Why is COVID-19 less severe in children than in adults? Why does the virus get exponentially worse in older adults? There are many unanswered questions that have been confounding health officials globally. Our scientists continue to work hard. We all need to unlock the seemingly “random” pieces of the COVID-19 puzzle, particularly the HOW and WHY different people are so badly affected. In my experience with science, I have found there is usually little randomness, but rather a lack of understanding. Thankfully, some recent studies could help shed some light on what might be happening.
What is generally understood now about COVID-19
Antibodies in our blood are essential to neutralize and kill viruses and bacteria. Both the immunocompromised and the elderly populations have been found to have lower levels of antibodies and they are more susceptible to COVID-19. It is also well documented that chronic conditions that cause a lot of inflammation (diabetes, heart disease, stroke, allergies, asthma, etc.) can make COVID-19 even deadlier. A few of the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 are mucus production and blood clotting, which can lead to suffocation and stroke, respectively. Weak immune systems and chronic inflammation can both increase your risk but they do not fully explain how COVID-19 is selecting some of its victims. There is still a missing piece to the puzzle that we do not understand yet. The answer may be walking around in young asymptomatic spreaders.
A new piece to the puzzle: antibody-dependent enhancement
New research suggests that COVID-19 is causing an antibody-dependent enhancement reaction (ADE). To summarize a lot of science talk, it generally means that the amount of neutralizing antibodies in your body from a previous infection can either help or hurt you. In order to ensure these antibodies remain protective, we need to maintain them at a high level in comparison to the virus, at a higher ratio, so that they are able to surround and neutralize the amount of virus in the body. On the other hand, if you dip below this ratio, your body can harm itself by overreacting with excessive inflammation that can damage your lungs, leading to potential suffocation or even stroke.
A good analogy for antibody-dependent enhancement is an over/under sports bet. In a basketball game there is a +13 point spread that the Raptors are going to beat the Warriors. If the Raptors win by 13 or more points you win (high antibody levels = you don’t get sick), but if the Raptors don’t beat the spread and win by less than 12 points, you in fact lose (low antibodies = you get sick). But how is there even an antibody spread to COVID-19 when we have never had it before? What could be priming our immune systems to have a bad reaction to COVID-19?
What about a common cold, another coronavirus?
The coronavirus family is the second leading cause of the common cold in humans, making up 15-20% of all cases, and has been suggested to have a 30-40% similar genetic sequence to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Common cold coronaviruses circulate the globe annually and generally only cause minor symptoms. It is quite possible that a cold (coronavirus) is priming our immune systems, acting as friend or foe, causing cross immunity to COVID-19 for youths, where antibody levels are high, while harming elderly when levels are low.
We have seen in the past how a virus from one species can provide cross immunity in another. In humans, the smallpox virus was deadly for centuries with a death rate of around 30%. It wasn’t until 1796 that Edward Jenner discovered that milk maids, who had acquired cowpox, did not show any symptoms of smallpox after they encountered the deadly virus. This discovery, that milk maids were immune to smallpox via exposure to cowpox, actually led to the concept and invention of the vaccine.
One or many of the common cold coronavirus strains could be our “cowpox” in this COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment may be complicated as it appears that it might be very concentration dependent. If true, simply giving a vaccine could become deadly if we do not perform follow up blood work to ensure everyone maintains neutralizing antibody levels above an acceptable threshold that is yet to be determined. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, this level may be a moving target as higher levels of inhaled virus should require even higher concentration of neutralizing antibodies. This could help to explain why we have seen healthy young healthcare workers getting seriously ill and even dying with COVID-19. They may have just been exposed to and inhaled too much virus.
If you take a tiny sip from a pint filled with virus you might have enough antibodies to neutralize it. On the other hand, if you chugged the whole pint, even individuals with strong immune systems and high amounts of neutralizing antibodies may succumb to the virus. In the sports bet example above, drinking “a pint of virus” could be like raising the point spread to +35 differential, it would be very tough to win that bet. As is usually true, it would be better if we never made a bet in the first place. The problem is since everyone has had the common cold before, we likely have all made a bet already, but we just don’t know what bet we placed!
