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Legendary <keyword id="19918921" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hollywood-actor" source="keywords">Hollywood actor</keyword> <keyword id="20740436" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Al-Pacino" source="keywords">Al Pacino</keyword>, known for his iconic roles in The Godfather trilogy and Scarface, recently opened up about a terrifying moment during the <keyword id="19897423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19" source="keywords">COVID-19</keyword> pandemic when he thought he had "experienced death." The 84-year-old actor, in an interview with <keyword id="20038431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="People-magazine" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="People magazine" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="People magazine">People magazine</keyword>, recounted how he fainted while battling the virus in 2020 and was left questioning his very existence when a nurse attending to him couldn’t detect a pulse. Pacino revealed that it was his "great assistant" Michael Quinn who quickly acted, summoning paramedics to his <keyword id="19914983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Los-Angeles" source="keywords">Los Angeles</keyword> home. "He got the people coming, because the nurse that was taking care of me said, 'I don't feel a pulse on this guy,'" Pacino recalled, describing the scene as something straight out of a movie. For a brief moment, the actor believed he had passed away. "I thought I experienced death," Pacino said, "because how did all those people gather together? There was an ambulance in front of my house, six paramedics in my living room, and two of my doctors in space suits. I opened my eyes and thought, 'What happened to me?'" But despite the dramatic circumstances, Pacino doesn’t seem too shaken by the ordeal. "Everybody thought I was dead. I didn't," he said. "If I was dead, I fainted. And when I came to, it was all gone." Quoting Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet—“To be, or not to be”—Pacino mused on the fragility of life but admitted the experience didn’t leave any lasting change on how he lives. When asked whether the health scare had any effect on his outlook, Pacino simply responded, "Not at all." Pacino, who has lived a life filled with memorable roles, fame, and critical acclaim, seems to be taking this near-brush with death in stride. In fact, he’s keeping busy, with his upcoming memoir *Sonny Boy* on the horizon and a role in <keyword id="19920478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Johnny-Depp" source="keywords">Johnny Depp</keyword>'s directorial project *Modi - Three Days on the Wing of Madness*, which is set for a December 5 release. While many may see such a health scare as a turning point, Pacino remains remarkably unchanged by it. His outlook on life and death, much like his characters on screen, is marked by a sense of calm amidst the chaos. Whether fainting during a pandemic or standing before the camera, Pacino's resilient spirit continues to define him as one of Hollywood's most enduring stars.

