea salt or Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
2. Eat fruits that are high in fiber. Apples, bananas, oranges, berries ̶ the list goes on! You will still want to avoid sugary fruit juices, as well as very sweet fruits like pineapples and mangos while trying to lose weight. Fruit is always eaten alone with two exceptions: they can be added to a vegan smoothie and they can be eaten with a nut or seed butter. These healthy fats reduce the chance of a blood glucose spike.
3. Nothing white. To lower blood glucose, do not eat or combine animal proteins with any white potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta… EVER. Sorry!
4. Eat More Sweet Potatoes. Think wholesome, nutritious, responsibly grown, pancreatic-friendly foods (food that doesn’t raise your blood glucose) like sweet potatoes and yams, which are an incredibly nutritious carbohydrate that are low in sugar levels and provide fiber. They’re best consumed baked or steamed, but can also be cooked in a variety of other ways. A great lunch or dinner option (and it is inexpensive) is a baked sweet potato, split down the middle with a large spoonful of black beans, a tablespoon of tomatillo salsa, and a side salad. To lower blood sugar, eat them with veggies and plant-based protein together… NOT MEAT!
5. Try Fish. Give your body a break from animal protein. Red meats increase inflammation and provide poor sources of fat. However, if you crave protein, try fish! For those who aren’t allergic, fish is a fantastic source of protein that’s low in carbohydrates and contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few consumable healthy fats! If consuming fish raw, remember only sashimi-style – no white rice! To lower blood sugar, combine fish with veggies, not starches or fruit.
About the author:
Candice P. Rosen, RN, MSW, CHC, is a registered nurse based in Los Angeles, CA. As the founding member of Gilda’s Club Chicago and its first executive director and program director, she created and coordinated a diverse array of wellness-related programs. She was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as Chair of Healthcare Initiatives for Chicago’s Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP). CSCIP provided an opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine, improve maternal and infant healthcare, stress disability access, promote nourishing diets, and bring awareness to the obesity and diabetes epidemics that now affect populations on a global level. She is married and the mother of four adult children and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. For more information on Candice, please visit https://candicerosenrn.com.
There is a Fresh, New Yogurt Taste in the Refrigerator
Organic fruit, live active cultures, and 20 organic almonds in every cup create the clean, “farm to spoon” flavor of AYO Almondmilk Yogurt
Delano, Calif. – (May 29, 2020): Dairy-free yogurts have tried for years to get the taste and texture right. AYO Almondmilk Yogurt finally did it. Shoppers are finding AYO to be a pleasant departure from the thick, gummy taste of many plant-based alternatives. With the first spoonful, you will experience a light creamy, smooth texture and a rich flavor that is fruit forward, finishing with a pleasant toasted almond taste. The Strawberry and Blueberry flavors allow the real taste of fresh berries to shine through, while the Peach provides a refreshing complexity of flavor notes. Because AYO is not as thick as Greek yogurts, it pairs well with granola and other breakfast cereals. It is also delicious as a fruit dip, between-meal snack or dessert topping.
Unlike many other vegan options, AYO Almondmilk Yogurt not only boasts what it doesn’t have, like dairy, cholesterol or anything artificial, it is filled with heart healthy nutrition. AYO is high in fiber and low in saturated fat. Each creamy, probiotic-rich cup features less added sugar than most dairy or plant-based yogurts and only 150-160 calories.
Overseeing the entire process from start to finish, Matt Billings and his family of farmers, which goes back four generations, make AYO Almondmilk Yogurt to the highest standards of flavor and sustainability. Considering the land and its natural fauna as partners in their labors, they follow the rhythms of the changing seasons, tending and harvesting every hearty nut at just the right time. The result is a deliciously rich and creamy dairy-free yogurt made from simple, quality ingredients with 20 organic almonds in every cup.
Try AYO Almondmilk Yogurt - enlivened with organic strawberries, organic blueberries, organic peaches and organic Madagascar Vanilla. Discover a smooth, clean flavor and likely the only almondmilk yogurt to take this noble nut from farm to spoon. Visit ayoyogurt.com to learn more.
