Category Archives: Progress

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) The Great Allegheny Passage will soon be connected to the 9/11 trail.

Its part of a massive project that will span multiple states and connect Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to New York City, to the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

For those behind the project, the path hasnt been an easy one and its taken six years to finally break ground in Garrett, Somerset County.

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Acquiring the location of the trail has been a challenge.

Landowners, townships, boroughs, said Lindsay Pyle, the director of Parks and Trails in Somerset County.

And so has the many land issues.

Wetland mitigation, a lot of engineering and design work done for this, said Pyle.

Its been setback after setback to make this connection happen. But after talking about it for years, progress is finally being made on the first 1.4 miles of a trail that will eventually become 1,300 miles long.

We were trying to do as much as possible to bring attention to it, bring excitement to it, said Pyle. Were hoping within the next five years to be in Shanksville.

Pyle explains how the trail will look and whats being worked on, including using rail beds.

Thats important for these trails, because that means its established, she said.

Pyle says the project dips into multiple states and it will be up to them to decide on how quickly to move things along in their area. In all, the project will take many years to complete and will cost tens of millions of dollars.

But its one that will become another teaching tool on a part of our history that should always be told.

I know there are so many people that dont know much about it. But to me, its something were able to keep alive in our community for people to remember, said Pyle.

The part of the trail in Garrett is expected to be done next spring and will cost close to $1 million.

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Progress Finally Being Made To Connect Great Allegheny Passage To 9/11 Hallowed Ground - CBS Pittsburgh

Mike Keating| mkeating@the-review.com

After the game concludes, high school football coaching staffs begin reviewing the tape to study what transpired during the heat of competition, and critique how the team played collectively and also how players executed individually.

While winning or losing is the bottom line, their method of evaluation extends beyond the final score and statistical numbers.

The goal is progress.

Legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes often said, A team never plays the same from week to week; it either gets better or it gets worse during the course of a season.

In the opinion of four area coaches, their teams got better in their second regular-season game and are moving closer to the type of team that reaches sustained success in all facets.

Alliance is 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the Eastern Buckeye Conference after dropping three-point decisions to Marlington and Bedford. While the setbacks were disappointing, Alliance coach Seth Whiting noticed how well the offense moved the ball during both games.

We've been able to run the ball well and throw the ball well, he said. We've driven the ball well in both games; we just need to finish more of those drives."

Marlington slipped to 1-1 overall and in conference play following a 32-24 loss to visiting Carrollton one week after edging Alliance. When on offense, the Dukes want to stress the running game and were successful with it against the Aviators, but the Warriors essentially took that element away, forcing an offensive adjustment.

Turning to the pass, Marlington countered successfully, finishing with more than 300 yards and three touchdowns with first-year starting quarterback Connor Evanich spreading the ball to four wideouts, who combined for 24 receptions.

We want to throw the ball when we want to throw it, not when teams force us to throw the ball like Carrollton did, Marlington coach Mark Gulling said. We didnt like losing, but I liked the improved play of our quarterback and our receivers, and the production they gave us, giving us a chance to win the game.

With 13 first-year players, transitioning to a different offense and competing against two talented and experienced Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference opponents (McDonald and Mineral Ridge), Sebring coach Matt Seidel watched the Trojans take a minor step upward.

We didn't make the same mistakes against Mineral Ridge that we made against McDonald, and those are the type of things you need to see happen with a young team with a lot of players who never played a down of varsity football, Seidel said. We're trying to be more football smart and aware, and that type of progress is something we hope to build on as our kids gain more experience.

West Branch started 2-0, both against conference opponents, and is averaging 44 points in those two wins. While the tape revealed some flaws in certain areas, second-year coach Ken Harris has been pleased with the development and the cohesiveness of a youthful offensive line, anchored by center Caleb Adams, its lone senior starter.

We've had several holding penalties in those games [against Salem and Minerva], but we've only had one called on our offensive line, Harris said. We have lighter kids who can move their feet. They also are a smart group of kids who have a good knowledge of the game and communicate well.