We all need to wear masks in public
How do we rig the bet with COVID-19 and fix it so we win? The easiest and quickest answer is: MASKS SHOULD BE MANDATORY IN PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES. Sorry, the caps are to attract attention and not meant to appear that I am frustrated and yelling… much. The truth is masks help to reduce the amount of virus we breathe in, but more importantly the amount of virus that is exhaled from those symptomatic or asymptomatic spreaders out there. Think of a cold day... what do you notice comes out of your mouth when you exhale? Tiny water droplets that gently float away, drifting off, despite the fact that they are freezing and likely becoming heavier. Now imagine how many water particles, containing COVID-19 virus, are being exhaled in a busy grocery store, a department store or a local pharmacy frequented by the infected. Recent studies suggest that the virus can float around in these tiny water droplets in the air for up to 2-3 hours. The only way to help prevent the amount of virus being both exhaled and then inhaled by others is to WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES. Sorry, again not yelling just trying to drive home my point.
Still not convinced? Let's look at the countries that immediately made masks mandatory in public at all times. One example is South Korea, which is situated right next to China and had some of the earliest cases reported. Yet, they have limited the spread of the virus and their death rate more effectively than pretty much anywhere else. In fact, according to June 2nd stats, as displayed on worldometers.info, Canada has 11 times more relative cases and 39 times more relative deaths than South Korea. The USA has even more grim stats as they have 25 times more relative cases and an astounding 65 times more deaths. Again the major difference is that South Korea has MANDATORY MASKS IN PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES. Masks reduce the spread of the virus, but more importantly they reduce the death rate of COVID-19.
This hilarious social media meme sums a great analogy to why we need to all wear masks, enjoy.
I was recently asked by friends on how to explain the importance of wearing masks to youth, particularly teenagers, so they understand as they generally are not directly affected by COVID-19 much. I thought of a loaded gun analogy for COVID-19 spread. Everyone starts off as an empty gun that has a very sensitive trigger and is prone to fire randomly. Unbeknownst to them, if they do not practice social distancing and wearing a mask in public, they could encounter COVID-19 and become loaded. By accident, now as a loaded weapon, they could inadvertently shoot others, their mom, dad, friends, grandparents and even pass along COVID-19 to load other’s guns. If not careful their bullets could harm or even kill those they love. The fact they didn’t know they were loaded doesn’t help the shooter’s sense of guilt. After all, hindsight is always 2020 (pardon the pun). Would haves, should haves, and could haves can become consuming thoughts as grief of a loved one passing and feelings of responsibility or remorse sinks in.
I know we are fatigued and tired of the social distancing. We are excited that businesses, our economy, are slowly starting to open again. The weather is nice, the sun is out, but if we do not follow the same social distance rules we might be in line for a large 2nd bubble of COVID-19. Just last Friday I went to the local grocery store and was shocked to discover that I was the only customer wearing a mask. On my drive home I saw a group of 8 teenagers hanging out in a circle on their lawn, no distancing, no masks. I saw 3 mothers with strollers walking shoulder to shoulder while 7-8 children bicycled in very close proximity around them, again no masks. It looks like we are already back to our pre-COVID-19 world, how exciting, did we beat the virus? What’s that you say, it isn’t over? Oh shoot, we all better start wearing masks and social distancing again soon as we might start to see cases spread in the next few weeks.
Hang in there. If the science is proven and this theory is true, we could soon start to develop blood tests to monitor antibody concentrations and determine a safe over/under threshold and ensure everyone is above it. If scientifically proven and ethically approved we could distribute a live strain of the common cold coronavirus to maintain our antibody levels well above any set threshold. This would be analogous to the smallpox situation that was eradicated with cowpox. Some might prefer a few weeks of the sniffles if it means we get protection against COVID-19. I cannot stress it enough that this needs to be confirmed first through science and not experimented by the public.
