Smell and Taste changes are basic indication of COVID-19

Source:           Penn State

Summary:       Self-reports of smell and taste changes provide earlier markers of the spread of infection of SARS-CoV-2 than current governmental indicators, according to an international team of researchers. The researchers also observed a decline in self-reports of smell and taste changes as early as five days after lock down enforcement, with faster declines reported in countries that adopted the most stringent lock down measures.

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Full Story:

Self-reports of smell and taste changes provide earlier markers of the spread of infection of SARS-CoV-2 than current governmental indicators, according to an international team of researchers. The researchers also observed a decline in self-reports of smell and taste changes as early as five days after lock down enforcement, with faster declines reported in countries that adopted the most stringent lock down measures.

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have taken drastic measures to prevent their intensive care units from becoming overwhelmed with patients,” said John Hayes, professor of food science, Penn State. “Our research suggests that an increase in the incidence of sudden smell and taste change in the general population may indicate that COVID-19 is spreading. This knowledge could help decision-makers take important measures at the local level, either in catching new outbreaks sooner, or in guiding the relaxation of local lockdowns, given the strong impact of lockdown on economic and social activities.”

In their study, which published on Oct. 14 in Nature Communications, the researchers used data from the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research survey, a global, crowd-sourced online study deployed in more than 35 languages. Specifically, the team examined data that were collected from April 7 to May 14, 2020, although study recruitment is still ongoing.

Also Read; https://saadtraders.pk/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-what-parents-should-know/

In addition, the team looked at data from the French government — which beginning on May 7, 2020, has been categorizing various geographical areas of the country as red or green, depending on their COVID-19 prevalence. Compared to green areas, red areas were characterized by higher active circulation of the virus, higher levels of pressure on hospitals and reduced capacity to test new cases.

Finally, to determine whether self-reported smell and taste loss could serve as an early indicator of the number of COVID-19 cases, and therefore hospital stress, the team compared data from France with data from Italy and the United Kingdom, each of which implemented lockdown measures at different times and with different levels of stringency.

“Our primary aim was to test the association between self-reported smell and taste changes and indicators of pressure in hospitals, such as COVID-related hospitalizations, critical care resuscitation unit admissions and mortality rates, for each French administrative region over the last three months,” said Veronica Pereda-Loth, lead researcher at the Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III in France. “Our secondary aim was to examine temporal relationships between the peak of smell and taste changes in the population and the peak of COVID-19 cases and the application of lockdown measures.”

Overall, the team found that smell and taste changes were better correlated with the number of COVID-19 admissions to hospitals than France’s current governmental indicators, which look at the ratio of ER consultations for suspicion of COVID-19 to general ER consultations. Specifically, the researchers found that the peak onset of changes in smell/taste appeared four days after lockdown measures were implemented. In contrast, the governmental indicator based on ER consultations peaked 11 days after the lockdown.

“Our findings are consistent with emerging data showing that COVID-19-related changes in smell and taste occur in the first few days after infection,” said Hayes. “They suggest that self-reports of smell and taste changes are closely associated with hospital overload and are early markers of the spread of infection of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, potential outbreaks and the short-term efficacy of a lockdown could be monitored by tracking changes in smell and taste in the population.”

Data collection for multiple GCCR studies are still ongoing. You can participate by going to https://gcchemosensr.org.

Other authors on the paper include Denis Pierron, Veronica Pereda-Loth, Omar Alva, Julie Kabous, Margit Heiske and Thierry Letellier at Universite Paul-Sabiater Toulouse III; Marylou Mantel, Maelle Moranges, Camille Ferdenzi and Moustafa Bensafi at Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1; Emmanuelle Bignon, Jody Pacalon, Jerome Golebiowski and Renaud David at Universite Cote d’Azur; Caterina Dinnella, Sara Spinelli and Erminio Monteleone at University of Florence; Michael C. Farruggia at Yale University; Keiland W. Cooper at University of California, Irvine; Elizabeth A. Sell at University of Pennsylvania; Thierry Thomas-Danguin at University Bourgogne Franche-Comte; Alyssa J. Bakke at Penn State; and Valentina Parma at Temple University.