'I thought I experienced death': Al Pacino talks about battling Covid-19

A week or two of cold and cough can make you conjure up some pretty odd conspiracy theories. The freshest one that I cooked up this week is that 'Big Tissue' wishes to keep everyone sick, and therefore they collaborate with 'The Scientists' to keep them from making a cure. After all, the world witnessed researchers demonstrate incredible and hasty success in combating <keyword id="19897423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19" source="keywords">COVID-19</keyword>, and yet, the <keyword id="20237676" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="common-cold" source="keywords">common cold</keyword> remains an seemingly elusive target. But far from being an actual conspiracy, there are several real reasons why we haven’t yet cracked the code to curing the cold, despite decades of research. So grab your tissues, folks, and let's get into them. <h2><keyword id="23387393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="viral-diversity" source="keywords">Viral diversity</keyword></h2>One major hurdle in curing the common cold is the sheer diversity of viruses involved. Over 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, with <keyword id="23387392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rhinoviruses" source="keywords">rhinoviruses</keyword> responsible for up to 75% of cases. Rhinoviruses alone consist of more than 160 known strains. This viral diversity makes it extremely difficult to develop a universal vaccine or treatment. Unlike SARS-CoV-2, which has one main spike protein target, cold viruses come in a dizzying array of structures and behaviours, requiring a vast array of medical solutions. In contrast, when COVID-19 emerged, researchers focused primarily on one virus and one major target — its spike protein. That focus allowed for the rapid development of <keyword id="19953288" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccines" source="keywords">vaccines</keyword> using mRNA technology, like those from Pfizer and Moderna. For the common cold, a similar solution isn’t feasible due to the multiple viral families involved. <h2><keyword id="20862236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutations" source="keywords">Mutations</keyword> and adaptations</h2>Another issue is how quickly cold viruses mutate. Rhinoviruses, for example, are known for their high mutation rates. This rapid evolution allows them to evade the immune system, which is why even if you’ve had a cold before, you're not immune to future infections from different strains. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113757960" title="Healthcare in India faces massive strain as costs rise by 14% annually; most expenses paid out-of-pocket" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>This rapid mutation is akin to how COVID-19 has evolved into variants, but with cold viruses, it happens on an even greater scale. Scientists fear that if they developed a vaccine, new strains would quickly render it ineffective, much like how seasonal flu vaccines must be reformulated annually. <h2>Mildness of the illness</h2>Ironically, one reason the common cold hasn’t been cured is because it’s too mild to warrant massive investment. Most people recover from a cold without medical intervention. While cold symptoms are annoying — runny nose, sore throat, cough — they rarely escalate into serious illness. As a result, pharmaceutical companies and governments have little financial incentive to pour billions into research for a disease that poses no significant threat to public health. COVID-19, on the other hand, caused severe illness and death on a global scale, spurring massive investment from both the public and private sectors. Governments and companies alike invested heavily in research and fast-tracked vaccines, which led to solutions much quicker than we’ve seen for colds. <h2>Complex, complex immune system</h2>The immune system’s response to cold viruses is also a significant factor. Studies have shown that repeated exposure to cold viruses over a lifetime results in limited immunity. For instance, research from Harvard points out that even though the body produces antibodies after a cold, the <keyword id="20082133" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="immune-response" source="keywords">immune response</keyword> isn't strong enough to prevent future infections from slightly different strains. This is in stark contrast to diseases like measles, where one infection can result in lifelong immunity. COVID-19 benefitted from its novelty. The immune system had never encountered SARS-CoV-2 before, making it easier to target with vaccines that produce a strong and specific immune response. Here’s an additional fun fact: because there are SO many different strains of common cold-causing viruses, research says that it is unlikely that you will be infected with the same strain of common cold twice throughout your life! <h2>Attempts to develop treatments</h2>There have been attempts to develop treatments for the common cold. Some researchers have targeted the way viruses enter and replicate in human cells. For example, a 2018 study explored inhibiting the protein that cold viruses use to replicate, showing some promise in early trials. However, most of these treatments are in the experimental phase, and none have been widely successful yet. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113284254" title="Gastro problems could heighten Parkinson&amp;#39;s disease risk by 76%, study finds" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In recent years, attention has shifted towards using broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that can target multiple viruses at once, similar to how some antibiotics work against a range of bacteria. However, this approach has yet to yield a major breakthrough. The idea of a universal cure for the common cold remains distant, but advances in genetic research and vaccine technology offer some hope. For example, CRISPR technology may allow scientists to edit out the genetic components that cold viruses rely on to replicate. Additionally, the mRNA technology used for COVID-19 vaccines has opened new possibilities for antiviral treatments, although these applications are still in early stages. Research continues, but for now, humanity may have to continue battling sniffles and coughs the old-fashioned way: with rest, fluids, and time.

How did we manage to deal with COVID-19 so quickly, but the common cold still remains a persisting problem?

