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Eating Habits to Avoid If You Have Painful Headaches, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That

When a headache begins to pierce, common knowledge points in the direction of the medicine cabinet. From Advil to Aleve, there is no shortage of synthetic solutions to head pain, which makes sense; as many as 45 million Americans suffer from them each year, so the demand for relief is definitely there.

However, in our haste to end the discomfort, we may be missing an opportunity to analyze the root of the problem and then attempt to aid it naturally. While headaches can be brought on by a variety of factors, diet is definitely key. An imbalanced diet can cause or worsen headaches. The flip side of that knowledge, of course, is power. By being conscious of nutrition, we can also potentially avoid the pain.

We spoke to dietitians and got their take on five eating habits that make it more likely that a person might develop a headache, as well as tips on how to avoid them. Then, for more healthy tips, here’s The #1 Best Juice to Drink Every Day, Says Science.

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Forgoing a meal is sometimes just a casualty of a busy day. But according to Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LDauthor of The Sports Nutrition Playbook, and a member of our medical expert board, that missed meal could result in a throbbing temple.

“When you skip meals, it usually results in a blood sugar drop or crash. When your blood sugar is low it can contribute to headaches as well as feeling dizzy, nauseous, and even light-headed,” she says.

Goodson recommends eating a series of small meals and snacks throughout the day to avoid developing low blood sugar and a subsequent headache. Anything containing high-fiber carbohydrates and protein will help keep your blood sugar stable, she says.

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One way to help ensure stable blood sugar is to be mindful about incorporating protein into meals and snacks, even in small ways.

As Goodson outlines, “when you eat carbohydrates by yourself (think fruit, cereal, bagels, and granola bars), your blood sugar tends to rise then drop more substantially due to the lack of protein. The blood sugar drop, similar to when skipping meals, can give you a headache almost.”

She recommends tying in protein however possible: for example, putting peanut butter on toast, eating nuts with your granola bars, or adding Greek yogurt to your bowl of cereal. If you pass up protein, you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of head pain.

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That being said, the solution is not to adopt a protein-only diet, either. As Johna Burdeos, RD LC CNSC, explained, “The body operates best with a balance of nutrients.” While we want to be mindful about subsisting solely on carbohydrates, limiting them in an extreme way can also cause headaches.

Burdeos suggest a solution: “Consider including more carbs that are made with whole grains which are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. All great for overall health, boosting satiety, and staving off hunger pangs and the headaches that come with that.”

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Sugar intake translates pretty directly to a blood sugar spike, which as we know, can then result in a headache when those levels eventually fall again.

“If you have a sugar spike and energy high after consuming a sugary food or beverage,” says Goodson.”You better believe a blood sugar drop and energy slump is coming as well. This can lead to headaches and feeling fatigued, and what’s worse , it leaves you looking for more sugar.”

Of course, the best solution here is to simply avoid foods with lots of added sugar. If that’s impossible (the birthday cake looks really good) Goodson says one way to circumvent the side effects is by consuming a protein simultaneously.

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We’ve all heard rumors about the multitude of types of caffeine-induced headaches. There’s the too-much-coffee headache, the too-little-coffee headache, the too-late-at-night coffee headache.

“Everyone has a different response to caffeine, but because it is a central nervous stimulant, it can often leave people with a headache and feeling jittery if they drink coffee on an empty stomach,” says Goodson. “If your blood sugar is low from not eating, caffeine can often magnify the effect leaving you feeling worse and possibly a pounding headache.”

Avoid caffeine-induced headaches by drinking coffee only while also consuming a balanced meal high in fiber and—you guessed it—protein.

“At breakfast that might be drinking your morning cup of joe with eggs and whole-grain toast or oatmeal and Greek yogurt,” says Goodson. “If you have coffee at a snack, try it with ricotta cheese and berries or even energy bites made with oats, nut butter, nuts, seeds, and honey.”

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/eating-habits-to-avoid-if-you-have-painful-headaches-say-dietitians-eat-this-not-that/

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5 Things to Know Before You Invest in Cryptocurrency

Boris Zhitkov | Getty Images” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VsuaRF9vyAKwiTpmNi1fpw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/fNoOgk3VbWksAc. Nz_Hovw–~B/aD0xMTI1O3c9MjAwMDthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/entrepreneur.com/0f39d58d518d41f6786a0c0856ca8a10″ data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2 /VsuaRF9vyAKwiTpmNi1fpw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/fNoOgk3VbWksAc.Nz_Hovw–~B/aD0xMTI1O3c9MjAwMDthcHBpZD15dgGFen.zen.lvmediab.jaHs://com /entrepreneur.com/0f39d58d518d41f6786a0c0856ca8a10″/>

Boris Zhitkov | Getty Images

Cryptocurrency has been adopted by the mainstream in recent years. Not a day goes by without some headline-making metaverse purchase or cryptic tweet on dogecoin (Elon Musk, we’re talking about you). Hype aside, the crypto market is no fad. 300 million worldwide users see its long-term potential and an increasing number of global giants now accommodate it as a payment method. Yet, the crypto world is still a nascent market (just like cannabis and genomics) that attracts promoters, scammers and dreamers. Ergo, despite this growth and exuberance, the decision to buy crypto is not one to take lightly. Due to their speculative nature, blockchain-derived investments are inherently volatile and unpredictable.

Before you jump onto the cryptocurrency bandwagon, it’s crucial to do your research, just as you would with any other investment, to eliminate fraudsters and safeguard against the inherent risks and possible surprises. Here are the five things you should ask yourself before you invest in cryptocurrency.

1. Have I done due diligence on principals and white papers?

It may sound obvious, but knowing exactly what it is you’re investing in is paramount. Some even argue that cryptocurrency is not an investment, but rather a gamble. Others attribute value to the coin’s perceived and empirical utility, and actually transact in the crypto universe. These are often people that seek out a hedge against fiat currencies or choose to hedge against the legacy banking system in their respective country. When considering a crypto investment, you should peruse the coin’s white paper — a document that all legitimate coins will have. With a detailed outline of the project’s principles, purpose and technology, this document will help you determine whether or not you should invest. Make sure you read the document diligently. No data or project specifics is definitely a red flag.

To put it simply, follow this rule: no details, no investment.

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2. Are they selling coins or security tokens?

Crypto is about more than buying Bitcoin. In fact, as of January 2022, there are more than 8,000 cryptocurrencies in existence — and more are being minted as we speak. Different investments can serve very different purposes within the crypto world. Coins, for example, are very different from tokens. Where the former has a purely monetary, transactional value, the latter can be linked to securities and utilities, such as shares, services and preferential treatment.

Knowing what you’re buying is vital. You need to figure out what it is exactly that you’re trying to gain from the investment, and how you’re going to get there.

Related: 3 Things To Do Before You Buy Crypto

3. Is the token anchored in anything other than promotion?

Getting sucked into the grips of the big names (eg, Bitcoin, Shiba Inu and Tether) may be your first pitfall. While legitimacy should always be the top priority, a close second is the prospective investment’s potential, unless you are pursuing another agenda. In other words, you should always choose your coin or token based on its merit, rather than any clever gimmicks or marketing — or even the coin’s hegemonic position, which may be temporary.

Related: 4 Ways To Smartly Invest In Cryptocurrencies

4. How do I exit, and can I afford to lose everything?

Investing in crypto and waking up a multi-millionaire is an enticing notion. However, it’s also an incredibly illusory one. Far from conventional stock-market investments, investing in crypto is arguably a game of speculation. Unfortunately, for every overnight win, there are many overnight losses. Since this type of investment is often based on sentiment and perceived scarcity, its outcome is unpredictable. As such, just like any other gamble, you should only put in what you’re willing to lose.

Once you know how to enter the market, it’s just as crucial to know how to exit it. The main exit is selling into the market, and then cashing out into a stable coin that tracks fiat currency or converting into fiat currency and withdrawing the funds into your bank account. Many speculators buy Bitcoin or other crypto coins when they drop and attempt to sell them when they spike.

5. Am I an active participant in the project or a passive gambler?

This notion is the proverbial game changer. If you are launching your own product or are somehow on the “inside”, you are most likely not an arms-length investor, but rather an entrepreneur launching a cryptocurrency business. Some believe that you are still investing your sweat equity, know-how and money. You must contemplate the level of involvement you want in your investment or project.

