Say it with Flowers

Thousands peacefully rally in Bangkok, Thailand, demanding government’s resignation. Photo: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA.

Dr. Strangelove

• Philip Oltermann, WHO opens pandemic intelligence hub to look out for future crises, The Guardian, September 1, 2021

A World Health Organization “pandemic intelligence hub” launched by the UN agency’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Germany’s Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday will try to help governments identify future pandemics at an earlier stage and improve monitoring of new variant strains of COVID-19. [Read more].

Muumuu

• Ian Sample, WHO monitoring new coronavirus variant named Mu, The Guardian, September 1, 2021

The Mu variant, also known as B.1.621, was added to the WHO’s watchlist on 30 August after it was detected in 39 countries and found to possess a cluster of mutations that may make it less susceptible to the immune protection many have acquired. [Read more].

Package Insert

With respect to the health, safety and well-being of ourselves and others, it is advisable — if only for civic duty — to take a look, with regular cadence, at the World Health Organisation’s “Mythbusters” page, which aims at refuting the relentless “infodemic” of COVID-19 misinformation. Indeed, facts can be disarming when presented as an “anti-narrative” of a narrative filled with viral rhetoric. For instance, I quote, “FACT: Thermal scanners CANNOT detect COVID-19”. Of course, there may be many causes for fever, not only COVID-19. So why to generalise? Not well, in too many places there are too many signs reading “If you have fever you are not allowed”, but “If you have a toothache with a fever you are welcome” certainly sounds fairer. Another advice which I would quote is, “FACT: People should NOT wear masks while exercising”, as — quite obviously — in such instances surgical masks may make breathing more difficult. “The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others”. Last but not least, I’ll quote one more, so as not to eclipse the light of a relative truth: “FACT: There are no medicines that can prevent or treat COVID-19”. So be healthy, keep your immune system up, and enjoy your reading!

Under the Umbrella

Beirut, Lebanon: Pink umbrellas decorate the facade of the Ministry of Public Health as part of a campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention. Photo: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters.