DOCSLIB.ORG

Growing up in Lockdown: Europe's Children in the Age of COVID-19

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Growing up in Lockdown: Europe's Children in the Age of COVID-19 Growing up in lockdown: Europe’s children in the age of COVID-19 2020 Eurochild Report #PuttingChildrenFirst Eurochild advocates for children’s rights and well-being to be at the heart of policy making. We are a network of organisations working with and for children throughout Europe, striving for a society that respects the rights of children. We influence policies, build internal capacities, facilitate mutual learning and exchange practice and research. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the foundation of all our work. Eurochild AISBL Rue de Trèves 9, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Tel. +32 (0)2 511 70 83 [email protected] - www.eurochild.org November 2020. Digital release only. For more information, contact: Réka Tunyogi Head of Advocacy, Eurochild [email protected] 3 |  Summary of Contents findings ...........6 Policy recommendations .........14 Country Belgium .....................................................18 Ireland ........................................................93 profiles ........ 17 Bulgaria .....................................................22 Italy ..............................................................99 Croatia .......................................................27 Latvia ......................................................103 Cyprus .......................................................32 Malta .......................................................108 Czechia .....................................................35 Netherlands .........................................114 Denmark ...................................................41 Poland .....................................................122 England .....................................................50 Portugal .................................................127 Estonia.......................................................57 Romania .................................................134 Finland .......................................................64 Serbia ......................................................139 France ........................................................72 Slovakia ..................................................144 Statistics Germany ...................................................78 Slovenia .................................................149 explained ....159 Greece .......................................................81 Spain .......................................................153 Hungary ....................................................87 4 | 2020 Eurochild Report on the European Semester Introduction In February 2020 the COVID-19 virus started to spread in Europe. Since then our economies, societies, and daily lives have been turned upside down. This report reflects on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on children. It compiles information gathered from 25 countries across Europe, and provides recommendations for improving public policies in the short and long-term to support better outcomes for children and families. The assessment is accompanied by reflections on the 2020 European Semester. This report is based on information gathered until August/September 2020, and was released in November 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing problems of social inequality, with job losses pushing many families further into poverty and school closures creating a wider educational divide, impacting children’s life chances, and their physical and mental health. It has exposed the lack of national policies to tackle poverty, particularly child poverty, and drawn attention to the need for a multi- dimensional approach. As a result, Eurochild and its members are calling for recovery plans that take children’s needs into account, for national plans to reduce poverty, and for targeted support from the EU, including through implementation of an EU Child Guarantee. 5 |  Acknowledgements This report is based on assessments Central Union for Child Welfare - Romania (Romania); Network of provided by 42 Eurochild members Finland (Finland); CNAPE - National Organisations for Children of Serbia in 25 countries. These are: Child Federation of Association for Child - MODS, Mental Disability Rights Rights Coalition Flanders, Maud Protection France, Nexem France Initiative-Serbia - MDRI (Serbia); Stiernet (Belgium); National Network (France); Arbeitsgemeinschaft Coalition for Children Slovakia of Children Bulgaria - NNCB, For für Kinder- und Jugendhilfe - AGJ (Slovakia); Slovenian NGO Network Our Children Foundation Bulgaria (Germany); The Smile of the Child, ZIPOM (Slovenia); Plataforma de - FOCFB, Hope and Homes for Roots Research Centre Greece Organizaciones de Infancia, FICE Children Bulgaria - HHCB, - CEDAR (Greece); Family, Child, Youth Spain (Spain). Foundation; Social Activities and Association, Hintalovon Foundation Practice Institute - SAPI, SOS Hungary (Hungary); Children’s We are very grateful to: all Eurochild Children Villages Bulgaria (Bulgaria); Rights Alliance Ireland, EPIC members who contributed through FICE Croatia, Coordination of Empowering People In Care Ireland the 2020 questionnaires and Associations for Children (Croatia); (Ireland); Fondazione L’Albero della follow-up feedback; the Policy and Pancyprian Coordinating Committee Vita (Italy); Latvian Child Welfare Advocacy Team of Eurochild, in for the Protection and Welfare of Network (Latvia); Malta Foundation particular Réka Tunyogi for overall Children (Cyprus); Alliance for the for the Wellbeing of Society – MFWS, coordination and supervision, Rights of the Child, DCI Czechia, Foundation for Social Welfare Zuzana Konradova and Enrico Big Dipper North (Czechia); Services - FSWS (Malta); Dutch Tormen for practical coordination, Joint Council for Child Issues - NGO Coalition on Children’s Rights drafting and proofreading; Anastesia Børnesagens Fællesråd, Geert (the Netherlands); Polish Foster Mondesir and Iulita Osichenko for Jorgensen (Denmark); Children's Care Coalition - PFCC (Poland); their drafting; Sara Hammerton Rights Alliance for England – CRAE Fundação Nossa Senhora do Bom for editing and proofreading; and (England); Estonian Union for Child Sucesso, Sérgio Araújo (Portugal); Emmanuelle de Castillon from Page Welfare – Lastekaitse Liit (Estonia); Hope and Homes for Children - HHC in Extremis for design. 