The far-reaching consequences of the <keyword id="19955291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19-pandemic" source="keywords">COVID-19 pandemic</keyword> have reshaped humanity’s future in ways we are only beginning to understand. This global health crisis didn’t just disrupt lives—it also shattered nearly a decade of global health progress, a startling new report by the <keyword id="19902256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organisation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Health Organisation" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Health Organisation">World Health Organisation</keyword> (<keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="WHO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="WHO">WHO</keyword>) has revealed. According to the <keyword id="21164185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Statistics" source="keywords">World Health Statistics</keyword> 2024 report, the <keyword id="8763838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19" source="Orion">COVID-19</keyword> pandemic reversed over a decade of advancements in <keyword id="21716169" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-life-expectancy" source="keywords">global life expectancy</keyword> within a mere two years. From 2019 to 2021, <keyword id="14078" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="life-expectancy" source="Orion">life expectancy</keyword> worldwide plummeted by 1.8 years, dropping to 71.4 years. Similarly, global <keyword id="21842689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthy-life-expectancy" source="keywords">healthy life expectancy</keyword> decreased by 1.5 years, falling to 61.9 years. The last time both these levels were so low was back in 2012! The report also underscores the uneven impact of the pandemic across different regions. The WHO regions of Southeast Asia and the Americas were hit the hardest, experiencing a decline in life expectancy by approximately three years and a drop in healthy life expectancy by 2.5 years between 2019 and 2021. In stark contrast, the Western Pacific Region saw minimal effects during the same period, with losses of less than 0.1 years in life expectancy and 0.2 years in healthy life expectancy. Furthermore, COVID-19 swiftly became a leading cause of death, ranking as the third highest globally in 2020 and the second in 2021, claiming nearly 13 million lives during this period. The latest data indicates that, except in the African and Western Pacific regions, COVID-19 was among the top five causes of death, notably becoming the leading cause of death in the Americas for both years. “There continues to be major progress in global health, with billions of people who are enjoying better health, better access to services, and better protection from health emergencies. But we must remember how fragile progress can be,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “In just two years, the COVID-19 pandemic erased a decade of gains in life expectancy. That's why the new <keyword id="21604359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pandemic-Agreement" source="keywords">Pandemic Agreement</keyword> is so important: not only to strengthen global health security, but to protect long-term investments in health and promote equity within and between countries.” The new Pandemic Agreement, also known as the ‘Pandemic Accord’ or ‘Pandemic Treaty’, is an international pact currently under negotiation by the 194 member states of the WHO. This accord aims to enhance global readiness and response to pandemics, ensuring the world can effectively prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health crises. The negotiation process is spearheaded by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), established by the <keyword id="20294860" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-assembly" source="keywords">World Health Assembly</keyword> in 2021. The INB's goal is to finalise the agreement for adoption at the 2024 World Health Assembly, scheduled from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland. This year's Health Assembly theme, ‘All for Health, Health for All,’ underscores the universal commitment to this crucial initiative.

COVID-19 pandemic caused global life expectancy to fall back to 2012 levels, erasing a decade’s worth of progress: WHO

The pharmaceutical giant <keyword id="19910149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AstraZeneca" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AstraZeneca" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AstraZeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword>'s <keyword id="20040659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19-vaccine" source="keywords">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> is being withdrawn worldwide after the company acknowledged for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, according to a report in the British Newspaper 'The Telegraph'. AstraZeneca has announced that the <keyword id="19959412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine" source="keywords">vaccine</keyword> was being removed from markets for commercial reasons. It further said that the vaccine was no longer being made or supplied, having been superseded by updated vaccines that fight new variants. The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7. The vaccine can be no longer used in the European Union following the company's decision to withdraw its "marketing authorisation." Similar applications will be submitted in the UK and other nations in the coming months that have given a go-ahead to the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria. In recent months, Vaxzevria has come under scrutiny over a very rare side effect, which causes blood clots and low blood platelet counts. In court documents, AstraZeneca in the High Court in February admitted that the vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause <keyword id="20218859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TTS" source="keywords">TTS</keyword>". TTS which stands for <keyword id="21475609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrombosis-with-Thrombocytopenia-Syndrome" source="keywords">Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome</keyword> has been associated with at least 81 deaths in the UK and hundreds of serious injuries. More than 50 alleged victims and grieving relatives have filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca in a High Court case. AstraZeneca has insisted that the decision to withdraw the vaccine is not related to the case or admission that it can cause TTS and termed the timing a pure coincidence, according to The Telegraph report. "We are incredibly proud of the role Vaxzevria played in ending the global pandemic. According to independent estimates, over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were supplied globally. Our efforts have been recognised by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic," The Telegraph quoted AstraZeneca as saying. In a statement, the pharmaceutical giant said, "As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines", adding that it has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied, The Telegraph reported. It further announced its decision to initiate the withdrawal of the marketing authorisations for Vaxzevria within Europe. The company said, "We will now work with regulators and our partners to align on a clear path forward to conclude this chapter and significant contribution to the Covid-19 pandemic." Last week, AstraZeneca reiterated its commitment to patient safety while emphasising the vaccine's overall safety profile. An AstraZeneca spokesperson had stated, "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines." This comes in the wake of a recent admission by AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, that its <keyword id="19896627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid" source="keywords">Covid</keyword> vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)." Despite these rare occurrences, the pharmaceutical company maintained that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently support the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects. 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AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, cites commercial reasons

