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Ever since reports of shortage of face masks, PPE and ventilators have come out, 3D printing firms or institutes with a machine have come forward to fulfil those requirements with whatever limited resources and manpower they had. Doctors and hospitals are working closely with them to get the products customised as per their requirements. In a telephonic call with Mint, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Stratasys India and SEA elaborates on the companys involvement in 3D printing initiatives in India, tie-up with a leading Indian university and the advantage of being a global 3D printing firm in Indian 3D printing space.

The way 3D printing community has come forward in India to help doctors and caregivers is incredible. In what way is Stratasys involved with these initiatives?

Beauty of 3D printing is that there is no fixed way of manufacturing. So if there is a problem they can just redesign the product and start printing in the next few hours. Coming to our involvement, currently there are a lot of formal discussions going on about design of ventilator design, face masks and other personal protection equipment. Similarly, there are lot of informal groups that are working in the country to come out with a viable solution. There are over 100 groups on WhatsApp where IIT and NIT students are collaborating on designs for medical equipment. Doctors too are part of these groups and they are helping them by validating these designs. We are part of both formal and informal groups.

For instance, when National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal reached out to us for assistance with development of some ventilator splitters as their 3D printer wasnt giving them the desired output, we took permission from authorities to open our office and send our industrial printers along with materials. They utilised them to come out with 3D printed components for circuit splitters, floor regulators and PPE. They have installed our printer at George hospital so they can print splitters close to the ventilators.

Stratasys has recently partnered with GNA University, Punjab. Can you elaborate on the nature of this partnership?

GNA University is our existing customer and they are using our 3D printer for a lot of industrial and educational applications. During this time, they wanted to extend the same for face masks and visor design. Stratasys has opened up our designs for visors and face masks, allowing anybody to download the STL and print them. The next step is to enable them to induction mould the same design to increase the volumes to meet the demand they have been facing.

Does being a global company active in various countries during crisis help in dealing with the challenges faced by 3D printing community in India?

We were able to utilise the best practices that we learned in other places like China and Hong Kong. Our company came up with some ready designs for face masks and visors, and we put it out for use by anyone. People across the globe, including India, have downloaded those designs and manufactured them using the 3D printers they have. In addition to all this, we are also working with some top tier automotive companies who have 3D printers for manufacturing automotive components. We are helping them print masks and create prototypes for ventilators. Also, we have special materials which are certified for touch with the human skin.

Did you face any shortage of printing material due to supply chain disruption and lockdown? How did you manage the shortage?

There have been some challenges, but we were able to deal with them through collective efforts. Whatever stocks we had in our offices we have made them available to our customers. Similarly, whatever stocks our partners had were also made available to the customers. We have an install base almost 900 printers in the country. And all our customers we have reached out for machine or parts have been very forthcoming in supporting these efforts for the industry.

There is a huge shortage of medical equipment and the initial supply of 3d printed equipment has been very low. What is potential for scaling up to produce more?

3D printing, by virtue of the way the technology works, is best suited for batch production kind of scenario. When there are requirements of mass production running into lakhs, you have to combine the benefits of 3D printing technology with conventional manufacturing. However, during lockdown regular manufacturing setup will not be available to them. To meet immediate requirements of PPEs and medical equipment, hospitals can install 3D printers on the premises and customise them according to their requirements.

Do you think the current crisis will boost adoption of 3d printing in India?

We dont want to see the pandemic as an opportunity. But looking at the broader understanding of what does one need to quickly ramp up product design development and make changes on the fly as the situation demands, people have started to realised that 3D printing can be of great use as they can work out alternatives in short span of time.

Continued here:
Beauty of 3D printing is that there is no fixed way of manufacturing - Livemint

Kathy Wells McNeil only had to watch the international news over the winter months to realize she did not want to get caught flatfooted when the fast-spreading COVID-19 virus reached Sudbury.

Two months ago, the owner and CEO of Total Nursing Care placed a call to have a local glass installer attach a large plexiglass screen to the reception counter of her occupational testing clinic on Regent Street.

We got a jumpstart on most people in town because we had all our PPE (personal protective equipment) ordered, sanitizer, masks, gowns and gloves provided to all of our staff. Kind of the last thing we did was put the plexiglass in.

Wells McNeils company provides home health-care services, but also operates an occupational testing facility, performing medicals, drugand alcohol testing, pulmonary tests and electrocardiograms for mining companies and the railways.

With the aim of keeping her staff safe, Wells McNeil, a registered nurse, performed a risk assessment of the most heavily trafficked and high-touch areas of her clinic, including the front desk.