6 | 2020 Eurochild Report on the European Semester 1. Summary of findings 1.1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children in Europe The COVID-19 pandemic has during the lockdown led inevitably school provides. For children already between regions. Latvia said imposed a huge strain on Europe’s to increased anxiety and mental living in poverty it meant increased schools were just not prepared for social and economic fabric, often health problems, a concern raised hunger if they missed out on free distance learning, while in Romania exposing inherent weaknesses, with in the reports for Bulgaria, Denmark, school meals. Parents of school-age a shocking 32% of children had no far-reaching effects, including on England, Estonia, Finland, France, children had to home-school their access to online learning. Slovenia children’s well-being. Romania, Slovenia and Portugal. The children, often while also working and Spain reported similar problems. report describes how children with from home. The job losses that followed the no history of behavioural problems, The work of civil society onset of the pandemic put more are having trouble sleeping and are Home schooling highlighted the organisations (CSOs) supporting families at risk of poverty, as many becoming increasingly aggressive. educational divide and the digital children in vulnerable situations of the country reports underlined, The Latvia report noted that during divide. Many parents struggle to became more difficult. As the including Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, lockdown health services for children support their children’s learning, England report points out, lockdown Italy and Slovenia. Food poverty were not available, even in the most particularly those with a low level impeded the ability of professionals in particular became more acute, serious situations. of education themselves. Most to reach children in the most a problem starkly illustrated in the education was delivered online while vulnerable situations, with issues Italy report which describes the Sadly, those pressures led to an schools were closed, but many low going undetected. At the same time situation in a district of Palermo with increase in domestic violence, as income families are not equipped CSOs often faced reduced funding, an increasing number of robberies many country reports mentioned, with computers, and often parents while the need for their services at local supermarkets by people including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, do not have the necessary technical increased. Cyprus, the Czechia, whose children were seriously at risk Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, skills. Teachers also had to adapt Denmark, Latvia, France, Italy and of starving. Portugal and Slovenia. to delivering lessons on line, and Spain were among the countries to their own technical skills and the mention problems of this nature. The combination of financial stress, School closures caused additional support they received varied greatly. uncertainty over the future, and stress for children who missed the In Estonia there was big difference families being confined to the home social contact and structure that in the supply of support services Summary of findings | 7 1.2. The impact of
Load more

Recommended publications
  • COVID-19: Examining the Impact of Lockdown in India After One Year
    ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846 COVID-19: Examining the Impact of Lockdown in India after One Year EPW ENGAGE One year after its announcement in March 2020, the consequences of India’s strict COVID-19 lockdown measures and ineffective policy responses continue to be felt, be it in terms of livelihood loss and economic downturn or increased marginalisation of vulnerable sections of society. On 24 March 2020, with approximately 500 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 reported in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country and declared a nationwide lockdown. He announced that “a total ban is being imposed on people, from stepping out of their homes for a period of 21 days.” The lockdown, which would be in operation from the midnight of 24–25 March, was announced with only four hours’ notice. On the same day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified stringent lockdown measures, including the suspension of transport services and closing of government offices, commercial and industrial establishments. Exceptions were made for activities such as police and emergency services, essential services such as electricity, water and sanitation, postal services, banking and insurance services, manufacture of essential commodities, sale and transport of essential goods like food, telecommunications and internet services, and print and electronic media. Hospitality services were suspended, excepting those accommodating persons stranded due to lockdown, and those earmarked for quarantine facilities. All educational institutions were to be shut down. All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and gatherings were barred, and places of worship were to be closed to the public. ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846 Under the Ministry of Home Affairs order, any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Sections 51–60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, with scope for imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine.
