Rice U. experts available to discuss COVID-19's wide-ranging impact

HOUSTON – (March 23, 2020) – As the COVID-19 pandemic grows and impacts the lives of people across the globe, Rice University experts are available to discuss various topics related to the disease. 

- Joyce Beebe, fellow in public finance at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, can discuss paid leave programs.

"COVID-19 highlights the importance of paid (sick) leave programs to workers," she said. "The issue is not whether we should have a paid leave program; it is how to design a program that provides nationwide coverage to all American workers instead of waiting until the next pandemic."

-Robert Bruce, dean of Rice's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, is an expert in online and distance learning, community education and engagement and innovative models for personal and professional development programs.

"The field of continuing and professional studies is uniquely positioned to help the public during a crisis that requires social distancing," he said. "Our core mission is to empower people to continue to learn and advance, regardless of location or age or learning style."

- Utpal Dholakia, a professor of marketing at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, is available to discuss consumer behavior and panic-buying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Everyone is panic-buying, not just all over the country, but basically all over the world," Dholakia said. "That makes the sense of urgency even more. Are all these suppliers going to be able to keep up with the demand?"

- John Diamond, the Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Tax Policy at the Baker Institute and an adjunct assistant professor in Rice's Department of Economics, can discuss the economic impact on Houston and Texas, particularly unemployment. 

- Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, professor in sociology and director of Rice's Religion and Public Life Program, studies the intersection of science and religion. She can discuss how these two entities can work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and recently authored an editorial about this topic for Time magazine. It is available online at https://time.com/5807372/coronavirus-religion-science/. 

- Christopher Fagundes, an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences, is available to discuss the link between mental and immune health.

"In my field, we have conducted a lot of work to look at what predicts who gets colds and different forms of respiratory illnesses, and who is more susceptible to getting sick," Fagundes said. "We’ve found that stress, loneliness and lack of sleep are three factors that can seriously compromise aspects of the immune system that make people more susceptible to viruses if exposed. Also, stress, loneliness and disrupted sleep promote other aspects of the immune system responsible for the production of proinflammatory cytokines to overrespond. Elevated proinflammatory cytokine production can generate sustained upper respiratory infection symptoms."

And while this research has centered on different cold and upper respiratory viruses, he said "there is no doubt" that these effects would be the same for COVID-19.

- Mark Finley is a fellow in energy and global oil at the Baker Institute.

"The U.S. and global oil market is simultaneously grappling with the biggest decline in demand ever seen (due to COVID-19) and a price war between two of the world’s largest producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia," he said. 

- Bill Fulton, director of Rice's Kinder Institute for Urban Research, an urban planner, an expert on local government and the former mayor of Ventura, California, can speak to both the short-term and long-term changes in city life and the way government works. 

What will the effect be on transportation and transit? Retail and office space? Will people walk and bike more? How will they interact in public spaces in the future? How will government function and hold public meetings during the crisis, and will this fundamentally alter the way government interacts with the public in the long run? How will local governments deal with the inevitable revenue loss — and, in the long run, with the fact that they will probably have less sales tax? 

- Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, director for the Center of Health and Biosciences at the Baker Institute and a professor of economics, can discuss insurance coverage as families experience lost income and jobs during the crisis.

"Policymakers should temporarily expand subsidies for middle class workers who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace," Ho said. "Families experiencing lost income due to the pandemic shouldn’t have to worry about losing access to health care in the midst of a pandemic."

"Hospitals in states that did not expand Medicaid coverage to able-bodied adults under the Affordable Care Act are bearing tougher financial burdens, which may damage their ability to respond to the current health crisis," she said. 

- Mark Jones, a professor of political science and fellow at the Baker Institute, is available to discuss how the spread of COVID-19 is impacting elections, including runoffs in Texas.

"COVID-19 has already resulted in the postponement of local elections originally scheduled for May 2, with the elections now to be held in November with current officeholders' tenure extended until their successors are confirmed in November," Jones said. "It is increasingly likely that COVID-19 will affect the Democratic and Republican primary runoff elections scheduled for May 26, with a growing possibility that the elections will be conducted entirely via mail ballots or at the minimum will involve the adoption of no-excuse absentee voting whereby any Texan, not just those 65 or older, hospitalized or out of the county, will be able to obtain an absentee ballot and vote by mail.

