Coronavirus Archives

11 Shows to Watch During Quarantine

Couple Watching Netfix TV — Photo: Pexels

Quarantine equals binging and what better channel to watch than Netflix? So if you’re worried about what to do this quarantine season, all you have to do is turn on the TV and chill. There are hundreds of shows that you can watch to keep yourself entertained, but to make it easier for you, we have made a list of our top 11 picks. We guarantee you you’ll love them and won’t be able to move from your seat!

1. You

This psychological thriller will have you sitting with your eyes glued to the TV. Its first season is based on a novel by Caroline Kepnes and follows Joe Goldberg, a serial killer and bookstore manager, who becomes obsessed with a customer in the most deluded, toxic and extreme way. There’s something about this show that just has us hooked and we can’t wait for season 3, which is supposedly coming out this year!

2. Bridgerton

This American romantic TV Show aired only last year and is all the hype right now. Like so many others out there, we cannot stop drooling over the Duke who is all the looks and personality. The show got so many views in a short span of time and became the most watched on Netflix, which is why it was renewed for season 2 last month. It is set in the high society of London and is based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels. If you want a good plot and some eye-candy to keep you entertained during quarantine, this show is the way to go!

3. The Queen’s Gambit

You must have heard about this one with all the rage around it. It is a unique show that has the most intriguing plot and character. Centered around chess, it is an American coming-of- age drama that is based on Walter Tevis’s novel. The show was so good that it even earned two Golden Globe award nominations. You’ll be in for a real surprise with this one so give it a shot!

4. Stranger Things

This science-fiction, mystery thriller will instantly grab your interest. It is set in 1983 in Indiana and is centered around the disappearance of a young girl. The show was first released five years ago and has an eerie feel to it. It’ll definitely have you hooked and keep you busy this quarantine season.

5.Black Mirror

A fascinating Sci-Fi block of episodes that takes a close look at modern society, especially in relation to the effects of new technologies and how they can backfire. It explores a dystopian future that is interesting and disturbing at the same time. The show has received several awards and nominations. Each episode is well-thought out. It will leave you speechless. We would highly recommend this one for you to watch during quarantine.

6. Emily in Paris

Light and funny, Emily in Paris is the perfect binge watch. Even if rom-coms are not usually your type, it’ll be hard for you not to like this one. Full of wit, banter, humor and the most scenic places in Paris, this show has got it all. Emily in Paris is every girl’s dream show and it’ll give you just the inspiration you need this quarantine season. So far, only one season is out but season 2 is officially confirmed so worry not!

7. Lupin

This amazing French mystery thriller came out only earlier this year and already has so many views! The story is centered on Arsene Lupin, a world famous thief and master of disguise. Lupin, the main character is supposed to be a Sherlock Holmes type. The show will have you so hooked that you may even end up finishing the season in one night, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!

8. The Crown

A historical drama, The Crown is based on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s all the way to modern times. It takes a look at all the political rivalries and romance of her reign and the events that shaped the latter part of England in the 20th century. Not only is it informative but also entertaining and will give you an inside perspective of the royal family. If you are particularly a fan of history, you will love this one for sure!

9. Peaky Blinders

Created by Steven Knight, this series has been all the talk for a while now. It is a British period crime drama, which is set in Birmingham, England. The show has five seasons and is centered around Tommy Shelby who’s a dangerous man and leader of the peaky blinders. We guarantee you that this show will give you goosebumps and leave you on the edge of your seat so brace yourself!

10.Gilmore Girls

If a good old throwback is more your type then look no further than this classic! Girlmore Girls is a lighthearted show about a mother daughter duo and their lives. It is funny and heartwarming and just the kind of energy that you need during quarantine. Even though it may appear to be a time pass, the show has many lessons that you can learn from and you’ll adore every part of it.

11. Dynasty

Similar to Gossip Girl, Dynasty is about the lives and politics between two of America’s richest families. We just have one word for this show, Drama. So if you’re a drama lover, then you’ll definitely love this one. It’ll keep you engaged and entertained the whole time. To add to that, the wardrobe is phenomenal and will serve as major fashion goals so get ready to be inspired. Each character adds a new perspective and makes the show the complex one that it is.

What’s interesting is that each of these shows is so different to the other but created to perfection. There’s one for every type so take your pick and watch one that resonates with you or is experimental and try out a new type!

The COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids – When Will the Wait End?

On December 14, 2020, Americans got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC symptoms guidelines, healthcare workers were among the first group of people who received the shots followed by older adults living in nursing care facilities.

As of now, more than 134 million shots of the vaccine have been given to people in different parts of the world. Over the coming months, we can expect the number to grow further, but what about people under age 16?

Why do they have to wait? When can they expect the COVID vaccine? Find out the answers to these questions below.

Why Do Kids Have to Wait?

Doctor taking child's temperature As per CDC guidelines, healthcare workers get the doses of the approved vaccines first (Phase 1a). Next on the list are adults 75 years and older (Phase 1b) ) and then persons 65 and older and people with high-risk health conditions (phase 1c). But where does that leave a healthy adult and also children?

Kids have to Wait for the vaccine for Two Reasons

Milder Infection

Unlike adults, the symptoms most children get are mild. While more than a million kids have been infected by the virus and a few deaths have been reported, the disease is not likely to cause severe symptoms among them.

Some real-life examples of COVID-19-infected children experienced by the author have been a three-year-old child who caught a mild cold for 24 hours, then was fine, and a 17-year-old who had no symptoms and is now COVID-free.