I will repeat again, everyone should wear a mask out in public at all times. Masks lower both the risk of transmission and the amount of virus we could get. If we all cooperate and work together we might soon be able to regain control over this pandemic. A semblance of normal life may not be so far off after all. I originally believed it would be years before we are able to open up our economies fully, now it might be much quicker. By far the most important benefit, however, would be to reduce the pain and suffering the world has had to endure, the loss of loved ones. Hopefully the time for healing is right around the corner.
In the meantime, Stay Healthy, Stay Home.
And remember when in public #ShowMeYourPublicFace
Survey: Children’s Screen Time Above Recommended Amount During COVID-19
New international poll reveals over 60% of children spend more than the WHO-recommended hours on screens under quarantine.
Compared to the recommended 2 hours per day, children under 18 years old spend at least 3 hours on screens during quarantine on average.
21% of parents report that their children spend over 6 hours on screens.
Side-effects of too much screen time include childhood obesity, sleep problems, negative behavioural and emotional impacts, and lower academic performances.
43% of parents reported a decrease in children’s off-screen activitiesduring the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 50% of parents agree that children have experienced signs of anxiety, sadness, and worry as a result of self-isolation.
Berlin, Germany, May, 2020 - Interactive audioplayer specialist Tonies.com has released a new dataset revealing how the COVID-19 outbreak influenced children’s screen time habits and sentiments. With experience providing children with off-screen entertainment options, Tonies.com has helped children find an alternative to screens by innovating audiobooks and storytelling. As the pandemic continues to shut down schools and limit children’s leisure activities, parents have relaxed screen time rules to maintain a sense of normalcy at home. However, imbalanced media uses for children comes at the cost of an impaired attention span and cognitive development. Restricted activities can also bring out feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, and frustration. To better understand how children today are coping with the coronavirus outbreak, Tonies.com has conducted a poll asking parents about the change in children’s digital habits and emotions.
How the study was conducted:
An anonymous opinion poll was sent to respondents over the age of 18 in the European Union, United Kingdom, and United States between 21 April 2020 - 10 May 2020 GMT +1. Parents were asked a series of key questions on their child’s recent behavior pattern under quarantine pertaining to screen consumption, physical activity, and emotional well-being.
The questions are as follows:
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements: Compared to BEFORE the COVID-19 pandemic started (13 March, 2020)...
The children living with me have been eating less healthily
The children living with me spend more time watching TV or other screens
The children living with me spend more time playing (NOT computer games)
The children living with me have shown more signs of anxiety, worries and/or sadnessRespondents were given the opportunity to respond on a 5-point scale ranging from: “Completely Disagree”, “Somewhat Disagree”, “Neither Agree nor Disagree”, “Somewhat Agree”, and “Completely Agree”. A separate question was asked concerning the number of hours children spent on screens:
During the last seven days, how much time do the children living with you spend daily watching any kind of screen- including TV, computer screens, mobile phones etc.Respondents were given the opportunity to respond on a 4-point scale ranging from: “0 Hours”, “0-3 hours per day”, “3-6 hours per day”, and “more than 6 hours per day”.
This is an excerpt from the full press release. Since this document exceeds the limit allowed via email, please visit this link to view the PDF version of the entire press release, including graphs and data tables: https://datawire.press/wp-content/uploads/Tonies/Tonies_Screentime_Study.pdf. If you prefer to receive the file as an attachment, let me know and I can send it to you in response.