Having that barrier there, our office staff doesnt have to be gloved, gowned and masked all day. They can work in that area and feel comfortable.

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The pandemic crisis has brought out the ingenuity and flexibility of Canadian industry and large and small businesses in pivoting their production and manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of front-line workers in health care, emergency response, retail and other essential services.

Makers and installers of glass and plastic safety barriers have been particularly busy. Health-care providers are certainly top of mind for Gerry Rainville, president of Cosmos Glassin Sudbury.

Normally at this time of year, before the construction season starts, staff in his nine-employee shop in Sudburys north end would be off on vacation.

Were a seasonal business. From January to March, April, theres really not much to do.

That's all changed since mid-March when the outbreak took hold, non-essential business and activity was locked down, and the calls started coming in for protective screens.

Weve been quite busy, going from the thought of possibly laying people off to almost needing an extra set of hands, said Rainville.

Were pretty much full bore.

Whenever he fields a call from Health Sciences North, thats my priority, said Rainville.

He estimates hes provided 30 to 40 custom-ordered barriers for the hospital, but also for pharmacies, doctors offices, grocery store chains, and various office spaces.

Dating back to the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, Rainville estimates hes built 90 per cent of the protective barriers for the hospitals aluminum-framed nursing stations and reception desks.

But theyve also been heating and molding plexiglass for counters and tabletop screening stations.

Were able to turn them around fairly quickly, said Rainville. Some of the desks have higher raised platforms so everything is custom designed and installed for those ones.

Some customers prefer a basic shield, hanging down from the ceiling on chains, while others want more complex configurations between work stations.

Hes also sold plastic sheets to retailers like Canadian Tire and Costco, which have installed their own protective barriers for cashiers.

For customers, Rainville will sometimes personally go out to do measurements for an installation, or people can give their dimensions over the phone and he'll leave the fabricated product outside for curbside pickup.

While hes experienced no problems sourcing plastic from his southern Ontario supplier, there has been issues ordered the round disc-like speak-throughs.

With only one supplier in Canada, theres a backlog on orders well into May. Rainville rectified that by approaching a local metal fabricator who laser cut about 50 replicas in a couple of days. Thats where Ive been buying them.

Hospital installations are also a big part of Michael Valentis business, Northland Glass & Metal in North Bay.

Before COVID-19 hit, installing glass and plexiglass screens amounted to about five per cent of his business almost nothing, he said.

For North Bay Regional Health Centre, the company has been making and installing protective glass for individual nursing stations and more extensive floor-to-ceiling glass barriers in excess of 15 metres long, as the hospital has been reconfiguring its emergency room space.

Weve been in the hospital every few days putting in different screens and changing pathways for doors so people cant just walk down a hall, said Valenti.

As president of three companies engaged in roofing, siding, and exterior building work, hes managed to keep 90 per cent of his employees busy on essential service sites with a slate of Ontario Provincial Police detachment work and for the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

On the glass and metal fabricating side, his 22 employees have been active both in the shop and in the field, cutting and installing plastic screens for themselves and other contractors.

We used to sit on a skid of 25 (sheets of plastic) for two months and were going through 50 sheets a week, he said.

Valenti suspects protective screens could develop into a new business line in the years ahead.

I think its going to change the way people work and the way they operate.

The clients that we work for have been taking the long-term approach. Its not something theyve just thrown up to get by;its some thought-out planning to prepare for now and in the future.

Thats something Wells-McNeil has strongly considered.

The plexiglass is not going anywhere. Its the new norm now, for sure, she said, as part of their in-house health and safety procedures to manage client flow in the office and wearing personal protective equipment for pulmonary tests.

Wells-McNeil views this time as a teaching moment for businesses to be more mindful of infections, diseases and other viruses and being more proactive in preventing their spread.

Im hoping we can get to one day, a year from now, to where we can shake hands again, where the scare is not there anymore. But I do feel that some of these changes are definitely going to be permanent, and I think theyre going to be good changes.

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Busy glass installers providing that extra barrier of safety - Northern Ontario Business

All over social media, I see other adults in my demographic doing similar things. Aggressively ambitious professionals are watching Disney movies, hiding in bed or playing dress-up. They're mostly non-parents -- such regression toward childhood is not a luxury so easily afforded those who have actual children to look after. But for those of us not currently going out to work, there is something infantilizing about being stuck indoors. It makes sense to return to the comforts we sought the last time this was the case.

