COVID-19
Japanese scientists develop special ‘ostrich’ masks that glow if wearer has COVID-19
Scientists in Japan have created special masks that are able to detect and possibly help prevent the spread of COVID-19 using ostrich antibodies.
The masks, developed by researchers at Kyoto Prefectural University, are coated with ostrich antibodies to capitalize on the bird’s strong immune system that makes it resistant to certain diseases, Dezeen reported.
Video of pet corgi being beaten with crowbar while owner was in quarantine draws outrage in China
Editor’s Note: This article discusses animal abuse. The video contained in this article contains disturbing and violent imagery.
A chilling video showing two health workers beating a pet corgi to death with a metal rod while its owner was in a quarantine facility in China has caused outrage on Chinese social media over the weekend.
Your Body Changed During the Pandemic and That’s Okay
As the world relaxes its COVID restrictions, hot vax summer draws nigh but not everyone is excited. There are those of us who are anxious, hesitant and scared because we might not look the same as we did before the pandemic.
Do my jeans even fit anymore? Did I grow another chin? I think I lost all the definition in my calves from not walking to the bus stop.
‘You’re a Communist’: School Board Chairwoman Heckled During Meeting on Protective Masks in Florida
A Chinese American member of a Florida county school board was called a communist during a heated meeting about face masks last week.
What happened: Santa Rosa County school board chairwoman and former science teacher Wei Ueberschaer was heckled while discussing a proposed mask requirement on May 3, the Washington Post reported.
Laos Reports First COVID-19 Related Death Since Start of Pandemic
Laos has recorded its first COVID-19 related fatality since the pandemic began over a year ago.
About the death: A 53-year-old woman, who worked at a “karaoke club in Naxay village, Xaysettha district,” died in the country’s capital, the Vientiane Times reported.
Yo-Yo Ma Gives Impromptu Concert After Getting Second Vaccine Dose in Massachusetts
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma gave a surprise concert at the Berkshire Community College during an observation period after receiving his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend.
The 65-year-old musician was waiting at the vaccination site for his 15-minute observation period on Saturday when he decided to “give something back,” Richard Hall of the Berkshire COVID-19 Vaccine Collaborative told The Berkshire Eagle.
Creator of Free Website for COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Uses Platform to Raise Anti-Asian Hate Awareness
After creating a website that helps New Yorkers find COVID-19 vaccines, a software developer is using his new platform to take a stand against anti-Asian hate.
What is TurboVax: Last month, Huge Ma launched TurboVax, a website that “finds appointments from 53 city and state-run vaccine sites in the NYC area.” TurboVax makes it easier for New York City residents to locate available vaccines and also book vaccine appointments, according to ABC News.
Japan Wants China to Stop Anal Swabbing Citizens for COVID-19 After ‘Great Psychological Pain’
Japan wants to put an end to the COVID-19 anal swab tests its citizens are reportedly being subjected to when they enter China.
According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, those who underwent the procedure complained of experiencing “psychological distress,” BBC reported.
PhD Student Dismissed From UIUC After Working Remotely to Protect His Mother
A fourth-year doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) may face deportation after being dismissed from his studies due to noncompliance with COVID-19 testing.
Yidong Chen, who goes by the nickname Ivor, lived with his mother in Champaign-Urbana while working remotely as a teaching assistant in the fall semester of 2020.
Japan Appoints ‘Loneliness Minister’ Due to Rising Pandemic Suicides, Especially Among Women
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga appointed regional revitalization minister Tetsushi Sakamoto to head a government measure to help those experiencing loneliness and isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a meeting on Feb. 12, the new Japanese prime minister addressed the growing number of suicide victims in Japan, mostly women, as the country continues to fight the coronavirus, according to Japan Times.
Seoul Will Now Test Cats and Dogs with COVID-19 Symptoms
A few weeks after the first coronavirus case in an animal was reported in South Korea, Seoul announced its plans to test pet cats and dogs with COVID-19 symptoms.
Initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the tests will only be given to pets who have been exposed to human virus carriers and who show signs such as breathing difficulties or a fever, BBC reports.
Nurse Jailed for Breaking Quarantine to Get Bubble Tea in Singapore
A nurse in Singapore is now behind bars after violating a home quarantine order multiple times that included leaving to buy some boba.
Nurul Afiqah Binte Mohammed, 22, who was formerly employed at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), was given a 14-day stay-home notice after returning from a vacation in Australia on March 21, 2020.