#COVID-19 Alert | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

reasonsforhope · 9 months

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"A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a real-time air monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants that are present in a room in about 5 minutes.

The proof-of-concept device was created by researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine at Washington University...

The results are contained in a July 10 publication in Nature Communications that provides details about how the technology works.

The device holds promise as a breakthrough that - when commercially available - could be used in hospitals and health care facilities, schools, congregate living quarters, and other public places to help detect not only the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but other respiratory virus aerosol such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well.

“There is nothing at the moment that tells us how safe a room is,” Cirrito said, in the university’s news release. “If you are in a room with 100 people, you don’t want to find out five days later whether you could be sick or not. The idea with this device is that you can know essentially in real time, or every 5 minutes, if there is a live virus in the air.”

How It Works

The team combined expertise in biosensing with knowhow in designing instruments that measure the toxicity of air. The resulting device is an air sampler that operates based on what’s called “wet cyclone technology.” Air is sucked into the sampler at very high speeds and is then mixed centrifugally with a fluid containing a nanobody that recognizes the spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. That fluid, which lines the walls of the sampler, creates a surface vortex that traps the virus aerosols. The wet cyclone sampler has a pump that collects the fluid and sends it to the biosensor for detection of the virus using electrochemistry.

The success of the instrument is linked to the extremely high velocity it generates - the monitor has a flow rate of about 1,000 liters per minute - allowing it to sample a much larger volume of air over a 5-minute collection period than what is possible with currently available commercial samplers. It’s also compact - about one foot wide and 10 inches tall - and lights up when a virus is detected, alerting users to increase airflow or circulation in the room.

Testing the Monitor

To test the monitor, the team placed it in the apartments of two Covid-positive patients. The real-time air samples from the bedrooms were then compared with air samples collected from a virus-free control room. The device detected the RNA of the virus in the air samples from the bedrooms but did not detect any in the control air samples.

In laboratory experiments that aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 into a room-sized chamber, the wet cyclone and biosensor were able to detect varying levels of airborne virus concentrations after only a few minutes of sampling, according to the study.

“We are starting with SARS-CoV-2, but there are plans to also measure influenza, RSV, rhinovirus and other top pathogens that routinely infect people,” Cirrito said. “In a hospital setting, the monitor could be used to measure for staph or strep, which cause all kinds of complications for patients. This could really have a major impact on people’s health.”

The Washington University team is now working to commercialize the air quality monitor."

-via Forbes, July 11, 2023

Holy shit. I know it's still early in the technology and more testing will inevitably be needed but holy shit.

Literally, if it bears out, this could revolutionize medicine. And maybe let immunocompromised people fucking go places again

Also, for those who don't know, Nature Communications is a very prestigious scientific journal that focuses on Pretty Big Deal research. Their review process is incredibly rigorous. This is an absolutely HUGE credibility boost to this research and prototype

#covid #covid 19 #pandemic #plague #rsv #influenza #the flu #science and technology #medical research #medical technology #biochemistry #immunology #good news #hope #hope posting

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shaktiknowledgeblog · 1 year

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Corona Alert: Increasing Corona’s speed, PM Modi called highlevel meeting, big decision can be taken According to sources, in this meeting, PM Modi will review the latest hailts and preparations to deal with Kovid will be reviewed. Image Source: FILEPM Narendra Modi New Delhi: Corona had a terrible panic three years ago today। If someone was seen coughing, then it was made from during. Corona…

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#Corona #Corona Alert #corona virus #covid 19 #Covid-19 India #Modi meeting #PM Modi #PM narendra modi

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reportwire · 2 years

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Travel

This page includes information about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for travelers and travel-related industries. Source link

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#Air travel #Airplane #Coronavirus [CoV]#COVID-19 #cruise ship #domestic travel #guidance for ships #health alert #ill travelers #International Travel #sick travelers #social distancing #Travel #what to do if you get sick

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monteranderson-author · 2 years

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Extreme and Impractical Ways to Avoid getting COVID

COVID and its various mutations are still with us. Vaccinations help but people can still get the virus even while vaccinated. It might be time to consider more extreme methods to avoid COVID. With tongue-in cheek, here are my recommendations on how to avoid becoming a victim of the COVID: Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth. I know you have all heard this, but if…

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#blog #Blog Alert #blog flash #blogging #breaking news #COVID-19 #funny #Hot off the press #humor #in other news #Monte R. Anderson #New blog entry #new blog post #news #News flash #This just in

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bharatlivenewsmedia · 2 years

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Mumbai: Latest Updates - Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC puts three jumbo centres on alert

Mumbai: Latest Updates – Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC puts three jumbo centres on alert

Mumbai: Latest Updates – Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC puts three jumbo centres on alert Thane: Minor mistaken for thief, tied, beaten up in MumbraThane: Minor mistaken for thief, tied, beaten up in MumbraMumbai: Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC puts three jumbo centres on alert Mumbai: Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC puts three jumbo centres on alertMumbai: Despite BMC’s ‘Water for All’ policy, pipeline leakages…

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#&8211;#alert #amid #bmc #centres #covid-19 #india #jumbo #latest #mumbai #news #puts #surge #three #updates

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allthecanadianpolitics · 1 month

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This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.