Due to this reason, children are among the least needy group of people who need immunity against the disease. As a result, the U.S. and most of the other countries prioritize people with the highest risk of acquiring a very severe infection or even dying from the virus.

No Trials

Child getting a vaccine injection Despite mild infections and less likelihood of complications, children of all ages still need a vaccine. Without immunization, they can still spread the disease to their parents, teachers or other adults, including the high-risk category of folks such as grandparents. However, children were never part of the trials for the coronavirus vaccine.

COVID-19 is still relatively new and there is a lot more that needs to be learned. Moreover, vaccine formation is usually a long and complicated process. With the vaccine available now, safety is still a concern for people of all ages.

Pediatric research requires a higher safety bar and any new treatment must be at least as safe for children as it is for adults. Since this vaccine’s safety for adults is still under observation, how the COVID-19 vaccine will affect kids under 16 is still a question. Due to this very reason, many kids and their parents are reluctant to participate in a vaccine trial.

Without enough research and trial participants, the COVID-19 vaccine is likely to remain unavailable for kids at least for a few more months.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Teenagers

Woman being injected with COVID vaccine The vaccine is considered safe for healthy teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18. However, according to the CDC guidelines, most teens between 16 and 18 will not receive the immunization in the first several months of distribution. Again, young adults and teens are less likely to become seriously ill when infected with COVID-19. With that said, this age group will certainly have access to the vaccine in a few months with a priority to teenagers with underlying health conditions.

When Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Available to Kids Under 16?

The three big pharmaceutical giants, Pzifer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca are looking forward to enough safety and effectiveness data from their clinical trials in adults in the next few months. The data will prove the effectiveness as well as the safety of the vaccine.

Once the results are available and support the drug’s effectiveness, the drug companies predict that their vaccines could be authorized among younger teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17-year-olds. Pfizer is currently researching the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine among children over age 12.

However, these are relatively recent developments. Similarly, Moderna will start testing its vaccine on kids. However, they still need more participants. The delay in testing kids for the vaccine means it could still be several months before the FDA-approved vaccinations for children under 16.

Lastly, for kids younger than 12 years of age, it is still a long way to go as none of these vaccines are ready for kids.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Educational Inactivity

The educational system has suffered dramatically due to the pandemic, and children’s academic and social development have experienced a significant setback. With the COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 16, we can hope and look forward to an educational system that is safe for conducive learning.

Once a vaccine shows its safety and effectiveness for children, the concerned health authorities in the U.S. and other parts of the world can approve the vaccine. However, as of now, no state can set a policy of mandatory vaccination before kids can return to school.

Regardless of state policy for immunization among kids under 16, one thing is sure: We look forward to the day when children can safely return to school and get started with their social activities with minimal risk of disease transmission.

Final Words

Image of doctor holding globe with injection needle — Image: Flicker CC 2.0

COVID-19 was never there before, and there is still so much to learn about the virus and its ever-changing strains. Moreover, no vaccine in the history of medical science has been created in months, so there are still many questions and concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While it is true that it could save hundreds and thousands of lives every week, its effectiveness for kids is still not known. Since COVID-19 affects kids and adults differently, it is essential to understand whether a vaccine might work equally well for people of all ages. Immunizing kids is still important to control and end the pandemic, but they will be unable to get the vaccine until its safety has been verified for the particular age group.

12 Ways to Keep Yourself Entertained During Lockdown

Display of Paintbrushes — Photo: Unsplash

Running out of ideas to keep yourself entertained during lockdown? We hear you! It can become quite monotonous if you don’t keep mixing it up. However, let us enlighten you with a variety of ways to keep yourself busy and entertained during this time.

Each of these tips is different from the other and has its own magic. Use them to make your time in lockdown one of the fun-est experiences and one that you may even look back on over the years!

So without further ado, here are some things to do during quarantine:

Take Up a New Hobby

Staying cooped up at home means that you have to say bye to some of your old outdoor hobbies for a while. These could include anything from playing golf to running in a park or going to the beach. Don’t let this dishearten you, it just means that you need to develop a new hobby. Think about something that interests you and that you can do indoors of course, and try it out. Some examples are sewing, cooking, painting, photography (indoors), etc.

Take a Virtual Trip

Virtual Tour Device — Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

Since you can’t take a real one, why not take a virtual one instead? Imagine that you can go anywhere you’ve always dreamed of going. Just pick a place on the globe and visit it virtually. Thanks to technology this is now possible. You can do this by using Google Earth and by watching videos on the culture and life in a particular country.

Get a 3D device and go to places you only can imagine or play games with it. Also, Facebook has groups that take you on virtual tours, called virtual events – take a tour or create one yourself!

Read a New Book / Start a New TV Show

This may sound obvious but sometimes we don’t always think of the obvious. You know that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for a while? Maybe it’s time you finally gave it a read. Or that new show on Netflix that everyone’s been talking about, you finally have all the time in the world to binge-watch it. Reading and watching a show are good ways to keep yourself entertained and busy during the lockdown.

Workout

Being quarantined at home isn’t all about eating junk food and lazing around. Do something productive that’ll help your body and mind stay healthy. There are so many home workout options available online. Whether it’s a workout, pilates, yoga or even just some dance moves, it’ll help keep you occupied in the best possible manner.

