Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in alcohol problems, particularly for young adults, according to a new study. In the Cedars-Sinai study , published this month in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Network Open, investigators used predictive modeling to compare expected — or projected — alcohol use disorder mortality rates to actual rates. They found that alcohol use disorder-related mortality rates increased among all ages and sexes during the pandemic. Yee Hui Yeo, MD, MSc, lead author of the study, said: "During the first few months of the pandemic, my colleagues and I saw increased numbers of patients being treated for acute alcohol use-related conditions in the intensive care unit and throughout the medical center. "We also became aware of reports from single centers of elevated alcohol use-related complications. That prompted us to think, maybe this is a significant public health crisis." Investigators obtained de-identified mortality data for seven years —2012 to 2019 … [Read more...] about Alcohol abuse increased during COVID pandemic, study shows

Slovakia’s economy reached pre-pandemic values in the first quarter of 2022 when its gross domestic product increased by 3.1 percent year on year. Economic growth stood at 1.4 percent at the end of last year. Its dynamics thus sped up and surprised analysts. Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Statistics Office, which published the first GDP flash estimate of this year on May 17, added that the GDP rose by 0.4 percent quarter on quarter. Analysts of the monetary analysis, statistics, research and market operation division at the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) said the economy rose somewhat more slowly than they had expected in their March prediction. “The war in Ukraine slowed the already initiated catch-up to the pre-pandemic GDP level,” they explained. With that and the resulting uncertainty involving existing problems with supplies … [Read more...] about Slovak economy back at pre-pandemic levels, possibly thanks to households

Another round of stimulus checks are headed to Americans in a couple of states that have approved additional COVID relief amid talks of a potential fourth payment from the federal government. Individuals in Maine and New Mexico could see another check as early as June thanks to lawmakers in those states successfully passing more economic relief for residents. The legislation follows a similar move last week in Alaska, where the state Senate approved a spending package including cash payments of $5,500 for Alaskans. With inflation at a four-decade high, some state governors and other lawmakers have pushed for new stimulus check payments or rebates in a bid to ease the financial toll on Americans. California, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Hawaii and Pennsylvania also have stimulus proposals under consideration . Check out below to see if you're eligible for next month's checks: Maine An estimated 858,000 people across the state will receive $850 relief checks to help … [Read more...] about Stimulus check update: Americans in two states to receive money next month

London stocks recovered to make solid gains on Monday, despite wider concerns over a slowdown in consumer activity in China. The commodity sector once again came to the FTSE’s rescue to ensure it finished in the green while its European counterparts remained lower despite lifting slightly from lows seen during morning trading. The FTSE 100 ended the day up 46.65 points, or 0.63%, at 7,464.8 points. “After an early dip prompted by a sharp slowdown in Chinese retail sales in April, markets in Europe have recovered to some extent from their intraday lows, however, there has been a big mismatch between how the FTSE 100 is performing and weakness in the Dax,” commented Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC markets UK. The German Dax decreased by 0.67% by the end of the session, while the French Cac was also down 0.49% due to weaker sentiment on the continent. Recommended Coleen Rooney to resume evidence in Rebekah Vardy court battle - live … [Read more...] about FTSE closes higher as Chinese spending slowdown weighs on rest of Europe

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned flight prices could rise by nearly 10% this summer due to soaring demand for European holidays. He said holidaymakers should brace for prices to rise by a “high single-digit per cent” over the peak season as demand for breaks on European beach resorts rebounds thanks to the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions. The budget airline’s chief executive also said there were likely to be ongoing delays at airports, blaming staff shortages. Mr O’Leary said there are “pinch-points” in particular at Heathrow and Manchester , where he claimed “too many people” have been sacked. Recommended Coleen Rooney to resume evidence in Rebekah Vardy court battle - live ‘Putin likely to have lost third of troops in Ukraine’ – follow live He added he hoped to see the worst of the delays ease off in time for the busy summer season, but stressed it would still be a “challenge” for passengers getting through UK … [Read more...] about Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary warns of holiday price hikes