In Canada, measles was once a disease of the past. But it's increasingly becoming a health threat of the present, after backsliding vaccination rates allowed the virus to creep back into circulation.

Canada officially eliminated measles nearly three decades ago, but for years, medical experts warned it was poised to make a comeback — and disruptions to routine childhood immunization efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic may have sped that up.

Now, after tens of thousands of cases in Europe, and close to 100 recent infections across Canada and the U.S., health officials are on high alert.

There are warnings about travel abroad, calls for people to ensure their families are up-to-date on the measles vaccine, and fresh reminders that the virus is highly contagious and capable of causing pneumonia, brain inflammation, and even death. [...]

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

#cdnpoli #public health #health & safety #vaccination

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agentstarkid · 9 months

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SERENDIPITY ✦ DR3

“Serendipity is an unexpected and very lucky finding, that is, a coincidence that fills us with happiness. Serendipity in love implies the feeling that the universe conspires in our favor, bringing that special person into our lives at the right time and oh boy, did the universe send her everything she ever needed in the form of a 5'10" man with a built-in accent, a love for Tim Tams, adrenaline-fueled spirit and a smile that could light up a whole town.”

✦ pairing: daniel ricciardo x famous!latina!reader

✦ type: social media au

✦ face claim: becky g

✦ warnings: female!reader, covid-19 & quarantine mentions, age gap, language.

✦ pit wall live: HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY BESTIES! 🤗💗 I've been working on this for a month, honestly I thought I was gonna finish it fast but tbh that was really naïve of me 🥴 the amount of times I ended up changing almost every little thing is insane lol but today I sat down and commited to finish and post this! this is my first ever smau or any kind of 'x reader' really, so please be kind 🤍 and of course it was going to be about the love of my life!

— oh btw, my idea is to get to present time and make it angsty so let me know what you guys think! I really hope you enjoy!

─── The Joker & The Queen (Masterlist)

JANUARY 01, 2020

yourinstagram and danielricciardo added to their stories!

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danielricciardo has followed yourinstagram!

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yourinstagram

♡ liked by anitta, danielricciardo and 6,546,214 others

yourinstagram 2019 was full of happiness, pain, healing and growth. I loved a lot, I cried a lot and I laughed a lot. I'm grateful for a lot of things in life, but I'm specially grateful for you guys ❤️🥂 I LOVE YOU! ❤️

tagged: selenagomez, fioamato, iamdannaschwarz, itsvittoriasousa

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fioamato It's out with the old and in with the new ⏭️😜

iamdannaschwarz this could be the start of something new indeed 😏🤭 yourinstagram 🙈 user yourinstagram girlieee does this mean you found your Troy Bolton tonight? 👀👀👀

iamdannaschwarz what a year it has been! Through the ups and downs you prevailed. So proud of you! Cheers, amiga! 🥂❤️

itsvittoriasousa u deserve the whole world, i wish everyone knew ur heart 🥺 love you biiiiiiig ❤️

user1 can we talk about that dress!!!! jaw dropped 🤯

user2 Mami 🔥🔥🔥

selenagomez ❤️🥂🎆

user3 danny ric you ain't slick baby we can see u 👀

user4 words on the streets that they were seen pretty close the whole night 👀

user5 girlies do we think the writing on the napkin belongs to mr. ricciardo? 🧐

user4 what about the last pic?? could it be about a nod to him???

user3 somebody call the fbi and the cia we need to decode this 🔎🔎🔎

sebastianyatra una locura de año 🚀 happy new year penguin!

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JANUARY 25, 2020

justjared

♡ 9.075 Likes

justjared New couple alert?! YN LN, 21, and Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, 30, were spotted on a walk and getting cozy during a night out in New York. More photos now on JustJared.com #YNLN #Daniel Ricciardo Photos: Backgrid

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user1: well that's a couple nobody saw coming 😶 good for them tho

user2: These pictures are so creepy as to get these they literally have to stalk these people and are probably hiding in bushes or wherever to get the shots

user3: he's a full-grown man in his 30s messing around with a teenager how shocking 🙄

user4: how is she a teenager if she's 21??? she is a consenting adult and has been for a while...make it make sense user5: it's a 9-year age gap not 25 😑 y'all should learn to mind your own fucking business

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FEBRUARY 05, 2020

danielricciardo added to their story!

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yourinstagram added to their story!

