Schools are being properly funded, and all it took was a pandemic

The NPC Podcast is on the air. The organizers of the National Pharmaceutical Congress are proud to release our new weekly podcast series, hosted by Peter Brenders. Peter's guest this week will be Lee Ferreira of Ferring Pharmaceuticals. It will be out Wednesday, but you can listen to older episodes here now, and keep an eye out Wednesday morning for the newest episode. The NPC Podcast is presented in cooperation with Impres Pharma.

⇒ Issue #83 (In numerology, the number 83 represents optimism, positivity, achievements, accomplishments, success, abundance, and prosperity.)
⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 07/27: 115,789*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 07/27: 8,934*
⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 07/27: 15,264,048*
⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 07/27: 648,966*

July 27, 2020— Welcome back to another week of Covid-19 news, fellow Curveflatteners. It's your editorial assistant (and p-p-p-proud podcast producer) Jeremy Visser reporting today's p-p-p-practical pandemic proceedings.

As we start our last week in July and head towards our last month of summer, the closer we get to the inevitable resumption of school classes in September. However, this year things are a little more serious owing to Covid-19.

New guidelines released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are strongly in favour of the reopening of schools. U.S. President Donald J. Trump has also trumpeted the need for children to return to school and requested US$105 billion from Congress to make it so.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford plans an announcement this week on the province's plan to reopen schools, having recently announced that Cdn$500 million would be invested in school infrastructure. Education experts have deemed Quebec's school reopening, earlier this year, as a success (although with challenges involving social distancing on school buses.) 

University and college students have requested reimbursement of some tuition costs due to the absence of in-person classes. A spokesperson from Western University confirmed that their institution is assessing services that will be unavailable due to the virtual classes and whether the institution will adjust fees. As a student, I'm just happy that my required commute to 8 a.m. classes will be that much shorter.

COVID CHRONICLE 07/27/2020

• A study published online first in The Lancet suggests a deterioration of mental health in the UK in response to the pandemic. The analysis was done via a web survey on those aged 16 or older and was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire.
• A study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Associations suggests a decrease of Covid-19 transmission linked to social distancing, temperate weather and lower population density. The U.S. study looked at 211 counties in 26 states. The authors recommending using selective public policy planning based on their findings.

• A study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston suggests sputum testing provides a higher rate of Covid-19 than nasal or mouth swabs. Sputum samples are collected from patients phlegm through deep coughs. The investigators recommended using nasal swabs in cases where patients are unable to produce sputum samples.

STORIES CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

The NPC Podcast. I'll be editing the interview by our host Peter Brenders, Founder & President of Kontollo Health, of Lee Ferreira, General Manager of Ferring Canada, as they talk about customer relationships and other issues during Covid-19. This fourth episode of our weekly podcast series will be out this Wednesday (07/29.)

RIGHT NOW WE ARE LISTENING TO... 

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Soundtrack makes for some great background music while working. With mostly melancholic and peaceful pieces, there are a couple tracks that have been distracting my fingers with tapping to the beat instead of tapping away at my keyboard.

TONIGHT I'M WATCHING... 

Only Yesterday. Dedicated DCF readers may remember that I embarked on a Studio Ghibli marathon after a majority of their films hit Netflix. In Isao Takahata's follow up to Grave of the Fireflies, we follow Taeko's journey through the Japanese countryside, but also through her memories of fifth grade that seem to mirror a mid-life coming of age. This is not only Takahata's second film with Ghibli but his second with a 100% score on RottenTomatoes, which means you should definitely be watching it.

TONIGHT WE ARE COOKING... 

Veggie Bowls. We just cut up zucchini (oiled with sea salt), broccoli and cauliflower (doused with nutritional yeast), portobello mushrooms (covered in oil and sumac) and bake them all in the oven. Use rice and lightly massaged kale as a base, cover it in veggies and pour tahini all over it. Feel free to mix up the type of rice, greens and veggies as you see fit.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

Please make use of the comments section at the Daily CurveFlattener, to let us know what you're up to today. Or feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector. By all means, pass this newsletter along to your colleagues.

That's it. Stay in touch, stay safe and enjoy Monday. Editorial Director Allan Ryan will be here tomorrow for your news updates.