Staying home

BOSTON, MARCH 4, 2021 ( STATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE ) – The Baker administration has been quietly planning for a permanent “hybrid” work model for as much as half of the state workforce, and over the course of 2021 will be redesigning office space and equipping employees with the technology they need to be able to continue to work remotely after the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Charlie Baker last week sent an email to all state employees outlining the “Future of Work Initiative,” which he described as a cross-secretariat planning effort that has been underway for months. READ MORE: No COVID Baby Boom: Massachusetts Saw Nearly 10% Decline In December Births, Data Shows Administration and Finance Secretary Michael Heffernan delivered the bullet points of the plan Tuesday to a legislative committee after he was asked about the future of remote and online government services by Rep. Todd Smola, a Warren Republican. “For folks that are able to telework, we’re now going to have upwards of … [Read more...] about Half Of State Employees In Massachusetts Could Stay Remote After Pandemic

After years of slowly easing toward remote work arrangements, companies and their employees had to take the plunge fully clothed in March. Instead of drowning, they learned to make it work, saving an untold number of jobs and ushering in profound changes that will carry into a post-pandemic world. “Remote work has been all or nothing in the past,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.” FlexJobs connects workers with remote work opportunities, and the Boulder-based company, practicing what it preaches, has operated remotely for 14 years. Despite being well-versed in what many companies were pushed into unwillingly, Sutton said this year has proved to be the hardest in the company’s history. What happened this year doesn’t at all reflect the benefits that remote work can offer, Sutton said. And yet, despite all the limitations, many employees came to prefer it. “It has been far more challenging than what typical remote work is by … [Read more...] about Work-at-home will stay in play long after the pandemic recedes

Kindly Share This Story: By Dirisu Yakubu As part of efforts to continue to checkmate the spread of coronavirus in the country, the federal government has extended the work-from-home directive to civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below, till the end of March. In circular titled ‘Stay-At – Home Directive continues ref -HCSF/3065/VOL.I/83,” the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan said the latest directive was in adherence to the advice of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. READ ALSO: We’ll permit crossover nights under strict COVID -19 protocols – Makinde In a statement made available to newsmen, Thursday, Abdulganiyu Aminu, Director, Pres and Public Relations, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, quoted Dr. Yemi-Esan as saying the downward trend in the number of reported cases must be sustained; hence the extension of the work-from-home directive. The Head of Service also emphasized the … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Grade level 12 civil servants, others, to remain at home – FG

From a young age, I learned that sick is comfort; sick is to be cared for. When I stayed home with an earache in second grade, my dad didn’t double-check my homework or make me practice piano exercises twice on each hand. He brought me a bell so I could ring him and gave me three M&M’s for every dose of antibiotics that went down without a fuss. Undoubtedly, my penchant for minor ailments comes from a place of privilege. My physical body is healthy, which is why its occasional maladies have become phenomena that I get to relish. I recognise that chronic illness is another story, of course. But when I feel a cold coming on, I don’t stir Emergen-C and up my citrus intake, I lean in. My taste for illness solidified in high school, when I came down with mono. For two weeks, I lay in bed with a high fever while the kissing disease transformed my reputation. Along with the virus, I had contracted an air of mystery — the possibility that I was locking lips with someone my … [Read more...] about A celebration of the sick day: If you need that MC tomorrow, just take it

Its cobblestone streets and French architecture make Old Montreal, the original settlement on the St Lawrence Seaway, compelling. But Montreal, now 376 years old, also has much to offer in its surrounding neighbourhoods. From the new restaurants of Gay Village to the annually updated murals of the Plateau and the trendy shopping of Mile End, the city’s districts make a strong case for buying a subway pass. Street festivals, outdoor performances, pop-up markets: Montreal so likes to mingle that even tourism boosters call it “the smoking and drinking section of Canada”. Come for the innovative food and drink – namely, the recently opened natural wine bars, speakeasies and restaurants serving Quebecois small plates – and stay for the culture, especially the new mural tours, digital light shows and symphonic experiments. FRIDAY 3PM: MEET MONTREAL'S MASTERS The expansive Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is known for its vast collection, including encyclopaedic holdings of … [Read more...] about Got just a weekend in Montreal? Here’s what you can do