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yourinstagram

♡ liked by danielricciardo, greeicy and 7,452,325 others

yourinstagram starry nights, sunsets, little moments, deep conversations & special feelings 💖🃏

View all 19,358 comments

iamdannaschwarz pov: you were there to witness the first conversation 🤣

itsvittoriasousa never knew a person could blush that hard 😂 yourintagram you are both getting blocked 🙅‍♀️

fioamato 🃏🃏🃏

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michaelitaliano and scottyjames31 have followed yourinstagram!

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MARCH 11 & 12, 2020

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yourinstagram has added to their story!

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APRIL 09, 2020

yourinstagram

♡ liked by danielricciardo, jbalvin and 5,723,498 others

yourinstagram Quarantine with an aussie boyfriend: turns out, 'G'day mate' is the only greeting you'll ever need. Who needs handshakes anyway? Also, you get to excessively use the word 'mate' without being judged. It's basically a linguistic free pass 🤷🏽‍♀️😂🇦🇺

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user: OMG OMG IT'S FUCKING HAPPENING!!!! EVERYBODY STAY CALM!!!

user: Dan-Y/N nation how we feeling today? 😍

user: wasn't she dating sebastianyatra tho?

user2: nah they've been friends for years

user3: «cristina» is lowkey about her tho 🤭 "you were 19, i was 23"?? and there's a 4 year age gap between them?? they deffff had something going on a few years back AT LEAST 👀

user2: who knows maybe they did, but they refer to each other as "like-a-brother" and "like-a-sister" so as far as we know they are only best friends 🤷🏽‍♀️

fioamato what do you say titi yourmomsinstagram does it get the seal of approval?

yourmomsinstagram 🤔🤔🤔 yourinstagram she face-timed me and told me to pass the phone so she could talk to him. They talked for an hour. They are besties now, she's just trying to play hard-to-get 🙃

danielricciardo and 5,345 other liked it

fioamato 😂😂😂

jbalvin encantado de verte feliz hermanita ❤️

danielricciardo tell your boyfriend he's really lucky 🤙🏼

yourinstagram thanks will do, mate 🤙🏼

user OMG??? you guys are so unserious 😭

user2 MOM??? DAD???

user3 danielricciardo yourinstagram i'm glowing, flourishing and thriving 🥰😭

michaelitaliano shitty accent though

yourinstagram I love my haters ❤️ you guys are my motivators ☺️ btw don't you have a kangaroo to fight?

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APRIL 29, 2020

yourinstagram

♡ liked by michaelitaliano, danielricciardo, lewishamilton and 6,498,498 others

yourinstagram Spanglish country…we’re doing it!! Watch kanebrown_music and I blend sounds, languages and dance moves in #LostInTheMiddleOfNowhere (Spanish Remix) 😜 song and video OUT NOW 🔥

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iamcardib OKAAAY MAMAAA 🧊🧊🥶

lali ALTA DIOSA 🔥

user she 👏 never 👏 misses 👏

itsvittoriasousa BRO U ABSOLUTELY ATEEE

user jaw drops to floor eyes pop out of sockets hearts out of chest 😍

danielricciardo wow caliente 🔥

user the amount of unwell I am in this exact moment

user2 daniel is right. muy caliente 🥵

user3 i'm losing my mind over 2 words + emoji okay

user4 daniel stop being a cunt and make an appearence in one of Y/N's ig lives

user5 user4 you could totally hear his voice in the last one lmao

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MAY 03, 2020

danielricciardo

♡ liked by pierregasly, jensonbutton, iamdannaschwarz and 710,610 others

danielricciardo Just a bunch of life 🤠🚜🇦🇺🇺🇸

View all 1,097 comments

yourinstagram awesome taste in music mate 👍🏼

danielricciardo big fan of hers 👍🏼 love finding new underground artists ☺️ user imagine calling THE yourinstagram an "underground artist" lmaooo user2 they're both such little shits i love them your honor 😭

kristenanniebell ❤️❤️❤️

scottyjames31 I see you're in good company mate

corey_wilson goodness I miss the ranch so much

user daniel said lemme give you thirsty bitches a few droplets of water

user2 there's so much to unpack here omfg

iamdannaschwarz you're welcome 😌 also there's a no-return policy in the contract ok bye

fioamato you're welcome 😌 x2 itsvittoriasousa you're welcome 😌 x3 danielricciardo nah i think i'm gonna keep it for a long while thanks. i'll rate you guys with 5 stars 👍🏼

user3 THE LETTER ON THE LAST PHOTO ???? I'M SENDING Y'ALL MY THERAPY BILLS

user4 THE MATCHING RINGS PLEASE!!!!!!! 😭😭😭

user5 all this soft launch shit is killing me guys help somebody let them know that we already know so they can stop playing!!!

yourinstagram but where's the fun in that babes? 😌 user holy shittttt!!!! y/n ???? i- 🤯 user5 OH MY GOD!!!! HI MOTHER AJKFFLAHDASD user2 it's a fucking confirmation!!!! dan-y/n nation we got it!!! it's crumbs but we got it!!!!!