Roche Canada Announces Winners of COVID-19 Open Innovation Challenge
Program will fund 11 unique solutions for challenges posed by COVID-19 from Canadians across the country
MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 2, 2020 /CNW/ - Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada) is pleased to announce the winners of the COVID-19 Open Innovation Challenge. After receiving over 800 submissions, Roche Canada has committed $900,000 to help develop and implement 11 unique and innovative solutions to the challenges we face from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthcare systems have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a variety of issues and problems affecting the daily lives of Canadians. Some challenges include health system capacity, and managing remote and rural populations, along with less direct yet also important challenges such as maintaining productivity while distancing. On March 27, Roche Canada established the COVID-19 Open Innovation Challenge and called on Canadians to come together to develop solutions that can help make a difference.
Individuals or teams were asked to submit a solution to a challenge or issue they have identified. Ideas came from across the country – from Quebec to British Columbia – and demonstrated Canadian skill and talent. Ideas brought forward included symptom monitoring and prediction in senior homes using artificial intelligence, the commercialization of fast-acting surface antimicrobial for high-touch areas, development of a simple low-cost ventilator for health system use, developing post-discharge virtual care with remote automated monitoring technology and many more. For an overview of all the winning submissions visit theCOVID-19 Open Innovation Challenge page of RocheCanada.com.
"We want to thank all of the applicants and winners from across the country for stepping up to support during this uncertain and unique time," said Mike Duong, Head of Personalized Healthcare at Roche Canada. "The abundance of quality submissions demonstrates the amazing minds we have in our country and we look forward to supporting and championing this work. We hope these ideas will inspire others to follow their passion, continue to innovate and make a difference."
About Roche Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare - a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.
Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.
Founded in 1931, Roche Canada is committed to searching for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases while making a sustainable contribution to society. The company employs more than 1,200 people across the country through its Pharmaceuticals division in Mississauga, Ontario and Diagnostics, as well as Diabetes Care divisions in Laval, Quebec.
Roche aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Roche Canada is actively involved in local communities through its charitable giving and partnerships with organizations and healthcare institutions that work together to improve the quality of life of Canadians. For more information, please visitwww.RocheCanada.com.
All trade-marks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
New Survey: Americans have little trust in what President Trump says regarding COVID-19 or his management of the pandemic
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey, June 2, 2020 – Americans are getting information about the coronavirus pandemic from political leaders and medical professionals, but confidence in those sources varies widely. A recent national survey conducted on behalf of the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences finds that Americans are more likely to trust information that comes from medical professionals than politicians, with President Trump seen as least trustworthy regarding the information he provides. This and other findings from the survey suggest that Americans are putting their faith in medical expertise when it comes to getting critical information on how to best protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. There are, however, substantial differences in who and what they trust based on a person’s politics and race.
The poll interviewed 1003 American adults nationwide on landlines and cell phones from May 20 through May 25, 2020.
Medical professionals top the list of those Americans say they trust most for information about the coronavirus. Fifty-eight percent say they have a “great deal” of trust in doctors and scientists, while government-run websites are trusted by around a third of all Americans (36%). However, once political leaders become the source of information, Americans are more likely to distrust than trust what they see, hear, or read. Around a quarter (27%) have a great deal of trust in statewide elected officials, including their governor, and barely a fifth (22%) fully believe what their president tells them. In fact, the president is the only source who a majority (55%) of Americans distrust rather than trust.
“These findings point to the immense level of distrust Americans have in the ability of elected officials to communicate critical information needed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and the obvious lack of meaningful leadership at the federal level,” said Bojana Beric-Stojsic, director of MPH program and an Associate Professor of Public Health, FDU School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “What is most surprising and very distressing is that only 58 percent of Americans have a great deal of trust in doctors and scientists in the midst of a health crisis.”
Americans do give doctors and scientists much higher marks than the president when it comes to evaluating the reasons for evolving and sometimes conflicting information. Almost eight-in-ten believe that doctors and scientists change their recommendations on how to prevent and treat the coronavirus based on newly discovered scientific evidence (77%) rather than bowing to political pressure (23%). The opposite is true when it comes to the president, as more than half (53%) say his recommendations often change for political reasons rather than newly emerging scientific evidence (47%).