"The emergency adoption of no-excuse absentee voting would change the composition of the May primary runoff electorate by expanding turnout among many voters who otherwise would have been unlikely to participate, as well as increase pressure on the Texas Legislature to reform the state’s electoral legislation to allow for no-excuse absentee voting when it reconvenes in January of 2021 for the next regular session."

- Danielle King, an assistant professor of psychological sciences and principal investigator of Rice's WorKing Resilience Lab, is an expert on the topic of resilience to adversity. Her research focuses on understanding the role individuals, groups and organizations play in fostering adaptive sustainability following adversity. She can discuss how individuals can remain resilient and motivated in difficult circumstances.

"Though we are still in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can begin to enact adaptive practices that foster resilience such as remaining flexible to changing circumstances, practicing acceptance of the present realities, seeking social support in creative ways while practicing social distancing, and finding and engaging with experiences and thoughts that elicit positive emotions during trying times," King said.
 

- Tom Kolditz, founding director of Rice's Doerr Institute for New Leaders, is a social psychologist and former brigadier general who has done extensive research on how best to lead people under perceived serious threat. His work is widely taught at military service and police academies globally, and he did extensive work with the banking industry during the 2008 financial crisis. His expertise is in articulating what people need from leaders in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times and what leaders must do to gain and maintain people's trust. His book, "In Extremis Leadership: Leading As If Your Life Depended On It," teaches people to lead in crisis, when people are anxious or afraid.
 

"Leadership when people are under threat hinges far less on managerial principles, and far more on trust," Kolditz said. "Whether in a company or their own family, people who lead in the same way now as they did two months ago will experience a significant decline in their influence." 

- Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute, is an expert on energy geopolitics and Middle East economies and societies. He can comment on the effect on OPEC and its production decisions, relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and how low oil prices will affect policy inside producer countries.

- Ken Medlock, the James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute, senior director of institute's Center for Energy Studies and an adjunct professor and lecturer in Rice's Department of Economics, can discuss COVID-19's impact on oil prices and the oil industry. 

- Kirsten Ostherr, the Gladys Louise Fox Professor of English and director of Rice's Medical Futures Lab, can discuss the representation of outbreaks, contagion and disease in public discourse and the media. She is also an expert on digital health privacy. She is the founding director of the Medical Humanities program at Rice, and her first book, “Cinematic Prophylaxis: Globalization and Contagion in the Discourse of World Health,” is one of several titles made available for open-access download through June 1 by its publisher, Duke University Press. 

- Peter Rodriguez, dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business and a professor of strategic management, can discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 in Houston, the state of Texas and around the world.

- Eduardo Salas, professor and chair of the Department of Psychological Sciences, is available to discuss collaboration, teamwork, team training and team dynamics as it relates to COVID-19.

"We often hear that 'we are in this together' and, indeed, we are," Salas said. "Effective collaboration and teamwork can save lives. And there is a science of teamwork that can provide guidance on how to manage and promote effective collaboration."

- Kyle Shelton, deputy director of the Kinder Institute, can discuss how the economic impact of COVID-19 closures and job losses can amplify housing issues, and why governments at every level are opting for actions such as halting evictions and foreclosures and removing late fees. He can also speak to some of the challenges confronted by public transportation, why active transportation like biking and walking are so important now, and how long-term investments in these systems make cities and regions more adaptive and resilient.

- Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and a fellow in urban politics at the Baker Institute, is an expert in emergency preparedness, especially related to hurricanes and flooding. He can also discuss why and when people comply with government directives regarding how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, and the political consequences of natural disasters. 

"Since God is not on the ballot, who do voters hold accountable before and in the aftermath of natural disasters?" he said. 

- Laurence Stuart, an adjunct professor in management at Rice Business, can discuss unemployment in Texas, how people qualify for it and what that means for employers and employees.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 217-417-2901 or amym@rice.edu.

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This news release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews.