In its first two games, West Branch matched its 2019 overall and conference win output. Starting the season on a positive note not only reflects team progress on the field, but also with team mentality.

We developed a confidence level that is pretty good, Harris said. We won both games, but neither win was easy. Salem rallied against us, but we were able to pull away (scoring the final 14 points) and in the Minerva game, we started slowly and had several penalties, but we settled down and executed better (scoring the final 28 points in a 49-13 win). We were challenged in both games, but we didn't get rattled and that's a sign of maturity.

It's also a sign of progress.

The rest is here:

Coaches see progress in early going - The-review

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Progress in Connected Car Development: Technologies, Markets, and Standardization" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report addresses the current status of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), their structure, major applications, standardization and markets. The Intelligent Transportation Systems aim to improve the economy by reducing the number of road accidents, the amount of car air pollutions and making a smooth flow of the traffic.

The advances in the ITS are presently tied with the development of a connected car (CC) - a moving car that is wirelessly connected with surrounding cars and the infrastructure (as well as support connectivity inside of a car). Such a car opens a spectrum of new and exciting opportunities for automakers, service providers and users.

CC programs are now under development all around the globe. Though there are many technological choices to support CC communications, two technologies are leading at the present time. They are:

The report concentrates on those leaders; and analyzes their characteristics, parameters, marketing statistics, industries and the spectrum of applications. It also compares these technologies and their applicability to CC communications.

5.9 GHz DSRC technology is being tested and trialled in the U.S. for the last 20 years, and a rich collection of communications channels statistics has been gathered. This technology is now in the process of standardization by the U.S. DOT for CC communications. It has many attractions, such as the economies of scale based on the IEEE 802.11p standard, network simplicity and others. It also standardized and accepted in Europe. The report also addresses the current discussion in the industry and the FCC concerning opening the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi communications and related consequences for safety applications.

Utilization LTE-A and its modifications for C-V2X communications attract users by longer reaches, higher speeds, the possibility of low latency (1-3 ms), and utilization of the cellular infrastructure in which CC communications will be only one of many use cases. The standard was finalized in Release 14 of the 3GPP, and the technology is lately under extensive testing and trialling. Two methods are being developed: a) D2D communications, and b) Broadcast communications. They are discussed in the report.

The report details specifics of 5.9 GHz DSRC and LTE-A for CC communications, their marketing aspects, and the related legislative work. It also concentrates on the benefits and limitations of each technology and surveys related industries.

At the present time, it is unclear which technology will prevail (or maybe both of them will be in use, countries-specific). Realizing this, the industry concentrated attention on design and production of electronics that can support both technologies in one package - this is the current main trend in CC communications chipsets manufacturing.

The report is intended for a wide audience of technical and managerial staff involved in the ITS development; and particular concerns with marketing and technological aspects of a connected car; and for specialists in communications technologies that support advances in connected cars programs.

For them, it will provide the following up-to-date information and results of the analysis:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. ITS: System in Actions