This work was supported financially by EXTREM-O (CNRS MITI), CONFINEZ2 (CNES), the CORODORAT grant (IDEX-Lyon-Universite de Lyon), by the French government, through the UCAJEDI “Investments in the Future” project managed by the ANR grant No. ANR-15-IDEX-01. Deployment of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research survey in multiple languages was partially supported by funds from James and Helen Zallie and the Penn State Sensory Evaluation Center.

 Story Source:

Materials provided by Penn State. Original written by Sara LaJeunesse. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Denis Pierron, Veronica Pereda-Loth, Marylou Mantel, Maëlle Moranges, Emmanuelle Bignon, Omar Alva, Julie Kabous, Margit Heiske, Jody Pacalon, Renaud David, Caterina Dinnella, Sara Spinelli, Erminio Monteleone, Michael C. Farruggia, Keiland W. Cooper, Elizabeth A. Sell, Thierry Thomas-Danguin, Alyssa J. Bakke, Valentina Parma, John E. Hayes, Thierry Letellier, Camille Ferdenzi, Jérôme Golebiowski, Moustafa Bensafi. Smell and taste changes are early indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic and political decision effectiveness. Nature Communications, 2020; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18963-y

 Cite This Page:

Penn State. “Smell and taste changes provide early indication of COVID-19 community spread.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 November 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201111153107.htm>.

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We are still facing an unpredictable condition as more Covid-19 cases Worldwide, which is why it’s important to do a vigilant check of your policies and procedures to keep clients, patients and employee safe and sound.

This can take many forms: In the workplace, it means reducing exposure, such as limiting staff in the lunchroom or demanding face masks. It means limiting non-essential meetings and leveraging video conferencing with your team whenever possible. It means shared physical space between employees and patients, including avoiding greetings that involve touching or hugging.

Of course, with all new things come encounters, and we are seeing new information daily. In this continuation, I am sharing and updated latest practices for leaders, whether their teams are still working from home or preparing to return at site environment.

Also read: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): What parents should know

Maximize remote team’s productivity.

What if a certain employee is still having trouble adjusting to remote work, and as a result, productivity levels drop? By offering productivity tools and tricks, this challenge can be alleviated. Let’s consider some choices:

1. Provide resources for a proper work-from-home setup. 

Educate staff on an appropriate workstation setup and remote work prerequisites.

2. Define planning and goal setting for remote employees. 

Communicate with team members that SMART planning and goal setting is compulsory. Lead video meetings to delegate tasks to the appropriate team members and follow up on progress via video conferencing. This strategy sets a real tone for employee accountability, engagement and discipline.

3. Host virtual happy hours to keep team members connected. 

Many employees experience anxiety and isolation when working from home. Solution? Spend time with your team catching up, and not necessarily about work. Virtual happy hours are a great tactic to overcome negative feelings of social distancing and instead, create a positive feeling of relevancy. Person-to-person interactions are the building blocks of culture, even virtually.

4. Demonstrate empathy for employees balancing child care during the workday. 

Many day care services have closed their doors; even if some are reopening, parents may not be fully comfortable releasing their children back into the public child care system yet. Solution? Have a conversation with your team about staggering shifts, or set a schedule that allows employees to balance work and child care with their partners’ schedules.

5. Carefully consider when it is safe for your team to return to the office.

When an infectious disease no longer exhausts the medical center’s capability to handle it, the threat would be considered lower risk. As a CEO, business owner and leader, it is your special duty to do your due diligence before opening your corporate doors. 

Here are some factors to consider:

• Where are you located? This is the most vital element to consider. Monitor Covid-19 cases and stats within your vicinity to reach a decision. In British Columbia, where I’m located, the rate of Covid-19 cases is relatively low compared to the rest of Canada. In Florida, at time of writing, cases are increasing daily. Keep up withlive Coronavirus updatesbefore you consider full operation, and always pay attention to the most up-to-date information from reliable public health sources.
• How big is your office space, and how many employees do you have? These two factors are correlated. Do you have enough space in your office to create a structured layout and spread out your staff to meet health and safety regulations? If you lack sufficient space to create a structured layout arrangement, continue to encourage the remote work setup.
• Is your staff ready to return to work?Are they anxious? Eager? Not ready to be in a public setting yet? Manage and remind your employees of the resources available to them through your organization, including communication, tools and services such as EAP (employee assistance program). To avoid high levels of stress, disseminate the new plan of action (new office layout and safety rules), and communicate that it is in place to protect them.
• Also read:  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public

Remember that taking care of yourself is equally as important. The care you exude for your employees shows in your behavior, and leading by example is the most effective self-care you can model.