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Photo link: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/03/23311-1.jpg

Photo credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

World Animal Protection Calls for International Ban on Wildlife Trade Due to COVID-19

TORONTO, March 23, 2020 /CNW/ - They are one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet and considered Africa's most legally traded live animal-the Ball python. A poster animal for the exotic pet trade, their name comes from the animal's tendency to curl up into a tight ball when stressed or frightened. Reptiles are often perceived to have no feelings, and false assumptions like this and the myth that reptiles require little care are some reasons they can end up as exotic pets. 

Now, a ground-breaking report by World Animal Protection is sounding the alarm over the international trade of Ball pythons. The charity is also calling for a stop on all global wildlife trade. Wild animals, poached from their natural habitat or bred in captivity, are typically placed in cramped cages and dirty conditions, which causes them suffering and creates a lethal hotbed of disease. This can harm humans when coming into contact with them as we have seen with COVID- 19. The virus is believed to have been transmitted from animals to humans at a live animal market in Wuhan, China. 

Snakes sold there were originally suspected as a potential source. However, even if snakes are not the original source, the charity's visits to snake farms in West Africa revealed that these facilities do more than just feed the demand for Ball pythons as pets. They also act as wider trade hubs, exporting other wildlife, including bats, civets and primates, which are higher up the human health list of concern when considering their role in epidemics such as SARS in 2002 and Ebola in 2013.

China banned the consumption of land-based wild animals due to COVID-19 and late last week Vietnam followed suit. While this is a great first step, other wild animals such as exotic pets and animals used for traditional medicine are not included. 

Limiting our contact with these animals is necessary to decrease the chances of viruses spreading to humans and a permanent ban on all wildlife trade would help to prevent major health epidemics and pandemics from happening again, as well as reduce animal suffering. 

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Africa, says, "The international trade of African Ball pythons is an important source of economic income for some local communities, but when the snakes are all gone, the money will be too. With the recent coronavirus outbreak, we are also starting to realize that the economic and human costs of an outbreak due to the demand for an exotic animal is a price not worth paying."

Meanwhile, Ball pythons and other wild animals continue to suffer in the exotic pet trade.

Cassandra Koenen, Global Head of Wildlife not Pets at World Animal Protection says, "The trade of Ball pythons as exotic pets is a massive global market that has impacted millions of animals over the last several decades. These misunderstood animals suffer cruelty from capture, through to a life of captivity. We must end the global trade of wildlife for our health and their welfare."

Canada is considered one of the main importers of Ball pythons. In just over 45 years, more than 3 million Ball pythons have been exported from West Africa, to Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada. 

In Canada, an estimated 28,000 Ball pythons are kept in households as pets. While most owners mean well, the lack of understanding for the animal's welfare just leads to suffering as Ball pythons are mainly kept in spaces much smaller than their natural habitats. 

Once these animals are sold, anyone who comes into contact with them is at risk of contracting illnesses like Salmonella. A recent outbreak in Canada had just over 90 cases where people had come into contact with pet snakes before they became ill and that may have been the cause of the outbreak.

We are all in this together and our relationship with animals needs to change. World Animal Protection is asking people to join the movement to help stop the global wildlife trade. It will benefit humans and animals alike.

Notes to editors

• See the full documentary on Ball pythons by World Animal Protection here

About World Animal Protection

From our offices around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Kenya, and Canada, we move the world to protect animals. Last year, we gave more than 3 billion animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild, animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. For more information visit www.worldanimalprotection.ca

SOURCE World Animal Protection

RNAO & OMA Stress Personal Protective Equipment for Frontline Workers Is an Urgent Priority

TORONTO, March 22, 2020 /CNW/ - The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) need to ensure frontline health-care workers have the personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies they need to care for their patients.

"We must act now for all the eventualities, given the global shortage of supplies. RNAO welcomes Premier Ford's recent appeal to manufacturers to produce the essential gear to protect our health-care workers so they can be there to protect the public. We fear that a mask shortage is imminent.  This is a serious and dire situation for our frontline workers. We must take every action possible to avoid, or at best, delay such an eventuality," says Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO's CEO. 