2.1 General

2.2 Composition

2.3 Key Technologies

2.4 ITS Standardization: In Progress

2.5 ITS Functionalities

2.6 ITS Market Statistics

3. Connected Car Specifics

3.1 General

3.2 Legislation

3.3 Properties and Requirements

3.4 Driving Forces

3.5 Major Use Cases

3.6 Market

4. 5.9 GHz DSRC

4.1 General

4.2 Industry Efforts - Cooperation

4.3 Place

4.4 Structure and Protocols

4.5 Components and Procedures

4.6 Major Applications

4.7 Spectrum - DSRC - International

4.8 Services

4.9 Summary: 5.9 GHz DSRC Characteristics

4.10 Benefits and Limitations - 5.9 GHz DSRC

4.11 Comparison

4.12 Market Segment

4.13 Industry

4.14 Governing and Solutions

5. Cellular Technologies and Connected Car

5.1 Two Groups

5.2 3GPP Activities

5.3 Industry

6. Comparison: DSRC-802.11p and C-V2X

6.1 General

6.2 Details

6.3 Trend

7. Connected Car - Groups and Alliances

7.1 Open Automotive Alliance

7.2 4G Venture Forum for Connected Cars

7.3 Apple - iOS in the Car

7.4 Connected Vehicle to Everything of Tomorrow Consortium (ConVeX)

7.5 WWW Consortium

7.6 GSMA Connected Car Forum

7.7 Car Connectivity Consortium

7.8 Towards 5G Partnership

7.9 5GAA

8. Conclusions

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tv6g2s

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Progress in Connected Car Development: Technologies, Markets, and Standardization - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) Cal Fire spokesperson Chris Vestal said they did not have fire growth overnight, that is an improvement from the last couple of days.

The Creek Fire has burned 175,893 acres, 6% contained in very rough terrain.

Vestal said they are starting to get containment and that is an improvement. Fire crews are working to make fire lines around the fire.

Winds are expected to ease over the Creek Fire as high pressure builds overhead. Officials said that the winds will become more terrain driven, both day and night.

Temperatures are expected to return to seasonal averages, but relative humidity will remain low.

Damage inspection is ongoing as they validate and categorize damaged and destroyed structures as fire suppression efforts allow.

From Davis Mountain near the Cold Springs Rancheria and up to the San Joaquin River, fire crews are watching for new spot fires as down-canyon winds develop. In the Shaver Lake area, officials expect a potential for the fire to spread further east and south.

As the smoke clears, aircraft will be able to be used more extensively.

The thick layer of smoke that is covering the Creek Fire continues to moderate fire activity near North Fork, officials said. Crews are taking advantage of these conditions and made progress on developing containment lines and protecting structures.

Dozers and hand crews extended containment lines from the San Joaquin River to Castle Peak near Redinger Lake. They also extended old dozer lines and roads in an attempt to keep the fire from jumping Mammoth Pool Road.

Near Cascadel Woods, crews are incorporating natural fire breaks, such as rocky outcrops and open areas in the containment lines.

A dozer line has been constructed around the Marina View community of Bass Lake and work continues north to Beasore Road near The Pines. Heavy equipment also continues to work on a containment line toward Central Camp.

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Firefighters make progress on the Creek Fire - YourCentralValley.com

What are the major party presidential candidates' positions on critical farm issues? Good question, in fact 10 good questions asked by two Farm Progress staffers to get more insight ahead of the November election.

Holly Spangler, editor, Prairie Farmer, and Jacqui Fatka, policy editor for Farm Futures and Feedstuffs, share a look behind the curtain at creating a major feature by connecting with the campaign staffs of both Trump and Biden. The result is, posted Friday, Sept. 11 is Trump and Biden: What solutions do they bring to ag?

The feature offers insight on key policy issues of importance to farmers. Holly and Jacqui discuss some of the interesting details of the process of working with the candidates' staffs. And they offer some added perspective on what they learned.

Beyond Around Farm Progress we've got more podcasts to share. Check out all our podcast links at FarmProgress.com/farm-progress-podcasts to keep up on not only Around Farm Progress but daily updates from Max Armstrong, and more.

And if you want quick access to top news from Farm Progress, sign up for our mobile text service by texting FARM to 20505. Note that there may be a text or data cost for using the service.

The podcast Around Farm Progress goes live online by 3 p.m. Central time each Friday and will engage editors from around the country. You can listen to this week's episode above and subscribe on Podbean at Around Farm Progress the podcast. And you can now subscribe through Spotify, Google Play and the Apple podcast app. Just search "Around Farm Progress" and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Farmers are getting their information in new ways. Farm Progress is a leader in reaching them as needed. From top magazines around the country to one of the first agriculture-focused mobile apps from Farm Futures, to the leading television presence with This Week in Agribusiness, the company covers all media for agriculture.

Comments or questions? Just send a note to willie.vogt@farmprogress.com

The Trump and Biden campaigns had to answer specific questions from Farm Progress to help shine a light on their perspective of key issues facing farmers.

