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This report in WSJ looks at how Toulouse, the aviation capital of Europe, is coping with the aviation crisis after the drop in flying and planes idle from the coronavirus. Toulouse has the expertise for both aviation and fast trains. New designs and technology are being developed in all forms of transportation as Toulouse uses this time to develop new technological advances.

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The use of apps and tech based solutions have been largely ineffective in doing effective contact tracing and testing to isolate people with coronavirus. Epidemiologists question its effectiveness when it does not lead to people isolating themselves to prevent spread.  A major problem is lack of confidence in the tech based solutions. 27 states in the U.S. have no apps or are not developing one.  Apps do not use the entire set of tech resources available because of dilution from concerns about privacy. Another major problem is that there is no national approach. California, Washington and Oregon have a pilot program on the Google-Apple system, Delaware and Pennsylvania launched an app in September from Irish developer NearForm. New York and New Jersey started with a NearForm app in October. States using apps are doing this without much conviction that this is a tool that will work to do effective contact tracing and testing to isolate infected persons. For this reason one sees pilots and launches this late in the coronavirus pandemic. Early efforts stumbled.  The UK and French apps also proved ineffective. Germany opted for low tech solution that proved surprisingly effective in the first wave of the coronavirus. Germany relied on teams from state employees which used a national database, personal computers and phones to call individuals who needed to be isolated and tracked. Asian countries have less concern for privacy leading to apps being more effective. Even here low tech solutions with national database and teams of people with personal computers and phones calling and making personal contact including visiting homes has worked better than apps. Human relations skills to reassure people affected by coronavirus, legwork to contact personally at homes and check up, and persuasion to have people isolate have been more effective than app based impersonal tech solutions. ...

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Workmen are busy installing many miles of bicycle lanes in Paris and its suburbs, as French people shift to more frequent use of bicycles to get to work and to go outside.

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For the second time Sweden takes a laid back approach to the coronavirus during the second wave in November. Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven is in quarantine after he went into self isolation, following someone in his circle having contact with someone having coronavirus. The government only issues recommendations but there are no required restrictions, no strict rules to follow.

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A surge in demand for robotic vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances are taking the place of the many maids and servants employed in Indian middle class homes. India has over 8.5 million coronavirus cases and most high rise apartment building communities restrict the entry of outsiders. The new trend is for more appliances in every middle class household to take over the work of many maids and household help that were once seen as less costly than appliances but now are seen as a blessing. The risks of catching coronavirus from household help that goes back to their villages for breaks are too great for many families.

As jobs shrink in household help many  new jobs could be created for a large new household appliance industry and in the other jobs in retail distribution of appliances and transport.  

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The new challenge of getting the public to support the vaccine efort and build better communication with people around the world about the benefits of the vaccine.

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Digital nomad style of work life is shown in this WSJ report where young people get rid of their apartments and spend all their time working out of hotels in different cities around the world. With remote work becoming popular during the pandemic and accepted widely some young millenials are adopting this lifestyle.

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In January 2020 employees met at a local Maryland bar to find out how they might salvage their careers in a 33 year old company that had failed to develop an approved vaccine, says this story in WSJ. Only months later following the coronavirus pandemic everything changed as in a miracle for Novavax. The company had to sell manufacturing assets at one point, and had enough cash for another 6 months just months before. By Feb. 2021 shares which had dropped to $4 were up to $229 and valuation which had declined to $127 million went up to 15 billion. Coronavirus has turned things upside down where newcomers are using previously unproven technologies and making them work in this pandemic. The persistence, perseverance and confidence of Novavax even in the most difficult situations shows how the right attitude can lead to remarkable results. Novavax vaccine can be kept in refrigerators for 3 months, and do not require very low freezing temperatures like Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. This is considered a potent weapon in the fight against coronavirus. Novavax says it can produce a couple of billion doses over the next 12 months beginning in April. Novavax has released data showing its vaccine is effective for protection against coronavirus. Results of late stage US trials are expected in March. ...

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A diet that has a good amount of fruits and vegetables as well as healthy grains is needed to keep body inflammation levels low, say experts in this video from DW.com. A varied diet is essential for good health. Keeping away from colas and sugary drinks is essential. Adding a good mix of healthy foods is also essential with whatever fruits and vegetables that are available in the season. Lower inflammation levels through healthy diets also help the body to avoid obesity and diseases that relate to obesity. During the coronavirus good nutrition and exercise can make a huge difference. In this video experts show that even changes over 6-8 weeks in adding more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, adding any form of exercize that appeals to one, can make a difference in building immunity levels against the coronavirus.

 

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Mexico does 3 tests per 100,000 people very low compared to other countries. Reasons range from cost cutting to a push for herd immunity. Instead Mexico has pushed through deep cost cutting. The U.S. has 178 tests per 100,000 in comparison. This leaves Mexico running blind as it has reopened the economy. The government says half of Mexicans work in the informal economy and the economy needs to remain open. Not doing testing means there is less information on fighting the virus in the way it was done in Italy, Spain, UK, France and Germany. Other countries with a large informal economy are doing as getting as many as 500,000  samples a day for tests. Mexico now has 360,000 cases and its fatality rate is now approaching that of the UK.