"We call on governments and organizations at all levels to continue their efforts to bring urgency to the global shortage of PPE and essential medical equipment. We must be prepared for a shortage of masks," said Dr. Sohail Gandhi, OMA President. "Health-care workers are at high risk of exposure to the virus. Protection for themselves and the patients they care for is vitally important in the battle against this virus."

As well, the OMA and RNAO understand that large quantities of masks, currently available to the system have expired. As supplies dwindle and we await more supplies the use of the stockpile of expired masks should be strongly considered. These expired masks could be released now under existing ethical and evidenced-based guidelines to ensure appropriate distribution, i.e. ensuring expired ones go to lower risk areas. In unprecedented situations we need to take all steps to provide the best protection available for health-care professionals and their patients.

RNAO and the OMA urge anyone with a supply of masks not in use for the current emergency to immediately repurpose them for frontline health-care workers. This includes:

• Health care and education related institutions that have PPE stocks for their simulation labs. 
• Other health professionals such as dentists. 

In addition, commercial sale of these products should be prohibited, and existing private stocks (e.g., drugstore chains) immediately re-possessed for use by frontline health-care workers.

The OMA and RNAO are working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health to ensure that we get adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for nurses, doctors, and other frontline health-care workers right away. We are ready to work with all levels of government and the CMOH for this purpose. 

We are confident the provincial and federal governments have heard our concerns and are working together to address this urgent supply issue. 

About the OMA
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.  

About the RNAO
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about RNAO, visit our website at RNAO.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

SOURCE Ontario Medical Association

Food and Household Product Manufacturers - An Open Letter to Canadians Regarding COVID-19

Endorsed by more than 100 companies that make Canada's leading food, beverage, and consumer products.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 20, 2020 /CNW/ - We know that the food and household goods we all choose feel more essential to daily life than ever before.  Finding those products on store shelves is important to you, and safely making the products you need is our top priority.

Representing Canada's most trusted brands and the 300,000 people who work making the food and household products Canadians rely on every day, now more than ever, we want you to know: 

WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.

We couldn't be prouder that the products we make are helping Canadians across the country - from medical heroes in our hospitals to every day heroes working hard to help their families and communities stay strong in these difficult times. 

It is understandable that people are concerned about finding the products they need.  But, we are confident we have and make enough for everyone. 

Our commitments are simple:

—We will help Canada's largest manufacturing workforce stay healthy and support our colleagues to stay home from work if they get sick.

—We will continue to uphold the most stringent standards for personal, equipment, and product hygiene and safety in our facilities. 

—We will keep making the food and household goods you need and working with government and grocers to make sure the products you need are stocked on store shelves. 

We work with and thank: Farmers who grow the agricultural products we make into finished goods. Our team members who make the food and household products you need. Transportation networks who deliver these essential supplies. Partners in grocery, drug, and convenience stores who help us get those products on store shelves. 

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER – 
FROM FARM, FACTORY, AND STORE TO YOUR FRONT DOOR.

To learn more about the food industry and our response to covid-19, please visit fcpc.ca/foodisfundamental

SOURCE Food & Consumer Products of Canada

Apotex Donates Hydroxychloroquine for a Clinical Study to Prevent Infection From Covid-19 With Front Line Health Care Workers

TORONTO, March 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Apotex, Canada's largest pharmaceutical company, announced today that it is donating Hydroxychloroquine to accelerate a study examining if it prevents infection of COVID-19 in front-line healthcare employees.  

The study, conducted by the University Health Network and Unity Health (St Michael's Hospital) in Toronto, aims to gather data from randomized controlled trials which is essential for informing the best practices in protecting our health care workers at this critical time. It is a PreExposure Prophylaxis randomized placebo controlled trial for front line health care workers including emergency room staff and ICU staff.

"We are committed to take whatever actions we can to support our healthcare community as they investigate possible treatments for COVID-19," said Jeff Watson, President and CEO, Apotex. "Due to anticipated increased demand for this product, we have doubled our planned production outputs, and are in dialogue with governments about additional measures they may wish to take on this specific product." 

Global interest in Hydroxychloroquine has surged with some governments already adding the product to their COVID-19 treatment protocols. Other countries are also considering the impact of this product, including the United States who requested that it be made available for use immediately. 

