(2022-04-29). US GDP drops 1.4 percent in first quarter amidst Omicron surge and war in Ukraine. wsws.org While Biden attempted to downplay the abysmal numbers, his bravado cannot paper over the myriad contradictions facing US and world capitalism.
(2022-04-29). Zero-COVID strategy drives Omicron cases down across China. wsws.org Cases across China continue to decline in response to massive efforts employed by the Chinese authorities and population. However, Beijing is implementing citywide mass testing to identify the extent of community spread, and financial interests are concerned health authorities will implement a complete lockdown.
(2022-04-29). U.S. economy shrinks in Q1 amid Omicron surge, high inflation, raising recession fear. ecns.cn The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter this year amid the Omicron surge and elevated inflation, raising the fear of a looming recession.
(2022-04-29). Omicron variant leaves no room for relaxation in epidemic control: expert. ecns.cn In the face of outbreaks caused by the more infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19, a relaxation of epidemic control and prevention is not an option for China, said top Chinese epidemiologist Liang Wannian on Friday.
(2022-04-29). Prompt, effective steps needed to fight Omicron, health official says. ecns.cn China must respond promptly to the sporadic outbreaks of Omicron and must "run faster" than its spread, said a leading health expert.
(2022-04-29). Consumer Health: First vaccine to prevent malaria. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org World Malaria Day will be observed Monday, April 25, which makes this a good time to learn more about this potentially fatal disease and the first vaccine to prevent it. Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans most commonly through mosquito bites. The malaria parasites enter the bloodstream and travel to the liver. When the parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect red blood cells. Because the…
(2022-04-29). Consumer Health: Recognizing symptoms of Parkinson's disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month, which make this a good time to learn about the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. An estimated 1 million people in the U.S. and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association. Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed….
(2022-04-29). Mayo Clinic Minute: How a Southern diet is connected to chronic diseases. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Warmer weather brings more opportunities for picnics, barbecues and gatherings around food. But before you reach for a second helping, consider if what you're eating may be increasing your risk for chronic disease. In a traditional Southern diet — highlighted by fried foods, organ meats, processed meats, eggs and egg dishes, sugar-sweetened beverages, and bread — the prevalence of high blood pressure in the African American population is higher according to Dr. Ivan Porter II, a nephrologist at Mayo…
(2022-04-29). Adopted boy thriving after liver transplant. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Serena and Jon Krejchi from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, knew they were in for a medical journey when they decided to adopt a toddler named Ary from India. At only 1 Ω years old, Ary Krejchi had liver disease among a host of other serious medical conditions that required immediate care. After a harrowing journey back to the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple took their little boy straight to Mayo Clinic, where, thanks to his…
(2022-04-29). Mayo Clinic Minute: Improved treatments for head and neck cancer. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness Month. About 70% of cancers in the oropharynx, which includes the tonsils, soft palate and base of the tongue, are linked to the HPV virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So it's important to talk to your health care team about the HPV vaccine, especially if you are 26 years old or younger. In addition to the importance of the HPV vaccine, you can lower…
(2022-04-29). Consumer Health: Understanding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder. It affects about 1 person in every 1 million per year worldwide, and about 350 cases are diagnosed per year in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The cause of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease appears to be abnormal versions of a type of protein called a prion. Normally these proteins are produced in the body and are harmless. But when they're misshapen,…
(2022-04-29). Dynamic 'zero-COVID' approach effective in China's anti-epidemic work. ecns.cn China's dynamic "zero-COVID" approach has proved effective in the country's counter-epidemic work over the past two years, a Chinese health official said Friday.
(2022-04-29). No fines against Amazon for warehouse collapse during tornado that killed 6 people. wsws.org The Occupational Safety and Health Administration declined to fine the warehouse giant, but cited numerous "risk factors" present in its warehouse.
(2022-04-29). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: People, partnerships drive innovation in patient care. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Department of Medicine, which is the largest department at Mayo Clinic, is helping lead the transformation of health care. Important innovations include moving to digital and virtual care to meet patients where they are, and addressing health equity, all while keeping patients front and center. "Patients are our North Star," says Dr. Vijay Shah, chair of the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "We're all about patients all day, every day. So, all of…
(2022-04-29). Shining a light on environmental sustainability efforts across Mayo Clinic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Buildings across Mayo Clinic will turn green on Friday, April 22, as Mayo Clinic visibly demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability. In honor of Earth Day, Mayo will light its buildings in green using energy-efficient LED lights. This includes the Plummer Building in Rochester, Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona, the sign to the main entrance at Mayo Clinic in Florida, and the Cancer Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. In keeping with…
(2022-04-29). COVID-19 shines a spotlight on laboratory professionals' vital role in health care. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 24—30, honors and recognizes the dedication, innovation, and expertise that clinical lab professionals bring to patient care. Over the last two years, clinical laboratory professionals have shown extraordinary dedication in the fight against COVID-19. Their commitment and hard work during this difficult time has made a difference in the lives of people across the globe. "Throughout the pandemic, we have seen the power of teamwork in health care. And…
(2022-04-29). Pregnant woman in Beijing COVID-19 control zone sent to hospital within 10 minutes. ecns.cn A pregnant woman in Beijing's Chaoyang District, a temporary control zone designed to contain the spread of COVID-19, was sent to hospital within 10 minutes on Wednesday.