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Backstory: Connecting with candidates on farm policy issues - Farm Progress

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Jennifer Brady was proud of reaching her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the U.S. Open and says she left everything on the court in her 7-6(1) 3-6 6-3 semi-final defeat to Naomi Osaka on Thursday.

Sep 10, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Jennifer Brady of the United States hits the ball against Naomi Osaka of Japan in the women's singles semifinals match on day eleven of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Brady, whose best performance at the majors had been getting to the fourth round at Melbourne and Flushing Meadows in 2017, matched 2018 U.S. Open champion Osaka shot-for-shot in a quality match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

I think Im just proud of my effort, that I treated each match as the same, came in with the same mentality, the 25-year-old told reporters.

The only goal I had was just to compete on every single point. I felt like thats what I did.

Brady, seeded 28th, clinched her first WTA title at Lexington last month and had not dropped a set at the U.S. Open coming into Thursdays semi-final.

I think I handled the situation pretty well. I was obviously pretty nervous, playing here on Arthur Ashe, night match, semi-finals, a match to play for the finals of the U.S. Open, she said.

I felt like I went out there and I believed that I could win the match. Obviously I didnt, but Im pretty happy with myself, with my effort, and my mentality these past couple weeks.

Brady matched Osakas 35 winners but had eight more unforced errors than her Japanese opponent.

I felt like we were both serving pretty well. It really was just about making first serves, first ball after that, said Brady, adding that she would take a break before playing the French Open from Sept. 27.

I think it rewarded the more aggressive player, maybe she was the more aggressive player today. She played cleaner at times ... it was a pretty high-quality match from both of us.

Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Peter Rutherford

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Brady beaten but proud of Grand Slam progress - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There could be some progress within weeks in resolving a three year-long rift between Gulf Arab states, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday, citing signs of flexibility in negotiations.

David Schenker, the departments top diplomat for the Middle East, was quick to urge caution however, because there hasnt been any fundamental shift in talks that would quickly lead to a resolution.

The dispute dates from 2017 when the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a boycott on Qatar, severing diplomatic and transport ties and accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies allegations of supporting terrorism.

I dont want to get into the whole diplomacy in it but there is some movement. I would like to say that its going to be a matter of weeks, Schenker told a virtual event by the Washington-based Brookings Institute.

Kuwait and the United States have tried to mediate a rift that has undermined Washingtons efforts to form a united front against Iran, which is struggling for regional supremacy with Saudi Arabia.

Theres not been a fundamental shift that ... were going to push the door open right now, but in our talks were detecting a little bit more flexibility, so were hoping we can bring the sides closer together and end this ... distraction, he said. Schenker added that the these are two sides that are dug in ... and yet there is a recognition that this is a distraction from Iran.

Schenker said Washington has been involved in efforts to end the rift at the highest level, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The boycotting nations set 13 demands, including closing Al Jazeera television, shuttering a Turkish base, downgrading ties with Iran and cutting links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Grant McCool

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Progress in resolving Gulf Arab rift could come within weeks, U.S. official says - Reuters

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) recognizes United for Infrastructure 2020: A Week to Champion Americas Infrastructure (Sept. 14-21) by raising awareness of the countrys critical need for infrastructure improvements and reporting progress on its planned approximately $950 million capital investment in 2020 in the 10 states where the company provides water and wastewater service as Aqua and natural gas service as Peoples.

Essential has an immense responsibility to provide our customers safe and reliable utility services, said Essential Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. As weve continued to deliver water, wastewater and natural gas services amidst the challenges of COVID-19, we know that repairing and replacing aging infrastructure remains critical to our mission to protect the public health and strengthen communities.

In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Report Card gave the United States a D+ for the state of its infrastructure.

Infrastructure projects are planned and taking place across Essentials states in 2020, and some of this years projects are highlighted below.

Aqua Pennsylvania Replacing aging water mains throughout Pennsylvania continues to be a large part of Aqua Pennsylvanias capital project program this year. Aqua Pennsylvania plans to replace approximately 120 miles of aging water mains to improve distribution and reduce service interruptions caused by main breaks. Aqua Pennsylvania also broke ground on an $8 million, 14,700 square-foot laboratory to support the utilitys microbiologists and chemists who perform about 300,000 tests on 30,000 water samples each year.

