Daily Archives: July 16, 2021

Michigan State University College of Social Science and School of Criminal Justice alumnus Carlos Cubia is senior vice president and global chief diversity officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Carlos Cubia talks with Russ White.

Upon graduation, the Pontiac, Michigan native applied for a position in the Secret Service. While waiting to hear back. He began a career in insurance, which gradually led him into human resources work. Without even realizing it, Cubia was beginning his work in diversity, equity, and inclusion before that work had a name.

What I found along my journey through corporate America is that I was running into people who were just having a hard time being heard, moving through the process, and getting opportunities. I started on this journey to help people in corporate America to do better, to realize their dreams, and to be seen and to be heard. It wasnt officially my job, but I was always advocating, speaking to supervisors, and challenging the status quo. Sometimes I got myself in trouble because at that time, it wasn't kosher to speak up. You were supposed to do what you were told.

But that was never who I was. I was always respectfully challenging the status quo. Why were certain things the way they were? Why did so-and-so get passed over for an opportunity? And that eventually led to me leaving my sales and account management role and moving into a diversity, equity, and inclusion role.

When defining diversity, equity and inclusion, Cubia says the key is to embrace our differences. He says there's value in embracing those differences. His twist on the golden rule is that we should treat others as they want to be treated, not necessarily how we want to be treated.

When I think of diversity, I think of someone different than yourself. I know people sometimes equate it to black versus white. When I think of diversity, I look at all the dimensions of diversity. It's the things you're born with and then the things you acquire later in life, like your education and the knowledge and habits that you pick up along the way.

We do measure some of the basic things around race, gender, sexual orientation, LGBTQ, veterans, disability. We pay attention to all of that. But again, we also look at education. Were you educated? What's your background? What experiences have you had in life? Because all of those things help to make organizations and the world better when you embrace and accept people for their differences and then understand that there's value in differences. And by realizing that, I think we could just make this world a better place.

And not to sound hokey with that, but when you accept people for who they are and treat them not the way you want to be treated but treat them the way they want to be treated, then I think you have a more engaged and a more productive society.

Cubia says DE and I work continues to evolve as more organizations realize that embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, but sound business practice. He says that if organizations are doing DE and I correctly, that it impacts every aspect of the business and is embedded in everything an organization does.

When I think about the evolution of DE and I and the role of the chief diversity officer over time, I've seen it really change. Back in the day, it was all about diversifying from an ethnicity standpoint. It was a people agenda back then. What's evolved over time is now it's a business imperative.

Most CEOs and Fortune 500 companies realize the value of having a diversity strategy for the organization that touches every aspect of the business, whether that's how they market, how they communicate, where they recruit, where they open or close locations, or what products are on the shelves. The DE and I team and leaders across most companies are now part of all of those discussions. We're being brought into discussions with investor relations now.

When investors are out there at a public company they want to invest in, they want to talk to the chief diversity officers and say, tell me about your diversity, equity, and inclusion program. What are you guys doing to address A, B, and C? And then what kind of progress are you making? The evolution has been amazing. It's been fast paced. It's hard to keep up because our phone is now ringing from every part of the organization asking for time with us to help consult about an issue that may evolve around DE and I that maybe that leader isn't that well-versed on.

We're being asked to be part of the training program within organizations and how we shape culture within the organization. If you're doing it the right way, then DE and I is embedded in everything that a corporation or an organization does. DE and I touches everything. I don't think there's anything in corporate America or in any major institutions that DE and I doesn't touch or shouldn't touch.

When discussing challenges, opportunities, and goals for expanding DE and I work, Cubia says that, for him, DE and I comes down to two words, dignity and respect.

The challenge is that there are still individuals out there who feel that this is social work and it has no place in business or in decision-making. One of the challenges is getting to those individuals and sharing with them factual data and showing them research where if you have a real strategy that's comprehensive in nature, that it does contribute to the bottom line and the success of your organization, regardless of what your organization is.

It's really only two main words, and that's dignity and respect. If you just follow that golden rule and treat everybody with dignity and respect, most of the times things are going to work out for you around DE and I.

For all of us, Cubia says the first step toward embracing diversity, equity and inclusion is to educate oneself and not to turn the other cheek.