About AYO Almondmilk Yogurt:
“From farm to spoon, from us to you,”AYO Almondmilk Yogurt is the only non-dairy yogurt crafted using organic almonds produced by fourth-generation farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Run for more than 100 years by the Billings family, Billings Ranches is committed to forward-thinking practices of sustainability, traceability, and vertical integration, which nourish the land they are proud to call home. In new AYO Almond Yogurt, lightly toasted almond flavor is enriched with live active cultures and clean ingredients to produce a probiotic-rich, vegan treat the whole family will love. You can find our store locator and learn more at ayoyogurt.com.
"Happier Aging" Now Available in Manitoba with Opening of Nurse Next Door Home Care Services
WINNIPEG, June 2, 2020 /CNW/ - Direct Action in Support of Community Housing (DASCH), one of the leading providers of community homes and programming for people with intellectual disabilities in Winnipeg, is pleased to announce the official opening of its new Nurse Next Door home care business.
Nurse Next Door Home Care Services is one of North America's fastest growing home care providers dedicated to delivering individualized, flexible and quality home care options. Founded in 2001, the company offers a full spectrum of in-home care services, from caring companionship to 24-hour palliative care and nursing support.
Karen Fonseth, CEO of DASCH said seniors' home care was a natural expansion for the organization. "The Nurse Next Door approach to community living and its focus of keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible, aligns perfectly with DASCH's mission of providing high quality residential and community living," Fonseth said. "Nurse Next Door is a premium care agency whose goal is to make a difference in seniors' lives through quality care and relationship building that goes well beyond basic home care services. Our goal is to form meaningful relationships with our clients to provide happier aging, in-home experiences," she said.
In light of the current pandemic, Fonseth added that now more than ever, loved ones may need support for their aging family members and that Nurse Next Door is staffed and available to help with a 24/7 Care Services Centre. "People simply need to call our main number to outline their situation and we will meet their support and care needs in this difficult time. We also have a full complement of personal protective equipment to keep our clients and home care staff safe at all times."
The question at the heart of Nurse Next Door's unique concept of Happier Aging is "What is the one thing that you used to love to do, that you are no longer able to?". Many seniors have stopped pursuing their passions and dreams which can lead to overall feelings of unhappiness and disengagement. Opportunities that bring happiness can be big or small. Planting a garden, playing a chess match or learning a new dance are some of the things Nurse Next Door can do for clients to keep them engaged with the things they love. They have also been a part of fulfilling larger dreams. Robert, a World War II veteran was able to take flight after 63 years on a Harvard Aircraft when his caregiver discovered his passion for flight. It's this passion that has differentiated Nurse Next Door from other healthcare providers.
"Happier Aging is all about getting seniors back to doing what they love and we want our clients to live their best lives, without boundaries", said Fonseth. "Our goal is to help seniors stay in their homes and reconnect with their interests, hobbies and passions to help them live their lives to the fullest," she said. "We are also different because of our "Perfect Match Guarantee", where we match our client's interests with specific interests and skill-sets of our caregivers to create meaningful and lasting relationships for our clients," Fonseth said.
Nurse Next Door President and CEO, Cathy Thorpe congratulated DASCH for becoming the local franchise. "When we look for a franchise partner, we delve deep into the organization's skill sets and history and we believe the DASCH team will be an excellent partner in Manitoba to deliver premium home care services to seniors utilizing their expertise in residential supportive living services," she said.
About Nurse Next Door Home Care Services With a focus on 'Happier Aging,' Nurse Next Door believes seniors can stay at home and continue to do all the things that they love. With more than 160+ locations across North America, this company is fast becoming a globally admired brand. The company has garnered numerous business awards including placing top 50 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, Franchise Times Dealmakers Award, being named the fifth best mid-sized franchise system in North America by Franchise Business Review. As an employer, it has been ranked among Aon Hewitt's Best 50 Small and Medium Employers, BC Business' Best Companies to Work For and Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces. To learn more about Nurse Next Door visit www.nursenextdoor.com.
About DASCH Inc. (Direct Action in Support of Community Homes) DASCH is a non-profit organization established in 1974 dedicated to exploring and meeting the residential, day program, respite and foster care needs of youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities. DASCH supports people living in over 50 homes throughout Winnipeg. People can participate in personalized social, educational, vocational and recreational services that provide learning opportunities and greater independence.