Aqua Ohio Aqua Ohios planned water and wastewater system improvements this year include completion of the Struthers water treatment plant modernization project and construction of a new Franklin County operations center. Aqua Ohio also began a project to rehabilitate the Ashtabula water treatment plant. The Ashtabula plant project, which Aqua Ohio expects to complete in 2021, includes an engineering master plan for the plant to address future expansion needs.

Aqua North Carolina Aqua North Carolina has completed the installation of eight new water treatment systems so far this year with plans to install two more in 2020. Aqua North Carolina is also working on several wastewater projects to improve service and reliability including upgrade projects currently underway for three separate wastewater treatment plants in High Point, New Hanover County and Union County.

Aqua Illinois Aqua Illinois has completed improvements to the Lake Vermilion dam, investing $20 million in this vital resource. Aqua Illinois is preparing for the future with an intensive study of the Joseph Donovan Regional Water Treatment Plant in the City of Kankakee.

Aqua Texas Aqua Texas plans improvements to water and wastewater service for customers statewide this year. Projects include expansions of three wastewater treatment plants to serve the growing needs of communities in Chambers, Harris and Montgomery counties.

Aqua New Jersey This year, Aqua New Jerseys capital plans include upgrades and integrations to SCADA computer systems that monitor and control several wastewater plants to make operations more efficient and improve service for customers. These improvements will be completed in the fourth quarter. Plans also include improvements to drinking water treatment, including a new filtration system at a northwest New Jersey well.

Aqua Indiana This year, Aqua Indianas capital project plans include an expansion of the Hendricks wastewater treatment plant to serve the growing needs of the Avon and Brownsburg communities and unincorporated areas of eastern Hendricks County. Aqua Indiana expects to begin construction this fall and expects to complete the Hendricks expansion project in the first half of 2022.

Aqua Virginia This year, Aqua Virginia is installing water meters at two of its largest remaining unmetered systems, Lake Caroline in Caroline County and Captains Cove in Accomack County. The installation of water meters at these locations means customers pay only for water they use, while promoting conservation. Meters also enable Aqua to measure water losses from the distribution system and identify leaks in customers homes. These improvements will be completed in the fourth quarter.

Peoples In addition to investments included in its long-term infrastructure improvement plan projects in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky this year, Peoples began a 7-year project on a pipeline system known as Goodwin Tombaugh, which runs through Greene and Washington counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. The 300-mile pipeline replacement project will transform an old gathering system into a new modern distribution system. The Goodwin Tombaugh project will provide multiple benefits including a reduction of methane emissions and continued safe and reliable service to 1,600 residents.

About Aqua

Aquas water and wastewater utilities serve more than 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Visit Aqua online at AquaAmerica.com, facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica, and twitter.com/MyAquaAmerica.

About Peoples

Peoples is a natural gas provider serving approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The companys mission is to improve the lives of its customers and to help build long-term economic growth for the regions it serves. For more information about Peoples, visit Peoples-Gas.com and follow Peoples on social media @peoplesnatgas.

About Essential

Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential is committed to excellence in proactive infrastructure investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The company recognizes the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.essential.co.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include words such as believes, expects, intends, anticipates, estimates and similar expressions. The company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the companys actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the capital to be invested by the water, wastewater and gas distribution divisions of the company. There are important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including the risks and uncertainties described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the companys business, please refer to the companys annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The company is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

WTRGG

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Essential Utilities Reports Progress on Infrastructure Projects to Improve Water, Wastewater and Natural Gas Service in 2020 - Business Wire

The southernmost girders were installed joining the Lynnwood and Northgate projects.

Sound Transit

Construction teams have made rapid progress on the Lynnwood Link Extension one year following the groundbreaking event.

Civil construction is already more than 15 percent complete, and the project reached a milestone last week when its southernmost girders were joined to the northernmost segment of the Northgate Link Extension project.