The world is changing, and the pandemic has accelerated this shift. While Covid-19 is undoubtedly going to change daily operations, now is the time to think more seriously about alternative sources of revenue to adapt and plan for the future.

Pl read this article: WHO Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus

Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invitation-only, fee-based organization comprised of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs 45 and younger. YEC members…    

Pl read Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Most countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and many are experiencing outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in slowing their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.

Related article: https://www.dawn.com/live-blog/

Protecting yourself and others from the spread COVID-19

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
• Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and others. Why? When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.
• Avoid going to crowded places. Why? Where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has COIVD-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre (3 feet).
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.
• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
• Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others. Why? Avoiding contact with others will protect them from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
• If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, but call by telephone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
• Keep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities. Why? Local and national authorities are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

         Related article: https://www.dawn.com/news/1554931/covid-19-cases-among-workers-returning-           from-uae-alarm-govt

        Advice on the safe use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers;

        To protect yourself and others against COVID-19, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.              Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water. If you use an                        alcohol-  based hand sanitizer, make sure you use and store it carefully.

• • Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers out of children’s reach. Teach them how to apply the sanitizer and monitor its use.
  • Apply a coin-sized amount on your hands. There is no need to use a large amount of the product.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose immediately after using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, as it can cause irritation.
  • Hand sanitizers recommended to protect against COVID-19 are alcohol-based and therefore can be flammable. Do not use before handling fire or cooking.
  • Under no circumstance, drink or let children swallow an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It can be poisonous. 
  • Remember that washing your hands with soap and water is also effective against COVID-19.
• Article published for awareness and first published: @https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

Make Fall Safety a Top Priority

It may come as a surprise that the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death is falls. In 2015, nearly 33,381 people died in falls at home and at work – and for working adults, depending on the industry, falls can be the leading cause of death.

Hazards in the Workplace

In 2014, 660 workers died in falls from a higher level, and 49,210 were injured badly enough to require days off of work. A worker doesn’t have fall from a high level to suffer fatal injuries. While half of all fatal falls in 2014 occurred from 20 feet or lower, 12% were from less than 6 feet, according to Injury Facts 2017®. 

Construction workers are most at risk for fatal falls from height – more than seven times the rate of other industries – but falls can happen anywhere, even at a “desk job.”

NSC data for 2014 includes falls from height and falls on the same level, by industry:

1. Construction: 22,330 injuries, 359 deaths
2. Manufacturing: 23,290 injuries, 49 deaths
3. Wholesale trade: 14,360 injuries, 30 deaths
4. Retail trade: 29,530 injuries, 34 deaths
5. Transportation and Warehousing: 23,780 injuries, 43 deaths
6. Professional and business services: 23,140 injuries, 94 deaths
7. Education and health services: 51,150 injuries, 21 deaths
8. Government: 69,530 injuries, 41 deaths     

Also read:   Risk Management Need Every One

Falls are 100% Preventable

Whether working from a ladder, roof or scaffolding, it’s important to plan ahead, assess the risk and use the right        equipment. First, determine if working from a height is absolutely necessary or if there is another way to do the task safely.

1. Discuss the task with coworkers and determine what safety equipment is needed
2. Make sure you are properly trained on how to use the equipment
3. Scan the work area for potential hazards before starting the job
4. Make sure you have level ground to set up the equipment
5. If working outside, check the weather forecast; never work in inclement weather
6. Use the correct tool for the job, and use it as intended
7. Ensure stepladders have a locking device to hold the front and back open
8. Always keep two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand on the ladder
9. Place the ladder on a solid surface and never lean it against an unstable surface
10. A straight or extension ladder should be 1 foot away from the surface it rests on for every 4 feet of height and extend at least 3 feet over the top edge
11. Securely fasten straight and extension ladders to an upper support
12. Wear slip-resistant shoes and don’t stand higher than the third rung from the top
13. Don’t lean or reach while on a ladder, and have someone support the bottom
14. Never use old or damaged equipment; check thoroughly before use

Also read: Stop Work Authority Program

Millions of people are treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries every year.

A fall can end in death or disability in a split second,

but with a few simple precautions, you’ll be sure stay safe at at work

First it is published @https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/slips-trips-and-falls