Apotex is working around the clock to protect the health and safety of its employees in order to minimize disruption to Canada's drug supply. "Canada is fortunate to have domestic manufacturing of cost effective pharmaceuticals within its borders," said Jeff Watson. "The importance of this local capability, especially during times of a pandemic cannot be overstated."

In addition to producing almost 100% of its portfolio for Canadians in Canada, Apotex is also the largest manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the country.

About Apotex Inc.
Apotex Inc. is a proudly Canadian, global pharmaceutical company that produces high-quality, affordable medicines for patients around the world. Apotex employs almost 8,000 people worldwide in manufacturing, R&D, and commercial operations.  Apotex Inc. exports to more than 100 countries and territories and operates in more than 45 countries, with a significant presence in Canada, the US, Mexico, and India. Through vertical integration, Apotex is comprised of multiple divisions and affiliates including Apotex Inc., focused on generics; Apobiologix, a division of Apotex Inc. focused on biosimilar development; Aveva, an affiliate of Apotex Inc. fully integrated global developer and manufacturer of complete transdermal solutions; Apotex Consumer Products, a division of Apotex Inc. focused on brand name products; and Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (GAPI), a division of Apotex Inc. focused on the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for Apotex and third parties. For more information visit: www.apotex.com. 

SOURCE Apotex Inc.

Precision Biomonitoring Announces its Health Canada Submission for Point-of-Care SARS-Cov-2 Go-Strips

Precision Biomonitoring Responds to Health Canada's Call for COVID-19 Research and Development with Innovative Point-of-Care Testing Solution

GUELPH, ON and MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Precision Biomonitoring, an industry leader in developing environmental DNA (eDNA) tools to detect organisms, announces the submission of its point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips and rapid mobile detection device to Health Canada for approval and use in Canada in response to the COVID-19 virus. The submission was based on lab validation data generated through testing viral samples and its on-going collaboration with major research institutions in Ontario and Manitoba, including with teams that recently identified and isolated the RNA of the new novel coronavirus.

"Our recent collaboration with healthcare and research institutions across the country positions us well to work with the Government of Canada and healthcare decision makers to provide innovative, point-of-care testing for COVID-19 in 60 minutes," says Dr. Mario Thomas, CEO, Precision Biomonitoring. "We are looking forward to playing our part in combatting this virus."

A proud Canadian company, Precision Biomonitoring, recognizes the importance of working with public health officials to ensure the safety of all Canadians. "Our technologies are inspired by our ongoing pursuit for innovation, and in the face of a rapidly evolving situation such as COVID-19, that relentless commitment is all the more critical," says Thomas. "To know that our company is working towards supporting healthcare professionals in enabling the diagnosis and care taking place across Canada continues to fuel our efforts. We look forward to a timely response from Health Canada."

Precision Biomonitoring has a demonstrated track record of being agile and adjusting to the scientific and medical needs of the Canadian landscape. Its ongoing work and strong existing relationships with the Government of Canada, as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the food safety and animal health space, has provided Precision Biomonitoring with the knowledge and experience necessary to be a trusted, collaborative partner to Health Canada.

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.

SOURCE Precision Biomonitoring

Harvey's & Swiss Chalet support front-line workers during COVID-19 with 50% off

VAUGHAN, ON, March 19, 2020 /CNW/ - During this unprecedented time, Harvey's and Swiss Chalet are supporting the many people working the front-lines of COVID-19. Beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 20th until Friday, March 27th, all Canadian Government Healthcare workers and First Responders (Police, Fire, Paramedics) will receive 50% off their orders when ordering take-out or drive-thru.

"First responders are working countless hours to help keep Canadians safe and healthy, and we wanted to support them and their families," said David Colebrook, Chief Operating Officer, Harvey's Canada. "We thank our front-line health care workers - you are the heroes right now and we are here for you," added Ron Simard, Chief Operating Officer, Swiss Chalet. 

All Government Healthcare workers and First Responders can take advantage of this offer by simply showing their credentials to our staff. "Our dining room seating is currently closed, but our drive-thrus and takeout are still open, so you can maintain social distance and pick up a bite to eat for yourself and your family after a long day," added Colebrook.