The price cap on household energy bills could be reviewed every three months under new plans mooted by Ofgem on Monday. The energy regulator said that it might insert two new reviews a year, one in January and another in July. It would help pass on savings from a potential fall in gas prices to customers more rapidly, Ofgem said, and also protect under-pressure energy suppliers from being damaged by the cap. The regulator is also consulting on plans that could add between £40 and £80 to customers’ bills from this October. Around 23 million households in Great Britain have their energy prices decided by the energy price cap, so any change will have a huge impact on wallets across the country. Recommended Coleen Rooney to resume evidence in Rebekah Vardy court battle - live ‘Putin likely to have lost third of troops in Ukraine’ – follow live “Today’s proposed change would mean the price cap is more reflective of current market prices … [Read more...] about Cap on energy bills could be reviewed four times a year under Ofgem plans

Soft drinks giant Britvic has seen half-year profits jump nearly 50% as it hiked prices to offset inflation, but cautioned over falling consumer spending amid the cost-of-living crisis. The Robinsons squash and J2O maker reported pre-tax profits of £59.3 million for the six months to March 31, up from £39.8 million a year earlier. Revenues jumped 18.5% to £719.3 million and the group said drinks bought for “immediate consumption” had now bounced back ahead of pre-pandemic levels, while trade overall across bars and restaurants recovered further. The group said it increased prices at the start of the year amid efforts to offset soaring costs, but added that inflation was only partially mitigated in the first half. Recommended Coleen Rooney to resume evidence in Rebekah Vardy court battle - live ‘Putin likely to have lost third of troops in Ukraine’ – follow live Simon Litherland, chief executive of Britvic, said: “The current … [Read more...] about Britvic reveals profits hike as it raises prices to combat costs

House prices have risen faster in rural areas than in urban locations over the past five years, analysis by a building society has found. Property values in areas which are mainly rural have risen by 29% over the past five years, while those in predominantly urban areas have increased by 18%, Nationwide Building Society said. The coronavirus pandemic and more flexible working opportunities have prompted some people to relocate to more rural areas in recent years. In general, rural detached properties have seen the strongest rates of price growth, while urban flats have recorded the weakest price increases, according to Nationwide. Between December 2016 and December 2021, rural detached properties increased in price by 32% on average, while urban flats typically added 6% on to their value. Recommended Moscow makes fresh warning of retaliation against Finland over Nato ‘Computer says no’: Sunak blames ageing IT for not hiking benefits … [Read more...] about House price growth in rural areas ‘has outperformed urban locations’

This is a good week to ponder the dynamics of human population growth, and how it relates to the coronavirus pandemic, which is surging in the U.S. and globally, driven in part by population density. World Population Day, which highlights the importance of issues like family planning for sustainable development, is this Saturday. Meanwhile, this week the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Trump administration could let employers opt out of mandated contraceptive coverage in the Affordable Care Act. Does the pandemic demand a rethink of our attitudes toward growth, both demographic and economic? Is perpetual growth really a guarantor of human well-being? Can we create by fiat an endless future of unlimited human numbers and activity? At what point should hubris make some concessions to humility? "We are as gods," Stewart Brand wrote in 1968 at the opening of his Whole Earth Catalogue , "and might as well get good at it." Half a century later, we are no better at it. The more … [Read more...] about A lesson from COVID-19: Growth is part of the problem | Opinion

If you missed rent payments because of the pandemic, the window to apply for state help in paying what you owe has closed. California’s Housing Is Key program was set up to pay all of the rent debt that eligible renters had run up since April 2020. Landlords could apply too if their tenants met the program’s criteria and provided the necessary paperwork. And if a tenant has an application pending, the landlord can’t seek to evict you before July for any rent debt you amassed from March 2020 to March 2022. The state announced in mid-March, however, that the program would stop accepting applications on March 31. Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the state Department of Housing and Community Development, said the program is running short of funds, which is why it’s shutting down. As of March 29, the state had received more than 480,000 completed applications and distributed more than $2.3 billion on behalf of almost 206,000 households. The grants, which can cover unpaid rent and … [Read more...] about Californians behind on their rent can still get help. But you need to apply now