Two years on, COVID-19 pandemic ‘far from over’

Deaths continue

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Dr Tedros reminded the world that many countries in Asia and the Pacific are currently facing surges of cases and deaths.

“The virus continues to evolve, and we continue to face major obstacles in distributing vaccines, tests and treatments everywhere they are needed”, he said.

COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered to 15-18 year olds in Rajasthan, India.

Avoid ‘two-tier recovery from COVID-19’

The UN Secretary-General issued a statement on Wednesday supporting the WHO chief’s assessment, that it would be ‘a grave mistake’ to think the virus was now in the rear-view mirror.

In a statement published on Wednesday, António Guterres reiterated that the distribution of vaccines remains “scandalously unequal”.

“Manufacturers are producing 1.5 billion doses per month, but nearly three billion people are still waiting for their first shot”, he highlighted.

The UN chief blamed this “failure” on policy and budgetary decisions that prioritize the health of people in wealthy countries, over the health of people in poor countries.

“This is a moral indictment of our world. It is also a recipe for more variants, more lockdowns and more sorrow and sacrifice in every country. Our world cannot afford a two-tier recovery from COVID-19”, he said.

More at the source: United Nations

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Even mild Covid is linked to brain damage, scans show

During at least the first few months following a coronavirus infection, even mild cases of Covid-19 are associated with subtle tissue damage and accelerated losses in brain regions tied to the sense of smell, as well as a small loss in the brain’s overall volume, a new British study finds. Having mild Covid is also associated with a cognitive function deficit.

These are the striking findings of the new study led by University of Oxford investigators, one that leading Covid researchers consider particularly important because it is the first study of the disease’s potential impact on the brain that is based on brain scans taken both before and after participants contracted the coronavirus.

“This study design overcomes some of the major limitations of most brain-related studies of Covid-19 to date, which rely on analysis and interpretation at a single time point in people who had Covid-19,” said Dr. Serena S. Spudich, a neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.

More at source: NBC

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The U.S. cleaning products market was valued at $1,957.9 million in 2020, and is projected reach $2,898.5 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2030

Wide array of products including brooms, brush, mops, rags, sponge, and others are collectively referred to as cleaning products. These products are utilized majorly by households as well as commercial purposes in the U.S. The increase in number of households in the U.S. since last decade is expected to proliferate the cleaning products market all across the country. Increase in GDP, rise in population, and surge in number of new households per year in the U.S. are few of the major factors that support the increase in demand for cleaning products in the country. Furthermore, commercial consumers comprise offices, schools, universities, hospitals, and others.

Economic upsurge and rise in demand among commercial consumers (retail sector, public institutions, hospitals, and others) fuel the growth of the cleaning products market. Moreover, increased concerns of health and safety and hygiene consciousness are other factors that drive the growth of the market. Increase in number of working women and investment in real estate industry are anticipated to generate potential business opportunities for the industry in near future. However, increased competition is a major challenge for the market players.

The U.S. cleaning products market is segmented into product type, and distribution channel. By product type, the market is classified into brooms, mops, brush, and others. By distribution channel, the market is divided into dollar stores, big box retailers, grocery stores, supermarket, and others (online retailers & B2B sellers). By country, the market is analyzed across the U.S. The state-wise analysis of the market is included in the report.

More at source: Business Wire

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What a janitor in L.A. does in a workday

Great Article!! 

How I spend the majority of my day: A janitor is in charge of keeping the workplace clean, organized and disinfected. Throughout the week, I am responsible for: cleaning the interior of buildings, including floors, carpet, rugs, windows and walls; disinfecting commonly used items like desks, door handles, office tools and phones; maintaining cleaning inventory, placing orders for new products when needed; cleaning bathroom stalls and sinks; and emptying trash and recycling bins.

Right now, the need for more training opportunities in the janitorial and other low-wage industries is especially important. We have been shouldering the burden of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Right now, I’m part of a nonprofit organization called Building Skills Partnership, which offers me free training opportunities on Infectious Disease Certification. I learn information on diseases janitors could be exposed to through viruses, bacteria, fungus and parasites, as well as how to best protect myself and the office building communities I serve. These classes help me a lot, because I do not want to get sick and I do not want to get my children sick from the germs I encounter by keeping buildings clean.