Learn a New Language

One of the best ways in which you can keep yourself busy is to learn a new language. Pick one that has always intrigued you and start learning it. From French and German to Spanish and mandarin, the world is your oyster! It’ll sharpen your mind and give you something to do and who knows, it could come to great use someday.

Have a Virtual Karaoke Night

If you can’t go to the club, why not bring the club home to you? Use this free time to connect with your friends and family virtually doing fun activities. Plan a karaoke night and sing throwbacks from the 1990’s. We guarantee you, you’ll have a blast and it’ll liven up your spirits. For an added feel, make the effort to dress up for it, that way you’ll actually feel like you’re hitting the club.

Cooking/Baking

By this we mean anything other than banana bread! Just kidding. We know that cooking and baking became a huge quarantine trend. Even those who had never stepped into the kitchen before were experimenting with all sorts of new recipes. This is a great way to keep yourself occupied and you may just discover a hidden talent so why not give it a shot?

Listen to Podcasts

If you’re tired of watching shows/movies or reading books, try listening to a podcast for a change. Podcasts are inspirational, motivating and funny too, there’s basically a podcast for everything under the sun, so choose a topic that interests you. It’ll give you a new perspective on things or simply keep you entertained and pass your time.

Paint

Unleash that inner artist and paint your heart out. You’ll be surprised at how therapeutic this can be. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever done it before, there is always a first time so grab a canvas and some paints and just pour your feelings onto the canvas. Don’t let fear get in the way, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to painting so that’s not something you need to worry about.

10.Give Yourself a Makeover

Who says dressing up is only for going out? Why not dress up for yourself. Wear that dress you have been eyeing for months and dress it up with a little makeover. Everyone knows that half the fun of a night out is getting ready for it so put on some music and get ready like never before. You can always do it for the gram, if nothing else!

Retail Therapy

This may not be the best option for your wallet, but a little retail therapy killed nobody. Pamper yourself with some online shopping that you have been meaning to do for a while and get excited when it arrives. It can be anything from clothes to shoes and candles or even some new pieces of art. Just be sure not to go overboard and stay within your budget.

Make a Scrapbook

Take a walk down memory lane and create a scrapbook. Go through your old photos and reflect on some of your greatest memories. Put them together in the form of a scrapbook, it’ll be a great exercise and use of time and the best part is that you can look at it years down the road. Not only will it bring out your creative side but it’ll also give you a sense of gratitude.

You now have all the tips you need to keep yourself entertained during lockdown. This too shall pass, so get yourself in the best spirits and make the most of it using these great ideas.

How Gas Prices are Affected During the Pandemic and What You Can Do About It

Man in panda mask in front of a car — Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Have you ever driven on a highway and noticed a car come flying from behind you and then speed right past you? This disrespect for the road may anger some and others might not care, but one thing is for certain. Their gas tank will hit zero faster than yours will.

This is because the faster you drive, the more gas you are using; in other words, the amount of fuel being used is proportional to the speed at which you are driving. In mechanical terms that means that, if you are driving at 50 mph, the pistons in the engine would cycle at say, 50 times per minute. (We are using hypothetical numbers to simplify this example). That means that gas is injected into the piston’s cylinder 50 times per minute.

If you speed up to 100 mph, the engine has to work harder, which means that the pistons have to cycle twice as much within that one minute and consequently, so does the amount of gas that needs to be ignited.

The bottom line: The slower you drive, the more gas you save!

Don’t Hit the Pedal

Another nifty method for saving gas is by not pressing on the gas pedal when you are going downhill. Better yet, put the car in neutral. Yes, that’s right. Taking your car out of drive lowers the RPMs (revolutions per minute) which in turn causes less gas to be sent to the engine. Any doubts? Try it then look at your odometer to see how the needle goes down.

Of course, this is not a recommended solution if you are driving in a city or crowded location, but where the area is hilly or mountainous, this method works great!

One person reported that he went to upstate NY and each time he went downhill he geared the car to neutral. His calculations showed he was averaging 45 MPG per 100 miles.

Here’s How You Can Calculate Your MPH

1. Let the car’s fuel tank go towards (but not all) empty.
2. Then fill up with the desired amount.
3. Once the car’s gas tank reaches where it was before, divide the range (in miles) by the amount you paid and that is your MPH.

Example: Using the Upstate NY scenario. The man let the car reach close to empty, then bought 3 gallons in Tioga NY. (Price doesn’t matter in these calculations). As he proceeded down the highway, his car was reaching empty when he reached Parsippany NJ. About a 63 mile stretch.

Car Sizes vs. Gas Used

Why are you driving that SUV? Do you really need it? Do you have any idea how much more gas you are using when compared to driving a sedan? Try this gas calculator to find out! You will be surprised what the difference is.

But if you find an SUV to be the most practical vehicle for your purposes, shop around. There are differences in gas mileage between them. Also, you want to consider a hybrid one.

Going Electric!

<span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@olav_tvedt?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Olav Tvedt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/pump-gas?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span> Of course, there are electric cars. Right now, Tesla has the market lead, but more and more vehicle manufactures are jumping on the bandwagon, so one day, maybe sooner than later, expect to find gas pumps in the fields of antiquity. Currently, there are electric charging stations in various designated areas around the country, but more are being added every day.

If you are a homeowner, you have the added advantage of charging your car overnight, but you need to have your voltage upgraded, usually in your garage. An added benefit is with the added power, it is a help when selling your house; albeit, it won’t change your selling price much, but it is still one more incentive for someone to purchase yours over other people’s homes.

