COVID-Sniffing Dogs in Helsinki

COVID-Sniffing Dogs in Helsinki

November 4, 2020
Lisa M. Spencer

Ten amazing dogs sniff out COVID-19 carrying passengers in Finland’s Helsinki airport.

In a pilot program, passengers are asked to volunteer to run a test wipe across their skin to collect a sweat sample.  The wipe is placed in a cup in a nearby booth, where the dogs quickly go to work and make a physical sign to indicate samples that carry the virus.

These canines can detect the virus in only ten seconds, and up to five days before symptoms even appear.  If one of the dogs indicates that a passenger carries the virus, the person is then sent for a nasal swab test for confirmation.

The airport is hopeful that it can eventually use medical dogs as part of the normal screening process to find effective and efficient ways to keep travelers safe.

Video Spotlight: 

This post is based on the Science Alert article, Dogs Deployed at Helsinki Airport Can Detect COVID-19 With Almost 100% Accuracy, by Michelle Starr, September 25, 2020; the Yahoo! Life article, Dogs Continue reading →

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Black Friday Re-Imagined

Black Friday Re-Imagined

November 2, 2020
Lisa M. Spencer

Has Black Friday been upstaged by a new October shopping day?

Retailers are looking for ways to drum up demand.  They are also seeking creative capacity alternatives to fill it and distribution channels to get merchandise delivered in a timely way.

Some retailers envision encouraging more online shopping with Black Friday deals available online instead of only in-store to cater to shoppers still leery of big crowds and pandemic concerns.  Others plan to take it a step further with a new holiday, dubbed “10.10 Shopping Festival,” invented by those who want to shift sales even earlier than usual, in this case to October 10.

The 10.10 shopping day occurred a few days prior to Amazon’s Prime Day on October 13 and 14, which was expected to reach $10 billion in sales, up 40% over July 2019’s Prime Day.

Video Spotlight: 

This post is based on the Fox Business article, Black Friday 2020: Coronavirus pandemic shopping trends force retailers to rethink holiday shopping, by Michael Bartiromo, September 28, 2020; the Fortune article, Amazon Prime Continue reading →

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Disruptions to Tea Supply Chain

Disruptions to Tea Supply Chain

October 21, 2020
Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.

Disruptions to the global tea supply chain, from the movement restrictions of the pandemic to weather issues, are causing serious supply problems with tea.

These disruptions, coupled with an increase in tea consumption at home for its health benefits, have resulted in a 50% surge in wholesale prices of tea, a 1.7% cost increase in packaged tea bags, and a 9.6% price increase in liquid tea.

Video Spotlight: 

This post is based on the Forbes article, Here Is Why Your Next Cup Of Tea Will Cost More Money, by Lana Bandoim, September 24, 2020, and the YouTube video in the Spotlight. Image source: Shutterstock / Tatyana Soares

Discussion Questions:

1. What areas of the tea supply chain are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Guidance: The pandemic affects the entire tea supply chain.  The lockdowns disrupted tea leaf-picking during the spring harvest season.  They also delayed shipments by a month.

2. What factors have contributed to a rise in tea prices?

Guidance: The factors include a shortage of tea supply and a surge in tea demand.  Tea supply is Continue reading →

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