In a world that often seems to be moving faster and faster, <keyword id="22852026" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maria-Branyas-Morera" source="keywords">Maria Branyas Morera</keyword> was a quiet testament to the art of living slowly and meaningfully. Born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, California, Maria’s life was a mosaic of history, resilience, and quiet wisdom. This week, the curtains finally closed on her remarkable life as she peacefully passed away in her sleep on August 19, at the age of 117, in Olot, Spain. Maria’s story reads like a novel that spans more than a century. She survived two World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, and even COVID-19, just weeks after her 113th birthday. Yet, she never saw herself as a hero, once telling a Spanish newspaper, "I haven't done anything extraordinary; the only thing I did was live." And live she did, in the most extraordinary fashion. Her final days were marked by a profound sense of peace and acceptance. In a poignant post translated by her family on X (formerly known as Twitter), Maria hinted at the close of her journey, saying, "One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yogurt, nor pet my dog. I will also leave my memories, my reflections and I will cease to exist in this body. One day I don't know, but it's very close, this long journey will be over." <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112689842" title="The world&amp;#39;s oldest person just died at 117 with a clean bill of health. Here are her 5 longevity tips." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>It’s no wonder that her passing leaves a void not only in her family but also among the countless people who admired her from afar. The nursing home where she spent her final 20 years described her as an "endearing woman" who taught them "the value of life and the wisdom of the years." As the world mourns Maria, the title of the world’s <keyword id="22856019" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="oldest-person" source="keywords">oldest person</keyword> now passes to <keyword id="22864681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tomiko-Itooka" source="keywords">Tomiko Itooka</keyword> of <keyword id="19904740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Japan" source="keywords">Japan</keyword>, who was born on May 23, 1908. At 116 years old, Tomiko carries the torch of <keyword id="20186177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="longevity" source="keywords">longevity</keyword> into the future, her life now under the curious eyes of a world fascinated by those who manage to stretch the human lifespan to its limits. <h2>India’s living saint: <keyword id="20353301" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swami-Sivananda" source="keywords">Swami Sivananda</keyword></h2>Closer to home, India has its own beacon of longevity in Swami Sivananda, who has claimed to be born on August 8, 1896, and is now 127 years old. Swami Sivananda, who lives in Varanasi, has become a global symbol of health and spiritual well-being, drawing attention not only for his age but also for his incredible vitality. He has attributed his long life to a simple and disciplined lifestyle, which includes regular yoga, a strict vegetarian diet, and, perhaps most importantly, an unshakable inner peace. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111363687" title="I was nervous when my teenagers started dating. I learned to set simple expectations and allow room for mistakes." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As we reflect on the lives of these remarkable individuals, we are reminded that the true measure of a long life isn’t just the years accumulated, but the grace, wisdom, and humility with which those years are lived. Maria Branyas Morera may no longer be with us, but her legacy — much like that of Swami Sivananda — will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.

World’s oldest person Maria Branyas Morera passes away at 117; Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka now oldest