There is, however, a significant partisan divide on these issues. Although clear majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say that changing recommendations from doctors and scientists are due to newly discovered scientific evidence, President Trump’s evolving statements are understood very differently. Eighty-four percent of Republicans believe science dictates the president’s statements, while virtually the same percentage of Democrats (86%) believe political pressures explain changes in President Trump’s public statements about how to prevent and treat COVID-19. A huge gap between Democrats and Republicans also characterizes perceptions of the overall trustworthiness of the president (3% versus 47%), with a smaller but still significant difference separating Democrats from Republicans on their willingness to extend a “great deal” of trust to statewide elected officials like the governor (36% versus 20%).
“It’s notable that not even among his own partisans and those who approve of the job he’s done in managing this crisis does the President get a majority to say the information he provides about the coronavirus can be trusted a great deal,” said Krista Jenkins, director of the FDU Poll and professor of government and politics.
There are also significant racial disparities in assessing Trump’s performance and trustworthiness. More black Americans (83%) disapprove of the President’s management of the pandemic compared to 43 percent of white and 62 percent of Hispanic respondents; and 70 percent of blacks have absolutely no trust that the President provides accurate information about the coronavirus, compared to 37 percent of whites and 44 percent of Hispanics. More black Americans (79%) also believe Trump changes his recommendations about the coronavirus due to political pressure compared to 47 percent of whites and 60 percent of Hispanics.
“Minorities have been hit hard by the virus. Navigating their way through this pandemic is apparently being made more difficult by the deep well of distrust that exists between President Trump and non-whites in the United States. These numbers only serve to underscore how black, white and Hispanic Americans experience life differently in the United States, even on matters of life and death,” said Jenkins.
When it comes to how medical and science professionals are perceived, partisanship also comes into play, with Republicans expressing greater levels of suspicion than Democrats. Three-quarters of Democrats say they trust doctors and scientists a great deal to provide them with solid information about the coronavirus. Significantly fewer Republicans say the same (43%). And a double-digit divide separates partisans on the trustworthiness of information from government-run websites, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (49% Democrats versus 24% Republicans).
Gender also reveals differences in how sources are regarded. Significant disparities exist between how much men and women trust websites like the CDC’s. Forty-two percent of women have a great deal of trust in what they read versus 29% of men. And, although majorities of both women and men give high marks to doctors and scientists for what they offer, women (63%) are more likely than men (54%) to do so.
Governors Trump Trump on Leadership
Governors are rated higher than President Trump on questions of leadership during the crisis. Sixty-nine percent approve of their governor’s job, with opinion divided on the job that the president has done (49%). The performance of state governors is regarded similarly by partisans of both stripes, but the President gets little love from Democrats (11% approve; 89% disapprove), and only about half of political independents say he’s doing a good job (48%).
State leaders generate mixed opinions among Americans who live somewhere with past or present mandatory restrictions on where they can go and what they can do. Among the 90 percent of Americans surveyed who live somewhere with mandatory restrictions, around half (46%) say their state has moved safely to reopen, with a greater number believing things have moved too quickly (31%) as compared with those who are concerned the pace has been too slow (23%). However, black respondents are even more critical of reopening efforts, as 51% of black respondents say states are reopening too quickly, compared to 26% of whites and 41% of Hispanics.
Finally, Americans give their neighbors high marks for the job they’ve done in helping the stop the spread of the virus. Around a quarter (22%) say those in their community are doing an “excellent” job with another 46 percent who give those around them a “good” rating. The rest rate their neighbors as “only fair” or “poor” when it comes to their efforts in stopping the spread of the virus and flattening the curve.