If you are buying a large position in some new ICO (initial coin offering), you may want to be on the board of directors or have some meaningful role in the metaverse. Do you want to be hands-on and actively participate in the success of the project? Or rather are you hoping to put in some money, sit back and let the market do its thing? Defining success early on will help you to set your goals. These two routes have very different trajectories. Ergo, make sure you do your homework and figure out which one’s for you.

It’s in our nature to want to fast track everything we do. Yet in this market, it’s the long game that wins. To give yourself the best chance of success, you need to take the time to truly understand the crypto market and its trajectory. Everyone wants a slice of the crypto pie, but only the savviest or lucky will get it.

Related: AMC Begins Accepting Crypto

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/5-things-to-know-before-you-invest-in-cryptocurrency/

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Can B Corp. Executes Joint Venture with PrimeX Making its CBD Products Available in Brazil

Can B Corp

Enables Access to the 4th Largest Pharmaceutical Market in the World and its 210 Million Consumers

HICKSVILLE, NY, March 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire — Can B Corp. (OTCQB:CANB) (“Can B” or the “Company”), a health and wellness company specializing in developing, producing, and selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, is pleased to announce its formation of a joint venture with PrimeX, a marketing, sales, and distribution company, for its CBD products in Brazil.

PrimeX has a contract with Biocase Brasil to produce CBD products for the Brazilian market. Biocase is a company focused on: local distribution, an intensive education program for doctors (MDs), production of oils, capsules, and creams through local facilities, and the development of a biotech laboratory for cannabis testing and extraction.

Biocase Brasil has a strong network of doctors in Brazil and provides education, research, products development, and tests for the Brazilian market. Brazil relies on medical clinical trials to test CBD products for new categories, such as beauty, veterinary use, and food, before regulation permits the distribution to pharmacies and online sales. Biocase Brasil patients also have access to prescriptions and Anvisa licenses!

PrimeX services 120,000 retailers in Brazil, which includes markets, pharmacies, and bodegas, a country that recently approved the sale of CBD products in pharmacies. The joint venture will utilize PrimeX’s existing distribution relationships in Brazil.

The largest country in South America, Brazil is the fourth largest pharmaceutical market in the world. The Brazilian National Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the world. In 2019, Brazil had 114,352 community pharmacies (76.8% privately owned), which represent the first point of access to healthcare in Brazil due to their wide distribution.

Medical cannabis and CBD are expected to surge in Brazil with the passage of new legislation, with estimates that the sector could reach $4.7 billion in sales in the next three years. Up until recently, CBD in Brazil was permitted only for medical use with authorization from the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency. Regulations are in place for medical cannabis and hemp opening up a market of 210 million consumers.

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There are only a few companies in Brazil – CBD Vida being one – selling CBD-based pharmaceuticals through prescription and medical reports. Only a handful of importers have established distribution in Brazil, including GW Pharmaceuticals, Biocase Brazil, which sells its Sativex CBD-based medicine in pharmacies, and Biocase sells Allandiol Full and Broad.

Mario Lacourt, PrimeX’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very excited to roll out Can B’s CBD products in Brazil. After careful consideration, Biocase Brasil chose Can B for its high standards of manufacturing and processing and quality products. The CBD category in Brazil is ever-expanding to new categories and we are very well-positioned to distribute Can B’s products to the majority of pharmacies, markets, and bodegas in Brazil.”

Marco Alfonsi, Can B’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This is a significant expansion milestone for our company as Brazil is the fourth biggest pharmaceutical market in the world and we now have access to this huge market via PrimeX. The CBD opportunity in Brazil is emerging with recently passed legislation that is opening up the market to its 210 million people. We look forward to working closely with PrimeX and utilizing its existing relationships with pharmacies in Brazil.”

About PrimeX

PrimeX distributes and markets hemp, CBD, D8 smokable, and consumable products in the USA and internationally. PrimeX works with clients to fulfill all their hemp-derived products globally by partnering with companies alike (for example, Dicina 120,000+ points of sale). With access to raw material, pre-roll smokes rolled at 1,600/minute to pharmaceutical grade products, PrimeX works to provide top-shelf consumer access.

For additional information, please visit:

https://sateevajoints.com

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About Can B Corp.

Can B Corp. (OTCQB:CANB) is a health & wellness company providing the highest quality hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including under its own brands of Canbiola, Seven Chakras, NuWellness, Pure Leaf Oil, and Duramed. Can B utilizes multi-channel distribution to reach consumers, including medical facilities, doctor offices, retailers, online and direct. Can B Corp. operates R&D and production facilities in Lacey, WA, and Florida. To learn more about Can B Corp. and our comprehensive line of high-quality products, please visit: Canbiola.com and www.CanBCorp.com, follow Can B Corp on Instagram and Facebook, or visit one of the 1,000+ retail outlets that carry Can B Corp. products.

For more information about Can B Corp., please visit: CanBCorp.com

Twitter @CanBCorp

Instagram @canbcorp

Facebook @ Can B Corp

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Forward-looking statements

Forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “may,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Expected, actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with, among other things, the impact of economic, competitive, and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, and performance . The matters discussed in should not be construed in any way, shape, or manner of our future financial condition or stock price. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the latest information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investors and Media: [email protected] [phone]

SOURCE: Can B Corp.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/can-b-corp-executes-joint-venture-with-primex-making-its-cbd-products-available-in-brazil/

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Realtor weighs in on how Ukraine crisis may impact Florida housing market

With the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, some experts said the economic sanctions and inflation nationwide will have an impact on real estate in Florida. “The trend of unaffordability is going to continue,” Nathaniel Crawford, a broker with Black Luxury Realty, told WPBF 25 News. “The disruption in supply chain and the increased oil prices are going to contribute to already increased costs when it comes to construction.”Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsNathaniel Crawford is a realtor based in Fort Lauderdale. He said with the current housing market, available and affordable homes for the middle class may worsen in the foreseeable future. “We had roughly six months’ worth of single-family inventory in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. And about eight months’ worth of condo inventory in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. With the average single-family home price being a little over $600,000,” Crawford said. According to floridarealtors.org, a rise in oil and gas costs will impact heating costs at home, and further impact supply-chain disruptions. Officials cite the National Association of Home Builders, where studies show the cost of construction materials has spiked 22% due to inflation. Experts say this will impact housing affordability. “That coupled with even more volatility when it comes to oil, which then increases transportation costs, which then gets passed onto consumers in the form of higher costs on everything. One of those big things of course being real estate,” Crawford said.Video below: South Florida housing demand driving up rentWPBF 25 News asked Crawford what he anticipates the trend to be with the housing market in South Florida.”The only people that are able to sort of have the option to be able to say ‘hey well things are bad. But if they’re going to be bad, I would rather then be bad on the beach.’ They can afford to do that And there’s a lot of people that can’t afford to do that And those are the people that are going to get squeezed I think we’re going to start to see see more of a migration of middle class to North and Central Florida, especially with stuff like Brightline,” Crawford said. And if you’re on the market to buy a home right now, here is a helpful tip.”Be very decisive. Now is not the market to negotiate, it’s a sellers’ market. As a buyer, you want to put your best foot forward on your first offer. If you’re willing to go 5, 10, 15 thousand dollars above appraise value, say that. Don’t expect a counteroffer because you won’t get a counteroffer,” Crawford said. To learn more about the state’s real estate market from Florida Realtors, click here.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. —

With the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, some experts said the economic sanctions and inflation nationwide will have an impact on real estate in Florida.

“The trend of unaffordability is going to continue,” Nathaniel Crawford, a broker with Black Luxury Realty, told WPBF 25 News. “The disruption in supply chain and the increased oil prices are going to contribute to already increased costs when it comes to construction.”

Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

Nathaniel Crawford is a realtor based in Fort Lauderdale. He said with the current housing market, available and affordable homes for the middle class may worsen in the foreseeable future.

“We had roughly six months’ worth of single-family inventory in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. And about eight months’ worth of condo inventory in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. With the average single-family home price being a little over $600,000,” Crawford said.

According to floridarealtors.org, a rise in oil and gas costs will impact heating costs at home, and further impact supply-chain disruptions. Officials cite the National Association of Home Builders, where studies show the cost of construction materials has spiked 22% due to inflation. Experts say this will impact housing affordability.