"Anyone who travels along I-5 has seen the remarkable changes to the landscape that weve been making as the project advances," said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. "The shape of the alignment becomes clearer with each passing day. The completed extension will be a game-changer for anyone traveling between King and Snohomish Counties."

Among the construction progress made to date:

The southernmost girders were installed joining the Lynnwood and Northgate projects.

By 2024, Lynnwood Link and other extensions currently under construction will more than double the length of the regions light-rail system. After Lynnwood opens in 2024, riders will enjoy fast, frequent and reliable service between south Snohomish County, the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, the Eastside, Sea-Tac Airport and Federal Way. The extension includes four new stations serving Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline and Seattle.

Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV is executing the civil construction on the extension. The $2.9-billion project budget includes up to $1.17 billion from a Full Funding Grant Agreement executed by the Federal Transit Administration. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportations (USDOT) Build America Bureau executed a $658 million low-interest loan supporting the project. That loan was one of four loans captured in a Master Credit Agreementreached between Sound Transit and USDOT at the end of 2016. The one-of-its-kind agreement should save regional taxpayers between $200 million and $300 million through lower interest costs, says Sound Transit.

Lynnwood Link light-rail service is scheduled to begin in 2024. Commuters from the Lynnwood Transit Center will enjoy 20-minute rides to the University of Washington, 27-minute rides to downtown Seattle and 60-minute rides to Sea-Tac Airport. Trains from Lynnwood will also serve the Eastside and reach downtown Bellevue in 51 minutes.

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Construction progress marks anniversary of Sound Transit's Lynnwood Link extension groundbreaking - MassTransitMag.com

The number of deaths of children under the age of five dropped to an all-time recorded low of 5.2 million in 2019, from 12.5 million in 1990, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the World Bank Group. However, disruptions in child and maternal health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are putting millions of additional lives at stake.

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said: The global community has come too far towards eliminating preventable child deaths to allow the COVID-19 pandemic to stop us in our tracks. When children are denied access to health services because the system is overrun, and when women are afraid to give birth at the hospital for fear of infection, they, too, may become casualties of COVID-19. Without urgent investments to re-start disrupted health systems and services, millions of children under five, especially newborns, could die.

Countries across the world are currently experiencing disruptions in child and maternal health services, such as health checkups, vaccinations, and prenatal and post-natal care, due to resource constraints and a general uneasiness with using health services due to a fear of getting COVID-19.

A UNICEF survey conducted over the summer across 77 countries found that almost 68% reported at least some disruption in health checks for children and immunisation services. In addition, 63% of countries reported disruptions in antenatal checkups and 59%in post-natal care. Further, a recent WHO survey based on responses from 105 countries revealed that 52% of countries reported disruptions in health services for sick children and 51% in services for management of malnutrition.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, commented: The fact that today more children live to see their first birthday than any time in history is a true mark of what can be achieved when the world puts health and well-being at the centre of our response..

Now, we must not let the COVID-19 pandemic turn back remarkable progress for our children and future generations. Rather, it is time to use what we know works to save lives, and keep investing in stronger, resilient health systems.

In 2019, a newborn baby died every 13 seconds. Moreover, 47% of all deaths under five occurred in the neonatal period, up from 40% in 1990.

The surveys indicate that with severe disruptions in essential health services, newborn babies could be at much higher risk of dying.

In May, initial modelling by Johns Hopkins University showed that almost 6,000 additional children could die per day due to disruptions due to COVID-19. These reports and surveys highlight the need for urgent action to restore and improve childbirth services and antenatal and postnatal care for mothers and babies, including having skilled health workers to care for them at birth.

Muhammad Ali Pate, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank, concluded: The COVID-19 pandemic has put years of global progress to end preventable child deaths in serious jeopardy. It is essential to protect life-saving services which have been key to reducing child mortality. We will continue to work with governments and partners to reinforce healthcare systems to ensure mothers and children get the services they need.

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Progress towards eliminating child deaths could be reversed by COVID-19 - Health Europa