SINGAPORE - The wife of the 82-year-old retiree reported to have Covid-19 on Wednesday (March 3) is the sole new coronavirus case in the community announced on Thursday. The 81-year-old Singaporean developed a fever and chills on Feb 27 but did not seek medical attention and recovered on the same day, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). MOH added that these symptoms might have been due to the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which the woman had received on Feb 26. As the retiree was a close contact of her husband, she was placed under quarantine on March 2, and was tested for Covid-19 as part of the Health Ministry’s protocol. Her test result came back positive for Covid-19 infection the next day, and she was taken in an ambulance to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). The woman's serological test result is negative, indicating that this is likely a current infection. As the vaccine does not contain live virus, she could not have been infected by … [Read more...] about Wife of 82-year-old retiree who tested positive for Covid-19 is sole new community case

Instagram.com/deshaunwatson Out with a back injury, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey didn’t travel to Carolina on Sunday. But he also didn’t stay in Jacksonville. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has posted on Instagram of photo of himself with Ramsey. So either Watson traveled to Jacksonville after his game against the Falcons (unlikely) or Ramsey traveled to Houston for Sunday (more likely). Sitting between Watson and Ramsey is agent David Mulugheta, who told multiple reporters 20 days ago that Ramsey wants out of Jacksonville. Given that Ramsey recently has spoken about his efforts to get treatment on his back so that he could return to action, it’s fair to wonder why he wasn’t in Jacksonville getting treatment while his teammates were in Carolina. Last week, Ramsey did indeed travel with the team to Denver for a win over the Broncos, but Ramsey did not play. The Jaguars continue to tiptoe around Ramsey, apparently hopeful that he’ll eventually decide to abandon his … [Read more...] about Jalen Ramsey ended up in Houston on Sunday

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website . Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has a plan for how to spend $200 million earmarked for telehealth in the coronavirus emergency spending bill Congress passed last week.  Pai on Monday circulated a proposal for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program , which is designed to help health care providers pay for broadband service and devices they need to provide telehealth services. President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act . As part of that bill, Congress appropriated $200 million to the FCC to quickly disseminate funding to health care providers to use telehealth services to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Pai's proposed program would help eligible health care providers purchase telecom and broadband services as well as devices necessary for providing telehealth services.  The FCC … [Read more...] about FCC Chairman Pai proposes COVID-19 telehealth program

SAO PAULO - Three Brazilian states have halted their professional soccer local leagues due to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The state government of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil, on Thursday ordered the local league to stop playing, but is still allowing its clubs to take part in the Brazilian Cup. The soccer bodies in Paraná and Santa Catarina, both in the country’s south, also suspended their leagues. Almost 260,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Brazil, whose death toll is second only to the United States. Many Brazilian governors expect the next two weeks to be the deadliest in the South American nation since the pandemic hit one year ago. A handful of coaches and players have started a public debate on whether soccer should be stopped all together. Lisca, the coach of recently promoted America, was the most vocal proponent for a suspension of play. “I am appealing to the Brazilian FA to give the Brazilian Cup a break so we can … [Read more...] about Brazilian soccer under pressure to stop as COVID-19 surges

SINGAPORE: One community case was among the 19 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore on Thursday (Mar 4). The remaining 18 cases were imported infections and were all placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update. No new cases were reported in migrant worker dormitories. The sole community case reported on Thursday is the wife of an 82-year-old retiree confirmed to have COVID-19 on Mar 2 . The 81-year-old woman, also a retiree, developed a fever and chills on Feb 27 but did not seek medical attention, and recovered on the same day. She had received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine the day before, and these symptoms might also have been due to the vaccination, MOH said. As she had been identified as a close contact of her husband, she was placed on quarantine on Mar 2 and was tested for COVID-19. Her test result came back positive the next day, and she was conveyed in an ambulance to the … [Read more...] about Sole COVID-19 community case in Singapore got first vaccine dose last week, infection from vaccine ruled out: MOH