(2022-04-29). More people now in lower-risk areas for COVID-19 in Shanghai. ecns.cn Shanghai has readjusted its three-tiered classification of COVID-19 risk areas according to recent nucleic acid screening results, and more people are now in areas with lower risk, local authorities said Friday.Meanwhile, the number of people in "prevention areas," neighborhoods without reported infections over the past 14 days, is 12.38 million, up by over 4.53 million.
(2022-04-29). Top epidemiologist rebuts claim dynamic 'zero-COVID' approach harms economic growth. ecns.cn A leading Chinese epidemiologist on Friday rebutted the claim that China's dynamic "zero-COVID" policy has impeded the country's economic growth, saying the approach does not run counter to economic development and normal production and life.
(2022-04-29). 49 Teachers in Bukomansimbi Failed to Return After Covid Lockdown. plusnews.ug 
49 teachers on the government payroll in Bukomansimbi district did not return to their duty stations when schools reopened after two years. Out of these; 38 were government primary teachers while eleven were staff in the different secondary schools in the area. They are part of the 918 primary teachers and 186 secondary teachers on …
(2022-04-28). Africa registers 32% increase in new COVID-19 cases amid global decrease. plusnews.ug 
While global COVID-19 cases have been on a decrease, Africa has had a 32% increase in cases in the past one week, according to a latest epidemiological report by the World Health Organization (WHO). With Omicron remaining the most dominant variant circulating, four countries in Africa reported an increase of over 20% in cases, with …
(2022-04-28). 24-hour 'smart pharmacy' opens in Nanning. ecns.cn An unmanned pharmacy running 24/7 is now open to the public in Nanning. The store provides more than 1,000 kinds of non-prescription drugs and 200 kinds of medical instruments, including thermometers. Citizens can settle the payment through scanning code.
(2022-04-28). Firma Instituto Finlay de Vacunas memorándum de entendimiento con empresa italiana para la producción de Soberana 02. cubadebate.cu Un acuerdo para iniciar la producción de la vacuna Soberana 02 en etapas finales en Italia fue firmado hoy entre el Instituto Finlay de Vacunas (IFV), la empresa italiana ADIENNE Pharma & Biotech y la Agencia italiana para el intercambio económico y cultural con Cuba (AICEC), en el contexto del congreso BioHabana 2022.
(2022-04-28). More than half of Americans have been infected with COVID-19: CDC. ecns.cn More than half of Americans show signs of a previous COVID-19 infection, including three in four children, a new report released on Tuesday showed.
(2022-04-28). [Articles] Neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes after invasive Group B Streptococcus in early infancy: A multi-country matched cohort study in South Africa, Mozambique, India, Kenya, and Argentina. thelancet.com Our findings suggest that iGBS disease is on average associated with a higher risk of moderate/severe NDI, however substantial variation in risk was observed between sites and data are consistent with a wide range of values. Our study underlines the importance of long-term follow-up for at-risk neonates and more feasible, standardised assessments to facilitate diagnosis in research and clinical practice.
(2022-04-28). Shanghai enhances capacity to handle epidemic-related waste. ecns.cn Shanghai has expanded its capacity to dispose of epidemic-related waste to over 1,400 tonnes daily at present, from 300 tonnes per day before the latest round of COVID-19 resurgence started in March, according to the municipal bureau of ecology and environment.