When George Floyd was murdered a year plus ago and we started to see the peaceful protest and then unfortunately some of it broke into civil unrest, a lot of white guys, like yourself, asked me the question, what do I do? I think the first step is educating yourself and getting information on how the experiences of others have affected their lives and the challenges and the situations that we see today. Learning is one. Ask questions. Dont be afraid to say, I don't know.

But the other thing that I would say is not turning the other cheek. Just because it doesn't affect you directly, doesn't mean it doesn't affect you indirectly. When these things happen, it affects all of us in some way, shape, or form. The sooner that we come together and work together and value the differences and understand each other's perspectives and point of views, the sooner we'll start to see the world differently and understand other people.

Part of it is just education. We just celebrated Juneteenth a couple of weeks ago. And for some folks, that's the first time they ever heard of it. If we understand the past, hopefully we can prevent the same mistakes. Hiding it and overlooking it and pretending it doesn't exist is not going to get us there.

Cubia followed his brother and sister to MSU. It's the only school he applied to and had any interest in attending. And Cubia adds that as big as MSU is, it always seemed small to him. The university had so much to offer him and he'd attend MSU again if he had to do it all over again.

This is going to sound a little hokey, but I believe in full transparency. I went up to Michigan State this past weekend with my son. And as I got out of the car and stood in front of my dorm, I almost teared up. Because when I think about where I am today, had Michigan State not given me the chance and the opportunity to show what I can do, with help of course, I probably would not be where I am today. I have no idea where I would be today. Michigan State helped me because it gave me the services that I needed.

Michigan State believes that they want to create an environment where everyone is welcome, where everyone can realize their full potential. I see Michigan State constantly striving for that. I believe in celebrating Michigan State because it's a great university that Im recommending to my son. If I had to choose again tomorrow, I choose Michigan State all over again.

Carlos Cubia's advice for today's MSU students is to be authentic and true to yourself.

Being authentic doesn't mean not compromising or being flexible. It just means stay true to your values and your value system. I don't ever compromise my value system, but I compromise other things depending on the situation or the ultimate goal that I'm trying to achieve. Dont hide and pretend to be something for someone else via social media. The hardest thing in life is trying to be something for someone else, trying to be what somebody else wants us to be. The easiest thing in life is just being yourself because that's truly who you are. Always be yourself, stay true to yourself, and follow your own dreams and I think you'll be fine.

MSU Today airs Sunday mornings at 9:00 on 105.1 FM and AM 870 and streams at WKAR.org. Find MSU Today with Russ White on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

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Dignity and Respect Drive Alumnus' Desire for Corporate America to 'See and Hear' Everyone - WKAR

Treasure Coast Newspapers

I am very disappointed in Indian River State Colleges President Timothy Moore and the college'sboard of directors. We should all be doing our part to help improve our waterways not only for its economic and tourist value, but for our own health as well as that of the wildlife. All our nonprofits should be working to support each other for the benefit of our community.

By now we should all know how important to us is the work that the Ocean Research and Conservation Association and the Smithsonian are doing, especially right now when climate change is increasing the number of days with temperatures 90 degrees and high. This increases the chances of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms that can create microcystins, which can go airborne for miles, poisoning us. It is also killing our sea grasses, which has starved many manatees.

This is the wrong time to stop ORCAs important work by pushing them out of their building. Both the IRSC and ORCA are funded by our state. IRSC should not be profiting from a building that, without all of our help, may be underwater in a few years. We all need to ask the IRSC board to reverse their decision. A reversal will benefit all the Treasure Coast and not just the school.

Diane Goldberg, Port St. Lucie, is the conservation chair for St Lucie Audubon.

Growing up my parents instilled in me many characteristics and beliefs that helped me throughout life. They taught me to live by the Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The belief there is no substitute for honesty and integrity. They taught me I was born with pure integrity and no one can take it away, only I could give it up. They taught me to help others who ask for my help because someday I would need help. They taught me to be successful in life I needed friends, and to have friends I must first be a friend. If your neighbors house is on fire you naturally would go help them.

Guided by these beliefs I don't understand the writers who disparage Gov. Ron. DeSantis because he responded to another states request for help by sending just 50 officers to Texas. In May of 2020 our southern Border Patrol detained 23,237 illegal immigrants and one year later in May 2021 the number jumped to 180,034, an increase of almost 700%. Considering they estimate they only detain a third of the illegal entrants, the truer number is over 500,000 a month, or over 6 million a year.