Follow the Standard Rules

Pumping Gas — Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash

Don’t let your car idle. If you are waiting for someone and you know that it will be more than a minute when they will arrive, shut the car off. Also, some of the newer conventional vehicles are designed to shut off when waiting at red lights.

If you don’t have one of these cars, you can, at your option, shut your car off when waiting at a light, but do it for lights that you know are stay red for a longer time than the normal time period.

The Current Status on Gas Prices

The answer to how things are now and how gas prices will be in the future remains to be seen. Just last week, President Biden closed the pipeline. Some say that this was a terrible thing to do because it will have a negative effect on the economy, while others say it is a great thing to do because it helps the environment.

Well, we are not here to discuss the politics of it, but we are here to discuss the facts and the consequences of these facts, whether good or bad and the fact is that gas prices have risen since the closing of the pipeline.

How the current administration is going to resolve this remains to be seen. Maybe the president will have a new plan for the US economy, but for now, we have to be more vigilant in finding ways to save money on gas. What we have mentioned should be a good start!

The New COVID-19 Strain – What We Know So Far?

Checking COVID-19 speciman — Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

Before we were even able to get accustomed to the new COVID variant that has hit the UK, another one is cooking in South Africa, but in order to understand how they worked to control the UK variant, let’s take a look at what they did before we tackle a discussion on the South African one.

It was just before Christmas 2020 when we heard of this new strain. What was done about it?

- The U.K. imposed fresh and more severe lockdowns across London
- Several countries worldwide placed a travel ban on the U.K. to curtail the new variant’s spread.
- Tier-four restrictions were placed for Christmas in Scotland, Wales, and England.

What is this new variant all about? How did it come to becoming the most common form of the virus in the U.K.? Is it more contagious? Is it more dangerous? Will the vaccine work against this new COVID-19 strain? Let’s explore the answers. But before we get started, let’s first look into why this new strain is a cause of concern for people worldwide.

The New COVID-19 Strain and the Concerns

Woman lying down with ask — Photo by Cade Renfroe on Unsplash

Genetic changes are a natural phenomenon that occurs every time a genetic material is copied. When any virus replicates inside the infected cells, the new copies are genetically different from the parent virus. The same is the case with the COVID-19 virus. But why is the new variant a cause of concern for people in the U.K. and around the world?

As the COVID-19 virus continued to modify genetically, a particularly interesting mutation was the one that altered the spike protein. It affects how the virus penetrates inside the cells and causes infections. The new variant, known as the VUI-202012/01 (the first Variant Under Investigation in December 2020), has 17 mutations, which are a lot of changes in any specific microorganism.

These changes have increased the transmission of the virus and the new strain is around 70% more transmissible than the previous one. The increased hospitalization in an already overworked healthcare sector is a concern, not only in the U.K. but throughout the world.

Is the New Variant Causing More Severe Infections?

As of now, no evidence suggests the increased severity of infections. However, the effects are still under consideration. While there is still no evidence that the new variant can cause more severe illnesses, the high transmissibility is still a concern. Since it can infect anyone quickly, a high-risk person with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes is more likely to end up in the hospital. So the new COVID-19 strain is a concern for the old and vulnerable high-risk category for COVID-19 as it could lead to an increasing number of people needing hospital treatment.

Will the Vaccine Still be Effective Against the New Strain?

As of now, there is no evidence that the current vaccine used in the U.K. against the COVID-19 virus will not be effective against the new strain. So, it is reasonable to assume that, at least for now, the vaccine will still be effective against the new COVID-19 strain.

All three leading vaccine manufacturers have worked on an mRNA vaccine that trains the immune system to attack several different parts of the virus. Even if the spike has mutated, the vaccine can still be useful. However, if the virus’s genetic coding continues to change at the same speed and we see a lot more mutations, then maybe it will be a concern. In that case, vaccine manufacturers and governments worldwide will have to work together to tweak the vaccines, just like the flu vaccine, to make them more effective against the ever-mutating virus. Fortunately, modifying an existing vaccine is a lot easier than creating a new one.

How Far Has the New COVID-19 Strain Spread?

Conductor on train with mask — Photo by Liam Burnett-Blue on Unsplash

The U.K. government has taken timely and strict measures to control the spread of the new strain. It is believed that it either emerged in the U.K. or has been imported from another country with a lower ability to observe and track coronavirus mutations. It is also thought that the highly mutated form of the virus bred somewhere inside the body of an infected patient with a compromised immune system. The patient’s immune system couldn’t fight the infection; instead served as a breeding ground for endless additional mutations.

The new COVID-19 variant that was found in the U.K. is heavily concentrated in London, the South East, and eastern England. The number of infections elsewhere in the country is still relatively stable. Data from Nextstrain suggests that some cases in Denmark and Australia have been reported as well, which came from the U.K. A few cases were also reported in the Netherlands.

Is it Normal for Viruses to Mutate?

As mentioned earlier, virus mutations are completely natural and are due to the same mutation that the flu vaccine needs to modify every year.

If you look at the COVID-19 virus, it changed its forms several times and is no longer the same that was initially detected in Wuhan, China. The initial virus mutated and then the D614G version began to materialize in Europe, which eventually spread around the world. Moreover, another mutation called the A222V also spread in Europe. And today, we have the new COVID-19 strain that was first detected in England.

Scientists and researchers around the world cannot predict how many more mutations the world will experience for COVID-19.