user6 we stan a suportive bf ☝️🤩

user7 999 for grammy's best album of the year ✨manifesting✨

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─── Please don't forget to reblog & comment! ♡

#daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo x you #latina!reader #famous!reader #daniel ricciardo imagine #daniel ricciardo social media au #daniel ricciardo instagram au #f1 x reader #f1 social media au #( agentstarkid's works )

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gumjrop · 3 months

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The Weather

In the US, 41 out of 54 states and territories are at high or very high COVID wastewater levels as of 1/18/2024. Ten states and territories have no data available. It’s important to note that levels of “moderate,” “low,” or “minimal” do not necessarily indicate a low risk of COVID exposure in our daily lives. Viral spread is still ongoing even if at lower levels, and precautions are warranted to protect ourselves and others.

Looking at the CDC’s national and regional wastewater data over time, we continue to see “Very High” levels nationally. It’s important to note that the last two weeks are provisional data, indicated by a gray shaded area on the graph, meaning that those values can change as additional wastewater sites report data.

Although wastewater data does not provide the same level of detail as previous PCR-based testing data, wastewater monitoring is an important ongoing resource to inform us about the current COVID situation. While the provisional data tentatively shows a downward trend this week, time will tell whether this is a true decrease in the final data. A downward trend does not mean continued decreases are guaranteed or that protections should be relaxed. Multilayered protections help drive COVID spread lower, and relaxing protections can lead to a resurgence of viral spread.

Visit the CDC’s State and Territory Trends page to see available wastewater testing near you, including the number of wastewater sites reporting. Write your elected officials to let them know you want to keep and expand wastewater testing in your area and nationally.

Wins

In November 2023, the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) passed a series of draft proposals that will further weaken already insufficient protocols employed within healthcare settings. HICPAC refuses to reckon with the airborne nature of infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, and does not propose crucial measures such as universal masking with well-fitted respirators, isolation periods, and ventilation. The People’s CDC has penned a letter to the ACLU alerting them of HICPAC’s irresponsible decisions, and the ramifications associated with them. We hope that by working together with the ACLU, we can implement public advocacy and legal actions in order to tackle this critical issue.

You can read the full letter here.

Johns Hopkins reinstated healthcare masking on 1/12/2024, in response to high respiratory virus levels. As with many other healthcare systems and public health departments that have restored healthcare masking when facing public pressure, we hope that universal masking can become a standard of care rather than a short term response to a surge. See “Take Action” below for more information.

Variants

JN.1, now the most prominent variant in the United States, is estimated to account for 85.7% of circulating variants by 1/20/2024. HV.1 is expected to drop to 5.3%, and all other variants are estimated to make up less than 2% each. Although ongoing viral spread allows opportunities for new variants to emerge, the latest 2023-2024 COVID vaccine boosters, COVID tests, and COVID treatments are still expected to be effective for JN.1.

Current updated booster uptake is low (as of January 19, 2024, the CDC reports that only 21.5% of adults and 11% of children have received it). It is not too late to get the updated booster, and to protect yourself against the latest variant!

Hospitalizations

In the most recent week (ending January 13, 2024), we see a slight downward trend in new hospital admissions, currently at 32,861. We see a similar slight downtick in currently hospitalized patients with COVID , at 27,879. This most recent week shows a slight decrease in hospitalizations, although it is too soon to say whether hospitalizations for the current surge have passed their peak. Hospitals continue to be overwhelmed. The data also lacks information on hospital-acquired infections. We urge you to continue taking stringent precautions, such as donning a well-fitting respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) in all indoor spaces–and especially in healthcare settings.

Long COVID

Amid ongoing advocacy by Long COVID groups, the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a committee hearing on “Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care.” The hearing included testimony from three Long COVID patients and four Long COVID physicians and researchers, bringing much-needed attention to the urgent need for funding for Long COVID research and treatments, and to the need for improved access to care for Long COVID patients. We recognize the community care modeled by some of the panelists and attendees who wore masks for the hearing, and we wish the senators on the committee would mask up as well.

Take Action

Write your elected officials to let them know that Long COVID impacts all of us, and that we need ongoing support for Long COVID research and clinical care. Ask Senators to support bill S.2560, the Long COVID Support Act. Ask Representatives to support bills HR.1114 (Long COVID RECOVERY NOW Act) and HR.3258 (TREAT Long COVID Act).

Although some healthcare settings have reinstated masking in response to high COVID levels along with high respiratory virus activity, ongoing pressure is needed to restore, keep, and expand masking broadly. Use our letter template and toolkit to call or write your elected officials in support of healthcare masking.