To me this classifies as a crisis. If this were happening in Florida how would you feel? To think all these people and all the extra drugs flooding through are staying in Texas is foolish. The drugs are shipped all over this country into every state. It is common sense and cheaper on all states to try to stem the tide where the tide is coming through. We are a nation of 50 states, all states are our neighbors and we need to step up and help when we can.

Jeff Morton, Sebastian

DeSantis doesnt even know what Florida officers would do in Texas

Regarding the latest fiasco created by our governor our taxpayer-paid law enforcement officers being sent to the Texas/Mexico border in order to do … what? They don't even know, but hey, that order makes great sound bites for Fox, OANN, Newsmax and to the GOP base.

Wouldn't their presence be better utilized by sending those same officers to Surfside in order to help with the ongoing search for the remains of Florida citizens? So many have lost their loved ones to this disaster and are very anxious to be able to, respectfully, lay their remains to a final rest. Yet again, our governor places his political aspirations above those of the citizens that he supposedly represents. What a world in which we now live.

Sharon Garland, Hobe Sound

Lately, we have all heard about questions surrounding the voting process and results. The following points should, in my opinion, be considered in the revisions to the voting laws that are being made in various states.

Before the election, the board of election should hire an independent certified public accountant to evaluate the procedures and procedures for reporting the results. Any needed improvements that were identified could be made before the election.

The CPA would then be in a position to jointly certify the election results with the board of elections on election night and for the final count.

The above is just a thumbnail sketch of what needs to be done, as there are other needed procedures that would likely be identified through the implementation process.

Doug Kinney, Sebastian

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Letters to the Editor: July 14, 2021 - TCPalm

LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Back-to-school season is more exciting than ever as parents prepare to send their kids back for in-person learning this fall. To ensure every kid can confidently express their style as they head into the classroom, JCPenney introduces the Thereabouts private brand, a new inclusive line of kids apparel that celebrates diversity of shapes, sizes, styles, and abilities. Designed with every kid in mind, the Thereabouts collection is available exclusively at JCPenney and jcp.com beginning July 15.

We believe all kids should feel confident and capable in the clothes they wear, and parents should feel good about the clothes they buy, says Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Fulfilling the wants and needs of our diverse customer base is the foundation of our business. Thats why we relied on research and feedback from parents and kids throughout the design process. We are proud to say that the Thereabouts collection is our most inclusive kids brand ever.

The Thereabouts assortment has all the back-to-school essentials, from basics to uniforms, sleep to outerwear, and a variety of shoe styles. Designed for all ages from toddler to big kid, the Thereabouts line is size-inclusive running from 2T22, including plus and husky.

Made with super soft fabrics, the Thereabouts collection is inspired by the latest trends in kids fashion, including sneaker dresses, head-to-toe color, and prairie cool looks. Thereabouts apparel is available with adaptive features, including easy-access openings, sensory-friendly seaming, and no tags, ensuring theres something stylish for every kid, including those with disabilities. JCPenney has also partnered with Patti + Ricky, an adaptive fashion marketplace for adults and kids with disabilities, to expand its childrens adaptive offerings via notable accessory brands PunkinFutz, BeedleBug, Max & Me, and Myself Belts. Shop all adaptive apparel and accessories on jcp.com.

In addition to offering inclusive apparel for kids who make the future bright, JCPenney is partnering with Communities In Schools (CIS) to make sure they have the support and resources they need to succeed. From July 15 to Aug. 12, JCPenney will donate $1 for every Thereabouts item sold in store or online, up to $100,000, to Communities In Schools to fund programming that empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life.

To download images, please visit the JCPenney Newsroom.