More at source: Washington Post

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Covid-19 cases: Omicron caused more deaths than Delta in US, says report

Since November 24 last year, when South Africa first reported the Omicron variant to the World Health Organization, the United States has confirmed more than 30,163,600 new infections with more than 154,750 new deaths, the daily reported on Saturday.

By comparison, from August 1 to October 31 in 2021, a similar duration covering the worst of the Delta surge in the United States, the country confirmed 10,917,590 new infections with 132,616 new deaths, it said.

The death toll during the Omicron wave is about 17 per cent higher than that in the equivalent-length Delta period.

The death toll underscored "the country's continuing vulnerability," the report said, adding "when the number of infections is as astronomical as 30 million, even a tiny death rate will mean a catastrophic death count."

More at source: Hindustan Times

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Penn Manor, two other school districts employ student custodians to address staffing shortages

A few Lancaster County school districts found a new way around continuing staffing shortages across most occupations and it involves hiring students. 

Penn Manor School District recently joined at least two other school districts – Donegal and Warwick – in hiring student custodians to assist their full-time janitorial staff after school. 

More than a dozen students clocked in for their first day cleaning up Penn Manor High School at 3 p.m. Jan. 24. The board approved these new hires at its Monday board meeting. 

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“It’s definitely a big help,” said district business manager Chris Johnston. 

The 14 students are assigned to a full-time custodian in groups of three or four for a three hour shift, Johnston said. They come every day that they’re not involved in another after-school activity. 

They clean classrooms, hallways, bathrooms and stairwells – everything a full-time custodian does during their usual 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. The only thing they can’t do, Johnston added, is operate equipment like the high school’s floor-scrubbing machine. 

All their hard work is already making a difference, Johnston said. 

More at source: Lancaster Online

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NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The carpet and upholstery cleaning services market is estimated to grow by USD 2.13 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth is anticipated to accelerate at a CAGR of 4.23%.

Factors such as the growth in the global construction industry and strategic partnerships among the vendors are supporting the carpet and upholstery cleaning services market growth positively.

Our research report on "Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025" has extensively covered factors influencing the parent market growth potential in the coming years, which will determine the levels of growth of the market share during the forecast period.

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services Market Report Key Highlights

• Estimated year-on-year growth rate in 2021: 3.90%
• Key market segments: End-user (commercial and residential) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).
• Key Consumer Region & contribution: North America at 46%

More at source: Longview News Journal

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As of February 7, 2022, 251.2 million people have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. Of those, 212.9 million are fully vaccinated. More than 90 million people have received a COVID-19 booster dose.

To find a vaccine or booster near you, see http://vaccines.gov.

More at source: CDC

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Do you still need a mask? Here's how the CDC determines if you should wear one

As Covid cases and related hospitalizations fall nationwide, Americans — exhausted by two years of pandemic — are increasingly asking when masks can come off indoors.

"Not yet," says both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many infectious disease experts.

Last summer, the CDC recommended indoor masking for communities logging either an average of 50 Covid cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of at least 8 percent.

That guidance has not changed. And as of Thursday, 99.9 percent of U.S. counties met the criteria for indoor masking.

More at source: NBC

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Surge of child COVID cases leads to rising dangerous inflammatory disease:

Although overall child COVID-19 case counts are on their way down in the United States, the January numbers were 3.5 times higher with the omicron variant than what was seen with the previous delta surge, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

The increase in cases has resulted in more pediatric hospitalizations and the rise of a dangerous inflammatory disorder called MIS-C, or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. MISC-C is a condition leading to inflammation in the body affecting organs like the heart and lungs, occurs about four weeks after infection and can cause high fever, rash, and in some children, other serious health outcomes.

It can affect healthy children and one out of every 1,000 kids who contracts COVID will experience MIS-C. 

More at source: USA Today

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