When I was a child, the natural companion to my chocolate stash was books. The miniature transgression of eating "restricted" foods between meals, combined with the escape into another world in the pages of a beloved novel, was as close to a breakaway as I could muster from the banality of the revolving door between school and home. I imagined myself alongside characters who weren't bound by the same limitations of age and science that I was, moving through expansive worlds full of danger and possibilities and magic. In the snatches of time in between working, eating and staring at the window over the last several weeks, I've retraced my steps back through these worlds.

Roald Dahl was a natural start for me when it came to literary escapism after I started going to school. While Enid Blyton provided adventure and sometimes travel -- such as in her unimaginatively-titled "Adventure" series -- it tended to come with a side order of piety that even a cloistered nineties kid like myself couldn't not notice. The "you're nearly as good as a boy" quips from the Famous Five, combined with the sense that the entire undertaking was a sort of morality test, kept her flights of fancy tethered firmly to the ground.

Dahl, on the other hand, let the mind run free. His stories, so full of magic, were like dreams writ large -- free of sentimentality and littered with moments of darkness which made the triumphs shine brighter in their relief. Obstacles were overcome in fantastic, jaunty ways -- from James's glorious escape across the Atlantic in a giant peach attached to a flock of seagulls (which crushes his evil aunts to death en route) to the Ladderless Window Cleaning Company formed of a giraffe, pelican and monkey. One of the most wonderful things about them -- by contrast to Blyton's work -- was that the heroes rarely ended up back where they'd started. When Dahl made the world bigger, it stayed that way. There was no cozy -- or claustrophobic -- return home.

C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" books, though charged with a far greater emphasis on spiritual virtue than Dahl's, came with a sense of grandeur which more than made up for it. Like T.H. White's beautifully written "The Once And Future King," and the lesser-known -- but also wonderful "The Baron in the Trees" by Italo Calvino -- Narnia was full of mysticism: medieval-sounding castles, swords and horses. The Narnia quests had the advantage of being led by ordinary children - the Pevensies: Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter, Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole, and Digory and Polly in the latterly-published origin story, "The Magician's Nephew" -- who had usually set out upon them in lieu of going to school or enduring a boring country holiday. The relatability of the imperfect child heroes who rose to epic, sacred challenges in other worlds made those challenges feel accessible to children like me, who felt trapped in their ordinary, seven-year-old existence.

Already a fan of interdimensional travel and charged with the disregard for authority championed by Dahl's entire oeuvre, I was well primed for Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series, which might still be my favorite to date. Eleven-year-old Lyra's journey to the far North and her concurrent sexual, theological and political awakenings were the puberty experience I'd have killed for. Mediating wars of succession between armored polar bears and unwittingly undoing the evil work of one or other of her parents at any given point -- accompanied by Pantalaimon, her shape-shifting demon friend -- revealed a more complicated and contradictory world than my life at the time provided any evidence for.

Two decades later, I know quite a bit more about the world I was born into. I have certainly seen more of it than I had when I was a Dahl-obsessed seven-year old. But now that this pandemic means my freedom to move about in it is roughly the same as it was when then, I want to fill the limited space in which I spend my days with more magic.

The common thread between my favorite books as a child -- which, it goes without saying, are also some of the most widely loved books of all time -- was that apparently ordinary kids could prove themselves to be extraordinary, once their normal restrictions (and the restrictions of reality) were removed. In this strange time, as reality is bearing down with brutal force, I'd like to entertain the conceit that if I did go out into the world, what I'd find there would be extraordinary.

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Even locked in, I found a key to the magic world I needed - CNN

The research report on Professional Cleaning Robots Market provides comprehensive analysis on market status and development pattern, including types, applications, rising technology and region. Professional Cleaning Robots Market report covers the present and past market scenarios, market development patterns, and is likely to proceed with a continuing development over the forecast period. The report covers all information on the global and regional markets including historic and future trends for market demand, size, trading, supply, competitors, and prices as well as global predominant vendors information.

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GE Inspection RoboticsRobotic Tank CleaningVeoliaID-TecSCANTRON ROBOTICSMDBmaxon motoriRobotIMS RoboticsWolftankGAC

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Floor-cleaning RobotLawn-cleaning RobotPool-cleaning RobotWindow-cleaning RobotOthers

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ResidentialCommercialIndustrialHealthcareOthers

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Table of Contents:

Global Professional Cleaning Robots Market Research Report

Chapter 1 Professional Cleaning Robots Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

.CONTINUED FOR TOC

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Global Professional Cleaning Robots Market Advanced Technology and New Innovations by 2025 - Cole of Duty

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 may survive for several days on some surfaces. Estimates of its life span vary, but the virus can clearly hang around long enough to make disinfecting frequently touched surfaces a priority.