“That coupled with even more volatility when it comes to oil, which then increases transportation costs, which then gets passed onto consumers in the form of higher costs on everything. One of those big things of course being real estate,” Crawford said.

Video below: South Florida housing demand driving up rent

WPBF 25 News asked Crawford what he anticipates the trend to be with the housing market in South Florida.

“The only people that are able to sort of have the option to be able to say ‘hey well things are bad. But if they’re going to be bad, I would rather then be bad on the beach.’ They can afford to do that And there’s a lot of people that can’t afford to do that And those are the people that are going to get squeezed I think we’re going to start to see see more of a migration of middle class to North and Central Florida, especially with stuff like Brightline,” Crawford said.

And if you’re on the market to buy a home right now, here’s a helpful tip.

“Be very decisive. Now is not the market to negotiate, it’s a sellers’ market. As a buyer, you want to put your best foot forward on your first offer. If you’re willing to go 5, 10, 15 thousand dollars above appraise value, say that. Don’t expect a counteroffer because you won’t get a counteroffer,” Crawford said.

To learn more about the state’s real estate market from Florida Realtors, click here.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/realtor-weighs-in-on-how-ukraine-crisis-may-impact-florida-housing-market/

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COVID-19 takes a heavy toll on women’s health – World

Brazzaville, March 3, 2022 – Disruptions to essential health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt broadly. As the world marks International Women’s Day, a new World Health Organization (WHO) analysis finds that women’s health services are far from being fully restored, with 40% of African countries reporting disruptions to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services.

The WHO Global Pulse Survey on Continuity of Essential Health Services during the COVID-19 pandemic carried out between November and December 2021 shows that the majority of the 36 African countries that provided full data reported up to 25% disruption of services. The extent of the disruption remained largely unchanged from the first quarter of 2021.

Another WHO survey in 11 African countries found that maternal deaths in health facilities in six of the 11 countries rose by 16% on average between February and May 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. The figure dropped slightly in 2021 to 11%. However, the estimate is likely to be far higher as maternal deaths tend to occur mostly at home rather than in health facilities. Data show that facility-based births reduced in 45% of countries between November and December 2021 compared with the pre-pandemic period.

“Two years on, the COVID-19 burden still weighs heavily on women. Africa’s mothers and daughters are struggling to access the health care they need. The pandemic’s disruptive force will be felt by women for many years to come,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Countries must look beyond short-term measures to restore services to pre-pandemic levels and make major investments for stronger systems capable of withstanding health emergencies while ensuring continuity of key services.”

During the pandemic, women and girls are facing a rising risk of sexual violence due to lockdowns, economic uncertainties, decrease in access to key support and health services, and increase in stress in households. Globally, from the latest analysis done in 2021, WHO estimates that 245 million women and girls aged 15 years and above are subjected annually to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner. Unfortunately, in Africa, due to the pandemic, services to women who have experienced sexual violence declined in 56% of countries between November and December 2021 compared with the period before the pandemic.

The disruptions also affected the uptake of essential reproductive health supplies. Between June and September 2021 contraceptive use fell in 48% of countries, according to a rapid WHO survey in 21 African countries. Teenage pregnancies also rose in some countries. A 2021 report by the British Medical Journal found that adolescent secondary school girls who were out of school for six months due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya were twice as likely to become pregnant and three times as likely to drop out of school compared with those graduating just prior to the pandemic. In South Africa, a study by the Medical Research Council in five provinces showed that teenage pregnancies have increased by 60% since the start of the pandemic.

Beyond the health impacts, COVID-19 is also inflicting deep economic damage on women and girls. The pandemic is poised to push more women and girls into extreme poverty. Poverty rates rose from 11.7% in 2019 to 12.5% ​​in 2021 and it may take until 2030 to revert to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund, the UN Development Program and the UN Women.

Globally in 2021, 247 million women aged 15 and above were projected to live on less than US$ 1.90 per day due to the economic impact of COVID-19, with an estimated 53% (132million) of them from sub-Saharan Africa.

The pandemic has also worsened existing gender inequities in key spheres of life and development. Even though women constitute 70% of the health and social workers in Africa and are on the frontlines of COVID-19 response, few of them are in top pandemic management positions, according to the UN Development Program and the UN Women Global Gender Response Tracker. In the African region, 85% of national COVID-19 task forces are led by men and only 15% by women, and the overall participation by women is only 30%.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today. She was joined by Dr Francine Ntoumi, President and Director-General, Congolese Foundation for Medical Research, and Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi, President, Medical Women’s International Association.

Also on hand from the WHO Regional Office for Africa to respond to questions were Dr Adelheid Onyango, Director Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations, Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Program, Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Manager, Dr Leopold Ouedraogo, Regional Adviser for Sexual and Reproductive Health.

(END)

Please click the link below to access statements, audio files and sound bites as they become available: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u4t3hCN63_q3Q7OdIPn7FY9_G8tIRcUm

Media contacts:

Collins Boakye-Agyemang

Communications Officer

WHO Regional Office for Africa

[email protected]

Tel: + 242 06 520 65 65

Meenakshi Dalal

Communications Consultant

[email protected]

Tel: [phone] (WhatsApp)

Saya Oka

Communications Manager

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/covid-19-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-womens-health-world/

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COVID-19 subvariants not expected to slow progress against pandemic

Public health experts expect the Biden administration to move carefully as it sets future pandemic policies and decides what to do with the current public health emergency because of a growing subvariant of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

The new variant, known as BA.2, is more contagious than previous variants, including the original strain of omicron, BA.1, and is quickly picking up steam across the United States. But the likely new strain won’t slow the administration’s plans to ease some mitigation practices and return the country to a state of pre-pandemic normalcy.

“Increasingly, each of these new variants is unlikely to be able to cause the damage that delta or omicron could because the virus is dealing with a different population, a population that has a lot more immunity,” said Amesh Adalja, a doctor and infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore.

But the arrival of the new subvariant may become a factor as the administration decides how long to keep the public health emergency.

The new subvariant is causing about 1 in 5 new COVID-19 cases worldwide even as infections begin to drop, according to the World Health Organization. BA.2 is overtaking the original omicron strain in the number of cases in at least 43 countries. Scientists say the subvariant appears to spread about 30 percent faster than the original strain of omicron.

The proportion of BA.2 cases in the US is doubling every week. During the week ending Feb. 26, BA.2 made up roughly 8 percent of cases across the country, up from roughly 4 percent the week before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s still unclear what this means for the US, but many public health experts are not expecting another deadly surge. The Biden administration has eased masking recommendations, and many lawmakers and states are looking to the end of the public health emergency.

“It’s a tricky balance. I mean, the administration is trying to convey that things are looking more normal, but there are always risks or risks around the corner. That could backfire on them,” said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

As cases of COVID-19 decrease in many places across the United States, the CDC on Friday eased the criteria for indoor mask recommendations, signaling an off-ramp for intense COVID-19 precautions.

The administration’s focus now is on reducing the burden on hospitals. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters she anticipates fewer hospitalizations as COVID-19 declines. And as coronavirus-related hospitalizations go down, care facilities won’t have to screen every patient for COVID-19 or take other pandemic precautions.

Even though the Biden administration is taking its foot off the gas in many respects, Walensky and other public health officials still encourage high-risk people to wear masks indoors and continue with pandemic precautions. If cases tick back up, public health officials may again recommend masking and mitigation policies.

Future pandemic policies in flux

But the administration is confronting the subvariant as it faces a decision on a 2-year-old public health emergency that is set to expire on April 15. The Department of Health and Human Services has pledged to give at least 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency that has been in place since March 2020. That pledge suggests the emergency will last at least through April.

Many Republican lawmakers have urged the administration to end parts of the public health emergency because of decreasing case counts. In a recent letter, more than 70 House Republicans called on HHS to wind down the emergency and said its continuation is hurting Americans’ mental health.

“Although the PHE was certainly necessary at the outset of the pandemic, it was always meant to be temporary. Our country is now in a much different situation than we were when the PHE was originally enacted,” the Republicans said in a Feb. 10 letter to President Joe Biden and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response did not respond to requests for comment.

But lifting the emergency could jeopardize health care coverage, running counter to many Democrats’ ambitions and posing a political risk in November. The end of the emergency could decrease Medicaid enrollment by at least 10 million people, jeopardize access to telehealth and cut funding that hospitals and states have relied on to combat the pandemic as key flexibilities only allowed under the emergency are lifted.