    [Show full text]
  • Rights in a Pandemic – Lockdowns, Rights and Lessons from HIV In
    RIGHTS IN A PANDEMIC Lockdowns, rights and lessons from HIV in the early response to COVID-19 UNAIDS | 2020 Cover photo: Supplied to UNAIDS by Twinkle Paul, Guyanese transgender activist Contents 2 Foreword 4 Abbreviations and acronyms 6 Executive summary 12 Introduction 14 Methodology 16 Setting the scene: limiting movement of people in response to COVID–19 19 COVID–19 public health orders and human rights 19 Avoid disproportionate, discriminatory or excessive use of criminal law 22 Stop discriminatory enforcement against key populations 24 Explicitly prohibit state-based violence, and hold law enforcement and security forces accountable for disproportionate responses or actions when enforcing COVID-19 response measures 25 Include reasonable exceptions to ensure legal restrictions on movement do not prevent access to food, health care, shelter or other basic needs 29 Take proactive measures to ensure people, particularly from vulnerable groups, can access HIV treatment and prevention services and meet other basic needs 37 Rapidly reduce overcrowding in detention settings and take all steps necessary to minimize COVID-19 risk, and ensure access to health and sanitation, for people deprived of liberty 39 Implement measures to prevent and address gender-based violence against women, children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people during lockdowns 41 Designate and support essential workers, including community health workers and community-led service providers, journalists and lawyers 46 Ensure limitations on movement are specific, time-bound and evidence- based, and that governments adjust measures in response to new evidence and as problems arise 47 Create space for independent civil society and judicial accountability, ensuring continuity despite limitations on movement 50 Conclusion 52 References Foreword The COVID-19 crisis has upended the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Education and Training: Recovering the Ground Lost During the Lockdown
    Global Health and Covid-19 Education and training: recovering the ground lost during the lockdown. Towards a more sustainable competence model for the future Stefanie Goldberg, Paul Grainger (University College London), Silvia Lanza Castell,i Bhushan Sethi May 5, 2021 | Last updated: May 5, 2021 Tags: Education and skills, Policy responses to Covid-19 Some organizations are awarding qualifications that reflect a normal distribution profile of passes and grades, despite the pandemic’s impact on education. While helping assuage student and parent demands, and ensuring continuity of entry to universities, training, or employment, this potentially misrepresents actual skills, as these qualifications represent a certain level of competence. Without these skills, economies won’t have enough skilled workers and individuals may find their career mobility hampered. Exploring the responses of TVET institutions to changed evaluation criteria and identifying their assessment of competency shortfalls and impact on progression into employment, can help empower educators, governments, students, and businesses. Challenge Given the disruptive impact of COVID-19 and the extended use of technological innovations to complement or replace in-person education, some educational and training organizations are awarding qualifications to those progressing through their education that reflect a normal distribution profile of passes and grades. This is despite lost learning time, teacher shortages, increased anxiety, connectivity challenges, incomplete assessments, and other disruptions. Examination Boards are under pressure to assuage student and parent demands, and to support continuity of entry to universities, vocational training, or employment. While this might be considered to be ‘fair’ for this cohort of students, it represents a misunderstanding of the societal and economic value of qualifications at tertiary level.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Jobs and Incomes in G20 Economies