Whatever you use, its crucial to know how to use a disinfectant properly that means allowing enough time for a disinfectant to do its job, which can be as much as 10 minutes.

When disinfecting a surface, by far the most important consideration is whats known as dwell time: the amount of time the disinfectant needs to remain on a surface to kill pathogens, and in this case, specifically the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. No disinfectant works instantly; most of those sold to the public take several minutes. Different dwell times dont indicate that one disinfectant is more or less effective than another. Theyre just how long products take to eliminate the coronavirus, the result you want. But dwell time is not the only thing you need to pay attention to.

Complete disinfecting protocol includes four steps: Pre-cleaning, disinfecting (dwell time), wiping clean and rinsing with water. But were lucky if we get two, meaning dwell time and wipe-up, said Mark Warner, education manager at the Cleaning Management Institute, a provider of training and certification for professional cleaning services. Pre-cleaning is most important on heavily soiled surfaces, because dirt can shield pathogens underneath; its fine to use soap and water or a household cleaner. Disinfecting for the proper dwell time, of course, is nonnegotiable. Wiping afterward is essential because disinfectants can leave a sticky residue where pathogens can quickly resettle. And rinsing finishes the process.

Nonbleach Options: Nonbleach disinfectants are usually safe on fabric and other soft materials, though they are generally rated to sanitize rather than disinfect.

For example, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are rated to eliminate the virus in a relatively quick four minutes. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes employ the same type of nonbleach disinfectant but take longer to work: 10 minutes. Dont let that be a concern: If you have them, use them.

Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist also use the same type of nonbleach disinfectant, a class of compounds known as quaternary ammonium, or simply quats. Theyre safe on hard surfaces and most fabrics, gentler on the skin than bleach and produce fewer harsh fumes. Both eliminate the coronavirus in 10 minutes on hard surfaces but only sanitize (kill most but not all pathogens) on soft surfaces.

Lysol Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner is fabric-safe, because it uses quats instead of bleach. It eliminates the coronavirus in two minutes on hard surfaces; on soft materials, it may only sanitize.

Bleach-based Disinfectants: Clorox Multi-Surface Cleaner + Bleach eliminates the coronavirus in one minute on hard surfaces such as you find in kitchens and bathrooms sinks, faucets, toilets, tile and synthetic countertops. Any bleach-based spray like this is for use only on hard surfaces. It will damage fabrics, feel harsh on skin and produce fumes that can irritate mucous membranes. Take precautions like ventilating the room and wearing gloves. Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach is similar, but takes five minutes to disinfect hard surfaces.

Assuming you cannot get any of the above products, you can disinfect hard surfaces of the coronavirus using a solution of regular household chlorine bleach and water. If you have bleach, you can make your own mixture and dispense it with a spray bottle or with paper towels. But please be careful and read instructions when dealing with bleach as with all chemical products.

Multiple sources give different bleach-to-water ratios for use with regular bleach. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that unexpired bleach will be effective against coronaviruses in a 1:48 solution ( cup of bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons per quart). Clorox recommends a slightly stronger 1:32 ratio ( cup per gallon or 2 tablespoons per quart). Mark Warner recommends a much stronger 1:10 ratio (about 1 cups per gallon of water, or about cup per quart). Some medical disinfectants are basically the same solution.

Whichever ratio you use, let it sit on the surface for 10 minutes: Warner told us that this is the Environmental Protection Agencys guideline for any new or unknown pathogen, and it is also the dwell time listed for the regular household bleaches on the E.P.A.s List N, which means it is approved to eliminate the coronavirus when properly used.

Dont mix up more than you will use within a day or two. Bleach degrades fairly rapidly once taken from its original storage container, becoming less effective each day. Storing the container away from light can prolong its useful condition. If your bottle of bleach is expired, add a bit extra to the mixture, and try to find a fresh bottle when you can.

Bleach mixtures can be used only on hard surfaces they will permanently damage most fabrics and many other soft materials and are unpleasant to work with. Wear gloves. Ventilate the space as well as possible. Bleach is corrosive, even the vapors, Warner said. Gives you a sore throat, you dont taste dinner, and you wake up the next day with a weird taste in your mouth.

You also need to wipe it off after the 10-minute dwell time, because left to sit indefinitely, bleach can damage even resilient materials like stainless steel. And it can cause some plastic containers to break down over time. (I used to keep some in an industrial spray bottle, for bathroom use; the screw-top fell apart after about a year, though the bottle itself, made of a different type of plastic, was fine.)