Increasing coverage in Medicaid and the federal health insurance marketplace has been one of the Biden administration’s main health priorities and most touted achievements.

A new subvariant

The subvariant raises many questions that remain unanswered. In parts of Europe and South Africa, BA.2 quickly overtook omicron, but that hasn’t happened in the United States, as the original strain of omicron continues to cause most infections.

Some models estimate as many as 40 percent of Americans already have immunity against omicron, which protects them against BA.2. But, like the original strain of omicron, BA.2 can escape vaccine protection, although infection from BA.2 does not cause severe disease.

“The bad news is we have had a horrible omicron surge in our country, with millions of people infected. The good news is we had a bad omicron surge in our country with millions of people infected,” said Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, noting that most Americans have some form of protection against COVID-19, either through shots or prior infection.

“BA.2 is not going to be such a big problem as BA.1 was,” del Rio said.

Another potential issue is that monoclonal antibodies are ineffective against BA.2. The COVID-19 antibody treatments from Eli Lilly and Regeneron both don’t work against the original omicron strain or BA.2, but GlaxoSmithKline’s treatment, sotrovimab, can neutralize omicron. A new preprint study found that sotrovimab is no match for BA.2.

Physicians are keeping a close eye on BA.2’s progression and its response to other COVID-19 treatments, Rajesh Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told reporters at an Infectious Diseases Society of America briefing last week. He recommended that scientists start focusing on universal COVID-19 treatments that can stand up against all variants.

Story by Ariel Cohen.

More articles from the BDN

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/covid-19-subvariants-not-expected-to-slow-progress-against-pandemic/

[bisayanews]

Dragonfly Research claims Ethereum is the ‘MS-DOS’ of blockchains

An experiment from Dragonfly Research that compared the performance of six blockchains by testing the capacity of automated market makers (AMMs) on each has found Solana’s Orca decentralized exchange (DEX) was the clear winner in trades per second.

It managed 273.34 trades per second and created a new block every 590 milliseconds.

BNB Smart Chain wasn’t too far behind with 194.6 trades per second on PancakeSwap, followed by Polygon, Avalanche, Celo (CELO) and, finally, Ethereum.

A blog post by researcher “GM” argued that while there was a rich ecosystem built on Ethereum Virtual Machine- (EVM-) compatible chains, the results showed that “if you want really high performance now you have to look outside the EVM space. ” A now-deleted line in an earlier version of the post suggested users will eventually need to “abandon the EVM.”

Dragonfly Research is the research arm of Dragonfly Capital and its portfolio page shows that it has invested in Celo, Avalanche, Cosmos and Near, which is mentioned in the report. It has not invested in Solana.

GM concluded that with time, other layer-1 blockchains will surpass EVM-compatible chains. Hey wrote:

“Overall I come away with this impression: Ethereum is the MS-DOS of smart contract operating systems. But the current era of blockchains is taking us into the Windows 95 era.”

EVM chains are blockchains that are compatible with Ethereum tooling. They often aid in the scalability of the Ethereum network.

The results of the experiment were published on March 2. It was an attempt to compare blockchain throughput by measuring how many swaps could be made per block on native automated market makers. AMMs refer to decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap and PancakeSwap that facilitate non-custodial token swaps on-chain.

The basic question GM attempted to answer was: “If you filled an entire block with Uniswap v2-style trades, how many trades per second would clear?”

Uniswap v2 was used as the benchmark, given it is the dominant DEX with $1.6 billion in 7-day transaction volume. The benchmark was 18.38 transactions per second with 13.2 seconds per new block, according to the report. GM further noted that although it is not a perfect benchmark, it is “illustrative in getting a holistic view of performance.”

The leading DEX on each blockchain tested was spammed with token swaps on the most liquid pairs to determine the current limit of their capacity. They did not test rollup scaling on layer-1 chains because rollups can be used on all chains.

While the five EVM chains in the experiment could be tested the same way, Solana required a different methodology which GM wrote about in a subsequent blog post.

AMM test to assess performance of blockchains

GM wrote that none of the blockchains in the test were being used to their full capacity and that they expect that “all of the major L1s will improve in their performance over time.”

Although the results of the report demonstrated Solana’s faster performance, proponents of decentralization point to other issues on Solana. The team from the Spookyswap DEX on Fantom Opera — which is EVM compatible — criticized the findings, telling Cointelegraph that Solana “is a completely centralized network, unlike Ethereum.”

Solana has also been plagued with service outages, which has raised concerns about the security of the network and the reliability of applications in the ecosystem. The Spookyswap team added:

“Solana can be turned off and has a history of going down for days. You do not see that with proper EVM layer-1 chains.”

GM urged readers to “Do the math yourself” to confirm or refute the conclusions he has come to. He also noted that optimizations on blockchains happen very quickly, so with the introduction of a new optimization on any chain, the results may vary.

Related: StarkNet now open for DApp deployment on Ethereum mainnet

He also concluded that there was only a maximum 25x performance difference between Ethereum and Solana, demonstrating that in general, “nobody is getting that great performance” from linear token transactions on-chain.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/dragonfly-research-claims-ethereum-is-the-ms-dos-of-blockchains/

[bisayanews]

Skincare routine for men: Experts share basic tips to achieve a refreshed look | Fashion Trends

Gone are the days when men traditionally kept skincare simple and with more men pursuing healthier, younger-looking skin now, we decided to get some experts on board to ward off men’s skin woes. Skincare has traditionally been a woman’s domain however, the same is leisurely evolving courtesy brands and products that are catering to men and are no longer limited in the market.

Hence, it is a great time for men to evaluate their skincare routine and learn more about how to take care of their body’s largest organ. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Neeraj Patel, a skin expert and Head Of R&D at Boheco, explained, “With higher testosterone levels, collagen and elastin, a man’s skin is comparatively oilier and thicker than of a female counterpart. However, there still remains a few common elements in both genders.”

He added, “Some common products that men and women can use for better and healthier skin would include cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, serum and so on.”

Daily skincare routine tips for men:

According to Dr Neeraj Patel, “Ensuring healthy skin and adopting accurate measures not only protects it from bacteria and other foreign particles but can also help regulate and control body fluids and temperature.” He advised, “What’s essential while adopting products for better skin is to understand and recognize what the possible product details. It is very important for one to use products that are made with whole and natural ingredients.”

Highlighting that skin products with ingredients such as harsh essential oils and fragrances can cause irritation and result in skin problems, Dr Neeraj Patel shared, “It is imperative for skin products to be constructed with vitamins, antioxidants, bioactive compounds and so on. With Hemp being a prime ingredient in skincare products, it can direct to multiple health benefits. It can cause better nourishment of the skin, while facilitating better blood circulation and cell repair. Additionally, it can also calm nerves that can result in better quality sleep.”

He suggested, “While taking care of your skin is important, it is equally essential to feed your skin with all natural products. Infuse hemp in your daily routine, to witness its miraculous effect on your overall skin health.”

Adding to the list of what men should include in their daily skincare routine, Arthi Raguram, Founder of Deyga Organics, revealed basic skincare tips for men to achieve a refreshed look and ward off skin woes. She advised:

1. Choose a men’s facial cleanser that matches your skin type and use it in the morning and at night to remove impurities and dead skin cells. Use a men’s moisturizer every day to provide your skin with adequate hydration.

2. Scrub your face at least twice a week, ideally before a shave to get rid of buildup and reduce occurrence of ingrown hair. Use sunscreen every day on face and exposed parts of your body to prevent pigmentation related problems.

3. Apply face masks with therapeutic benefits to address skin problems, once every week.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/skincare-routine-for-men-experts-share-basic-tips-to-achieve-a-refreshed-look-fashion-trends/

[bisayanews]

Slate Asset Management Acquires a Portfolio of Two Essential Real Estate Assets in Norway for Approximately NOK 120 Million

LONDON & FRANKFURT, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Slate Asset Management (“Slate”), a global alternative investment platform targeting real assets, announced today the acquisition of two essential real estate assets in Norway for approximately NOK 120 million. This transaction further increases the firm’s exposure to high-quality essential real estate assets in Europe and deepens Slate’s presence in Norway following the firm’s inaugural NOK 1 billion essential real estate portfolio acquisition in the region in December 2021.