Want to do more to support healthcare masking? Consider starting, sharing, or joining a local campaign. Check out work in Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin, just to name a few. Also, sign and share our letter to the ACLU asking them to join us in supporting safe and equitable access to healthcare. Sign on is open until 2/1/2024.

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afeelgoodblog · 1 year

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The Best News of Last Week

😷 - Mask off, but guard up! Seems like we're out of the tunnel

1. Abandoned dog seen wandering Detroit streets with stuffed toy rescued, now receiving care

An abandoned dog is preparing for a new home after animal rescue groups spent days trying to find her when she was spotted wandering Detroit with a stuffed toy. Nikki's owner recently died, and she was left to wander the streets with her favorite toy.

As Nikki receives her care, the animal workers are making sure she is ready to head to her foster home. Almost Home is collecting donations to help pay for the treatment and Niki's care. Donate here.

2. New foster care agency matching LGBTQ+ kids with queer carers to become ‘their amazing, wonderful selves’

A new foster care service has been launched to help match LGBTQ+ young people with supportive carers and families in the South East of England. Apex Q, a service from agency Apex Fostering, will help encourage more LGBTQ+ foster carers, provide training and create more placements for queer children.

Apex Fostering, which covers north and east London as well as several southern counties, including Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire, launched in 2021 and claims to have already placed more than 60 young people with foster families.

3. Newquay Zoo celebrates birth of rare 'warty' piglets

A pair of rare piglets has been born at Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. The Visayan warty pigs, named for the three pairs of fleshy "warts" on the boar's face, which protect it while fighting rival pigs, are part of a breeding programme at the zoo.

The species lives in the forests of the Philippines, where there could be as few as 200 animals left.

4. New Alzheimer's drug slows disease by a third

We could be entering the era of Alzheimer's treatments, after the second drug in under a year has been shown to slow the disease. Experts said we were now "on the cusp" of drugs being available, something that had recently seemed "impossible".

The company Eli Lilly has reported its drug - donanemab - slows the pace of Alzheimer's by about a third.

5. Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a "global health emergency". The statement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic and comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus.

But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the virus remained a significant threat.

6. Doctors have performed brain surgery on a fetus in one of the first operations of its kind

The baby’s condition, known as vein of Galen malformation, was first noticed during a routine ultrasound scan at 30 weeks of pregnancy. The seven-week-old is one of the first people to have undergone an experimental brain operation while still in the womb. It might have saved her life.

Before she was born, this little girl developed a dangerous condition that led blood to pool in a 14-millimeter-wide pocket in her brain. The condition could have resulted in brain damage, heart problems, and breathing difficulties after birth. It could have been fatal. The baby girl was born healthy. She didn’t need any treatment for the malformation.

7. Lastly, watch this father stork brings a blanket to warm up mother stork

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That's it for this week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to reblog. SUBCRIBE HERE for more good news in your inbox

#best news of last week #Youtube

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laurellynnleake · 4 months

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🎇 NYE COVID-19 RED ALERT - AVOID CROWDS & MASK UP 🎆

You wouldn't know it from our governments, but Turtle Island, aka the US & Canada, are in the worst spike of illness and deaths since 2020's deadly Omicron surge.

That means it's more dangerous to go to a New Years party this weekend than it's been for approximately 96.4% OF THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC. It's bad out there tonight, and your odds of staying healthy after an unmasked gathering are NOT good.

The more people at your party, the higher the chance you'll catch COVID-19. You may think it's worth the risk, since many people appear to have "mild" infections, but that's not the whole story.

The first 2 weeks of COVID-19, aka the "acute phase", are just the beginning. Even if you don't need emergency hospitalization, or even if you never have any symptoms at all, the virus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19 silently turns your immune system against you and shreds the lining of your circulatory and nervous systems. This can permanently elevate your risk of heart attacks, strokes, digestive problems, and even life-changing disabling disorders like ME/CFS.

And even if you escape relatively unscathed, you could pass the virus onto loved ones who WILL get hit hard, and survive with new life-long disabilities, or not survive at all.

COVID-19 never left, and our healthcare systems are NOT looking out for us. We have to take care of each other. Please, please rethink going out to that party tonight. If you can't avoid socializing, please protect yourself as much as you can:

Wear WELL-FITTING respiratory masks like N95s & KN94s

Use nasal sprays before & after, & CPC mouthwash after

Gather outdoors whenever possible

Get good air circulation indoors with air filters like CR Boxes, or open windows for outside air (bundle up if it's cold)

More resources on these tips, and how to reduce the damage if you do get sick, can be found on this COVID Safety Roundup list. All graphics courtesy of the Pandemic Mitigation Collection and Dr. Michael Hoebert, from their website. Hoebert further breaks down the data on his twitter too.

You can also ask me any particular questions and I'll do my best to help! We all deserve to survive this, and we'll do it together.