Methodology
The survey was conducted by The Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll on behalf of the FDU School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. A random sample of 1003 was drawn of adults (18+) nationwide, including in Alaska and Hawaii, and live interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, upon request, on landlines and cell phones between May 20 through May 25, 2020. Persons without a telephone could not be included in the random selection process. Respondents within a household are selected by asking randomly for the youngest adult currently available. The interview was conducted in English and included 303 adults reached on a landline phone and 700 adults reached on a cell phone, all acquired through random digit dialing.
In this poll, the simple sampling error for 1003 adults is +/-3.6 percentage points (including the design effect) at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus, if 50 percent of adults nationwide in this sample favor a particular position, we would be 95 percent sure that the true figure is between 46.4 and 53.6 percent (50 +/- 3.6) if all US adults had been interviewed, rather than just a sample.
The full analysis, along with the poll’s questions and tables and a detailed methodological statement, can be found on the FDU Poll website.
About Fairleigh Dickinson University
Devoted to the preparation of world citizens, Fairleigh Dickinson University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including doctoral programs in pharmacy, nursing practice, clinical psychology and school psychology; and an AACSB-accredited business school. Degree programs are offered on two New Jersey campuses and at two international campuses: Wroxton College, in Oxfordshire in England, and the Vancouver Campus, in British Columbia, Canada. For more information, visit FDU online.
About FDU Poll
The FDU Poll is a university-based survey research center that began in 2001. It has conducted over a hundred publicly released polls guided by a mission to provide high quality, scientifically sound, non-partisan measures of important issues facing New Jersey and the nation. To learn more visit us online
About FDU’s School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
The Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is one of only two degree-granting pharmacy schools in New Jersey and is the first in the state to be associated with a private university. The School’s dynamic program of study integrates the very best practices in pharmacy education today. The school has also expanded its presence in the field of public health and health professions with the addition of health sciences programs such as Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant.
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems announces five-year agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to continue as an approved service provider to the Ontario Ignition Interlock Program.
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, ACS, is pleased to announce that ALCOLOCK Canada, a division of ACS, has been selected by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to continue as an approved service provider to the Ontario Ignition Interlock Program.
As stated by Felix JE Comeau, President & CEO of Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, “We were the first supplier to the Ontario government with the inception of the Ignition Interlock Program in 2002 and remain the leader in program services. This contract award solidifies our unparalleled commitment to quality products and the delivery of exemplary interlock services to the people of Ontario. Thank you to the dedicated staff in our service delivery network throughout Ontario and to the many who recognize the value of ALCOLOCK customer service.”
Vehicles with an alcohol interlock device installed will not start unless the driver provides a breath sample below the preset limit. ALCOLOCK leading anti-circumvention technology also ensures that the breath sample is from a human subject and has not been altered in any way; the electrochemical sensor only responds to human breath samples and is not affected by environmental or biological vapours such as ketones, cigarette smoke or vehicle exhaust.
“Alcohol interlocks are an essential and highly effective tool for preventing impaired driving with Ignition Interlock Programs shown to be more effective than licence suspension alone” advises Mr. Comeau. “Studies show that over 50% of impaired driving offenders continue to drive even after losing their licence. As the only device that can physically prevent an offender from driving while impaired, the alcohol interlock is an essential tool for keeping impaired drivers off the roads.”
About ACS
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems is an international group of companies with over 40 years experience developing innovative technology to prevent impaired driving. A technology leader and manufacturer of alcohol interlock devices and breath alcohol testers, ACS provides products and services to law enforcement, automotive, industrial, public and personal safety markets. For additional information regarding ACS efforts to improve global road safety through innovative design, manufacturing and customer support services please visit acs-corp.com
About ALCOLOCK
ALCOLOCK is the premium provider of alcohol interlock services specializing in installing and monitoring alcohol interlock devices for participants convicted of impaired driving offenses. ALCOLOCK has been providing reliable alcohol interlock service for over 40 years and operates worldwide through a service delivery network of Authorized Service Centres, each staffed by ALCOLOCK trained professionals For additional information regarding ALCOLOCK Canada please visit alcolock.ca
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.