New COVID-19 Strain Protocols

We know that the new COVID-19 strain is far more contagious than the initial COVID strain and is the driving force behind the rapid upheaval in infections across London and other parts of the U.K. However, there is still limited evidence that this new strain can cause more severe infections and stronger symptoms. Timely efforts by the concerned authorities may only prove effective if people stick to the rules to prevent infections.

Even with the new variant and all the concern it is causing, the best way to prevent infections is to keep washing your hands, wear a face mask, maintain a distance of 6 feet from others and limit your number of physical contacts.

Additionally, even though the infections are still increasing, the number of deaths are not increasing respectively. That is a good sign and signals that our front-line scientists are really getting a better hold on this disease.

How to Secure Data During COVID-19

HTML Code shown on a screen — Photo by Sai Kiran Anagani on Unsplash

During these trying times, unscrupulous individuals have been displaying their nefarious methods in every way possible that ends up costing businesses money, as well as you and I.

Some of their plans are email phishing methods to scare you into paying money for COVID testing or vaccinations, infiltration of your computer or corporate computer servers. Lately, it is the process of stealing vaccine information so that they can sell it on the black market. And the list goes on.

The first thing you should do is to get familiar with the technical security terms that are associated with Internet security. In a later article, we’ll focus on how these technologies are used to attempt to scam you into getting unauthorized testing, buying unauthorized vaccines, as well as many other methods of fraud that they can think of.

If you never heard of an asymmetric block cipher or what an AES-256 symmetric algorithm is, you are not alone, but after you finish reading this article, you will have a clearer understanding of these data encryption terms and be able to understand how they work to keep your private information safe.

Encryption – What Does it Mean?

Man at desk with laptops Let’s start with what encryption does. According to the Google dictionary, encryption is: “the process of converting information or data into a code,”; thus, when data is sent through the Internet, such as your social security number, the number is converted into an unrecognizable pattern that only your computer and the receiving computer understands.

More specifically, your computer will change the number using a coded pattern (encryption) and when this pattern is received by the recipient computer, it changes the pattern back to its original form, called decryption.

But how does the receiving computer know how to unencrypt the message?

It is sent a cipher and a key that explains how to decrypt the code. Only these two computers have the cipher and key needed to unravel the code.

What is a Cipher?

A cipher uses mathematical algorithms to encrypt and decrypt a message and the process by which this is done is called cryptography.

Cipher Example:

Message: APPLE
Key: 37852
Encrypted Code: DWXQG

Cipher: Subtract numerical value listed in the key from the letter in the encrypted code. Substitute result with corresponding letter = message.

Unless you know how the cipher is programmed and you know the key, you will not be able to break the code. Millions of ciphers are created every day.

What are Some of the Technical Security terms that are Used Today?

Computer screen displaying cryptic data — Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Let’s start with the RC4 cipher. There are a number of versions, but before we discuss them, a technical vocabulary lesson would be appropriate here.

- Bit: The most basic element in computer software. One bit represents that either it is ‘on’ or ‘off’. In other words, if the bit has electricity running through it, it is depicted as a ‘1’, but if it is a ‘0’, it is ‘dead’ – no electricity is running through it. This state of on or off is detected by the computer and represents a value as mentioned before as a 1 or 0. When these bits are placed into a pattern, specifically a pattern of eight bits, where each one will have (1) or not have (0) an electrical current, the pattern will represent a character (A,B,C, a,b,c,1,2,3, !,@.#,%, etc.). For example, the letter A would be represented by 01000001. That means that there is no current for all the bits except the second and eighth bit. Additionally, the letter B is represented by 01000010. These eight-bit patterns are called bytes and the process is called the Binary System (only uses two digits). A complete listing of the binary characters is called the ASCII Table. Putting these bytes together represents data. (e.g. The code ER759* is data. There are six bytes, which total 48 bits). If you look at the ASCII table, then you can determine which bits are ones and which are zeros; additionally, you can then determine which bits are receiving electric current and which are not and then the characters (ER759*) will be displayed on the screen. That’s 48 bits or six bytes, also known as characters.As an example, let’s consider the above six-character message as a password that is going to be sent through the Internet.

- Key: A random set of bits that are created explicitly for scrambling (encrypting) and unscrambling (decrypting) data. These keys use algorithms that are designed to ensure that every key is unpredictable and unique. Keys do not have to be the same amount of bytes that the password is. They can be longer, depending on how the formula in the algorithm is written. The longer the key, the harder it is to decipher.
- Pseudorandom: A random set of characters that have been deduced via an algorithm based upon a mathematical calculation (refer to the cipher example above).

- Stream Cipher: An algorithm that encrypts one byte at a time as it streams. It uses pseudorandom bits for the key.
- Block Cipher: This cipher encrypts data in blocks using a symmetric key (see below). They encrypt 128-bit blocks at a time.
- RC4: RC4 is a stream cipher based on the use of a random permutation.
- RC5: This is an algorithm using a variable block and key size.
- RC6: This is an upgrade to RC5.
- Asymmetric Key: Asymmetric encryption is an encryption scheme that uses two keys to encrypt and decrypt messages. It uses a public and private key. This type of encryption takes longer to decrypt by the receiving machine.
- Symmetric Key: Symmetric encryption is an encryption scheme that uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt messages. This type of encryption is faster than asymmetric encryption, but is easier to decrypt; however, it is estimated that it would take billions of years to decrypt a symmetric cipher using the computer systems that are available today.