    The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on jobs and incomes in G20 economies ILO-OECD paper prepared at the request of G20 Leaders Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency 2020 2020 2 Table of contents Executive summary 3 Introduction 6 1. From an unprecedented health crisis to a deep economic crisis 6 Evolution and current scale of the health crisis across countries 6 Timing and extent of health containment measures and their impact on mobility 6 Macroeconomic consequences 9 2. Diagnosis: A heavy and immediate toll on labour markets 10 An unprecedented collapse in employment and hours worked 10 The rise in unemployment has been muted in many countries 12 Change in wages and incomes 14 The unequal impact of the crisis 14 3. Mitigation: Policies to mitigate the labour market consequences of the crisis 20 Reducing workers’ exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace 21 Securing jobs, supporting companies and maintaining essential service provision 25 Providing income security and employment support to affected workers 29 4. Recovery: Policy considerations for exiting confinement 36 5. Building back better 41 References 43 Tables Table 1. A severe decline in working hours and employment projected in G20 economies 12 Figures Figure 1. G20 economies have differed in timing and strictness of COVID-19 containment measures 7 Figure 2. Individual mobility fell substantially in most G20 countries 8 Figure 3. Industrial production was severely curtailed by containment measures 9 Figure 4. Output is set to remain weak for an extended period 10 Figure 5. Unprecedented falls in employment and total hours worked 11 Figure 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Friday Prime Time, April 17 4 P.M
    April 17 - 23, 2009 SPANISH FORK CABLE GUIDE 9 Friday Prime Time, April 17 4 P.M. 4:30 5 P.M. 5:30 6 P.M. 6:30 7 P.M. 7:30 8 P.M. 8:30 9 P.M. 9:30 10 P.M. 10:30 11 P.M. 11:30 BASIC CABLE Oprah Winfrey Å 4 News (N) Å CBS Evening News (N) Å Entertainment Ghost Whisperer “Save Our Flashpoint “First in Line” ’ NUMB3RS “Jack of All Trades” News (N) Å (10:35) Late Show With David Late Late Show KUTV 2 News-Couric Tonight Souls” ’ Å 4 Å 4 ’ Å 4 Letterman (N) ’ 4 KJZZ 3The People’s Court (N) 4 The Insider 4 Frasier ’ 4 Friends ’ 4 Friends 5 Fortune Jeopardy! 3 Dr. Phil ’ Å 4 News (N) Å Scrubs ’ 5 Scrubs ’ 5 Entertain The Insider 4 The Ellen DeGeneres Show (N) News (N) World News- News (N) Two and a Half Wife Swap “Burroughs/Padovan- Supernanny “DeMello Family” 20/20 ’ Å 4 News (N) (10:35) Night- Access Holly- (11:36) Extra KTVX 4’ Å 3 Gibson Men 5 Hickman” (N) ’ 4 (N) ’ Å line (N) 3 wood (N) 4 (N) Å 4 News (N) Å News (N) Å News (N) Å NBC Nightly News (N) Å News (N) Å Howie Do It Howie Do It Dateline NBC A police of cer looks into the disappearance of a News (N) Å (10:35) The Tonight Show With Late Night- KSL 5 News (N) 3 (N) ’ Å (N) ’ Å Michigan woman. (N) ’ Å Jay Leno ’ Å 5 Jimmy Fallon TBS 6Raymond Friends ’ 5 Seinfeld ’ 4 Seinfeld ’ 4 Family Guy 5 Family Guy 5 ‘Happy Gilmore’ (PG-13, ’96) ›› Adam Sandler.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Proceedings of the Meetings of the Board Of
    OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN January 18, 2005 February 15, 2005 March 15, 2005 April 19, 2005 May 17, 2005 June 29, 2005 July 19, 2005 August 16,2005 September 21,2005 October 18, 2005 November 8, 2005 December 20, 2005 O. Philip Idsvoog, Chair Richard Purcell, First Vice-Chair Dwight Stevens, Second Vice-Chair Roger Wrycza, County Clerk ATTACHED IS THE PORTAGE COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS FOR 2005 WHICH INCLUDE MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS ATTACHMENTS THAT ARE LISTED FOR RESOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE RESOLUTION NO RESOLUTION TITLE JANUARY 18, 2005 77-2004-2006 ZONING ORDINANCE MAP AMENDMENT, CRUEGER PROPERTY 78-2004-2006 ZONING ORDINANCE MAP AMENDMENT, TURNER PROPERTY 79-2004-2006 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NEW POSITION REQUEST FOR 2005-NON TAX LEVY FUNDED-PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNER (ADDITIONAL 20 HOURS/WEEK) 80-2004-2006 DIRECT LEGISLATION REFERENDUM ON CREATING THE OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE 81-2004-2006 ADVISORY REFERENDUM QUESTIONS DEALING WITH FULL STATE FUNDING FOR MANDATED STATE PROGRAMS REQUESTED BY WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION 82-2004-2006 SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW AMBULANCE SERVICE AMENDED AGREEMENT ISSUES 83-2004-2006 MANAGEMENT REVIEW PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THE FUTURE DIRECTION TECHNICAL FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF PORTAGE COUNTY AMENDMENT GOVERNMENT 84-2004-2006 FINAL RESOLUTION FEBRUARY 15, 2005 85-2004-2006 ZONING ORDINANCE MAP AMENDMENT, WANTA PROPERTY 86-2004-2006 AUTHORIZING, APPROVING AND RATIFYING A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT INCLUDING GROUND
    [Show full text]
  • Hidden Prisons: Twenty-Three-Hour Lockdown Units in New York State Correctional Facilities
