The Daily Dive

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Looking to Get Back to Normal Companies Are Trying to Secure More Tests for Their Employees Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

To get back to work, companies are trying to secure tests for their workers. Amazon, for example, is looking for ways to test employees regularly including building its own testing lab. But there is a big discussion of the best way to proceed. Will employers need more diagnostic tests or would it be better for antibody tests? Will vaccines be required? Then there are also questions about costs, supply, and concerns about employee privacy. Sarah Krouse, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for how employers want to ramp up their own testing capabilities.

Next, vitamin C was having a moment during the pandemic and sales were surging, but you have to watch out for some offering it up as a coronavirus treatment. The FTC and FBI are investigating health clinics and wellness centers for overhyping high-dose IV infusions of vitamin C as ways to prevent or treat COVID-19. Brent Schrotenboer, investigative reporter at USA Today, joins us for more.

Finally, many are worried about what some call the “twindemic,” continuing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, while also trying to get though the flu season. The flu and COVID-19 share several common symptoms, and it is important to know how to differentiate the two viruses. Karina Zaiets, reporter at USA Today, joins us for how to tell the difference.

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Grading Bots Getting It Wrong and the First U.S. Outbreak of COVID-19 in Washington Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

For all those parents with kids doing remote learning this year, pay attention to your children's grades. In some cases, the auto-grading software used to grade quizzes and schoolwork are getting it wrong. If a student's answers don't match exactly what's in the teacher's answer guide, it can be marked wrong, even if it's just a capitalization discrepancy. Julie Jargon, family and tech columnist at the WSJ, joins us for how these auto-grading systems are causing some headaches.

Next, a look back at the early days of the pandemic and the first nursing home outbreak at the Life Care Center of Kirkland in Washington. Forty-six people died there, but did those deaths have to happen? The way that COVID-19 tore through the facility is a cautionary tale for the way we operate nursing homes in the U.S. There were failures at many steps during the way, all while residents and workers saw some of their friends get sick and die. Katie Engelhart, contributor to California Sunday Magazine, spent months investigating what happened and joins us for how it all played out.

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WEEKEND EDITION – Virtual Learning during Pandemic Causing Frustration and Burnout, The Decline of Social Trust in America Dec 27, 2020

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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WEEKEND EDITION – Scientists Concerned about COVID-19 Mutations, Who's Next for the Vaccine, More Testing Before You Fly Dec 26, 2020

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe's Coronavirus Tracking App's Effectiveness Depends on How Many People Use It Dec 25, 2020

Show notes

Earlier this year, many eyes were on Europe as they begin to open their economies and roll out contact tracing apps across various countries there. Germany was one of the first to release their app, but its effectiveness will depend on how many people actually download and use it. Bojan Pancevski, Germany correspondent for the WSJ, joins us for how the apps work and privacy concerns.

Next, at the beginning of the year, the famous flagship store for Tiffany and Company in New York had to move to a new location so the building could be renovated. While the move to a temporary location was short, it took dozens of security guards, hundreds of cameras, and a vow of secrecy from workers to move 114,000 gems without getting robbed. James Barron, reporter for the NY Times, joins us for how Tiffany pulled off this big move and got it all done before time of opening Monday morning.

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Monkeys Used as Test Subjects Are in Short Supply Dec 24, 2020

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Earlier this year, America was running low on a crucial resource for coronavirus vaccines and drugs…monkeys. The pandemic has created a huge demand for monkeys as research test subjects. There has been a drop in supply from China which supplied 60% of monkeys imported into the U.S., and we were already dealing with decreased numbers. Sarah Zhang, writer at the Atlantic, joins us for how were are short on these animals needed for research.

Next, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed a lot of flaws in the way business is done in the U.S. Flaws in the supply chain were evident all over. But the “Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020” shows how something so mundane represents a complex supply chain. Because of what is called “just in time” manufacturing and distribution, toilet paper is still only seen in limited quantities and manufacturers are still playing catch up on back orders. Manufacturers have also had to adjust their packaging which is why you might be seeing fewer options. Jen Wieczner, senior writer at Fortune, joins us for the case of the missing toilet paper.

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New Coronavirus Variant Appears in the U.K., May Spread Faster but Not More Severe Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus is mutating, and while we should be cautious, there is no cause for alarm yet. A new variant of the virus has appeared in the U.K. that officials said could spread up to 70% faster, but luckily, the variant doesn’t seem to be any more severe. Some have expressed concern that it might become resistant to the current vaccines rolling out. The worries are focused on whether the new strain is less vulnerable to certain antibodies. Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what we know about this new Covid variant.

Next, why are Americans so distrustful of each other? Social trust in the U.S. is dropping and it’s one of those things that once it’s lost, it is very difficult to regain. Research has found that a country’s level of social trust is related to three main factors: corruption, ethnic segregation, and economic inequality. But trust is not limited to those factors alone and can’t be explained away by them as well. Political polarization can also be a key factor. Kevin Vallier, author of “Trust in a Polarized Age,” joins us for why it’s so hard to trust our fellow citizens.

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CDC Panel Recommends That First Responders and Other Essential Works Be Next in Line for Coronavirus Vaccines Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

A CDC panel over the weekend has made its recommendations on who is next in line to receive the two vaccines we have available so far. What is called Phase 1b, will see first responders such as police and firefighters, other frontline workers like teachers and grocery workers and also people over 75 get the vaccine. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for who’s next in getting the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Next, the airline industry is looking to more testing as a way to make people feel safer while flying. What will that look like? Think testing sites at airports, adding results to passenger records, and offering flights only for tested passengers. While it may help, some caution that tests aren’t always reliable and fake negative-tests certificates already making the rounds. Scott McCartney, Middle Seat columnist at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Finally, when kids were forced into remote learning because of the pandemic, many parents turned to learning pods to help their children retain some semblance of traditional learning. Some parents however, quickly found out that these pods and these new forced social circles came with their own problems. Anna Sillman, writer at The Cut and NY Magazine, joins us for some learning pod problems.

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Stimulus Deal Reached and Pandemic Teacher Shortage Hitting Schools Dec 21, 2020

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Democrats and Republicans have reached a compromise deal on a new coronavirus stimulus package that will give Americans a direct payment of $600 and enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 per week. In other news, President Trump has been downplaying the seriousness of the hack of several government agencies saying it could have been China despite experts and even Mike Pompeo saying it was clearly Russia, and the effort to recall the governor of California is gaining steam. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for a full breakdown.

Next, the disruption that the pandemic has caused to the education system has ranged from kids having to transition to remote learning, parents experiencing burnout trying to help their kids learn and balance work life, but it has also caused a teacher shortage. Early retirements and quarantines are forcing some school administrators to recruit parents as substitute teachers, increase class sizes, and even use bus drivers to babysit classrooms. Arizona in particular has been hit hard by a shortage of teachers and many say that educational achievement has suffered because of it. Valerie Bauerlein, national reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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WEEKEND EDITION- US Government Infiltrated by Suspected Russian Hackers and 'Havana Syndrome' Likely Caused by Microwave Energy Dec 20, 2020

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.