There are known cases where criminals have attempted to access websites in order to obtain information on COVID-19 vaccines, as acquiring them would be a winner for them. So there is no doubt that they would try every method at their disposal to gain access and that doesn’t rule out breaking into a secure website.

In order to break the code (password) and read the encrypted password (if you don’t have the key), the computer would have to cycle through each of the 8-bit characters 128 times to find the correct one. Then it would have to do the same for the second character the third and so on.

In this case, in order to find the correct pattern, it would have to test each character, simultaneously with the other characters until it gets it right. No human can do this for a six-character password (or even fewer characters). It would require a computer program called Brute Force and even with this program, it could take billions of years to decipher it and the longer the password, the longer and harder to decrypt, because you have to add in another calculation of 128-bit cycles for each character, which makes it exponentially more difficult.

The 128-bit encryption method refers to the first 128 characters listed in the ASCII table. For greater encryption, it can use the entire ASCII table, which consists of 256 characters, but experts have pointed out that the 128 encryption method has never been broken yet.

What is the Most Popular Encryption Method Used Today

The most popular encryption method used today is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) method. It uses a symmetric block cipher using 128-bit data and 128, 192 or 25-bit keys.

So there you have it. I brief but decent explanation of data security. In our next lesson, we’ll discuss how criminals get around this unbreakable code in an attempt to acquire your password.

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for New York State Citizens

Everyone is anxious to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but with short supply and limited resources, many are anxious and frustrated because they don’t know when the vaccine will be available in their area.

As of today, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has said that he will be closing all city locations that were providing the COVID-19 vaccine since the city has run out of supply. A similar announcement has come from Governor Cuomo.

However, everyone, including our political leaders are expecting millions of new vaccines to be coming, hopefully soon. With that said, we will proceed with the FAQs below in the hope that this vaccine dry spell will be short-lived.

Where Can I Get Vaccinated?

Some of the locations in the NY downstate area are:

Jacob Javits Center, NYC
Jones Beach, Nassau County
Stony Brook University Hospital, Suffolk County
NYC Health Dept. – Elmhurst Clinic, Queens
NYC Health + Hospitals, Queens
Gotham Health, East New York, Brooklyn
NYC Health + Hospitals, Jacobi Hospital, Bronx

For more NYC locations, click here.

For all NYS locations, call 833-697-4829. The trick is to keep calling until you can get past the automated system. It has been said that calling later in the evening is easier to get through. The COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline is open 7 AM – 10 PM, 7 days a week.

How Do I know if I Qualify?

Phase 1a, which includes all medical staff and first responders as well as teachers is already active.

Phase 2b, which was activated on January 11th consists of anyone over the age of 65, immunocompromised individuals, fire department personnel, police, public safety officers and corrections officers.

This webpage from the NYC Department of Health can help you determine if you qualify for the vaccine at this time.

What are the Side Effects?

Did you know that feeling pain from the vaccine is actually an indicator that the vaccine is working! If you don’t feel anything, don’t be dismayed. Each individual may feel the response to the vaccine differently and when they get the second dose, they may feel something or pain when they didn’t for the first one.

The bottom line is that the side effects are usually mild and will go away after a day or two or much sooner.

- Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling unwell
- Tender or swollen lymph nodes

I’m hearing so many different stories about the vaccine. How do I know which are true and which are not?

We understand how frustrating it can be not to know the true facts about the coronavirus vaccine. Here is the information you need to know about COVID-19 vaccine myths.

How Can Businesses Help to Stop the Spread of the Virus?

We all know about the masks and social distancing and how important it is to follow these policies, but in addition to this, there are other things that people can do, especially business owners.

There are posters that restaurants and other business owners can use, such as this one to display in their shops. NYC has a complete list of COVID-19 posters available for retailers.

Financial Management Implications of Businesses Incurred Due to Coronavirus

Man at desk with laptops COVID-19 has inevitably affected businesses of all sizes around the world and has led to numerous financial management difficulties. Public companies, in particular, have had to deal with a number of financial reporting issues such as financial assets, preparing cash-flow estimates and recoverability of assets, to name a few.

Although finance professionals and experts are trying their best to support businesses during such tough times, there’s a dire need to balance accuracy and speed in terms of the future financial implications that this pandemic will bring.

Banks and multiple other financial services providers are also bearing the brunt of these consequences; however, it is believed that banks are the ultimate safety net that will have to save the economies from crumbling and stabilize the financial conditions.

Financial Circumstances to Consider Immediately

A plethora of implications have surfaced from COVID, where some require immediate attention due to their high impact, while others might take time to filter through.

Some of the most crucial circumstances that should require immediate consideration include:

- The availability of finance through banks, governments and other sources of finance.
- Movements in the stock markets such as pension fund liabilities and financial buffers.
- Supply chain issues
- Changes in the workforce such as homeworking, shortages, reduced pay, travel and expenses, etc.
- Financial changes including currency rates, business rates, taxes, insurance premiums, interest rates, etc.
- Contractual obligations.

Financial Management Implications – Checklist

It is important to note that the nature and circumstances of each business are very different, which means that not all businesses might be experiencing the same kind of financial management crises.

Therefore, it is important to filter out the issues faced by your business and then take appropriate measures to curtail the problem.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

Many businesses have been facing serious cash flow and liquidity problems that have further led to issues like generating cash, dwindling cash savings, finance function operations, and many others. Some are even finding it hard to update their cash flow and liquidity forecasts, given the uncertainty of the situation.