(2022-04-28). Union Wins Two Elections Among Clinical Staff At McLean Hospital. popularresistance.org Belmont, Massachusetts – Local union organizers have scored another victory at McLean Hospital in Belmont, after winning two votes on Friday to unionize all hourly clinical staff like nurses and mental health specialists who assist with patient care. | In September, research assistants at the nationally prominent Harvard-affiliated psychiatric treatment and research institution formed a union — the first, the organizers say, in the hospital's long history. | All hourly clinical staff, excluding those with advanced degrees, will be part of the union if Friday's votes are confirmed. Through the effort, union…
(2022-04-28). Trade and Inventories Cause Drop in GDP, Underlying Growth Healthy. cepr.net Swings in trade complicate the picture. | A sharp increase in the trade deficit, along with a slower pace of inventory accumulation, lead to a 1.4 decline in first quarter GDP. These two factors subtracted 4.0 percentage points from the quarter's growth. However, consumption and investment demand were both strong in the quarter, rising at 2.7 percent and 9.2 percent annual rates, respectively. As a result, final sales to domestic purchases, a category which excludes both inventories and the trade deficit, rose at a 3.7 percent annual rate. | Inventories and the Trade Deficit | The sharp rise in the trade deficit…
(2022-04-28). "We want adequate staffing and pay that meets inflation"—Striking Stanford nurses speak out. wsws.org Striking nurses at Stanford Health Care explain why they are fighting…
(2022-04-28). Connecticut mental health care workers strike over quality patient care. peoplesworld.org 
NEW LONDON, Conn. — Workers at Sound Community Services walked the picket lines for three days, starting Sunday April 24, demanding increased wages, access to benefits, and improved staffing conditions that will allow them to provide quality care to mental health patients, while also protecting them and their families. Striking workers, members of District 1199, …
(2022-04-28). Over 81 pct of senior citizens fully vaccinated in China. ecns.cn About 215 million people aged 60 and above, or 81.44 percent of the age group, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland, a health official said Thursday.
(2022-04-28). Exploitative service firms dominate the latest 'Dirty Dozen' list. peoplesworld.org 
Exploitative service companies, from Amazon and Starbucks down to the Refresco bottling plant in New Jersey, dominate this year's "Dirty Dozen" list of firms representing the universe of the nation's worst companies for worker job safety and health. And, not coincidentally, workers at quite a few of those violators are organizing to protect themselves. After …
(2022-04-28). Video: The Covid-19 "Global Lockdown". Destabilizing Planet Earth. Towards Worldwide Economic Collapse? globalresearch.ca Note: | If you want to receive our Newsletter and/or become a
(2022-04-28). China reporta 47 fallecidos en Shanghái por la Covid-19. telesurtv.net Asimismo, la ciudad de Shanghái confirmó 1.292 nuevos pacientes positivos al coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, causante de la Covid-19.
(2022-04-28). At least a dozen US universities reinstate mask mandates as COVID cases rise. wsws.org Colleges and universities across the United States, particularly in the Northeast, have reinstated mask mandates and returned to online learning in response to a recent surge of COVID-19 infections on campuses, marking the third straight academic year disrupted by the coronavirus.
(2022-04-28). Shanghai reports 1,292 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases. ecns.cn
(2022-04-28). Drop in U.S. GDP increases fears over economic recession. america.cgtn.com 
Fears of a recession in the U.S. were heightened on Thursday after data showed the economy going into reverse in the first quarter of the year. The contraction was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic struck two years ago. And while the Biden administration …
(2022-04-28). At Tokyo Pride, Japanese Communist Party pledges fight for LGBTQ equality law. peoplesworld.org 
TOKYO—Calling for creating a society where sexual minorities, including LGBTQ people, can positively live as themselves, the Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2022 festival took place April 22-24 in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park under COVID-19 restrictions which limited the number of in-person participants. Solidarity speeches were delivered by officials from foreign embassies in Tokyo and political party representatives, …
(2022-04-28). Singing techniques can improve quality of life and breathlessness after COVID-19. imperial.ac.uk An online breathing and wellbeing programme can help to improve quality of life and breathlessness for people recovering from COVID-19.
(2022-04-28). China launches learning app for middle, primary school students. ecns.cn China has launched a mobile app to provide middle and primary school students with more convenient ways to study online amid COVID-19 resurgence, according to the Ministry of Education.
(2022-04-28). Half of all Americans infected with COVID-19, three-quarters of children. wsws.org The Biden administration has scrapped even the pretense of curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, admitting that preventing infections is "not even a policy goal."
(2022-04-28). Cuba reporta 204 nuevos casos de COVID-19, ningún fallecido y 276 altas. cubadebate.cu Al cierre de este miércoles 27 de abril, Cuba reportó 204 nuevos casos de COVID-19, ningún fallecido y 276 altas médicas. Actualmente, hay 949 casos activos, informó este jueves en su parte diario el Ministerio de Salud Pública (Minsap).
(2022-04-28). Short-staffing at California Tenet hospitals forces nurses to picket. peoplesworld.org 
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—The coronavirus pandemic's impact may be over—at least for now—at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., but its impact on the nursing staff, or what's left of it, isn't. And that problem, specifically short-staffing which harms patient care and burnt-out veteran nurses quitting in droves, sent California Nurses Association/National Nurses …