    Pace Law Review Volume 24 Issue 2 Spring 2004 Prison Reform Revisited: The Unfinished Article 6 Agenda April 2004 Hidden Prisons: Twenty-Three-Hour Lockdown Units in New York State Correctional Facilities Jennifer R. Wynn Alisa Szatrowski Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/plr Recommended Citation Jennifer R. Wynn and Alisa Szatrowski, Hidden Prisons: Twenty-Three-Hour Lockdown Units in New York State Correctional Facilities, 24 Pace L. Rev. 497 (2004) Available at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/plr/vol24/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pace Law Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Modern American Penal System Hidden Prisons: Twenty-Three-Hour Lockdown Units in New York State Correctional Facilities* Jennifer R. Wynnt Alisa Szatrowski* I. Introduction There is increasing awareness today of America's grim in- carceration statistics: Over two million citizens are behind bars, more than in any other country in the world.' Nearly seven mil- lion people are under some form of correctional supervision, in- cluding prison, parole or probation, an increase of more than 265% since 1980.2 At the end of 2002, 1 of every 143 Americans 3 was incarcerated in prison or jail. * This article is based on an adaptation of a report entitled Lockdown New York: Disciplinary Confinement in New York State Prisons, first published by the Correctional Association of New York, in October 2003.
    [Show full text]
  • The “Base Prospectus”) May Be Distributed Only to Investors Who Are Non-U.S
    IMPORTANT NOTICE THE BASE PROSPECTUS FOLLOWING THIS PAGE (THE “BASE PROSPECTUS”) MAY BE DISTRIBUTED ONLY TO INVESTORS WHO ARE NON-U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED BELOW) LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. IMPORTANT: You must read the following before continuing. The following applies to the Base Prospectus and you are therefore advised to read this page carefully before reading, accessing or making any other use of the Base Prospectus. In accessing the Base Prospectus, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions, including any modifications to them any time you receive any information from Globalworth Real Estate Investments Limited (the “Issuer”), or any of Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc or UBS Limited (together, the “Arrangers”) as a result of such access. NOTHING IN THIS ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONSTITUTES AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND THE NOTES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”)) EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE OR LOCAL SECURITIES LAWS.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Lockdown Policies on International Trade Evidence from Kenya
    The effect of lockdown policies on international trade Evidence from Kenya Addisu A. Lashitew Majune K. Socrates GLOBAL WORKING PAPER #148 DECEMBER 2020 The Effect of Lockdown Policies on International Trade: Evidence from Kenya Majune K. Socrates∗ Addisu A. Lashitew†‡ January 20, 2021 Abstract This study analyzes how Kenya’s import and export trade was affected by lockdown policies during the COVID-19 outbreak. Analysis is conducted using a weekly series of product-by-country data for the one-year period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Analysis using an event study design shows that the introduction of lockdown measures by trading partners led to a modest increase of exports and a comparatively larger decline of imports. The decline in imports was caused by disruption of sea cargo trade with countries that introduced lockdown measures, which more than compensated for a significant rise in air cargo imports. Difference-in-differences results within the event study framework reveal that food exports and imports increased, while the effect of the lockdown on medical goods was less clear-cut. Overall, we find that the strength of lockdown policies had an asymmetric effect between import and export trade. Keywords: COVID-19; Lockdown; Social Distancing; Imports; Exports; Kenya JEL Codes: F10, F14, L10 ∗School of Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Email: [email protected] †Brookings Institution, 1775 Mass Av., Washington DC, 20036, USA. Email: [email protected] ‡The authors would like to thank Matthew Collin of Brookings Institution for his valuable comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the manuscript. 1 Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned an unprecedented level of social and economic crisis worldwide.