Fewer customers is what is the severe impact right now, but other factors, such as still having to purchase business items and spending money on gas for delivery businesses, to name a few are having a financial impact as well.

Working Capital and Short-Term Finance

This is another financial implication incurred by most businesses all over the world due to coronavirus. Further issues have resulted in regards to inventory, debtors, creditors, and generating short term finance.

Medium and Long-Term Finance

This includes factors like equity, debt and dividend policy where businesses might need to take advantage of low-interest rates, consider a capital injection, which, however, isn’t likely to be available and also consider reducing dividends.

Financial Risk Management

There’s a lot of risks involved for businesses such as currency risk, problems with insurance, general risk management, discrepancies in the supply chain and overall general risk management.

Financial Controls

This includes changes in company policies and operations, the unavailability of systems to give procedures for record-keeping, authorization of expense policies, internal recharges, and balance sheet reconciliations, to name a few.

How Can Businesses Deal with Financial Management Problems?

It’s quite hard to propose exact or precise solutions to financial management problems that businesses are facing these days, mainly due to the overriding uncertainty caused by the pandemic. However, there are many ways through which businesses can deal with these problems by considering some of the following options.

- Carrying out tasks within the presently available finances instead of creating additional burden or workload for other departments.
- Find new, creative ways to produce paper-based products such as invoices and checks to cut back costs.
- To generate short-term cash, businesses can look into vouchers, discounts, and offers to boost demand and, in turn, create some income.
- Developing new ways to carry out banking necessities and accessing payments.
- Save immediate cash that may come from factors like event cancellations and travel bans.
- Contacting creditors and asking for assistance.

The Role of Banks In the Current Financial Crises

As mentioned before, banks will simply have to step up, and for that, they need to provide companies and businesses with all the financial help and support they require for survival.

From development loans such as the KfW loans in Germany to dedicated funds such as the German economic stability fund, the application of all these requests from small to medium-sized enterprises need to be processed and approved as soon as possible.

Banks are required to play a double role where they extend financial and monetary help to businesses on the one hand, but on the other hand, they need to balance security as well.

Financial institutions further need to take into account and address topics like suspension of mortgage payments, governmental stabilization measures, and deferral of loan payments, among many others.

Furthermore, there’s a dire need to promote digital transformation in banking as most departments are working from home, and so many countries have imposed a serious lockdown.

Financial institutions need a digital transformation in order for them to be able to extend their services to business partners and companies.

Key Takeaways

As the current situation still remains uncertain and risky, businesses and financial sectors need to adopt strategic measures in order to deal with the prevailing financial problems. From being alert to new opportunities and reinforcing different kinds of policies, everyone needs to be vigilant of the situation at hand.

How to Get Groceries Safely During a Pandemic | A Guide to Safe Shopping

With the onset of the second strain which is more contagious than the first, we must be even more vigilant when going outside, but one of the basic necessities is making sure our families have enough food each day. So if you are staying home to avoid exposure, there is always that run to the supermarket that we can’t live without.

So how do we cope. Let’s discuss the safest ways to stay healthy and safe when outside.

Knowing the Danger

The danger resides in people, not the food. You may be worried about picking up the virus from things like the conveyor belt or carton of eggs, but the biggest risk is being indoors with people who are infected. While getting the virus from contaminated surfaces is entirely possible, the bigger risk is inhaling respiratory droplets. You should focus on staying at least six feet away from people and getting in and out of the store as fast as you possibly can. Make sure you make a list and go through the store as efficiently as possible.

Face Covering

It is vital to cover your face, especially the nose and mouth and is mandatory in many states. This can reduce the risk of contracting the virus by 75% if you, as well as others around you, are wearing it. If you are infected and don’t know it, it can save other people from contracting the virus too.

Go Alone

You should always try to go to the store alone. Bringing another person will just crowd the aisle and increase the risk of your household getting the infection too. If there are three people in your family quarantining together and all three head to the store, you have essentially tripled the risk by three.

Sanitize Your Hands and Carts

When you are in the store, the first thing you should do is to sanitize the handles of the basket or cart since they are high-touch zones. While many stores are doing it for customers already, it definitely will not hurt to bring your own disinfecting wipe or sanitizer. Make sure to avoid touching your face until your hands are sanitized again.

Make sure to not use your phone while you are there either.

Gloves Aren’t as Effective as You Think

Gloves are not magic shields that make you invincible. A lot of people wear gloves all day long but go around doing normal activities. If you have touched a contaminated service with gloves, it is contaminated too. If you handle your phone, food or anything else with the same gloves, it will become contaminated too. Frequent washing and sanitizing your hands is a better strategy.

Giving the Cashier Space

Grocery shopping may be stressing you out, but the workers in the store are under greater stress since they are interacting with customers indoors all day long. Make sure you stand as far away as you can, at least six feet during checkout.

Go for No-Touch Payments

Using no-touch options like Google Pay or Apple Pay is better. If not that, you can also use a credit card with a chip reader. You should try and avoid cash as much as you can since it can harbor plenty of microorganisms that could be harmful. If you do use your credit card or cash, you should make sure to sanitize everything after the transaction.

Disinfecting Groceries Shouldn’t Drive You Crazy

You may have heard of extensive routines to disinfect your groceries in many viral videos. But most experts agree that hand-washing and disinfecting each item is not really that necessary. The probability of getting infected through a contaminated surface is fairly low. The respiratory droplets have to land on the exact spot that you are touching, you need to get enough residue to start the infection and then transfer the virus to your face.