JCPenney Corporate Communicationsjcpnews@jcp.com

About JCPenney

JCPenney proudly serves customers at more than 650 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico and at the Companys flagship store, jcp.com. JCPenney is one of the nations largest retailers of apparel, home, jewelry, and beauty merchandise with a growing portfolio of private and national brands. Guided by the Golden Rule, JCPenney employs more than 50,000 associates worldwide and has served customers for over 119 years, playing a vital role in the communities it serves. For additional information, please visit jcp.com and follow JCPenney on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Patti + Ricky

Patti + Ricky is the adaptive fashion marketplace for adults and kids with disabilities, chronic conditions, aging seniors and caregivers. Founder Alexandra Herolds parents both worked in the New York City fashion and accessory industry. Growing up in a house full of conversations about the next fashion trend or it color of the season led Alexandra to feel like she was born into retail and that it is in her blood. Her own disabilities, her close relationship with her cousin Ricky who was unable to walk or verbally communicate, and her mothers battle with brain cancer fueled Alexandras determination to launch Patti + Ricky. Many of the designers whose products are featured on the site also have disabilities or a loved one with disabilities. Patti + Ricky strives to be the one-stop shop for people with disabilities including visible and non-visible disabilities as well as temporary and lifelong disabilities. To learn more and to shop visit http://www.PattiAndRicky.com.

About Communities In Schools (CIS)

Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. Working directly inside more than 2,900 schools across the country, we connect students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Together, we build a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. For more information visit http://www.communitiesinschools.org.

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JCPenney Introduces Thereabouts Brand for Fully Inclusive Back-to-School Style - Business Wire

The United Kingdoms July COVID-19 reopening has scientists divided. Medical News Today spoke with various researchers and doctors, and they all agreed on one point: fully reopen or not, keep some restrictions such as mask-wearing in place.

As the U.K. reemerges from many months of caution, COVID-19 lockdowns, and restrictions, everyone has one question on their minds: Is it right to lift all measures at once?

Dubbed Englands freedom day or the governments Step 4 in plans to return to normal, July 19 is the date the British government seeks to end all legal, social, and economic restrictions imposed to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, the U.K. had given June 21 as its grand reopening day; however, the number of newly confirmed daily COVID cases and below target vaccination rates forced the government to postpone the date by at least 3 weeks.

The U.K. government said that delaying the date would enable more people to receive first and second vaccinations against COVID-19. Its plans included offering a first dose of the vaccine to all over-18s and providing two-thirds of adults with a second dose by July 19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government have been reluctant to keep restrictions in place any longer, provided the data support it. This includes evaluating the success of the nations vaccination program and the impact COVID-19 cases have on the National Health Service (NHS).

Both scientists and Johnson have acknowledged that although vaccines have weakened the link between COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, it has not severed it, which calls to attention the necessity of other types of measures.

So, could a reopening of this scale effectively erase (almost) all progress recorded so far, or has the U.K. got everything under control? Will the U.K. have, according to Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, a summer of chaos and confusion. The scientists have weighed in.

Lifting restrictions includes removing limits on the number of people that can meet socially in any setting, including at home.

Nightclubs and other shuttered businesses can open, and hospitality venues, such as pubs, cafes, and hotels, can operate at full capacity.

The plans include scrapping physical distancing guidelines, and mask-wearing is likely to become optional in England; however, it may remain mandatory in public settings, such as hospitals. Companies will no longer instruct their employees to work from home.

Meanwhile, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be implementing their own rules and will likely not follow suit with Englands no masks plan.

In general, the government will expect people in England to make their own informed decisions after July 19.

The U.K. currently has the worlds 7th highest death toll from COVID-19 at just over 128,500.

Overall, newly confirmed cases now average around 32,000 a day in the U.K. Latest figures indicate that about 2,700 people are currently in hospital, a 50% increase from the previous weeks figures.

According to the latest weekly update from Public Health England (PHE), the number of people presenting with the delta variant has reached 54,268 within the last week and increased by 32%, bringing the total to 216,249. The delta variant currently makes up 99% of newly confirmed cases across the U.K.

A study conducted by the Imperial College London has also found that this surge of infections is most prominent in the younger population, specifically, those 5-12 years who are unvaccinated, and those aged 18-24 years who have only recently been eligible for the vaccine. The researchers said the youth were testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 five times higher than older people.

PHE has reiterated that two doses of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines remain effective against hospitalization for the delta variant at 96% and 92%, respectively.

According to Our World in Data, the U.K. has administered over 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, and 34.2 million people have received both doses. That translates to around 51.3% of the entire population being fully immunized. This figure remains below the 6070% threshold scientists estimate is needed to achieve herd immunity.

Scientists are divided.

Some scientists believe this is the right time to go ahead with the reopening. They argue that delaying the reopening date will only lead to a bigger surge later on.

