Scientists assembled by the World Health Organization to investigate the origins of the covid-19 pandemic have announced their early findings. They concluded that the first known cases traced to a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019 likely don’t represent the original source of the outbreak. At the same time, they considered the possibility of a lab accident causing the pandemic “extremely unlikely,” and speculated that the virus wasn’t circulating locally in people for very long before the first cases were discovered.
Tag Archives: pandemic
The Top 5 Things 2020 Taught Us About Remote Work
Back in March 2020, when more than 40 percent of Americans began commuting to their kitchen tables and makeshift home office nooks, few believed they’d still be there now, nearly a year later. And yet, here we are.
The big question looming in many employees’ and leaders’ minds alike is, what does it all mean for the future of work? Some argue that the great work-from-home experiment of 2020 will lead to the end of offices forever. Others say the last year, in fact, proved we need offices for the collaboration, the creativity, and simply the excuse to get out of the house they provide.
What is dry ice and why is it suddenly so important?
You’ve probably heard of dry ice before — or maybe even made someyourself. But lately, dry ice has become a focal point in the news, due to its unique ability to help keep things very cold in transit without the same melted mess as regular ice. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine must be stored at a temperature of -94 degrees Fahrenheit (-70 degrees Celsius), and dry ice will play a crucial role in maintaining the correct temperature as the vaccine travels for distribution. In the United States, there are currently 14.8 million reported cases of COVID-19 and over 282,000 deaths, with the numbers expected to continue to climb during the holiday season amid record-high hospitalizations.
What Is Contact Tracing?
Contact tracing is a critical tool for containing a disease outbreak. For COVID-19, it’s also a key part of plans like the World Health Organization’s guidelines for easing distancing restrictions. So what is contact tracing and how does it work? Continue reading What Is Contact Tracing?
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos grows fortune by $24bn amid coronavirus pandemic
The Amazon CEO and entrepreneur, Jeff Bezos, has grown his vast fortune by a further $24bn so far during the coronavirus pandemic, a roughly 20% increase over the last four months to $138b. Continue reading Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos grows fortune by $24bn amid coronavirus pandemic
First Cyclone to Make Landfall Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Pummels Vanuatu as Category 4 Monster
Climate change doesn’t take a break just because there’s a pandemic. Point in case: On Monday, Cyclone Harold roared over the small island nation of Vanuatu, lashing the islands with powerful winds and heavy rain. The storm forced the island to open emergency shelters, putting people in close proximity to each other in what could be a preview of things to come elsewhere as other disasters intersect with the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading First Cyclone to Make Landfall Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Pummels Vanuatu as Category 4 Monster
Coronavirus Cases Hit 1 Million Worldwide as Deaths Top 50,000
The world reached two somber milestones this Thursday. There have now been more than 1 million reported cases of covid-19, the pandemic disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Earlier in the day, the reported death toll climbed past 50,000. Both numbers undersell the damage that covid-19 has wrought globally in the span of only a few months. Continue reading Coronavirus Cases Hit 1 Million Worldwide as Deaths Top 50,000