SOURCE Direct Action in Support of Community Housing
Artist Releases Coming-of-age Memoir Detailing Her Journey With Mental Illness And Disability
Long Island, NY, June 2, 2020 –It started as a college prank; a friend offered Ruth Poniarski a brownie that, unbeknownst to her, was laced with angel dust. What resulted was a debilitating accident, and the first of many mental breakdowns that spiraled into diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Long Island native Ruth Poniarski has released her first book, Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist, published by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Warren Publishing. Poniarski’s unflinchingly honest memoir shares her coming-of-age story through the lenses of mental illness, disability, and steadfast determination.
For years, Poniarski struggled to cope with her new reality as she undertook a rigorous architectural program, sought out new friends (and the perfect mate), and battled through the depths of mental illness. Her journey led her in all directions as she sought comfort, solace, stability and love.
Now an accomplished artist, Poniarski considers her memoir to be a portrait of sorts. “This book, like many of my paintings, is about introspection,” she says. “So many of us, particularly when we’re young, seek definition through labels or through what others think of us. It’s so easy to say, ‘I have bipolar disorder, therefore, X’ or ‘So and so doesn’t love me the way I love him, therefore, Y.’ But none of that is who we truly are.”
The release of Poniarski’s memoir is particularly timely in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing orders. “A lot of people are stuck at home right now. This kind of isolation forces a person to examine themselves; what makes them unique beyond who they are to society,” says Poniarski. “That kind of self-reflection allows us to become more available to others. You have to know yourself first.”
“So, who am I?” Poniarski laughs. “Well … you’ll just have to read the book!”
For more information about Ruth Poniarski or her book, please visit: ruthponiarski.com.
Precision Biomonitoring Receives Funding to Manufacture TripleLock™ SARS CoV-2 Go-Strips
Innovative Efforts Receive Funding from NGen In Response to Canadian Supply Development Support
GUELPH, ON and MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 2, 2020 /CNW/ - Precision Biomonitoring, an industry leader in point-of-need molecular detection tools, has announced that is has received approval and funding from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) to support manufacturing needs for the production of its TripleLockTM SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips.
Precision Biomonitoring has secured this funding because of its ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of a Canadian supply of testing kits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Precision Biomonitoring is grateful to NGen for its support and is encouraged by its dedication to companies across Canada working to develop resources and tools necessary to protect public health.
The funding will enable Precision Biomonitoring to work directly with Canadian manufacturers to rapidly increase production of its SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips, which will not only support Precision Biomonitoring, but also other Canadian biotech companies working to support the accessibility of molecular testing amidst COVID-19 and into the future.
Leveraging the manufacturing capabilities of Canadian manufacturers, Precision Biomonitoring anticipates a production rate capacity of 10,000 units per day or greater. Increased testing capacity will help provide critical testing access and capacity in communities to re-open Canadian economy by helping to create virus-free zones in the workplace to ensure safety of the workers and sustainable operations.
"Developing Canadian manufacturing is not only promising for our response efforts for COVID-19, but also provides a strong foundation as we look to expand into the growing mobile DNA applications market," says Thomas. "This includes manufacturing our existing 35 tests for other organisms, helping to establish local sources of supply that Canadians can rely on."
Precision Biomonitoring's efforts alongside NGen is an addition to the collaborative relationships Precision Biomonitoring has developed with other Canadian companies and institutions in response to COVID-19, including Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Shared Value Solutions, The Research Institute of St. Joe's (Hamilton), Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and the Canadian National Microbiology Lab.
"Advancing Canadian manufacturing enables us to leverage local capabilities to mitigate manufacturing challenges," says John Laughlin, CTO at NGen. "We are proud to help drive these efforts that will position Canada as a world leader in manufacturing point-of-need DNA surveillance and detection tools."
About Precision Biomonitoring Founded in 2016 by a team of scientists from the University of Guelph's Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Precision Biomonitoring provides TripleLock™ onsite eDNA surveillance platform solutions that give customers earlier detection of organisms for a more rapid response. Customers are any organizations that need onsite surveillance and rapid identification of any organism in any environment. The Precision Biomonitoring team is at the forefront of technological innovations in the genomics industry. Our vision is a world where we can identify any organism on the spot, in an instant, anywhere on the planet.