But in this moment, those are secondary concerns. As you know, disinfectants are high demand and low supply, Warner told me. Apply a disinfectant and give it a 10-minute dwell time. Or mix some bleach up at 1-to-10. That gives you your best shot.

Before you begin preparing any bleach solutions, especially if youre new to this, please thoroughly read over the entire warning label on the bottle of bleach and exercise an abundance of caution in storage, handling and cleaning up afterward. Information on avoiding irreversible eye damage and skin burns is worth your time.

And never, ever mix bleach with ammonia or anything containing ammonia (like many window cleaners), or with anything acidic (like white vinegar and many lime scale/rust removers, including CLR and Bar Keepers Friend). Doing either will produce highly dangerous and even deadly gases.

Finally, Warner said, its best to dispose of prepackaged wipes or paper towels that youve used to disinfect surfaces. Reusable cloths and mops should be exchanged for a new one often during a cleaning process, then laundered. In medical facilities, he said, they are used for a maximum of three rooms before being washed. With a paper towel shortage, reusable cloths might be the way to go at home, too lets just hope you can still find some laundry detergent.

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Disinfectant Against Coronavirus: How to Make and Use - The New York Times

Matty Storton was an unknown quantity to Hull KR fans when he joined the club over the off-season.

The back-rower was one of five to leave Bradford Bulls and sign with Rovers, alongside Joe Keyes, Rowan Milnes, Elliot Minchella and Anesu Mudoti as Tony Smith looked to add depth and young talent to his Super League side.

For Storton, though, it was his first full-time contract as a player, meaning he would not only have to leave his hometown club, but also his job as a window cleaner in order to chase his dream.

So far, the 21-year-old has exceeded expectations. After impressing in pre-season, Smith went with Storton in the back-row for the opening game of the season against Wakefield Trinity, and hes played a part in every game since.

But, according to his junior coach at West Bowling, it wasnt always obvious that he could forge a path to the very top of the game, despite his notable size and strength as a child.

He was as strong as an ox, amateur coach Matt Sharp told Hull Live. Compared to all the other kids he was really strong, when we were doing tackle drills, youd know you were hit by him even as a 12-year-old, he could really hit hard.

He wasn't the brainiest kid when it came to drills, he tried his best but Ive seen him since and he has improved a lot with that!

He was quite lazy to be honest, he was one of those cheeky little kids where you turn your back and hes stopped doing what he was supposed to be doing.

I knew Matty would do something but I wasnt sure at what level, because he was very strong, a textbook tackler, hed run hard and if you wanted yardage youd give him the ball and hed get you out of trouble. It wasnt obvious to start with."

Sharp had the privilege of coaching not one current Super League player but two, with Castleford Tigers half-back Jake Trueman also being in his side and its fair to say as a pair they developed a strong relationship on the pitch, but off it, too.

Theyre the best of mates, Sharp added. They both came to the club at a similar sort of time, I think their parents knew each other, they were thick as thieves.

They both went to Bradford together and did really well and Jake went to Castleford. Jake was at half-back, Matty was at second-row and youd always find if Jake was going to make a break, Matty would be on one-side of him and vice-versa. Jake would always follow Matty up because nine times out of 10 hed break the line.

Trueman remembers his time with the back-rower well, too, telling Hull Live: Weve been best friends for ages, we get on really well off the field and I still see him a lot, Im still really good mates with him and have been since we first met.

We were all over the field and did what we wanted really, we linked up pretty well. He was my back-rower at amateur but he was that big and strong I tried to give him the ball as much as I could.

He wasnt that tall but he was always solid, hes one of the strongest players Ive ever seen. He was so hard to tackle, even at that age, he was a really good player.

It seems the pair were inseparable. Having starred for West Bowling, Storton and Trueman joined Bradford together at scholarship level and even went to college together while they rose through the ranks at Odsal.

Unfortunately, their debuts for the club came separately. Truemans talent was spotted by Rohan Smith and he was drafted into the first-team to make his debut and a move to Super League soon followed.

Storton had to wait a little longer before he got the chance to the famous jersey, making his bow in 2017.

But it was in 2019 under John Kear that he really made his mark in the first-team and its fair to say the former Hull FC and Wakefield chief was impressed by what he saw.

You dont worry about whether this is one of his good weeks, or whether hell be switched on properly, because he is already so consistent, Kear told the Daily Mirror in May last year after the clubs win over Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup.

Hes tough and a physically big kid, which allows him to handle the physical rigours of the game.

