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Neuroscience

Home school lesson one: uncorking the wine | Comment – The Times

A child psychologist and neuroscience educator in New Zealand called Nathan D Wallis has been doing the rounds on social media saying that all this remote schooling is a waste of time. Thank God.

Im not saying that Ive been looking for any excuse to nix the home school nonsense and get on with my life but when Wallis says, Let your concerns about your kids academic outcomes go. They are stressed at this frightening time for the world. A four-week holiday from schoolwork is not going to do them any harm, I am all ears.

He goes on: When parents take over the teaching they tend to go to a 1920s model rather than a 2020s model (it is true I dusted off my

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Home school lesson one: uncorking the wine | Comment - The Times

Neuroscience

Telemedicine-aided therapy helps parents of children with developmental disorders, including autism – WTVY, Dothan

LOS ANGELES, Ca. (Press Release) -- For families of children with developmental disorders, access to early intervention programs can make a huge difference in their overall development. However, many families in smaller cities or rural areas do not have convenient access to such programs, often located at larger universities in big cities.

To address that need, researchers at UCLA are using telemedicine to remotely help families learn skills that let them work at home with their children to gain essential social skills. One such study involves children with tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder that often causes development issues. Scientists found early signs of autism in this group of infants who, until now, would never have received crucial early intervention.

The earlier you can intervene and enrich the childs environment, the more likely you are to actually exact change in brain development, said Shafali Jeste, MD, a pediatric neurologist and an associate professor of psychiatry, neurology and pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a principal investigator at the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment. Our unique remote delivery allows families to begin that early intervention from their home, which is really important for those who live far away from major academic research centers.

The therapy called JASPER is a science-backed technique that uses play-based therapy to enhance childrens development and behavior. We do a very careful assessment of where children are, developmentally, and then train parents to implement this method into their everyday interactions, said Connie Kasari, PhD, professor of human development and psychology and a co-founder of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLAs Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

In the yearlong trial, parents, who have been trained in the technique by UCLA therapists, record videos of play sessions at home with their children. Each week, families review the videos with the therapist via telemedicine and discuss their childs development needs.

Mary and Brandon Crawford are participating in the UCLA study from their home in Arkansas with their son John Michael, 3. Weve seen huge improvements in John Michaels language skills and his ability to interact and tell us what he wants and how hes feeling, Mary Crawford said. Seeing that growth and advancement makes our hearts soar because, as parents, we want to do whatever we can to help our son. This trial empowers us to do that, even if we are thousands of miles away from the therapists were working with.

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Telemedicine-aided therapy helps parents of children with developmental disorders, including autism - WTVY, Dothan

Neuroscience

Love in the Time of Lockdown – Qrius

Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino, Concordia University

Lately, the one topic the entire world is concerned about is the novel coronavirus.

In line with that, as a sex positive neuroscience sex researcher, I am writing this article with a couple of goals: to inform readers how sex relates to the current pandemic, and to prevent the spread of myths and misinformation in an agitated social environment.

Given the common modes of transmission of respiratory viruses, engaging in certain types of sexual activities may risk spreading the virus. However, expecting people to abstain from sex during times of isolation is unrealistic.

In the current situation, since sex is not a priority as a topic of discussion, misinformation can be easily fostered. People could unwillingly exacerbate the spread of the virus if they do not take the necessary precautions.

So, after washing our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, lets get down to business!

Can the coronavirus be transmitted sexually? The answer is simple: we do not know. At the moment, there is no reliable research, official communication or scientific report from trusted authorities.

Sexual transmission is not the same as contracting the virus from your sexual partner. You can easily contract the virus from an infected sexual partner by activities like kissing just not through sexual transmission. That term is defined as transmission through sexual contact and fluids including vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for WHO the World Health Organization told the New York Times that coronaviruses are not typically sexually transmitted. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are seven types of coronaviruses, all of which typically affect the respiratory tract in humans.