#covid 19 #long covid #still masking #mask up #actually disabled #covid isn't over #covid19 #new year #happy new year #new years eve

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jungk0oksthighs · 2 years

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Over The Odds | Regrets

Paring - jungkook x reader

Genre - angst, smut, fluff, S2L, ceo!jungkook, sugardaddy!jungkook

Word count - 3k

Drabble 4 - One mans regret is another’s opportunity

warnings: brief mention of sex, swearing, ill-relative

FULL SERIES COLLECTION

This certainly isn’t how you envisioned your day would turn out, just this morning you were laid in bed with Jungkook about to enjoy a sweet breakfast in bed together after two rounds of rampant sex – and now, you sit in the waiting room of the hospital, drinking water from a plastic cup with shaky hands.

It was nice of Jungkook to give you a ride here, giving that he’s told you at least three times now just how much he hates driving, he hates the traffic, how mundane it is, the fact he can’t really multitask when behind the wheel; he hates everything about it. But still, he pulled through for you when you needed him to.

It's no secret that your father is in ill health, last year he suffered two heart attacks and when he tested positive for Covid-19 in December your family prepared for the worst. By some miracle he pulled through but his respiratory system hasn’t been the same since. Two bouts of pneumonia, a severe chest infection and nightly use of an oxygen mask is his new normal.

Your mum texted to let you know that he’s been admitted with yet another ghastly chest infection, apparently he’s not doing so great and so you came here as soon as you could, alerting your best friend Jimin of your whereabouts on the way. Unlike the other times he’d taken ill during the height of pandemic restrictions, you weren’t sitting in the waiting room alone. Your mother sits across from you with anxious bouncing legs, and Jungkook, bless his soul, sits beside you playing the role of a concerned boyfriend a little too well.

“I’m sorry you had to find out about us this way, I can leave if you’d prefer to be alone together.” His voice is kind and low as he addresses your mother, who looks at him with a warm smile. “Honestly I won’t be offended.”

“Nonsense, I’m just surprised Y/N didn’t tell us about you sooner. I’m sorry that we met this way though, maybe when her father recovers we can all go for a nice meal together and get to know each other properly. I don’t usually look like this.” She gives a breathy chuckle, referring to her jade green leggings and oversized hoodie – her favourite loungewear set you’d gifted her two Christmases ago. Of course the ensemble isn’t complete without her yellow garden sliders, which she’s also wearing today. Normally she’s what most people would consider to be vain, always dressing in nice clothes with a full face of makeup even in her forties, she must’ve been in a rush to get here much like you and Jungkook were.

“Me neither.” Jungkook flashes a brilliant white smile. To be honest you’ve never seen him look so casual, only wearing a white oversized t shirt, grey sweatpants and trainers. He looks good dressed like this, he blends into the rest of society comfortably and his presence for once doesn’t scream ‘I have money, ask me about it’. “It would be nice to go out together though, once he’s fully recovered of course. I can’t wait to hear all about what Y/N was like as a child.”

“Y/N?” Your mum waves a soft hand in front of you, snapping you from your day dream. “He’s going to be okay, this is just a precaution.”

“I know.” You exhale, nodding slowly, trying to ignore your burning hatred for hospitals.

“Does anybody want anything to eat? I’m going to run down to the corner shop.” Jungkook stands, shooting you a sympathetic smile, “You haven’t eaten today Y/N is there anything specific you want me to get for you?”

“Oh how thoughtful.” Your mother gushes, you know full-well that she loves him already. What a pity he’s not actually your boyfriend, rather the man who pays you to have sex with him. Oh she’d be so proud.

You clear your throat and shake your head, “I’m not really hungry anymore.” You admit, “I’ll have a coffee from the canteen though. The blonde—”

“Blonde coffee blend with almond milk and one sweetener. I know. Would you like a coffee too? Or anything to eat? Sorry I didn’t even catch your name how rude of me.” You’re visibly taken aback by the fact he knows your coffee order, as far as you know you’d only been for a coffee together once. Even his memory is unworldly.

“Anna.” She smiles, eyes quickly skimming the tattoos on his sizeable arm, “And I’ll have a black coffee with a cheese sandwich please, hang on I’ve got some change in my… Oh where is it, it’s around here somewhere-”

“Not necessary. I don’t mind.” Jungkook tries to fight a laugh, giving you a brief glance before exiting the room.

“So…”

And it begins.

“So?” Your brows are raised expectantly as you lock eyes with your mother, who given the circumstances looks pretty damn happy right now. Maybe she’s giggling at your t shirt dress and boots which were very obviously yesterdays clothes.

“When were you going to tell me about your hunk of a boyfriend?! Gosh if I was fifteen years younger.”

You grimace, “Except you’re not, and your husband is in the hospital.”