About Harvey's 

Harvey's is an iconic Canadian restaurant chain that has been feeding Canadian families since 1959. Serving delicious flame-grilled burgers made with 100% Canadian beef and topped the way you want them, Harvey's has been a staple in Canadian communities for 60 years.

About Swiss Chalet 

Swiss Chalet is the second largest full-service restaurant chain in Canada, and has been woven into our nation's fabric since 1954. Famous Rotisserie Chicken, fresh-cut fries, smoky BBQ ribs, and signature Chalet Dipping Sauce are core to the brands DNA. Swiss Chalet has been proudly serving Canadian communities through their Dine-In, Take-Out, Pick-Up, Delivery or Drive-Thru channels for the past 65 years.  

SOURCE Harvey's

First Global Livestream to Connect Experts in COVID-19 Summit

Monday March 23^rd 

Free Content over 20 Hours to be Distributed by Facebook and Zoom

NEW YORK, - March 20, 2020 – On Monday, March 23, Boma Global will host COVID-19 Summit, an online 20 hour livestreaming event  about the local and international impacts of COVID-19, convening leading financial, technology and health experts from 10 countries on five continents. This unprecedented virtual event will illuminate the early lessons of this epidemic and explore specific plans of action to address it and is free of charge to the public and members of the media. Facebook and Zoom will make this program available on their platforms at no-cost to all viewers worldwide.

The coronavirus pandemic has become far more than a public health crisis; its effects are far-reaching, from disruption of the global and local economies, education and consumer-facing companies, to its social, physiological and racial implications. 
 

Confirmed speakers for the Boma COVID-19 Summit feature leaders in the specific fields of microbiology, infectious diseases and bioluminescence, as well as recognized leaders in technology, policy and business. Confirmed speakers include Frédéric Bizard, Dr. Larry Brilliant, Dr. Daniel Kraft, Dr. Divya Chander, Dr. Siouxsie Wiles, Professor David Murdoch, and Dr. Rich Kuder. 

To register for the event, sign up at this LINK.   

Session 1:          New Zealand (Christchurch) 6:00 AM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 2:          Japan (Tokyo) 8:00 AM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 3:          China (Beijing) 10:00 AM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 4:          Canada (Toronto) 12:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 5:          India (New Delhi) 2:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 6:          Poland (Warsaw) 4:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 7:          France (Paris) 6:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 8:          Portugal (Porto) 8:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 9:          Brazil (Sao Paulo) 10:00 PM UTC — Monday 3/23
Session 10:        U.S. (West Coast) 12:00 AM UTC — Tuesday 3/24

“The Boma network has been designed as a platform to host global conversations that are deeply local at the same time, empowering people and organizations to take meaningful action,” said Lara Stein, co-founder of Boma Global. "Lasting solutions and new protocols cannot be discussed in national silos. But rather require a global conversation of experts of many viewpoints and backgrounds.”

The presentations scheduled include: 

• “What past medical victories tells us about the path forward” Larry Brilliant M.D., chairman, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, USA
• “Designing the physical environment to stop the spread of infectious diseases” David Saladik, health facility architect in Kigali, Rwanda
• “The path to develop a vaccine” Professor David Murdoch, dean, Otago University, Christchurch, New Zealand
• “Open source frontline medicine” Bart de Witte, founder digital health academy, Berlin, Germany
• “Reducing stress: an online meditation” Jason Xu, mindfulness meditation coach, Beijing, China
• “The psychology of uncertainty” Dr. Rashna E David, psychologist and education consultant, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
• “What lessons can we learn for our health system?” Frédéric Bizard, founder, the Health Institute, Paris, France
• “How to identify a viral infection: advances in diagnosis” Dr. Celso Granato, head of Virology at Grupo Fleury, São Paulo, Brazil
• “Innovation in the time of COVID-19: the state of play” Daniel Kraft M.D., Palo Alto, USA

 “COVID-19 is a global crisis. The mission of the Summit is to create a livestreaming experience that can facilitate knowledge transfer across borders and share carefully curated information,” said Stein. “We want global users to come away with information and actions they can act on in their communities.”

About Boma Global

Boma Global is a global network of local partners offering transformational learning experiences (summits, executive programmes, workshops, etc.) so that, in a world of dramatic and continuous change, we can be more intentional and intelligent about the future. 