Opening up now is definitely better than in September or October when kids go back to school, Prof. Tim Spector, an epidemiologist from Kings College London, told Medical News Today.

Right now, at the height of summer, people spend more time outside, in theory, and the schools will soon be out in the U.K., which means the virus wont have as many crowds or enclosed spaces in which to circulate.

Even though the U.K. has seen its infection rates rise over the last few weeks due to the delta variant, it has not seen a spike in hospitalizations or deaths, unlike the first wave of the pandemic. This indicates that the current COVID-19 vaccines are working to prevent severe cases.

Prof. Spector said he is broadly in agreement with the July 19 date for reopening.

We need to move into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have realized that we will not get rid of COVID-19, and we are moving into a clear endemic phase where there will be thousands of cases all the time, and it is never going to go away. We are going to be fighting new variants with vaccines.

Branding it a new era, Spector told MNT the reopening was a way for the government to get rid of methods and mitigating measures that are no longer working, such as contact tracing, which is no longer useful or relevant.

He said the vaccines were working and driving the pandemic toward being a case of mild flu.

In parallel, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that around 9 in 10 adults in most parts of the U.K. are now likely to have COVID-19 antibodies.

Other countries, such as Germany, lifting travel bans on the U.K. has also strengthened the sentiment.

However, Spector pointed out that he does not agree with everything about the governments plan.

I think I wouldve kept a few rules on in high-risk areas. [] It wouldnt be wise to encourage people to go on a crowded tube train without a mask, for example.

In places where recurrent infections take hold of the community and turn into hubs of infection, Spector believes, deeper investigation is needed to get the number of cases down and reduce the long-term morbidity of the country.

He says in the U.K., one of these places has been the West Midlands.

He adds, You could ask scientists in Manchester why every time there is an outbreak, it is always the same place and look into that.

He stressed that local public health authorities need to be given more decision-making power to get to the bottom of such cases.

They should be able to do what it takes to stop the harm. I would like to see more local power that doesnt hurt the people doing fine and is fair.

He was referring to nationwide or region-wide lockdowns where restrictions on a more local scale would suffice.

Spector acknowledges that there will be some adverse outcomes from this reopening. One, he says, is the inevitable rise in infections, which will occur naturally due to relaxing measures.

The U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has estimated that the number of daily cases could reach 100,000 per day over summer 2021.

It will be a trade-off, Spector told MNT.

As for older people and the clinically vulnerable, such as people with immunosuppressed conditions, Spector says they will have to face this problem as they do every winter with the flu.

Other scientists say it is too premature for a reopening of this scale.

In a letter to the medical journal The Lancet, some of the worlds leading scientists have openly called on the British government to turn back on its decision to lift all restrictions and refrain from its dangerous and reckless strategy of immunity via mass infection.

As one of the more than 120 scientists who signed the letter, Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary health care and a practicing general practitioner, believes now is not the time.

I think the rationale [behind the government decision to reopen] is to help reboot the economy, but its likely to backfire. Sick workers are unproductive, as are quarantining ones. Sick consumers dont go shopping, she told MNT.

For her and many other scientists, reopening should wait until the country has achieved adequate vaccination.

[T]he government should delay complete re-opening until everyone, including adolescents, have been offered vaccination and uptake is high, and until mitigation measures, especially adequate ventilation and spacing, are in place in schools.

Until then, public health measures must include those called for by the World Health Organization (WHO) universal mask-wearing in indoor spaces, even for those vaccinated, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ventilation and air filtration, and Independent SAGE effective border quarantine; test, trace, isolate, and support, the scientists wrote in their letter.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has also objected to the lifting of all restrictions.

As case numbers continue to rise at an alarming rate due to the rapid transmission of the delta variant and an increase in people mixing with one another, it makes no sense to remove restrictions in their entirety in just over 2 weeks time. [W]hile we were pleased to see the government react to data in delaying the easing on June 21 last month, ministers must not now simply disregard the most recent, damning numbers by rushing into meeting their new July 19 deadline.

Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair

The U.K.s rush to lift all restrictions has not sat well with international organizations either.

The idea that everyone is protected and its kumbaya and everything goes back to normal is a very dangerous assumption anywhere in the world. Wed ask governments to be really careful at this moment, not to lose the gains that weve made, said Dr. Mike Ryan of the WHO.