The weight he lifts in the gym for a 20-year-old man is phenomenal. Hes one of those players that when the opposition carry the ball into collision with him, they stop - thats the impact he has physically.

But hes tough mentally as well, and no respecter of reputations. He couldnt give a monkey's whether hes playing against Wally Lewis or the Hemel Stags stand-off, he treats everybody the same.

After such a big billing and some sterling performances in the Championship, little wonder Storton got his move into the full-time game and he hasnt looked back since.

Hes already shown himself to be one of the most promising youngsters in the Super League and his good friend Trueman has been keeping in regular contact to see how hes getting on in east Hull.

I think he needed to move away from Bradford for some new challenges and hes done really well, hes started all the games, the Castleford stand-off said.

I think hes loving it. He was part-time at Bradford and he was doing a bit of window cleaning, hes enjoyed knocking that off and going full-time.

Storton still keeps in contact with his junior coach, making appearances at awards nights for Sharp, who now coaches West Bowlings under-10s side.

Of course, Sharp has been watching on proudly as the humble back-rower tries to make his stamp on the Super League, but how far does he believe the youngster can go in the game?

Ive seen bits on TV and what Ive seen the step up from the Championship hasnt fazed him. I think its improved him, playing with and against better players, the coach said.

Theres a lot of time ahead of him if he keeps working like he is hell be one of the best props or second-rowers around I think.

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Jake Trueman, window cleaning and West Bowling - The making of Hull KR's Matty Storton - Hull Daily Mail

Strong winds caused havoc for high-rise workers in Dubai, as the UAE experienced more unsettled weather on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi had rain and thunder during the morning, and the wet conditions were set to spread to Dubai.

The gusts caused several window cleaning platforms to smash into the side of a high-rise tower block in Dubai Marina, leaving workers suspended 67 floors up.

At least one apartment balcony on the 72nd floor of Sulafa Tower was damaged when a hanging cradle, which cleaners normally use to clean the outside of buildings, swayed wildly back and forth.

Dan Jarvis, a resident on the 74th floor, filmed the incident from his balcony just metres away.

I was supposed to be working but the noise of the wind is horrific up here, he told The National.

Dark clouds over Dubai during the recent wet spell in April. Pawan Singh / The National

Clouds covering the Burj Khalifa after the rain in Dubai on April 16. Pawan Singh / The National

Rain comes down at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A man walks in the rain while covering himself in a plastic sheet in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Deliveroo drivers hide from the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Heay rain on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A construction worker in the rain on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Rain on Kite Beach with a lone lifeguard station in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A heavy machinery driver takes cover from the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A pedestrian walks in the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Shoppers take cover from the downpour at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A rainstorm in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National

Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National

Two of the workers managed to get onto the balcony.

I didn't see them jump out, its just a fair assumption as they are currently replacing the cladding on the whole buildling and they've been going past my balcony the past couple weeks.

Civil Defence attended the scene and the two workers were safe.

They have literally tied themselves to the building so they're not swinging," Mr Jarvis said.

The National Centre of Meteorology had earlier forecast "rainfall, convective clouds and blowing dust and sand amid winds reaching up to 45kph".

It confirmed moderate to heavy rain fell in the Al Dhafrah area during the morning, while light rain fell overnight in parts of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain.

The wet weather is forecast to continue during the next few days, with "some rainfall" forecast for Thursday and "a chance of lightning and thunder" on both Friday and Saturday, according to the NCM.

The country has seen a number of rainy days this month, and cloud seeding missions have been continuing.

April is considered one of the first transitional months and is characterised by swift changes in atmospheric conditions which bring an increase in cloud and chance of rain.

Temperatures have ramped up in recent days, reaching as high as 44C in desert areas, and more than 40C in cities as summer approaches. These temperatures are well above the average for April, which are normally in the mid-30s based on historical data.

The weather bureau expects thermometers to touch 40C in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Wednesday.

It will be moderate, becoming rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and in the Sea of Oman.

Updated: April 29, 2020 04:36 PM

Original post:
UAE weather: Dubai and Abu Dhabi set for showers - The National

Every situation is different, but here are some best practices to follow if you suspect someone you live with is sick with the coronavirus -- or even you.

Ascoronavirus case numbers continue to grow, and we learn more about the symptoms the virus can cause, you may be more concerned about what to do if you or someone you live with becomes infected with COVID-19 -- or thinks they might be. If that does happen, it's important to know which steps to take to avoid spreading the virus to others, as well as how to care for that person, or how others should help care for you.

This includes calling the doctor to see if you're eligible for COVID-19 testing, monitoring your symptoms and isolating yourself from others until your symptoms have subsided the appropriate length of time.