    [Show full text]
  • June 4, 2020 the Honorable Andrew M
    June 4, 2020 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor, State of New York Executive Chamber State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Dear Governor Cuomo: Our state’s successful recovery from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on how quickly we transition from a state of near total lockdown to a fully functioning and vibrant economy. One sector that has been deemed necessary from day one, construction related to essential infrastructure, is key to this success. However, $743 million in local infrastructure construction and maintenance projects are on hold due to inaction by the state. We appreciate your recent statements about the importance of infrastructure investment as a critical and effective way to help restart and stimulate our economy and get people back to work. At your briefing you said: “There is no better time to build than right now. You need to start the economy, you need to create jobs, and you need to renew and repair this country’s economy and infrastructure. Now is the time to do it.” We could not agree more. And while your remarks thus far have focused on larger, regionally significant downstate tunnels and mass transit needs, we are confident that you fully recognize the importance of local transportation infrastructure projects to the vitality of so many upstate, rural economies, and to the statewide transportation system as a whole. Our Assembly Minority Conference and other legislative colleagues worked together with you this year to enact a fully committed and dedicated plan to invest in the local transportation infrastructure network through vital programs like CHIPS, PAVE-NY, BRIDGE-NY, and Extreme Winter Recovery.
    [Show full text]
  • Emergence of Toscana Virus, Romania, 2017–2018 Corneliu P
    DISPATCHES Emergence of Toscana Virus, Romania, 2017–2018 Corneliu P. Popescu,1 Ani I. Cotar,1 Sorin Dinu, Mihaela Zaharia, Gratiela Tardei, Emanoil Ceausu, Daniela Badescu, Simona Ruta, Cornelia S. Ceianu, Simin A. Florescu We describe a series of severe neuroinvasive infections tertiary-care facility (Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospi- caused by Toscana virus, identifi ed by real-time reverse tal of Infectious Diseases, Bucharest, Romania). transcription PCR testing, in 8 hospitalized patients in Bu- charest, Romania, during the summer seasons of 2017 The Study and 2018. Of 8 patients, 5 died. Sequencing showed that We tested 31 adult patients (18 in 2017 and 13 in 2018) the circulating virus belonged to lineage A. with neurologic manifestations; all tested negative by cerebrospinal fl uid nucleic acid testing for WNV, her- oscana phlebovirus (TOSV; genus Phlebovirus, pesviruses, and enteroviruses. Seven confi rmed cases Tfamily Phenuiviridae) is transmitted by sand and 1 probable case of TOSV neuroinvasive disease fl ies. Three genetic lineages (A, B, and C) with dif- were identifi ed by real-time reverse transcription ferent geographic distribution have been described PCR (rRT-PCR); cycle threshold values ranged from to date. TOSV is the only sand fl y–transmitted vi- 34.61 to 41.18. rus causing neuroinvasive disease in humans and All cases were characterized by progression to the most prevalent arthropodborne virus in the severe illness (encephalitis in 7 cases and meningo- Mediterranean area; however, it remains a neglect- encephalitis in 1 case). Cerebrospinal fl uid (CSF) was ed pathogen and is seldom included in the diag- analyzed after lumbar puncture in all patients.
    [Show full text]
  • Fight, Flight Or Lockdown Edited
    Fight, Flight or Lockdown: Dorn & Satterly 1 Fight, Flight or Lockdown - Teaching Students and Staff to Attack Active Shooters could Result in Decreased Casualties or Needless Deaths By Michael S. Dorn and Stephen Satterly, Jr., Safe Havens International. Since the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, there has been considerable interest in an alternative approach to the traditional lockdown for campus shooting situations. These efforts have focused on incidents defined by the United States Department of Education and the United States Secret Service as targeted acts of violence which are also commonly referred to as active shooter situations. This interest has been driven by a variety of factors including: • Incidents where victims were trapped by an active shooter • A lack of lockable doors for many classrooms in institutions of higher learning. • The successful use of distraction techniques by law enforcement and military tactical personnel. • A desire to see if improvements can be made on established approaches. • Learning spaces in many campus buildings that do not offer suitable lockable areas for the number of students and staff normally in the area. We think that the discussion of this topic and these challenges is generally a healthy one. New approaches that involve students and staff being trained to attack active shooters have been developed and have been taught in grades ranging from kindergarten to post secondary level. There are however, concerns about these approaches that have not, thus far, been satisfactorily addressed resulting in a hot debate about these concepts. We feel that caution and further development of these concepts is prudent. Developing trend in active shooter response training The relatively new trend in the area of planning and training for active shooter response for K-20 schools has been implemented in schools.
    [Show full text]