The bottom line is that all you need to do is to follow hygiene practices such as washing your hands while unpacking, before cooking and after you are done eating. Time is also on your side. After 24 hours, depending on the surface, most virus strains are not infectious and after 72 hours it is in extremely trace amounts. So you can leave your groceries on the shelf for a couple of days and it should be fine. However, you should wipe down your countertop after you are done unpacking your items.

If you do want to wash the groceries, you should not use disinfectant wipes or sprays. It’s better to use soap and water. Fresh produce should also be rinsed in water before consuming, but not soap! Ingesting soap is definitely a bad idea.

Your Clothes

If you have people who are at greater risk (such as seniors, immune-compromised or children), you should definitely shower when you come back home and change out of your clothes. Otherwise, washing your hands and changing your clothes is enough of a precaution to protect you.

Order Online

If you are still anxious after ensuring all of the tips above, you should consider ordering online. You can pay ahead and maintain social distancing. Just make sure to tip the delivery man generously since these workers are putting themselves at risk for you.

Conclusion

These are simple precautions you can take that will reduce your chances of getting infected. It certainly won’t hurt to become a germaphobe while we continue to endure and adapt to this current environment.

Going to the Hospital for Non-COVID Care and Emergencies? Keep These Things in Mind

Are you suffering from a non-COVID medical issue and you feel you should go to the emergency room or you are planning on getting a medical procedure either in the hospital or via a doctor’s office? If yes, then you are
probably concerned about getting COVID. This is, indeed, a legitimate concern because no one wants to hold their life hostage by contracting coronavirus. And as we are all aware, hospitals are wildly exposed to the deadly coronavirus, but they are also one of the cleanest and disinfected institutions in the country – Just for that reason! (And normally, hospitals are pretty clean to begin with).

In this article, we’ll cover as to whether or not you should go to the doctor or hospital for an issue that is not coronavirus; and if yes, then what pointers you should keep in mind to stay safe and secure during your medical visit.

Sho Visiting the Doctor or Hospital Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Today, hospitals and health clinics are busy testing and treating people who may have the novel coronavirus. So, what should you do if you or your loved ones are suffering from illnesses other than coronavirus? Should you take the doctor’s appointment or self-medicate?

The first thing you should do is be patient. No need to panic because it will only make things worse, and that’s probably the last thing you would want in these challenging times. You should contact your doctor first and ask them what will be most suitable in your current state. If it’s simply a general checkup or a non-emergency treatment, you shouldn’t think twice and postpone/cancel your appointments. Amid the pandemic, it’s highly recommended to avoid health care clinics and hospitals as much as possible.

A better alternative is to check with your health practitioner if they provide telemedicine. Now what is telemedicine, you may wonder? In simpler terms, telemedicine is a form of practice that allows doctors to consult their patients via video-conferencing tools. Telemedicine is the best example for carrying out remote healthcare. With this modern healthcare service, so you can avoid non-urgent visits to the hospital and doctor’s clinics. All your checkups and non-emergency care can be performed from your home with the help of technology. However, in case you are suffering from a severe medical concern that can wait nor be taken via telemedicine, you should see if the doctor in your area is handling non-coronavirus patients.

Tips for Visiting the Doctor During Coronavirus

Female doctor with mask on holding a globe As the lockdown has eased in many countries, many medical practitioners are re-opening for non-COVID patients. If you have taken a doctor’s appointment, make sure you follow all the necessary safety precautions. Here are some essential tips on how to stay well during your doctor’s visit:

Wear a Mask

Keep in mind that many healthcare institutions do not allow people inside if they are not wearing a mask. On the other hand, several medical clinics and hospitals provide patients with a mask at the entrance door if they are not wearing one. To be on the safe side, wear a cloth mask at the clinic. Sneeze or cough in your mask. Or, cover it with tissue paper.

Sanitize or Wash Your Hands

Man washing his hands in a sink — Keeping your hands clean with soap or sanitizer is one of the best protections against spreading the COVID virus

While you are in the clinic/hospital, sanitize or wash your hands as many times as possible, especially if you touch any equipment or furniture there. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and use an antibacterial sanitizer. Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, or lips, as these body parts can be a primary source for the infection to get into your body. While healthcare centers accommodate hand sanitizers for the public use, it’s always best to carry your own when you visit the doctor.

Practice Social Distancing

When you visit a doctor’s clinic or hospital, keep your distance from other people. Many medical care places have markers on the floor to know how far apart you should stand. Ideally, you should keep a distance of about 6 feet, i.e., 2 meters away from others when waiting in a line or sitting in a visitors’ room. Avoid crowded spots at all costs. If you visit a small clinic or hospital with limited space and it’s already crowded over there, you should either wait outside unless the crowd thins out or visit another medical care center near you.

Consider Touchless Payment Methods

When it is time to check out, choose a touchless payment option if possible. This can include a mobile payment method. Use your credit or debit card for a non-contact payment option. As soon as you are done with the payment, sanitize your hands using a sanitizer with at least 60% of alcohol. It will be wise if you consider wearing gloves, too. Once you’re out of the clinic or hospital, throw away the gloves to the nearest bin. Remember not to touch your face with gloves on!

Conclusion

Practicing proper hygiene and safety control is the safest way to visit your doctor. But before you head out to visit your healthcare professional, call them first and see if they are considering in-person visits. If not, consider rescheduling at a more appropriate time or see if they can provide virtual healthcare assistance to you.