Led by Lara Stein, creator of TEDx and former managing director of Singularity University. Boma has eight country partners — France, Germany, New Zealand, China, Canada, Brazil, India and Poland. Boma has joined forces with dozens of country, corporate and community partners with an intimate understanding and appreciation of the power of large-scale, decentralized networks. Together they're creating new global network that supports business leaders, politicians, educators, entrepreneurs, young people and grassroots organizers to navigate our rapidly changing world, helping create a better, more sustainable and human centered future for us all.

Starting an Exercise Routine After an Absence? Here are 5 Tips for Getting Started

Staying fit often contributes to good health and longevity as well as a general sense of wellbeing. People with a consistent exercise routine typically enjoy the greatest benefits. Stopping exercise for reasons like illness or travel can get you off track with your workout schedule. If you have missed more than a few days of exercise, here are a few tips to consider.

Ease into It

After not exercising for several days or weeks, your body may not be ready to resume your regular routine. Start with a reduced amount of exercise and perhaps fewer exercises while increasing your activity a little more with each session until you get back to where you were before. Resuming your routine full-throttle could cause problems or possible injuries.

Take Time to Readjust

In addition to the amount of exercise you begin doing again, you may want to space more time between sessions to give yourself plenty of time to get used to renewed physical exertion. Your muscles, joints, tendons, and bones require time to get accustomed to your former exercise schedule. Don’t rush it and run the risk of injury or a setback due to pain and discomfort.

Consult a Trainer

To ensure that you don’t overdo it, it may be helpful to consult a fitness training expert. The trainer can advise you how to restart your exercise program and offer warmup exercises to help condition your body for increased physical activity. You could schedule a consultation or work with a trainer for a few weeks until you are able to fully resume your exercise plan.

Include Rest and Recovery Breaks

Although you might be eager to get back on a regular exercise program, take adequate rest breaks to let your body recover and respond. Pushing yourself too hard may lead to problems, including overuse of certain muscles or general fatigue. Depending on how long you didn’t exercise, you will need a corresponding amount of time to get back to your exercise routine.

Pause if Symptoms Develop

Although mild muscle soreness may be noticed when you return to exercising, moderate to severe pain indicates a problem. Stop exercising and call your doctor for advice. You may need to exercise less for a period of time or be evaluated by your physician for possible strains or injuries.

Exercise plays a valuable role in maintaining good health. When returning to exercise after missing out for a time, use caution to ensure a smooth transition to your workout routine.

APAC axial spondyloarthritis market to grow moderately over next decade due to uptake of expensive biologic therapies, says GlobalData 

The axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) market across the five growth markets (5GM*) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will experience moderate growth over the next 10 years, which can be attributed to the increased uptake of expensive biologic therapies in India and China along with the imminent arrival of new interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The company’s latest report, ‘Axial Spondyloarthritis: Forecast in Asia-Pacific Markets to 2028’, reveals that the axSpA market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from US$368.6m in 2018 to US$551.6m in 2028. 

Shreya Brahmbhatt, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, says: “An additional driver of the axSpA market is the greater interest and awareness of the non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). This is reflected in the increasing number of approved tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and the on-going late-stage trials of anti-IL biologics for nr-axSpA. The largest barrier to the axSpA market will be the patent expiry of key branded biologic therapies.” 

While the key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData were excited at the prospect of new pipeline drugs making it to market, many of them are expected to have a high annual cost of therapy (ACOT), which is expected to hinder patient uptake. As a result, physicians are likely to continue prescribing the currently marketed biologics and biosimilars at a significant rate.  

Brahmbhatt concludes: “Another consideration in this space is the fact that many of the drugs in development are being tested in AS only, but it is expected that label expansion into nr-axSpA will follow. In China and India, for example, clinical trials include AS patients only and AS drugs are prescribed as off-label treatments for nr-axSpA. In Australia, only two anti-TNF biologics are approved currently for nr-axSpA specifically, and patients who have found their condition to be uncontrolled by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will often be prescribed biologics off-label.” 

*5GM: Australia, South Korea, India, China and Japan