“Small technicalities.” She shrugs. Your mother birthed you at the tender age of eighteen, she and your father had a somewhat whirlwind teenage romance, they had their first child together, your sister, two years before you aged sixteen, much to your grandparents disappointment. Thankfully it all worked out for them in the end. It wasn’t uncommon of her to make shocking or crude comments like this, you put it down to her age most of the time, giving that she’s not even two decades older than you are. But even so, the idea of her taking a liking to Jungkook is more than nauseating.

“I’m serious! How long have you been together?” She’s smiling, profile curious and suggestive.

“I don’t know like six or seven weeks maybe? Month and a half. It’s early days so can you try not to get your hopes up please.” You’re tired, your body is aching because of said fake boyfriend, and you’re so done with this conversation already – all you care about is getting an update from the doctors. This talk right here is the very reason you almost didn’t sign the contract in the first place, because you know eventually you and Jungkook will have to fake a breakup and your parents will be devastated that you’re still not engaged or popping out grandbabies.

“You haven’t had a boyfriend since Namjoon Y/N, and that was two years ago now… So I’m sorry if I’m a little excited it’s just that he’s so handsome! And muscly! And tall! I love his tattoos! What does he do for a living?”

You ignore the way the mere mention of your ex boyfriend’s name makes your stomach drop, giving in to her curiosity, “He’s the CEO of Jeon Industries, the oil company. He owns a lot of smaller businesses too, like that bar Black Swan in Kensington.”

“Shut up!” She gasps, “Sorry, what was that?”

“Mum I’m tired can we not get into this right now, yes he’s handsome and he’s tall and he’s ripped and yes he’s got tattoos and he’s mega rich but we’ve only been going out just over a month so can you not do this? Not right now. Please.”

Sensing your discomfort she retreats, nodding quietly, “Sorry,” She grins, “Were you two up all night then?”

“Oh my god.” You groan in disgust, hurriedly standing from the lilac seat, “I’m going to find Jungkook, when we get back try to act normal. I’m begging you.”

“Fine, fine. Whatever you say.”

If there’s one thing you hate most in this world, one phobia stronger than all the rest – it’s hospitals. The idea of someone going in and never coming out has always made your knees buckle and not in a good way. You hate hospitals, any clinical setting for that matter, you’d rather ride out an illness than visit your doctor despite how badly you are. It’s disturbing to you how many people have died within these walls, how many lost loved ones were taken here. Your parents and Jimin always called you dramatic whenever you brought it up, but you can’t help the way you feel. Maybe it’s a good thing that you and Namjoon never worked out, because eventually one day his place of work would be a building just like this one.

For the six months that you dated, you were convinced that Namjoon was the love of your life, he was perfect. He was in his final year of med school, he had adorable dimpled cheeks, a contagious laugh, he knew everything about anything without needing to check himself on Google first. And he was sweet, he was caring, you bared your soul to him thinking he was your forever, only for him to randomly decide to take a gap year and teach English to children in Korea. You still remember the day he ended things with you, leaving you behind as he just carried on with his life, seemingly not bothered at all. One mention of his name and you feel numb, you’ve never cared about anybody that much since him.

The only person that comes even remotely close to Namjoon is Jungkook, and well, he doesn’t actually like you he just pays to have you around and sit on his dick whenever you fancy it. There’s no denying that he would be the perfect partner, he could give you things that even Namjoon could not – but he doesn’t want that, you signed a piece of paper that clearly states this is a business arrangement and nothing more. It’s not love, and it never will be, no matter how badly you want it to be. You scoff to yourself, pushing a double door open to find him. How things have changed in the small space of two years.

Your eyes find Jungkook’s tall muscular frame straight away, he’s sitting at a small circular table at the back of the red painted canteen, three coffees and one cheese sandwich in front of him, his gaze flickering between the window and the silver work phone in his hands.

“Hey.” You’re standing beside the table, suddenly feeling a lot calmer in his presence.

He’s looking up at you with big round doe-like eyes, almost guilty, “I’m sorry, I thought you could use some privacy so I—”

“Don’t apologise, I get it. I’m not actually your girlfriend yet here you are meeting my parents, must be rough for you. You can go at any time it’s okay.” The words come out bitchier than you intended, regret washes over you instantaneously. Thankfully he doesn’t seem too phased by your venom.

He pauses, his lips pursed together in a flat line before he stands up, “Y/N… I want to be here, it’s okay, I wanna make sure you’re okay.” His voice his softer than usual and for a split second you’re convinced that he may actually really care.

“This happens pretty often,” You sigh, it’s blatantly obvious you’re feeling overwhelmed, “He’s been ill for a while now… Just waiting for the update from the doctor and then we can leave.” You give him an apologetic smile, there’s nothing about family emergencies in the agreement and yet he’s still here, spending his only day off in the hospital with you. “If he’s gonna be okay we should do something today, I don’t want you wasting your only day off.”

“It’s not wasted if I’m spending time with you.” He looks away immediately after saying it, clearing his throat before he grabs the items from the table, “Would be nice to go somewhere else later though, hospitals freak me out.”