The assets are well-located in close proximity to Norway’s capital, Oslo. Approximately 95% of the portfolio’s income is secured by essential goods and service providers, with over 85% of the portfolio’s base rent generated by NorgesGruppen, a market-leading, Class A grocery tenant. The portfolio is well-positioned to provide long-term secured cash flows, as well as protection against inflation with CPI linked leases.

Slate has identified a number of optimization and modernization opportunities in cooperation with the portfolio’s tenants to realize additional upside and increase turnover potential at these asset locations, including investing in more sustainable infrastructure, such as EV charging stations.

“Essential real estate continues to demonstrate its resiliency and ability to perform in all market conditions, and we are pleased to be increasing our exposure to this asset class through these acquisitions while also scaling our presence in one of Europe’s strongest economies,” said Brady Welch, Founding Partner at Slate Asset Management. “These are high-quality, well-located and well-performing assets underpinned by one of the strongest and fastest growing essential goods providers in Norway. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with our tenant partners to make these properties even more modern, sustainable and resilient for years to come.”

Slate has been actively acquiring essential real estate assets in Europe since 2016. The firm’s European Essential Real Estate Strategy is focused on stabilized, cash yielding assets critical to the supply chain with high credit quality tenants, such as grocery and other essential consumer goods providers, healthcare assets, and affiliated warehouses and logistics centers.

Slate was advised by Schjødt, CBRE, BER as well as KPMG Norway on this transaction, which is expected to close in March 2022.

About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform targeting real assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slate’s platform has a range of real estate and infrastructure investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus, and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/slate-asset-management-acquires-a-portfolio-of-two-essential-real-estate-assets-in-norway-for-approximately-nok-120-million/

[bisayanews]

India’s young investors prefer crypto to gold and ‘boring’ stocks

“The elders in my family told me not to throw my money away,” said Daga, who runs a food business near New Delhi.

But the 33-year-old hasn’t regretted her decision — bitcoin’s value has increased 15 times since then — and she continues to invest as much as 10% of her savings in cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ethereum.

“I find stock markets boring,” she told CNN Business, adding that she enjoys the “thrill” and “recklessness” that comes with investing in volatile currencies.

She is not the only one.

India has seen a huge boom in cryptocurrency trading since the start of the pandemic, even though authorities in Asia’s third largest economy have for years expressed concerns about digital currencies, and even flirted with ban them. Entrepreneurs in the industry told CNN Business that the country has the potential to become a crypto superpower, since it is one of the hottest internet markets in the world, with 750 million users, and hundreds of millions more yet to come online for the first time .

India ranked second behind only Vietnam last year in a list of countries seeing the fastest growth in cryptocurrency adoption, according to a report published in October by blockchain data platform Chainalysis.

While the government does not keep estimates of how many people trade cryptocurrencies, industry experts have suggested that the country may now have more than 20 million crypto investors.

The growth is driven by younger investors — mostly under the age of 35 — and many of them are coming from smaller cities and towns, founders of two of India’s biggest crypto exchanges told CNN Business.

According to Sumit Gupta, CEO and co-founder of exchange CoinDCX, many Indian millennials have started “their investing journey with crypto.”

While 20 years ago, their parents chose to invest in gold, these youngsters “are more interested in having bitcoin as part of their portfolio,” Gupta told CNN Business, referring to the fact that traditionally Indians chose to park their money in gold or savings accounts.

Buying gold is both an investment and a cultural habit in India, which is one of the largest markets for the precious metal, according to the World Gold Council. It also considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains, and plays a fundamental role in many religious ceremonies.

Mumbai-based CoinDCX became India’s first crypto unicorn last year, achieving a valuation of $1.1 billion after raising money from investors such as Coinbase Ventures and B Capital Group. The company says 70% of its 10 million Users are between the ages of 18 and 34.

Data shared by rival firm WazirX tell a similar story. WazirX also has over 10 million users, and called 2021 a “phenomenal year” for crypto trading in India. The company was acquired by Binance, one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, in 2019.

Over 65% of its users are under the age of 35, according to a recent company report, and it has seen a “700% increase in the number of participants from smaller cities like Guwahati, Karnal, Bareilly, thereby signaling the growing interest from rural and semi-urban areas.”

Pritish Kumawat, a crypto trader from a small town in the western state of Rajasthan, said that he now finds conversations about cryptocurrencies in almost every tea shop in his area. Often, the most engaged participants are college students, he said, adding that bitcoin’s massive spike last year has fueled the frenzy in India.

In November, bitcoin was trading at a record high of $68,990, but it has since fallen to around $43,000. In addition to bitcoin, meme currencies such as dogecoin and shiba inu are also popular among Indians, the WazirX report added.

Apart from investors from smaller towns, both companies saw an increase of more than 1000% in the number of women users on their platforms, albeit on a small base.

Gupta said that participation of crypto by Indian women has seen “a massive upside” in the past 18 months and is “fairly high, fairly healthy, relative to equity markets.”

The company’s data shows that 15% of their overall users are women — which is the global trend as well.

On-again, off-again relationship

The excitement over crypto is rising in India despite the country’s on-again, off-again relationship with digital currencies.

The central bank has long expressed concerns that cryptocurrencies can be used for money laundering and to finance terrorism. A cryptically worded proposal posted on the Indian parliament website last year even suggested the government was exploring plans to “prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India.”

This year, however, started on a more cheerful note for enthusiasts. Earlier this month, the Indian government announced it would impose a 30% tax on income from virtual digital assets, which many industry experts took as a sign that crypto trading won’t be banned after all. The government also said it would launch a digital rupee in the coming months.

“Taxation of virtual digital assets or crypto is a step in the right direction. It gives much-needed clarity and confidence to the industry,” Gupta said at the time of the announcement.

Siddharth Menon, the co-founder of WazirX, told CNN Business that following the announcement, his platform saw daily sign-ups jump by over 50%. He also noticed rising interest among Indian developers and other professionals in joining the crypto industry.

“I’m getting LinkedIn messages” from senior executives in India, who are now more optimistic about the business, he said. In the past, Indian exchanges have struggled to hire and retain experienced people due to the lack of clear regulations.

But the Indian government soon put a damper on the mood, by clarifying that the cryptocurrencies are not yet legal in the country.

“I am not doing anything to legalize it or ban it or not legalize it,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Parliament a few days after announcing the tax rate. “Banning or not banning will come subsequently … But I will tax because it is a sovereign right.”

“I think the government is not entirely sure what it wants to do from a policy perspective,” said Anirudh Rastogi, founder of tech law firm Ikigaw Law, which works with crypto exchanges in India.

“It knows where it wants to land broadly. It wants to find the right balance where it is not disconnected from the global progress in blockchain and other tech, but it wants to also address concerns regarding cryptocurrency.”

Rastogi added that the “extraordinarily high” tax on crypto is a short-term fix, which will also acts as a deterrent to many investors.

“This rate is typically used to tax activities that are not considered economically productive, such as lottery,” he said. “So this could be an indication that the government wants to make revenue, but it does not see crypto trading as economically productive.”

For equities, India applies a 15% short-term capital gains tax if shares are sold in less than a year, and 10% if sold after a year.

Gupta hopes that the government will make up its mind soon. India, with its vast pool of developers and enthusiastic young population, could be a “superpower in the next five to 10 years,” in cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, he said.

“What is missing right now is a clear regulatory framework,” he added.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/indias-young-investors-prefer-crypto-to-gold-and-boring-stocks/

[bisayanews]

Love Hemp Group PLC Announces Love Hemp Scoops Awards for its CBD Products

Love Hemp a Winner in this Year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 3, 2022 / Love Hemp Group PLC (“Love Hemp”, the “Group”, or the “Company”) (AQSE:LIFE)(OTCQB:WRHLF)the brand-led consumer goods company focused on CBD health and wellness solutions, is pleased to announce it has won four accolades in this year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards, which were announced yesterday on Tuesday 2nd March, 2022. These recent accolades from the Beauty Shortlist Awards join a host of other awards for Love Hemp.

highlights

Love Hemp’s 300mg CBD Capsules were named ‘Best CBD Capsules’ in the Beauty Shortlist Award, and three other products were Editor’s Choice award winners

The Company also recently won ‘Leading CBD Brand of the Year – UK 2021’ in the Commercial Cannabis Awards by Global Health and Pharma, for the second year in a row

Love Hemp’s CBD Infused Body Salve won ‘Best CBD Skincare’ at the Cannavist CBD & Wellbeing Awards, whilst its Natural CBD Oil Drops came runner-up in the ‘Best Sleep Aid category’

Beauty Shortlist Awards

Love Hemp’s CBD Capsules 300mg were named Best CBD Capsules. Vegan, gluten-free and 100% THC free, the flavorless CBD capsules are easy to use and offer reliable dosing with 5mg of CBD per capsule.