The reopening has also ignited fears about no restrictions creating a perfect breeding ground for new, potentially more dangerous variants that could evade vaccines.

My epidemiology colleagues are concerned that this virus has a high propensity to mutate, and the survival of the fittest principle will ensure that new variants are adapted to their environment better than the ones they replace, said Prof. Greenhalgh.

Preliminary modeling data has also supported this.

This would place all at risk, including those already vaccinated, within the U.K. and globally. While vaccines can be updated, this requires time and resources, leaving many exposed in the interim, said scientists in The Lancet.

Dr. Jonathan Stoye, a virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, reminded us that although COVID-19 vaccines give good protection, this is not absolute.

Dr. Stoye told MNT that it is not yet clear whether there is an increased risk of such variants emerging in places where those vaccinated and non-vaccinated live side by side as in the U.K., compared to countries where the majority is still unvaccinated.

In either case, the priority must be to reduce levels of virus replication. However, I am reassured by the probability that any such changes are likely to be gradual, as we see with the influenza virus, without rapid increases in susceptibility.

Monitoring virus evolution and adjusting vaccine composition should be sufficient to meet this threat, he added.

The reopening decision has received criticism for completely disregarding the lives and safety of vulnerable people.

The British Liver Trust has called for the government to reconsider its decision to end all COVID-19 restrictions in England to protect the clinically vulnerable, including those with advanced liver disease, those who have severe immunosuppressed conditions, or those who have had a transplant.

[P]atients had finally started to enjoy some normality. Now, with rising infection rates, many people with liver disease say that theyve already started reducing that precious social contact theyd been waiting so long to regain. Some are even starting to shield again. There is a real concern regarding the announcement that face masks will become discretionary and they will have less protection, the charity said in a statement.

Pamela Healy, OBE, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said such vulnerable persons will feel let down, forgotten and that their freedom has been taken away if the government goes ahead with the reopening and lifts all restrictions on July 19.

They will feel unsafe doing simple activities, such as using public transport, going shopping, or attending functions.

Dr. Dorry L. Segev, professor of surgery and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, said unvaccinated people were not just a threat to the vulnerable.

[The unvaccinated] will spread this virus to each other, to vaccinated people with suppressed immune systems who are less protected, and even to vaccinated people with perfectly fine immune systems.

Hence, from an ethical perspective, the reopening falls short. Those at least risk from COVID-19 would be expected to make decisions to protect those at most risk, not endanger them further.

Whether you base it on Immanuel Kants Golden Rule do unto others as you would have done unto you or John Rawls A Theory of Justice, from an ethics perspective in philosophy, the imperative to protect others is quite established. So no, given the inequalities of how COVID-19 affects different individuals, this is not an ethical move, Dr. Sherrill Stroschein, senior lecturer in politics at the University College London (UCL), told MNT.

When the economy and peoples livelihoods enter the conversation, things also get tricky.

Dr. Stroschein said people in the U.K. have been presented a false dichotomy and made to choose between being healthy or having an economy.

And despite the government introducing an impressive furlough program but not indicating that it will continue until the remainder of the population is vaccinated also poses a problem. Dr. Stroschein adds:

The economy is made up of people and will be stronger if we manage the pandemic in sensible ways. Especially when one considers the social costs of high infection rates and the pressures on the NHS, as well as the long-term costs of long COVID.

Despite advocating for opposite sides, both Prof. Greenhalgh and Prof. Spector believe it is not smart to forgo all restrictions at once especially masking.

Like everyone, I yearn to get back to normal. I think masks would help us do that. Masks have been a symbol of the loss of freedom, but actually, if were all masked, were all better protected, hence can be more confident to do things like going to the cinema or travel by bus or train, Prof. Greenhalgh told MNT.

Pointing out inconsistencies in the U.K. governments current approach such as being told to be mindful of Hands, Face, Space but abolishing requirements for mask-wearing after July 19 Dr. Stoye said he agrees.

I would strongly favor the continued use of masks in confined spaces for at least the next few weeks, he said.

Dr. Segev also said mask mandates should be the last thing to be lifted.