Some of these common recommendations may be impractical if you have a roommate (or three), or live in a household with your family or a significant other. You should already be practicing social distancing as best you can in a roommate situation, but it isn't always possible. And if you're helping care for others in your family, self-isolation can be extra hard.

Keep track of the coronavirus pandemic.

We've drawn suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as first-hand advice from people we know who have recovered from the coronavirus. Here are recommendations for how to adjust if you suspect someone in your household has COVID-19, but is not sick enough for hospitalization. Note this is not an exhaustive list and guidance from public health agencies is changing over time.

Here's what you need to know about finding a coronavirus testing site near you, and the latest on coronavirus antibody tests and nasal swab testing.

At the first sign of what could be coronavirus, contact the doctor immediately to list symptoms and ask for advice on whether you should pursue COVID-19 testing. In many cases, the doctor will need to order the test for you (more on this below).

If the patient has underlying health conditions that put them at higher riskfor fatality, the doctor will also be able to weigh in on which medications they should and shouldn't take and how they'll need to adjust their lifestyle, including what kind of vital signs you should monitor as the illness progresses.

As soon as you or someone you live with suspects they have symptoms of COVID-19 (or tests positive for the coronavirus), they need to isolate from others until they test negative, or until the symptoms are long gone (more details below).

They should wear a face mask or cloth covering if they're in the same room as you or your housemates and everyone needs to make sure they'vethoroughly washed their hands for 20 seconds after interacting. It's also important to keep the house sanitized. A healthy person could reduce contact with a sick person by filling a water pitcher and preparing food for the patient, leaving both at a safe distance for the member of your household to collect.

The CDC suggests isolating in a bedroom away from others. We understand that's not always an option -- for example, if you live in a studio apartment with a significant other or share a small house with many others.

If there isn't an extra room to stay in, make sure to maintain a six-foot distance at all times to practice social distancing. Unfortunately, that might mean someone's sleeping on the couch, on a mattress on the floor or so on.

Read more: Where to buy face masks and cloth coverings online

You can make a face mask at home for the infected person to wear.

The CDC recommendsthe presumptive coronavirus patient use a different bathroom if possible. However, if you only have one bathroom, the person who's ill should wear a mask when they leave their isolation room. After they leave the bathroom, make sure the toilet, sink, shower, handles and soap dispensers get sanitized.

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. Also, avoid using the same hand towel as the potentially infected person. You may need to set up a caddy for items that only the sick person uses, like a separate soap dispenser, towel, toothpaste tube and so on.

If there are multiple people who live in your home, the CDC suggests only one person should take care of the sick one to limit the number of people who might come in contact with the virus. That includes bringing them food or medicine; checking their temperature, vitals and blood pressure; and laundering their clothes and bedding.

It's a good idea, however, for the carer to wear gloves and a face mask when coming in contact with anything the infected person has touched, beforewashing their hands directly after.

When you bring food, for example, you can place it inside the room they're staying in, but avoid contact with them and make sure your nose and mouth are covered -- theirs, too.

While in isolation, your roommate may start to feel lonely, so make sure you're comforting them by sending them texts, calling to talk from the next room, or even talking to them outside the door. Michigan Health suggests opening a window for air circulation.

You'll need to check the infected person's temperature daily to see if they have a fever.

It's important to note that many hospitals don't want you to go to the emergency room or arrive for a COVID-19 test without a doctor's order, or an advanced state of symptoms, like high fever over 102 degrees. In many places, the number of tests are limited and hospitals must follow protocols to limit the exposure of sick people to the rest of the hospital population.

The CDC and hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles suggest contacting your primary care provider about symptoms and the next steps you should take.

Symptoms that typically warrant a COVID-19 test include:

If the person you live with has contracted the coronavirus, it's possible you and other housemates have already been exposed. The World Health Organization states the incubation period for someone with coronavirus is between one to 14 days. This is the time between catching the virus and seeing symptoms. This means you need to quarantine yourself for two weeks to prevent spreading the virus to others.

To avoid going out, have your food and groceries delivered to your door. The CDC says once everyone is symptom-free for at least 72 hours and testing negative for coronavirus, you can leave the house for necessities again.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, difficult breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of taste or smell.

Make sure you're cleaning and disinfecting high traffic surfaces in your home daily. This includes doorknobs, remote controls, bathroom surfaces, kitchen counters, appliances and your phone. Use products from the EPA's approved list of disinfectants to help kill coronavirus.