The following Love Hemp products were also Editor’s Choice award winners:

Medium 2% CBD Oil Drops 600mg Premium Hemp Extract in Wild Cherry

Strong 4% CBD Oil Drops 1,200mg in Valencia Orange

CBD Infused Body Salve 300mg

The Beauty Shortlist Awards were launched in the UK in 2012 and are 100% independent. They were founded by natural beauty journalist and eco lifestyle advocate Fiona Klonarides to spotlight and support stand-out natural, ethical, and sustainable brands. Entries are judged by three independent panels of experts in the UK, USA, and Australia.

The awards are well known for their transparency and ethical focus and are closely followed by consumers, industry experts, retail beauty buyers, industry news sources, journalists, PRs, retailers, and international distributors.

Tony Calamita, CEO and Co-Founder of Love Hemp Group, said: “We’re delighted that a number of our products have been recognized in this year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards.”

Fiona Klonarides, founder of The Beauty Shortlist Awards, said: “The Beauty Shortlist Awards provide a level playing field to global brands and smaller artisan brands alike, celebrating the brightest new beauty and natural health launches alongside already very well-established brands and products.”

Love Hemp is endorsed by boxing legend, Anthony Joshua OBEwho has said that “the ability of CBD to improve people’s everyday lives is undeniable.”

-ENDS-

For further information please visit: www.lovehempgroup.com or contact:

About Love Hemp Group

Love Hemp Group is a brand-led consumer goods company focused on health and wellness solutions for consumer use cases including sleep, pain, anxiety, stress and recovery. The Company is a pioneer in the UK-based premium high-quality CBD market, with over 40 products including oils, edibles, sprays, cosmetics and topicals. The Company’s range of products are sold online across 70 websites and in over 2,000 stores including some of the biggest retailers in the UK, such as Holland & Barrett, Boots and Ocado. Listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE: LIFE) the Company recently changed its name to Love Hemp Group plc, from World High Life, to better reflect its focus on supporting the “best in class” CBD brand as it embarks on a wider expansion of its core business and offering.

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Love Hemp Group PLC

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/691354/Love-Hemp-Group-PLC-Announces-Love-Hemp-Scoops-Awards-for-its-CBD-Products

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/love-hemp-group-plc-announces-love-hemp-scoops-awards-for-its-cbd-products/

[bisayanews]

IN GOOD TASTE | Go Mediterranean at Meridians – VC Reporter

PICTURED: Spicy shrimp pasta, a specialty of Meridians Cafe in Ventura. Photo by N. Lackey Shaffer

by Nancy D Lackey Shaffer

[email protected]

Meridian’s Cafe 2417 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura 805-676-1756 www.meridianscafe.com $5-17

The Mediterranean diet has long been upheld as a standard for healthy eating. Garlic and olive oil, leafy greens and vegetables, fruits, nuts, seafood . . . all of these are good-for-you ingredients that the traditional cuisines of Greece, Italy and other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea have excellent in using to craft delicious meals. Yes, these countries are also known for rich meat dishes (like roasted lamb and meatballs), but the emphasis on fresh, unrefined foods is what doctors the world has over recommending this as one nutritional plan for better health.

Meridians Cafe in Ventura is not the only restaurant in town serving Mediterranean cuisine, and the menu isn’t without some indulgences. But the Italian restaurant that has been in the Marina Village Shopping Center for nearly two decades has plenty to recommend it, both in terms of flavor and healthy ingredients.

I love baked pastas and cream sauces, but it was easy to select deliberately healthy entries (for delivery, no less) at Meridians. Eggplant, mushroom, peppers, tomatoes and fresh basil are well represented on the menu. Lighter pastas include penne Perugia (with roasted eggplant and fresh tomatoes), rigatoni (with chicken, broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes) and shrimp pesto. Sandwiches include grilled vegetables and fresh tuna salad. There’s even a veggieball — a meatless version of the classic meatball — that can be enjoyed with spaghetti or on a French roll.

The freshest of veggies go into the Meridians Brazilian salad: fresh greens, shredded carrots, hearts of palm, tomato and avocado. Photo by N. Lackey Shaffer

I toured the Meridians menu with an eye for lightness, selecting an appetizer (bruschetta pomodoro), a salad (Brazilian), a pasta (spicy shrimp), a sandwich (grilled vegetable panini) and a pizza (Margharita). All were well prepared and tasty in their own way.

Bruschetta pomodoro is as simple as it gets — freshly grilled bread topped with chopped tomatoes, a little garlic and olive oil, maybe some herbs. Meridians delivered exactly that, to my delight. When the ingredients are good, there’s no reason to get fancy. I know this dish is probably better in the summer (when tomatoes are in season) and in this instance the bread was a little burnt, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this humble, wonderfully fresh appetizer.

The Meridians Brazilian salad included a large pile of mixed baby greens topped with avocado, hearts of palm, grated carrot and a few tomato wedges. Creamy avocado and luscious hearts of palm really made the salad; it was a joy to have those more indulgent ingredients (plus a tangy whipped balsamic dressing) play against the crisper vegetables. Next time, I might add goat cheese or perhaps grilled chicken, to turn it into more of a meal — although even without extra protein, there was plenty to share.

Which brings us to the yummy panini, absolutely laden with thinly sliced ​​and beautifully grilled eggplant, bell peppers, mushrooms and zucchini. This mountain of veggies was generously topped with an herby pesto sauce. Maybe a little oily…but a good pesto sandwich should be (and olive oil is good for you). I loved the focaccia bread, even if it was a bit over-grilled.

The Margharita pizza was a lovely version of a true classic. Thin crust that was crispy on the edge but a bit softer in the middle, with a delicious tomato-based pizza sauce (I would kill for that recipe) and topped with a little mozzarella, sliced ​​roma tomatoes and slivered basil. Again, when the ingredients are good, the dish should follow suit — and I found no fault with this pizza.

Classic Margharita pizza from Meridians. Photo by N. Lackey Shaffer

Ditto with the spicy shrimp pasta. The most heavenly, spicy tomato marinara was tossed with perfectly cooked angel hair noodles and topped with plump, sweet shrimp. We loved everything about our meal, but this was the runaway favorite.

There’s so much more to a healthy diet than raw broccoli, tofu and brown rice. Meridians has the crack of turning vegetables, herbs and some olive oil into a whole array of delicious meals that are nutritious and satisfying. Go to Meridians for your Mediterranean fix . . . and you’ll find it easy to accommodate your palate, stomach and heart health all at once.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/in-good-taste-go-mediterranean-at-meridians-vc-reporter/

[bisayanews]

Mental health problems cost Scotland’s economy £9 billion a year, report finds

About three quarters of this cost is due to lost productivity and the costs of unpaid carers, according to the findings from the Mental Health Foundation and London School of Economics, supported by Strathclyde University.

The report authors stressed this figure is likely an underestimate, as it does not account for reduced work performance due to mental illness, costs to criminal justice and housing systems linked to poor mental health, or costs linked to addiction, self-harm or suicide.

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The Mental Health Foundation urged the Scottish Government to “revolutionise” its approach to mental health and increase investment with a higher focus on a prevention rather than treatment approach.

Picture: John Devlin

Research shows the potential public health and economic benefit of programs which allow people to live well, the charity said, for example by addressing perinatal depression, bullying and social isolation in older people.

Other areas highlighted for potential improvement were parenting programmes, psychological and psychosocial support for those with identified needs, and building supportive and inclusive workplaces.

A review of workplace interventions found savings of £5 for every £1 invested in supporting mental health.

Investing in parenting programs could offer long-term returns of up to £16 for every £1 spent, the report found.

read more

read more

Covid Scotland: Both restrictions and easing increase mental health concerns, ex…

Lee Knifton, Director of the Mental Health Foundation in Scotland, said: “Our report reveals the opportunity we have to revolutionize our approach to mental health in Scotland. It’s time to increase investment in population-level prevention of mental health problems.”