Data from the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="keywords">World Health Organization</keyword> (WHO) indicates that more than 80% of <keyword id="19897423" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="COVID-19" source="keywords">COVID-19</keyword>-related deaths between 2020 and 2021 occurred in people aged 60 and above. Subsequent studies consistently highlighted the increased vulnerability of those over 65 to severe COVID-19 symptoms, and now researchers may have uncovered the reason behind this trend. To comprehend how the corona<keyword id="19994619" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virus" source="keywords">virus</keyword> attacks our bodies, a study investigated the role of our noses, which are the initial point of contact with the virus. Researchers aimed to understand how nasal cells react to the <keyword id="20249557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SARS-CoV-2" source="keywords">SARS-CoV-2</keyword> virus, hoping to uncover insights for tailored treatment approaches for different age demographics. The study focused on the early impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human nasal epithelial cells (NECs). Epithelial cells, abundant throughout our bodies, play crucial roles in bodily functions and protection. Researchers cultured NECs to replicate the nasal cavity's cellular environment and infected them with SARS-CoV-2. Analysing cells from participants across various age brackets, including children (0-11 years), adults (30-50 years), and the <keyword id="19948381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elderly" source="keywords">elderly</keyword> (over 70 years), the study identified age-specific responses to the virus. Children's NECs quickly increased interferon production upon SARS-CoV-2 exposure, effectively limiting viral replication. In contrast, NECs from older individuals exhibited increased viral replication, accompanied by heightened cell shedding and damage. This disparity may explain why <keyword id="21324937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="older-people" source="keywords">older people</keyword> face a higher risk of severe COVID-19, despite widespread vaccination efforts. Lead author Claire Smith explains, "Our research highlights age-related changes in nasal cells and their impact on our ability to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. This insight is crucial for developing targeted antiviral treatments, especially for older adults who are at greater risk of severe COVID-19." Understanding age-specific differences in nasal cell response to SARS-CoV-2 could lead to targeted antiviral therapies that boost interferon production in older adults, potentially reducing the severity of COVID-19 and lowering mortality rates in this demographic. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of considering age as a significant factor in researching and treating infectious diseases. Beyond COVID-19, future studies should explore how <keyword id="19900302" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ageing" source="keywords">ageing</keyword> affects the body's response to other viral infections, informing preventive measures and therapeutic interventions across different age groups. The research findings have been published in Nature Microbiology and can be accessed <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01658-1" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

The ageing of nasal tissues may explain why older people are more affected by COVID-19: research

The number of new <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">COVID</keyword> cases increased by 52 per cent during the past four-odd weeks, the <keyword id="6366244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="who" source="Orion">WHO</keyword> said, with over 850 000 new cases reported during the period. The number of new <keyword id="6419711" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deaths" source="Orion">deaths</keyword> decreased by 8 per cent as compared to the previous 28-day period, with over 3,000 new fatalities reported, World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest press release. As of December 17, over 772 million confirmed cases and nearly seven million deaths have been reported globally since the onset of COVID-19, the WHO noted. Further, the WHO said over 118,000 new COVID-19 hospitalisations and over 1600 new intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been recorded, with an overall increase of 23 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively, globally. As of December 18, 2023, JN.1, a sub-lineage of BA.2.86 Omicron variant has been designated a separate variant of interest (VOI) apart from its parent lineage BA.2.86 due to its rapid increase in prevalence in recent weeks. Globally, EG.5 remains the most reported variant of interest. Due to its rapidly increasing spread, WHO is classifying the variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOI) from the parent lineage BA.2.86. It was previously classified as VOI as part of BA.2.86 sublineages. Based on the available evidence, the additional global public <keyword id="6467758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risk" source="Orion">health risk</keyword> posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low. Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of <keyword id="862979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="respiratory-infections" source="Orion">respiratory infections</keyword> in many countries. The WHO had earlier said it was continuously monitoring the evidence and would update the JN.1 risk evaluation as needed. Current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it noted. COVID-19 is not the only respiratory disease circulating. Influenza, RSV, and common childhood pneumonia are also on the rise. The WHO advises people to take measures to prevent infections and severe disease using all available tools. These include wearing a mask when in crowded, enclosed, or poorly ventilated areas, keeping a safe distance from others, practicing respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes), cleaning hands regularly, and getting tested if one has any symptoms or if you might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or influenza.