About NGen NGen is the industry-led community behind Canada's most transformative advanced manufacturing projects. NGen members come from every part of the country and cut across Canada's manufacturing, technology, advanced research, and start-ups sectors. NGen is an objective facilitator of connections and collaboration among its members, identifying opportunities, building capabilities, and supporting advanced manufacturing decisions. NGen's industry collaborations bring together talent, opportunity, funding, and business know-how to reduce risk and help business leaders make better choices. NGen is Canada's Supercluster for Advanced Manufacturing, securing funding from public and private sources, including $230 million in matching dollars from the federal government's Innovation Superclusters Initiative, to support greater private sector investment in advanced manufacturing projects. NGen seeks to add $13.5 billion dollars and 13,500 new jobs to the economy over the next 10 years by growing world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities in Canada.
SOURCE Precision Biomonitoring
NEW ZEALANDERS’ ATTITUDES CHANGED AFTER PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN
Trust in government, police, science increased, but so did psychological distress, survey says
WASHINGTON – In the first few weeks of the lockdown of New Zealand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents reported a slight increase in mental distress but higher levels of confidence in the government, science and the police, as well as greater patriotism, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“Our results suggest that, under the conditions of a strong and cohesive national response, people are more likely to lean on and trust their politicians, scientists, police and communities and ultimately more likely to comply with the lockdown and health guidelines,” said Chris Sibley, PhD, a professor at the University of Auckland and lead author of the study published in the journal American Psychologist. “The absence of such a response, however, may provide fertile ground for division, lack of adherence to guidelines and conspiracy theories.”
Sibley and his colleagues analyzed data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, a 20-year longitudinal survey of social attitudes, personality and health outcomes of more than 60,000 New Zealanders. The study was in the process of collecting its latest wave of data when the country went into lockdown, and more than 1,100 of the participants answered the questions in the 18 days afterward.
Researchers compared those responses to the same number of people of similar demographic and lifestyle variables, such as age, gender, ethnicity, mental health diagnosis and smoking behavior, who responded before the lockdown.
“We found that people in the pandemic lockdown group reported higher trust in science, politicians and police and higher levels of patriotism, compared to the pre-lockdown group,” said Sibley. “We also found that in the days following the lockdown, people also reported slightly higher levels of psychological distress.”
In the pre-lockdown group, 77.1% of participants reported no distress, 16.2% reported moderate distress and 6.6% reported serious distress. In the post-lockdown group 73.5% reported no distress, 21.1% reported moderate distress and 5.8% reported serious distress.
"Countries around the world are implementing measures to fight COVID-19, and their efforts will be enhanced by understanding the psychological effects of the pandemic, lockdowns and social distancing,” said Sibley. “In the case of New Zealand, a strong national response appeared to correspond with an increase in trust, not only for our governmental institutions, but also science, which may have helped with compliance to guidelines that helped us beat the virus.”
The country only had a little more than 100 confirmed cases in late March when the government decided to go to level 4 of its COVID-19 threat system, the highest level, where only essential work and grocery store and medical trips were allowed. New Zealand currently has fewer than 1,200 confirmed cases and 22 deaths, with no new confirmed cases since May 22. Cafes, movie theaters and restaurants have already been allowed to reopen.
“We hope that as the dust settles and governments and their communities review this global event, these results, along with others reported by other researchers in other countries, will inform a plan for what to do in the event of the next global crisis,” said Sibley. “For example, we should anticipate that well-being will deteriorate and build mechanisms to provide support for those most affected.”
Article: “Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Nationwide Lockdown on Trust, Attitudes Towards Government, and Wellbeing,” by Chris Sibley, PhD, Lara Greaves, PhD, Nicole Satherley, MSc, Nikola Overall, PhD, Carol Lee, MSc, Petar Milojev, PhD, Joseph Bulbulia, PhD, Danny Osborne, PhD, and Carla Houkamau, PhD, University of Auckland; Marc Wilson, PhD, and Taciano Milfont, PhD, Victoria University of Wellington; Raine Vickers-Jones, and Fiona Kate Barlow, PhD, University of Queensland; and Isabelle Duck, MB ChB, Silverdale Medical. American Psychologist, published online June 1, 2020.
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