He added: “We can’t only treat our way out of the mental health crisis, which is worsening due to the pandemic, and we cannot afford the spiraling costs to both people’s wellbeing and our economy.

“We urge the Scottish Government to pay attention to what the evidence is telling us and commit to prioritising prevention in mental health. A prevention-first approach will not only help break down the barriers to good mental health but empower people to thrive at every stage of their lives and boost our economy in the long run.”

Authors said the Covid-19 pandemic has caused the situation to deteriorate.

Lead author of the report, David McDaid, Associate Professional Research Fellow in Health Policy and Health Economics at London School of Economics, said: “Our estimate of the economic impacts of mental health conditions, much of which is felt well beyond the health and social care sector, is a conservative estimate.

“What is clear is that there is a sound economic case for investing in effective preventive measures, particularly at a time when population mental health may be especially vulnerable because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This requires further sustained and coordinated actions not only within the health and social care sector, but across the whole of government.”

Costs covered by the analysis included health and social care, informal care, educational support and productivity costs.

Those in the 15-49 age group accounted for 56 per cent of the costs.

The figure across the UK was £118 billion, accounting to five per cent of GDP.

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source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/mental-health-problems-cost-scotlands-economy-9-billion-a-year-report-finds/

[bisayanews]

Stigma causes issues for women’s health

Many young girls are taught to keep their periods a secret, hide their tampons when they go to the bathroom, or use code words to discuss issues regarding their menstruation to avoid scrutiny or disapproval. This aspect of women’s health is often left behind closed doors.

But, menstruation, sexual health and reproductive systems are an important part of women’s health, and a lack of open conversations embeds a stigma in the discussion.

According to the New York Post58% of women feel embarrassed when they are on their periods, and 42% of women have experienced period shaming.

The more open society is about topics like menstruation cycles, the easier it is for people who deal with them to feel comfortable getting help.

“I feel like a lot of girls are getting hurt because of the stigma that surrounds women’s health,” said Ally Ferrara, a sophomore majoring in public health. “Without the right information, girls might do the wrong thing, and that can be dangerous. If they don’t know these important things, they won’t be able to get the help that they need when they need it.”

The stigma around these health topics creates a sense of embarrassment for women when it comes to addressing their health issues. The more women suppress the issues, the worse they can get.

“We have been almost trained to not talk about period or sexual health, and it is normal,” said Kaylin Robinson, a sophomore majoring in history and public relations on the pre-med track. “It is so important that we are educated on these things and that we talk about them openly so nobody feels ashamed to talk about these natural things.”

Education is key to breaking the stigma around these topics. The more comfortable people become about educating youth and teens about their bodies, the better young girls can identify health issues they are having.

Sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer, cervical cancer, heart disease, menopause and other common health issues for women often go untreated. Learning how to check for breast cancer, knowing the signs of STDs and understanding menstrual cycles are all key when it comes to diagnosing these health issues.

While there is some education in schools, there is still a lot missing. Health classes do not always cover all of these important topics when it comes to understanding women’s anatomy.

A report by Thinx in 2020 said 76% of students surveyed believed they were taught more about the biology of a frog than the biology of the female body in school.

“There is a lot of stigma around women’s health and lack of education around periods and sexual health,” said Priya Nangia, a junior majoring in chemistry. “There is so much stigma around talking about those things with young girls which definitely needs to be rectified.”

Discrimination in women’s health care creates obstacles on top of health issues. Discrimination stemming from gender identity or race and ethnicity can impact health care services and resources women are given.

Pain is often handled differently in women of color, which can lead to life-threatening situations.

According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, Black women experience maternal mortality rates three times higher than their white counterparts. Due to this, there has been a push for more accountability with obstetricians, and in other medical fields, to check racial biases.

Mistreatment of women, especially women of color and Black women, can make women weary of seeking treatment, which can worsen the issues they may be having.

Misdiagnosis creates issues for women when it comes to taking care of themselves and seeking treatment.

A 2021 article by MedMalFirm.comsaid there is an epidemic of misdiagnosis among women because doctors view women as too emotional or as medical mysteries.

“It really frustrates me that there are so many problems in the women’s health care system,” said Elle Standish, a freshman majoring in criminology and criminal justice. “There are a huge number of OB/GYNs that overprescribe the pill. They are treating symptoms and not issues that are affecting women. It is like they are throwing darts at a wall and hoping that something sticks.”

Pregnancy is another key element of women’s health that can be a struggle for women to understand and process. All aspects of pregnancy, from ultrasounds and complications to delivery, require health care and assistance.

Choices Pregnancy Clinic is a local nonprofit pregnancy clinic that offers free resources to the public.

“We are like a stepping stone for women that need assistance when it comes to pregnancy,” said Brook Morrow, the clinic’s nurse manager. “We offer free ultrasounds, free pregnancy tests and free pregnancy and parent education classes where both mothers and fathers can earn money to use on baby supplies just for taking these classes.”

Choices Pregnancy Clinic also offers information about abortion, adoption and sexually transmitted diseases at no cost.

“We have also resourced out to a number of different groups or organizations when it comes to other aspects of pregnancy that can be challenging, including pregnancy loss and post-abortion counseling,” Morrow said. “Having someone you can talk to openly about anything involving pregnancy is extremely important.”

Pregnancy can be hard to deal with and understand at first, especially if it is unplanned. Morrow pointed out that college is already difficult and finding out you are pregnant can cause you to go into crisis or panic mode.

According to the CDCunintended pregnancy rates in 2011 were highest among women between the ages of 18 and 24, mainly college-age women.

“We want to be there just to let a woman ever sit and talk. Sometimes that is all they need. Sometimes all women need is for someone to listen to them without judgment, because they may not have that somewhere else, so we are here to support,” Morrow said.

Resources like the ones at Choices Pregnancy Clinic are also offered by similar organizations and are often overlooked because people do not know they are available.

“These resources are here, and we want to be able to give them to those that need them. A lot of people use the emergency room as a way to go get a pregnancy test, which is good, but they won’t be getting all the resources that we offer here,” Morrow said.

Physical health can directly correlate with mental health, which suffers greatly when women are expected to be able to control their emotions and carry on, especially for mothers.

“I think we shouldn’t make being a woman one more thing to worry about. Women statistically are more likely to be depressed, which is incredibly sad because mental health is so important on top of the other aspects of being a woman,” Standish said.

There have been discussions among businesses and school boards lately about whether women should be allowed to leave when necessary for their menstrual cycle, which can include severe pain and discomfort.

“I personally think women should be allowed time off of school and work for their periods. I think people that don’t think that are almost saying your pain really isn’t that bad, which really can invalidate people that are in severe pain,” Standish said. “Contraceptives can also lessen symptoms for some but can also really impact women’s mental health.”

Stigmas around women’s health will be around until education and openness and the things that impact women are normalized. This stigma and misogyny are rooted in health care practices and the lack of research done on women’s health issues.

Focusing on wellness includes seeking help when necessary. The UA Student Health Center has medical professionals who focus on a plethora of different needs, including women’s health.

Peggy Fogg, a CRNP and women’s health provider at the Student Health Center, said period pain is an issue a lot of women come in about.

“Often, I discuss options to improve their menstrual cycle such as birth control pills, the contraceptive patch or vaginal ring, the Depo-Provera shot, an IUD, or the Nexplanon arm implant,” Fogg said. “This is a conversation to discuss if one of these options is the right fit for the patient.”

There is also a newfound autonomy for women in college. Problems that may have been brushed under the rug while growing up can finally be addressed in a more private matter.

“Once at college, women are busy and want a solution. They are able to address their health care needs themselves and decide this is the time to meet with a health care provider and discuss their options,” Fogg said.

This story was published in the Health Edition. View the complete issue here.

Questions? Email the culture desk at [email protected].

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/stigma-causes-issues-for-womens-health/

[bisayanews]

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock | Business

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mar 2, 2022–

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (“KREF”) (NYSE: KREF) today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option by KREF to purchase an additional 900,000 shares. Total estimated gross proceeds of the offering are approximately $125 million or $143.7 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full. The offering is expected to close on March 7, 2022 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

KREF intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to acquire its assets in a manner consistent with its investment strategies and investment guidelines and for general corporate purposes.

Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Raymond James, Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities, JP Morgan and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel Company, are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. BTIG is acting as co-manager for the offering.

A registration statement on Form S-3 relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and has been declared effective. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014 and Wells Fargo Securities, Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 30 Hudson Yards, 500 West 33rd Street – 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001; or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov under KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.’s name.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About KREF

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (NYSE:KREF) is a real estate finance company that focuses primarily on originating and acquiring senior loans secured by commercial real estate properties. KREF is externally managed and advised by an affiliate of KKR & Co. Inc.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “assumptions,” “target,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “plans,” “projection,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “seeks,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate ,” “believe,” “potential” or “continue” (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar expressions that concern KREF’s operations, strategy, projections or intentions. These “forward-looking” statements include statements relating to, among other things, the proposed issuance and sale of common stock and the expected use of the net proceeds from the offering. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond KREF’s control. These and other important risk factors are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in KREF’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in KREF’s other periodic filings with the SEC. Accordingly, actual outcomes or results may differ materially from those indicated in this release. All forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this release. KREF undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220302006176/en/

CONTACT: MEDIA:

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KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY

SOURCE: KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2022.

PUB: 03/02/2022 08:45 PM / DISC: 03/02/2022 08:46 PM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220302006176/en

Copyright Business Wire 2022.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/kkr-real-estate-finance-trust-inc-announces-pricing-of-public-offering-of-common-stock-business/

[bisayanews]

SEC Targets NFT Creators, Marketplaces Over ICO-Like Sales: Report

The US Securities and Exchange Commission, which has taken a tough line toward cryptocurrency projects under Chairman Gary Gensler, is probing NFT creators and marketplaces for regulatory violations, according to a Bloomberg report that cites anonymous sources familiar with the investigation.

Per the report, the probe is looking into whether NFTs “are being utilized to raise money like traditional securities.” The SEC has reportedly sent subpoenas related to the investigation and is particularly interested in information about fractional NFTs, which allow multiple people to hold (and trade) a share of an asset.

Securities are tradable financial instruments, such as company shares, bonds in a government or business, and derivatives based on another asset.

The SEC has traditionally not considered Bitcoin to be a security because it’s often used as currency. Ethereum has gotten a pass because the project has ostensibly decentralized to the point where no single group controls its success. But the agency has been more suspicious of other crypto assets, and is embroiled in a months-long lawsuit with Ripple Labs tied to the creation and distribution of XRP, the sixth largest crypto asset by market cap, which it views as an unregistered security.

The federal agency has gone hardest after initial coin offerings, or ICOsa popular way for cryptocurrency startups to bootstrap their projects back in 2017 and 2018. The basic idea was that projects would sell tokens that would provide some sort of future utility on their network; the largest ICOs, Telegram and EOS, raised billions in Bitcoin and Ethereum via this method. Both companies faced enforcement action from the SEC, with Telegram ultimately forced to abandon its crypto ambitions altogether.

If the reporting is accurate, the SEC is concerned that cryptocurrency projects are merely finding new variations of unregistered securities—this time with non-fungible tokens. NFTs are blockchain-based tokens that denote the right to sell or trade an accompanying asset such as a digital collectible or artwork.

Though an investigation won’t necessarily lead to an enforcement action, today’s news isn’t exactly coming out of left field. Hester Peirce, known as “Crypto Mom” ​​for her friendly posture to the industry, said in March 2021 that NFTs might “raise the same kinds of questions that ICOs have raised.” She went on to warn investors that fractionalized NFTs could be considered unregistered securities.

Industry players have also been aware of the risk. In the run up to its NFT marketplace launch last year, crypto exchange FTX US made clear it wouldn’t list NFTs that pay royalties to their holders on secondary markets lest the assets be considered unregistered securities.

Over the last year, NFTs have become a major sub-sector of the crypto economy. the top Ethereum marketplace, OpenSea, has registered over $3.6 billion in trading volume in the past month, per DappRadar. In January, that figure reached a record $5 billion in a single month. The popularity of NFTs has attracted similar markets to emerge on Ethereum competitors such as Solana other Binance SmartChain.

https://decrypt.co/94268/sec-targets-nft-creators-marketplaces-ico-sales-report

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source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/sec-targets-nft-creators-marketplaces-over-ico-like-sales-report/

[bisayanews]

Covid-19 Live Updates and Latest News

VideoIn his State of the Union address, President Biden outlined a program that would allow Americans to be tested for the coronavirus at pharmacies and given free antiviral treatments on the spot if they test positive.CreditCredit…Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times

The White House unveiled its long-awaited new coronavirus response strategy on Wednesday, a 96-page plan aimed at turning the corner on the worst public health crisis in a century, while preparing for the next threat — in part by accelerating research into vaccines that could be deployed within 100 days of the arrival of a new variant.

“We’ve reached a new moment in the fight with Covid-19,” Jeffrey D. Zients, President Biden’s coronavirus coordinator, said in releasing the plan.

The plan aimed at ushering the United States into what some are calling a “new normal,” has four main goals: protecting against and treating Covid-19; preparing for new variants; avoiding shutdowns and fighting the virus abroad.

But there is a big hitch: Much of the plan requires funding from Congress. The administration recently told congressional officials it could need $30 billion to boost funding for the pandemic response. One outside adviser to the White House, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said in an interview that the United States needs to spend on the order of $100 billion over the next year to be fully prepared, and billions more after that.

“Congress has to think of this as an investment in biosecurity for the country,” said Dr. Emanuel, who led a team of experts in developing a far-reaching plan it shared with the White House.

The strategy comes on the heels of the president’s State of the Union address Tuesday night and as US new cases declined, though deaths remain high. Mr. Biden used the speech to spotlight a key component: a new a “test to treat” initiative that he said would enable Americans to get tested at a pharmacy and, if they are positive, “receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost .”

Many of the other initiatives — including the plan to quickly develop vaccines, which was announced in November — are not new. But taken together, they amount to a blueprint for the next phase of the response, although the White House insists the fight against Covid is far from over.

“Make no mistake, President Biden will not accept just ‘living with Covid’ any more than we accept ‘living with’ cancer, Alzheimer’s, or AIDS,” the plan declares.

The health secretary, Xavier Becerra, who has not joined regular Covid news briefings and has been criticized lately for keeping too low a profile, made a rare appearance on Wednesday with other top health officials.

He highlighted the plan to boost research into long Covid, the long-term symptoms that some people experience after infection, pleading to open “new centers of excellence” to provide high quality care, but that will also require congressional buy-in.

The idea behind the strategy is to get the nation out of crisis mode and to a place, Mr. Biden has said, where the virus will no longer disrupt everyday life. The plan included a pledge for the administration to work with Congress to “give schools and businesses guidance, tests and supplies to stay open, including tools to improve ventilation and air filtration.”

In interviews, experts generally lauded the plan as a good step forward. But Jay A. Winsten, director of the Harvard Initiative on Media Strategies for Public Health, said even the 100-day timeline for vaccine development might not be fast enough for a highly transmissible variant like Omicron. The first Omicron sample was collected in South Africa on Nov. 8, he said; the United States reached the peak of the Omicron wave just 67 days later, on Jan. 14.

Mr. Biden came into office more than a year ago with a 200-page plan to combat Covid, which was the most pressing challenge in his nascent presidency. But a lot has changed since then.

More than 200 million Americans have been vaccinated. Two new waves—one fueled by the Delta variant, the other by Omicron—have driven up deaths to nearly 1 million. Covid treatments have been developed, including the Pfizer drug Paxlovid, which will be integral to the “test and treat” initiative.

Although those pills have been relatively scarce since they were authorized late last year, Mr. Biden said in his speech Tuesday night that “Pfizer is working overtime to get us one million pills this month and more than double that next month.”

Even as the White House asserts that things are getting better and new federal guidelines suggest 70 percent of Americans can stop wearing masks for now, large groups of people remain at risk. Children under 5 are not yet eligible for vaccines.

And an estimated seven million Americans have weak immune systems, illnesses or other disabilities that make them more vulnerable to severe Covid. The White House announced last week that it was taking several steps to make masks and tests more accessible to those groups.

Asked about the status of federal air and rail travel mask mandates, Mr. Zients noted they were being evaluated while they were in place until March 18.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/03/03/covid-19-live-updates-and-latest-news/