Number of new Covid cases increased 52% globally in past one month: WHO

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ariel Sophia Bardi was dealing with grief and was unhappy with her desk job.</li><li>When the opportunity to travel to Algeria for her 40th birthday came up, she jumped at the chance. </li></ul>I was chest-deep in bathwater, listening to the sound of soapy foam popping. I'd timed the moment so that when the clock struck midnight — and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/altitude-psychosis-hiking-hallucinations-mountain-climbing-rules-to-follow-avoid-2024-8">I turned 40</a> — I'd be soaking in a bubble bath on the coast of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-travel-full-time-make-money-social-media-2023-9">Algeria</a>. I needed an elegant backdrop as I stared my future in the face.I'd splurged on a single night in a sprawling hilltop estate with arches and colorful tiles. Palms rustled outside my window, and lights twinkled over the Bay of Algiers. The hotel had been constructed in a Moorish revival style at the end of the 19th century. I was used to more spartan sleeping arrangements, having spent much of my 30s as a freelance journalist. For the past several years, I'd been working a desk job and on autopilot. It started at some point during those mushy, airless pandemic years. A therapist would pinpoint my numbness to when my dad's heart suddenly stopped, in 2020. <h2 id="05278691-3b1e-4411-acea-ab3d0c3145d6">Dealing with grief while working a desk job</h2>In those Covid-averse days, nobody wanted to gather in groups, least of all to embrace tearful, snotty mourners. So, we never had a funeral. I flew to California, where my dad spent his final years, and gathered with my brothers, hoping to do something symbolic, like stack stones at the beach or scream into the surf. But a Trump rally was whooping through town that day, and the sky glimmered apocalyptic-orange from wildfires. We renounced our imagined grieving rituals. Eating fish tacos in a socially distanced circle would have to suffice. But malaise had already crept in before that staggering loss. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loved-company-bored-at-work-found-dream-job-2024-3">Life had grown predictable</a> and soft, thickening around the middle like an aging waistline. Overwork had something to do with it. I'd spent carefree years bouncing around Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Mexico, India and Armenia. Then in my mid-30s, I wandered into a<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/return-to-office-hybrid-work-model-quit-jobs-2023-8"> full-time desk job</a>. "Living death," that's how my philosopher-slash-guitarist father had nicknamed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fight-return-to-office-mandates-remote-work-amazon-apple-2023-3">office work</a>. No surprises. Every day felt the same. The role itself — designing photo exhibits and documenting peace initiatives — was often fascinating, and I welcomed the reprieve from financial precarity. But sitting under fluorescent lights all day made me feel like a caged panther. Or maybe a cyborg. I wasn't prepared for<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-vacations-work-trends-culture-pto-travel-job-stress-2024-6"> corporate culture</a>. Months in, a colleague's mother died. "Condolences," I wrote as the subject line of an Outlook email, though I wanted to shatter our cubicle decorum and howl in vicarious despair. Then, my own dad died, and the colleague simply hit reply and added her own message of sympathy. How bleak our bloodless exchange felt. Was this how I'd spend the rest of my life, marking traumatic milestones with Microsoft Office notifications? <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/stages-of-grief">Grief was overwhelming</a>, but productivity required putting on a happy face at work. I soldiered ahead joylessly. Firing off four dozen emails a day became a grim escape — a way not to think, a way to cushion myself from new experiences, and thus further loss. To no one's surprise, burnout followed. <div type="image" title="View from hotel overlooking the Bay of Algiers" height="4000" width="6000" msid="113377531" hostid="261" sizebytes="725790"></div><h2 id="69e9182f-8a49-4e0a-b4de-77e58e9fd129">A freelance job helped me feel free again</h2>I needed to start living again. That meant salvaging parts of myself I'd jettisoned on my race to adulthood, including the itinerant writer in me. When a magazine offered me an assignment in Algeria, I jumped at the chance. This would be my first solo reporting trip in four years. Could I still navigate unfamiliar cities alone or cold-call strangers? Luckily, after a few days in Oran and Algiers, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-muscle-memory-brain-cerebellum-2015-4">muscle memory</a> took over. In the name of research, I started hitting up red-lit clubs, where cabaret singers warbled risqué Arabic lyrics to crowds sloppy with whisky. One night, around 2 a.m., I squinted through threads of smoke at the man crooning into a mic, ears ringing violently, and thought: "This is exactly where I want to be." On the eve of my landmark birthday, contemplating my feet splayed over the tiled tub in my hotel suite, I thought about how rai singers — a form of Algerian folk music — were paragons of living boldly. Rai singers had even been assassinated for making music. I make no comparison between their incredible courage and my own infinitely milder risks, which soon included drifting back to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-rto-return-workplace-quitting-job-office-trends-freelance-benefits-2023-7">freelance work</a>. But when you consider women of earlier generations, whose lives were narrowly circumscribed between marriage and motherhood, the idea of living by one's own wits starts to feel pretty radical. There's nothing wrong with wanting a more conventional path or a less messy career. But on the cusp of midlife, what I still craved was the thrill of a blank page.