Other infectious disease experts support these observations. But the coronavirus may not be limited to the respiratory tract. There is some evidence that it has been found in the feces of infected patients, although the CDC expects the risk of transmission is low.

The novel coranavirus spreads via droplets that are expelled when infected people exhale, cough or sneeze. Others become infected by inhaling these droplets, or touching them on a surface and then touching their face. Thus, chances of getting the virus through sexual activities with an infected person is almost certain.

Since the virus is present in respiratory secretions, it is easy to assume almost any sexual practice would lead to its transmission due to close contact. This is not the time to have that sexy social gathering.

The executive director of the American adult industry workers coalition, Michelle L. LeBlanc, called for a voluntary shutdown of all adult entertainment productions during the pandemic to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Sexual behaviour is a realm where variety is highly valued. Although it is practically impossible to ask people not to have sex, perhaps we could help by suggesting simple and small experimenting?

Since you can be infected with the virus and not have symptoms, the only reliable way to know if you or your partner are infected is through testing. If you and your partner have no symptoms and have stayed at home, then sex likely poses no risk.

We can contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a few precautions. We can also learn to thrive differently in times of sexual need. Here are a few general recommendations to keep in mind that can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

First and foremost, wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after you do anything.

Think of it as the new foreplay in the time of isolation!

If you think you need a face mask, most likely you dont. Mask use is recommended by WHO only in specific cases. There is evidence that some women in Japan have worn face masks as a way to increase their attractiveness by hiding their faces when not wearing makeup. However, a study of this practice showed that for some, face masks decrease facial attractiveness.

You can further minimize the risk of contagion by using condoms, dental dams or latex gloves. These may not be your cup of tea, but desperate times calls for fun measures.

The acts associated with sexual intimacy can have as many variations and alternatives as the imagination can conceive. Instead of kissing and sexual intercourse, try erotic massage, chat rooms, spooning, mutual masturbation, watching or reading erotica, watching your partner pleasure themselves, etc.

Rimming (mouth to anus) should be out of the picture completely.

Engaging in any form of sexual intercourse involves an unnecessary risk, especially when there is still no vaccine or medicine available to treat or prevent the disease.

Everybody knows we like what we cannot get. Refraining or abstaining from your favourite activities to minimize risk will only make them sweeter at the end, once the storm has passed.

It is essential to stay in tune with your partner, especially if you dont feel well or simply do not want to engage in any sexual activity. For the singles out there, just like some businesses are taking a toll due to the curfew, the dating pool may be hurt, too.

It is definitely not the best time to go on a Tinder date or expose yourself to unnecessary risks from new partners. If they really like you, they will wait. If you already have started engaging with people, keeping track of whom you have been with, where and when, is a good idea. There is no evidence that kissing through a mask is a safe practice.

The novel coronavirus is no joke, and it has already taken thousands of lives around the world and several lives in Canada. We all can do something to prevent the spread and keep those at risk safe.

Read reliable information. Do not panic. Stay indoors for now. Fear, rumours and misinformation spread quickly. Crucially, we need to trust the recommendations of scientists.

With appropriate efforts from our governments, scientists and our fellow humans, along with the right amount of patience, we will overcome this pandemic and hopefully will be able to go back to our regular lives. Maybe then, we can resume our more so-called dirty practices.

Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino, PhD, Behavioural Neuroscience, Concordia University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Love in the Time of Lockdown - Qrius

Neuroscience

Coronavirus: Education beyond the classroom and what to do with school-age kids – Stuff.co.nz

We've all seen the school-at-home schedules as the Covid-19 lockdown came into shape. There is no right or wrong way, so what are the options for parents of school-aged children? Josephine Franks and Warwick Rasmussen report.

Auckland mother Natalie Donaldson has spent the last 17 years homeschooling her five children.

Her children,now aged 13 to 21, are part of the fraction of Kiwi kids less than 1 per cent who are home educated on a normal school day. But when Term 2 officially starts on April 14, the school gates will stay bolted and all of New Zealand's schoolchildren will be learning from home.