“Really? Me too.” You murmur, helping him carry the food and drinks to the waiting area. The walk back is short and spent in a comfortable silence, god how you wish things could be different, you yearn for Jungkook to set fire to that stupid piece of paper and just ask you out. What’s worse is you actually signed that piece of paper, there’s no way out for you for another eleven months, if you feel this much for him already you dread what life will be like by then.

It’s when you get to the small side room your mother waits in that your heart stops beating.

“—He’s going to be fine, we’ll keep him in for some observations with him being a high risk patient but I’m confident he’ll be home tomorrow Anna.”

Suddenly your ears are ringing, your face is hot and you almost forget how to breathe. Jungkook senses the change in your demeanour and is rightfully confused, especially when you’ve both just heard the doctor tell your mum that your dad is going to be okay. You clear your throat, and for the first time in two years your eyes lock with his. Fuck.

“Hey Y/N.” Namjoon’s dimples pierce his cheeks as his smiles, “Your dad’s gonna be fine, he’s responding well to the treatments he should be out of here by tomorrow.”

“That’s great.” You smile back, still frozen in place, “Thank you... So you’re back. And you’re officially a doctor now?”

“Have been for a while actually, can’t say I expected to bump into you here… I know how much you hate hospitals.”

As much as you don’t want to admit it he looks good, his skin is ever so slightly more tanned than it used to be, his clothes fit him better and he looks so much happier than he used to. It’s no surprise he didn’t tell you he was back from Korea, you took the breakup pretty badly and he’s probably moved on by now. You watch him with a curious gaze, you can’t help but think to yourself it’s such a shame things ended the way they did, because two years ago you really did love this man.

“Yeah, well…” You clear your throat again, your mouth suddenly feels abnormally dry, “I couldn’t not come.”

“Thanks Namjoon, it’s nice to see you again.” Your mum stands from her chair, “Y/N do you mind if I go in and see him? They’ve still got Covid restrictions in place, only one visitor at a time.”

“Of course not, tell him I was here though.” You exhale, finally peeling your stare away from Namjoon and looking to Jungkook who stands beside you, handing your mum her coffee and sandwich.

“Thank you so much Jungkook, so kind of you to come today and wait with us.” She looks at your fake boyfriend with such a warm and welcoming gaze, “We definitely need to arrange a proper meeting, I’m sure Y/N’s dad will be excited to meet her new boyfriend when the times right.”

You freeze. Namjoon freezes. Jungkook sees you and Namjoon freeze.

“There’s no rush, I don’t plan on letting her go any time soon. It was nice to meet you, and I hope he’s feeling better soon.” Jungkook is polite as ever, even when the resident doctor is not-so-subtly staring at him.

“Bye mum, call me later please.” You give her a small hug, wanting nothing more than to get out of this hell hole as quick as you can.

“Of course, bye now.” She gives a small wave and disappears into the main corridor on the ward with Namjoon. Thank god that’s over.

Jungkook faces you, holding a coffee in his right hand while he smooths over your waist with his left, “Are you okay? We don’t have to go anywhere today, we could just have a bed day or whatever else you wanna do, or I can drop you off at your place if you wanna be alone.”

“A bed day with you sounds good.” You give a weak smile, even though your entire relationship is a façade you can’t fault him for his efforts today. He’s looking down at you with such kind eyes that you almost want to cry. He’s perfect, but he’s not yours.

“-Y/N?” You hear the voice before you see it’s owner, already wanting to curl up into a ball and die when your eyes land on Namjoon jogging round the corner, his white lab-like coat flapping with each movement.

“Mhm?” You face him, Jungkook’s hand still grazes your waist. The situation is uncomfortable but thankfully he doesn’t say anything, instead choosing to eye the doctor cautiously as he approaches.

“I’m really glad you met someone, you look happy.” There’s not even a microscopic spec of malice in Namjoon’s words, his smile looks genuine and he looks as though he really means what he says, which only makes everything worse. “I’ll see you around, and Jungkook was it? Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too.” Jungkook doesn’t look confused anymore, he’s analysed the atmosphere and you can tell by his tight set jaw and the way he’s tightening the hold on your waist that he knows exactly who Namjoon is to you.

Unbeknownst to you Jungkook sees the flicker of disappointment behind Namjoon’s eyes when they finds his hand on your waist, he knows that look, that’s the expression of someone who regrets letting go. He pities Namjoon for sure, but realistically all he can ask himself is how could someone be so foolish to leave you in the first place? You’re smart, funny, caring, a little sarcastic and bratty at times but nothing he can’t handle, you’re beautiful, anyone would be an idiot to let you go.

And so this is the moment, standing with you right here in the hospital with a comforting palm on the bend of your waist, where Jungkook decides he needs to tell you the truth before it’s too late, no regrets.

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