'Living death' was my dad's nickname for office work. Now I'm in my 40s — and I can see why.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New Jersey's nursing homes are battling COVID-19 once again as new variants spread through the US.</li><li>One in every four facilities has reported an outbreak over the past week, according to state data.</li></ul>In New Jersey, elderly people are coming under threat from COVID-19 once again as new variants spread across the US.One out of every four nursing homes and assisted living facilities there reported outbreaks of the virus last week, according to <a href="https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/LTC/LTC_Facilities_Outbreaks_List.pdf?_gl=1*5fp5e2*_ga*MTY2MDI5ODQxNS4xNjkzNTg0MzUx*_ga_5PWJJG6642*MTY5MzU4NDc4My4xLjEuMTY5MzU4NTEwMC4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener">state health department data</a>.The latest figures show that 158 nursing homes are battling COVID-19 outbreaks across New Jersey, leading to 1,861 cases and 15 deaths among residents and staff.On Friday, the Biden administration pledged to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-seeks-minimum-staff-levels-us-nursing-homes-2023-09-01/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bring in new laws to prevent chronic understaffing in nursing homes</a>.A fact sheet on its proposed changes said that over 200,000 nursing home residents and workers had died from COVID-19, making up about one-fifth of the US's total death toll.The spike in cases in New Jersey facilities comes with hospitalizations and deaths resulting from coronavirus ticking up nationwide.<a href="https://www.insider.com/new-covid-variant-eris-symptoms-transmission-2023-8">The Eris variant</a> has become the dominant strain, and accounts for over 20% of all US COVID-19 cases, according to the <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centers for Disease Control</a> – although it doesn't appear to make people any sicker than other existing strains.Eris' symptoms seem similar to other variants' and include cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue.Hospitalizations from the disease rose 19% and deaths jumped 18% in the most recent weeks for which data is available, per data from the <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CDC</a>.As well as nursing homes, some education bodies have struggled to contain the spread of the virus, with <a href="https://themessenger.com/health/covid-school-closures-kentucky-scottlockard-kevinhall-lee-county-respiratory-virus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two districts in Kentucky</a> and <a href="https://themessenger.com/health/covid-school-closures-texas-sanantonio-staff-karnes-county-classes-canceled" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in Texas</a> shutting their schools down after a spike in cases.The CDC doesn't expect to have to reintroduce mask mandates or update vaccine programs anytime soon despite the spread of COVID-19 across the US, with the group's director saying last month that she didn't expect Eris to drive any shift in policy."What we're seeing with the changes in the viruses, they're still susceptible to our vaccine, they're still susceptible to our medicines, they're still picked up by the tests," Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an interview on former Biden administration adviser Andy Slavitt's <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/in-the-bubble/the-new-cdc-director-on-the-covid-wave-w-dr-mandy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"In the Bubble" podcast</a> on August 9."We're seeing small changes that are what I would call subtypes of what we've seen before."

Nursing homes in New Jersey battle COVID-19 surge as hospitalizations and deaths caused by new variants jump across the US