Abandoning mask mandates in indoor spaces where strangers encounter strangers and vaccines are not required makes absolutely no sense. Wearing a mask isnt that difficult. [] Weve proven in the last 18 months that we can wear masks and be just fine, he told MNT.

The government also needs to work on ensuring proper ventilation.

We should also be focusing on ventilation a well-ventilated indoor space is much safer than a stuffy one. We need to use these minor changes to help achieve our freedom instead of dismissing them as oppressive, said Prof. Greenhalgh.

Spector says public transport, grounded, and unventilated areas are places that should warrant a mask-wearing requirement.

Stroschein also advocates for the practice of mask-wearing in venues, such as shops, to remain in place. She says this has two aspects: proportionality and common sense.

Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience [contrasted] with the serious harm done if an immunocompromised person picks up the virus from someone not wearing a mask and becomes very sick. [] There is no economic benefit of removing masks. In fact, if people who worry about contracting the virus stay out of shops as much as possible, they are not spending as much money, and the economy is harmed.

Prof. Stroschein believes this shows that lifting the mask mandate is more of an ideological decision or an identity issue.

There are other problematic aspects, particularly regarding schools and isolation/ testing and children, but the mask aspect is the clearest example that something other than science or economics is driving this policy.

I think long COVID is the main issue that hasnt been addressed so far. [] There are more people waiting for cancer and heart treatments; these are chronically more important [than COVID-19], Spector told MNT.

Using U.K. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data, the ONS estimated that 1.5% of the population or 962,000 people reported experiencing symptoms of long COVID, with 812,000 saying that the symptoms had either adversely affected their day-to-day activities or limited them to a great extent.

However, official figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show the number of people who have had one or more COVID-19 symptoms that have lasted at least 12 weeks is closer to 2 million.

Researchers say this will put immense pressure on the economy if most of its working population and healthcare system have to deal with long-term illness and disability.

Long Covid does not only affects adults.

According to a study by researchers at UCL, the percentage of children developing long covid after having COVID-19 is over 4.5%.

Another study of long Covid in children suggests that more than half of children 6-16 years have a COVID-19 symptom that lasts more than 4 months, and over 42% say this has impaired their daily activities.

This could mean that children end up becoming the key to the pandemic.

Many believe they will be the reservoir that will keep this thing going because they are not vaccinating children, Prof. Spector said.

Prof. Chris Whitty, the U.K. governments chief medical adviser, has said he expects a significant amount more Long Covid after July 19, particularly in the younger population who are not fully vaccinated.

However, he has also warned that there is no proof whether vaccines provide adequate protection against the most common symptoms of long Covid, which are extreme fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and muscle weakness.

Hence, now is the time to warn people of the dangers of COVID-19, not of death, said Prof. Spector.

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'Freedom' day: Is the UK ready to lift all COVID-19 restrictions? - Medical News Today

Americans For Prosperity (AFP) super PAC, created for and run by the Koch Brothers Industries, has won again. Americans didn't win, the AFP won.

The Supreme Court of the US ruled the donor transparency laws of California are unconstitutional in a lawsuit filed by AFP. That means large donors to charities or especially political parties need not be identified. Dark money or big money gets to control behind-the-scenes with impunity.

The rich and the minority can continue to control politics and the American people won't be able to find out who is actually in charge. This appears to me that anyone who believes this is a good thing must also believe a monarchy is a better form of government than a democracy.

Americans For Prosperity is only looking out for the Koch family fortunes and don't care about any other Americans. Who was it who said, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a bible?" It is me borrowing from many others who foresaw the rise of fascism in Europe decades ago.

Beware America of he who tells you he will protect you from your enemies. Enemies who don't look like you, speak like you, pray like you, act like you, who in reality are just like you with the same wants, dreams and desires. Protecting privacy is one thing, but all Americans have the right to know who our leaders are and what they stand for.

Americans or the minority with the most money? Gambler and former Horseshoe Casino owner Benny Binion said he lived by the Golden Rule. The man with the gold rules. When that happens all the rest of us Americans lose.

Stan Novara

Santa Maria

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Letters to the Editor: When the man with the gold rules ... - Santa Ynez Valley News

As a business owner, you already know how important your reputation is in your industry. For many of us, we're only as good as the last job we worked on.

What people say about your business matters, and that's especially true about what customers are saying online. Instead of a happy customer telling five of their friends how amazing your company is, they write an online review and hundreds, possibly thousands, of potential customers see it.