The American Red Cross says to avoid sharing household items, such as glasses, utensils, towels and bedding. If an ill person uses any of these items, they should be washed thoroughly.

Disinfect the surfaces in your home daily.

If the infected person doesn't have access to testing, the CDC states they can leave their home if they've had no fever for at least 72 hours (without medicine), symptoms like coughing have improved and at least seven days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.

To help better prepare you for a coronavirus case in your home, here's what you need to know about making a face mask or covering at home, where you can buy a face mask if you don't have the right tools and how to disinfect your car and home to help kill coronavirus.

Now playing: Watch this: Keep in touch with loved ones while keeping your distance

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Think you or someone you live with has coronavirus? Here's what to know and do - CNET

By: Kitchen Tune-Up | 0Shares 21Reads

April 28, 2020 // Franchising.com // ABERDEEN, S.D. - Kitchen Tune-Up announced today that it has been named to the FRAN-TASTIC 500 list by FranServe Inc., the worlds largest franchise consulting and expansion organization.

Its an honor to be recognized as one of the leading franchise opportunities by FranServe, said Heidi Morrissey, President of Kitchen Tune-Up. Our ranking is reflective of the model weve built and the commitment we make to our franchise family and their team members. We have an outstanding group of franchisees who are dedicated to serving their communities with the highest of customer service standards, and we look forward to continue growing with likeminded franchise partners in the months to come.

The key factors that go into FranServe's nomination and selection include strong brand identity, turnkey model, operational support, superb training, scalability, quick to launch and clear marketing messaging.

Alesia Visconti, CEO of Franserve Inc. says, Franchising is a doorway for many people looking to be their own boss. A brand that makes our annual FRAN-TASTIC 500 list demonstrated that it goes above and beyond the norm in helping people fulfill their dreams of business ownership through franchising! Its a brand that sets itself apart!

Kitchen Tune-Up prides itself not only on hard work and the ability to finish a project in 1-5 days, but on its Trustpoints system, premier customer service, and family-like mentality business model. Known for its five options to update kitchens and cabinetry, services include signature one-day Tune-Ups, cabinet painting, cabinet refacing, cabinet redooring, and new cabinets.

As Kitchen Tune-Up continues to evolve, the brand has introduced DIY Plus services ranging from cabinet redooring to garage cabinets and cabinet organization. Through virtual connectivity, a representative can provide clients with necessary guidance on products, tools, and directions to accomplish tasks on their own. Despite coronavirus restrictions, Kitchen Tune-Up has continued to innovate and prioritize their franchise owners and clients.

With more than 204 franchised territories nationwide, Kitchen Tune-Up is widely recognized as the frontrunner among kitchen and bath remodeling companies and a position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

Founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in five ways to update kitchens and cabinetry. Services include its signature 1 Day Tune-Up, cabinet painting, cabinet refacing, cabinet redooring, and new cabinets. With more than 204 franchised territories nationwide, Kitchen Tune-Up has been named to Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 list in 2020. Kitchen Tune-Up offers personalized service and incredible results that are structured around customer service Trustpoints to ensure a hassle-free experience from start to finish.

SOURCE Kitchen Tune-Up

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Kitchen Tune-Up is Recognized as a FRAN-TASTIC 500 Brand For 2020 - Franchising.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 300,000 servers and chefs in Missouri's restaurants are waiting to see if they can indeed open Monday. Two Springfield restaurant owners gearing up for customers to return, whenever that may be.

From building new tables to remodeling their kitchen, owners are prepping their restaurants. The downtime has been a silver lining.

"We wouldn't have been able to do it," siad Gene Lofar, Co-Owner of The Roost. "I mean, the remodeling has taken us almost two and half, three weeks to do."

Lofaro said whatever the guidelines are, they'll be ready to go.

"We'll be able to put those plans in place," said Lofaro. "And, you know, rest assured that we're here for the community and make sure that, you know, the people are safe when they come in to our business."

Tony Garcia, owner of Avanzare Italian Dining, said he wants to wait a bit longer to reopen his doors.

"I don't think I'll be ready to open for the first week," said Garcia. "I think I'm gonna let it ride for the second week and be ready for Mother's Day weekend."

For both owners, they're just ready to move forward with their business, however and whenever that is.

"I miss it, I miss cooking, I miss my customers, my employees, I miss everybody," said Garcia. "But I think the safety for me to wait an extra week and be more ready, more prepared.

"I think the biggest thing about this is the opportunity for the employees to get back into this," said Lofaro. "And for the community to come together as one."

Read the rest here:
Restaurant owners prepare for reopening in the Ozarks - KY3