For the past few years, communicating the devastating perils of <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword> was typically carried out by weaponising numbers, charts, and the occasional splattering of soup on paintings. Now, the process has turned far more visual and gruesome — the common man watches in anguish as unprecedented floods drown hundreds in Brazil, Kenya, and the UAE, while brutal heatwaves incapacitate elections in India. The latest climate atrocity has befallen the holy city of <keyword id="6364756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mecca" source="Orion">Mecca</keyword> in <keyword id="50996" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="saudi-arabia" source="Orion">Saudi Arabia</keyword>, where blistering heatwaves have already killed an estimated 900 pilgrims during the annual Hajj rites. According to reports, temperatures have climbed to nearly 52°C in the city, where about 1.8 million devotees have gathered for the days-long outdoor procession. Around 175,000 Indians also attended Hajj this year, of whom 68 Indian nationals have been confirmed dead by Saudi Arabian diplomats. According to an AFP report, these fatalities have been attributed to “natural causes” as well as “weather conditions.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is Hajj?" comment="subhead" text="What is Hajj?">What is Hajj?</cmsannotation> Just like Indian Hindus may indulge in the annual Kanwar, Amarnath or the Char Dham Yatras, many Muslims embark on a yearly Hajj <keyword id="44351" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pilgrimage" source="Orion">pilgrimage</keyword> to the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In Islam, Hajj — meaning pilgrimage made to the central religious ‘Kaaba’ monument—is considered a mandatory pious duty for all adult Muslims physically and financially capable of making the journey. The process of pilgrimage takes around a week — with tens of hours outdoors—and takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. Since 2015, this has fallen during the Saudi Arabian summers, when temperatures typically cross 40°C. During certain rites such as the Tawaf, eating food is prohibited, but drinking is encouraged due to the risk of dehydration amid such hot environments. Barring the COVID-19 lockdown years, the Hajj pilgrimage typically draws millions of visitors to Mecca, resulting in severe levels of crowding. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is the scale of the devastation?" comment="subhead" text="What is the scale of the devastation?">What is the scale of the devastation?</cmsannotation> While Saudi Arabia has refrained from provided official information on the tragic fatalities, they report that over 2,700 people suffered from “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone. This comes despite large investments in stringent safety measures — a stark necessity considering that deaths due to heat and other causes have become a common sight during Hajj. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Why did it happen and what’s next?" comment="subhead" text="Why did it happen and what’s next?">Why did it happen and what’s next?</cmsannotation> Saudi Arabia, being an arid and hot region, can witness temperatures climbing to especially unbearable levels during its summer months. Further, these temperatures have continued to climb over the past few decades, courtesy of climate change. This can inflict a plethora of heat-related health issues on the devotees that take part in the outdoor pilgrimage during Hajj. According to 2019 MIT research, worsening heat and humidity conditions are set to worsen in several areas where Hajj takes place, posing “extreme danger” to the pilgrims. These dangers are inevitable and will continue to mount even if substantial measures are taken to curb the effects of climate change, the study explains. Further, as extreme conditions worsen, it lowers the tolerance of the heat-stressed pilgrims in crowds, leading to deadly confrontations and incidents. In 1990, a stampede killed nearly 1,500 people, while another led to the death of nearly a thousand people in 2015. According to MIT study author Elfatih Eltahir, these incidents coincided with peaks in temperature and humidity in the region. “If you have crowding in a location,” notes Eltahir, “the harsher the weather conditions are, the more likely it is that crowding would lead to incidents.” Hajj will continue to take place in the hottest summer months of Saudi Arabia from 2047 to 2052, and again from 2079 to 2086. Additionally, it is notable that a large number of the Hajj pilgrims constitute the elderly with ageing-related health conditions. For instance, about 40% of the thousands of Indonesians attending Hajj in 2023 were older devotees, according to the WHO. Health risks such as fatigue, dehydration, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and MERS-CoV have the capacity to cause more damage to such attendees. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is being done to protect pilgrims during Hajj?" comment="subhead" text="What is being done to protect pilgrims during Hajj?">What is being done to protect pilgrims during Hajj?</cmsannotation> The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has already invested billions in constructing infrastructure such as air-conditioned tents for pilgrims who are able to avail these services. Further, numerous hospitals and clinics are set up in and around Mecca, with emergency response teams on standby to provide immediate medical attention. The availability of clean drinking water at various points prevents dehydration, and ample sanitation facilities help maintain hygiene and prevent the spread of diseases. To manage any agitations, Saudi authorities schedule and stagger the times for different rites to avoid overcrowding. Significant infrastructure improvements, such as the expansion of the Jamarat Bridge and the Masjid al-Haram, have enhanced crowd flow. Clear signage, barriers, and guides help direct the movement of pilgrims, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth transitions between different rites.

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