Sound great? It is. There is a downside to online reviews, too. If you leave a client on not-so-great terms, they can do serious harm to your reputation with a negative review.

But just how important are online reviews? How influential are they to potential clients? Is there a way for you to control what's said about you online?

You might think that online reviews dont really matter to your customers, especially if they can see your equipment in their neighborhood, visit your website showcasing photos taken by a professional photographer, all while providing the best value services. But if you have a reputation for bad service, all that isn't worth much.

The market has changed. When people are looking for a specific piece of equipment or a rental equipment business, they go online.

If you've invested in your website, it might pop up as the number one result on Google. If you've claimed and optimized your Google My Business listing, it might be the highlighted option on the right of the search results.

But what happens if Google and social media is riddled with one-star reviews of your company? All that hard work you've invested in online has to battle against a bad review from six months ago to persuade a potential customer to part ways with their hard-earned money and visit your store instead.

While online reviews may seem like a small piece of the bigger picture that makes up your online presence, people are relying on reviews more and more when deciding what companies to hire.

In the digital age,93 percent of customerssay that their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews. These reviews have major implications on many different things, including:

By the time someone is looking at the reviews of your company, they've already decided they need someone that provides your services. If they're not using Google to find their next rental business, they're going to be using a review website (Yelp, Facebook, Angie's List, etc.)

Chili Pepper Design, LLCHalf the battle is already won! They know they need the services you provide; they just need to be persuaded you're the best company to go to. The buying decision from reading your reviews and hiring you is incredibly quick. Customers typically decide yes or no almost immediately.

For many people, checking online reviews is the last hurdle for a company to overcome before they hire them. A recent study found 68 percent of people form an opinion of a company after reading between one and six online reviews. An overwhelming84 percent of shopperssaid they trusted online business reviews as much as a personal recommendation from friends or family. Now that's some serious power of persuasion.

All in all, as a small business, your online reputation can directly influence your bottom line.

Every small business owner should welcome and actively encourage online reviews. Had a great interaction with a client? Ask them to leave a review online.

If you don't ask your customers to write online reviews for your business, youre missing out on a powerful tactic to gain prospective customers trust and persuade them to visit and rent from your company.

You also run the risk of letting the few customers who do write reviews have a huge effect on what everyone else thinks of your business. If hardly anyone writes reviews, one bad review has a much bigger effect than it otherwise would.

Before you start asking customers to leave you reviews, you need to claim your business on the main review sites. There's probably already an entry for your company on the likes of Google My Business, Yelp, etc. all you have to do is follow the instructions set out by each site and claim it.

A recent study found 68 percent of people form an opinion of a company after reading between one and six online reviews.

Once you've got your profiles optimized (like adding high quality photos, opening hours, and directions to your main office), you can start directing customers to leave you reviews.

The secret to getting happy customers to leave good reviews? Make it simple and make it easy. If something is too difficult to do or takes up too much time, they won't bother. Give them easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and link to the profile you want them to leave a review for.

Here are some tried, tested, and proven simple ways to encourage customers to write online reviews for your business:

A golden rule for online reviews:always respond. Always. Let your customers know you hear them. People like to be heard and feel like they're the only customer that matters to you.

If someone leaves you a negative review, respond to them in a positive way. Do not take a bad review as a personal insult. Ask them how you can make their experience better in the future. If needed, apologize for their bad experience, let them know it won't happen again, and you've dealt with the problem personally.

Whether the person that left the bad review will change their mind on your company is up for debate, but anyone that reads the exchange will see how professional and responsible your company is. Keeping a level-head and being polite will help turn a bad PR event into a positive advert for your company.

Once you've managed to secure a positive review from a customer, you want to use it to get maximum exposure for your company.

Getting a positive review from a customer is an amazing achievement and a boost for you and your team. So, make sure you take advantage of that boost!

Online reviews arent something to avoid; they should be embraced. Getting online reviews is a opportunity to promote your business, on so many levels, so get started today.

EDITORS NOTE: This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of GIP, and was written by Pam Haskell, owner of the website design and development company,Chili Pepper Design. It was edited for Rental by Editor Alexis Sheprak.

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Do Online Reviews Really Matter? - ForConstructionPros.com