SUPPLIED

Nalize Tozioz Browne says when she started homeschooling her son Jesse, 11, she had to realise she was a parent, not a teacher.

For parents juggling video meetings and new home office setups, it's a daunting prospect. Making your kids your first priority could actually play out in favour if you want to get work done, Donaldson said, especially if they are primary aged.

READ MORE:* Coronavirus: How to create a study space for your kids* Coronavirus: Parents urged to use balanced approach to learning as schools shut* Coronavirus: What you need to know about school and uni closures

"The younger they are, the more they just want you to spend time with them." She said parents were better off acknowledging this need and setting aside time in the morning for reading aloud and talking about how the child is feeling and what's planned for the day.

"If you try to do your things first, the children will get more upset.

"You're their safe person in this time and once they're content you'll be more able to do work."

Teenagers needed a different tack to manage their desire for independence with the reality of lockdown. It's helpful to discuss early on how much time they'll have to themselves, how much talking to friends on social media, how much time helping out around the house, Donaldson said.

Making sure they buy-in early on means they're more likely to stick to their responsibilities, she said.

Principal of Auckland's Hobsonville Point Secondary School, Maurie Abraham, said what the next few weeks needed was a "paring back" of expectations all round. His students will have a timetable to follow, but 80-minute blocks of learning will become 40 minutes, projects will be postponed, NCEA assessment put on hold.

Students will have four scheduled sessions each day, where they will log in to Google Classroom to see the work that's been set and go at their own pace. While the internet provided the jumping off point for each session, home learning wasn't just about sitting in front of a screen, Abraham said.

A PE lesson might mean completing fitness challenges around the house, or jogging to the highest nearby point, taking a photo and finding out its altitude.

SUPPLIED

The homeschooling Donaldson family: L-RJohn, Mark, Emily, Bethany, Natalie, James and Jeremy.

Or students might be given an idea for a meal they can plan and cook with whatever is in the pantry, and then be expected to interview family members over dinner. Students will also be journaling, reflecting on news they've consumed, how they can tell it's trustworthy and how they feel, expressing themselves using art, poetry or whatever medium they feel most comfortable with.

Abraham said he was aware of some schools running full face-to-face programmes online, but he was keen to avoid that.

"It's not schooling as normal, just online.

"We've got to stop thinking about how's their maths going, how's their English going, how's their science going?

"We've got to concentrate on wellbeing."

The reality was that some families would find it easier than others to keep learning going at home. For some, the next few weeks might bring job losses, financial trouble or illness, and schoolwork would not be the priority, Abraham said.

AMY BAKER/STUFF

Maurie Abraham, principal of Hobsonville Point Secondary School, says recreating school at home isn't the answer.

But if the lockdown only lasts four weeks, he said the impact on students' learning wouldn't be that great, especially as two weeks of that time was already scheduled holidays.

For parents wanting extra resources for learning at home, the Ministry of Education has launched two websites: Learning from Home and Ki te Ao Mrama. Parents can find activities to do with their children, sorted by age group and year level, including maths games, science experiments and a graphic novel on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Nalize Tozios Browne homeschools her 11-year-old son Jesse, but when they made the transition from mainstream school three years ago, they spent three months "unschooling".

That meant 12 weeks of doing nothing academically. Instead, they chatted and played, and Browne watched her son and got to know how he learns.

It's helpful for parents to see the next few weeks through that lens, she says. She spent those months realigning her expectations, realising she was a parent and not a teacher - even though she had taken on her son's education.

She runs a graphic design and website building business from their Auckland home, and says while it's a challenge balancing the two, it is possible if you're flexible.

Parents shouldn't feel bad if their work takes priority though. "If it's not working out for you to teach your child, let them draw or paint, or discover things in the garden.

"Even if they don't learn anything in a day school-wise, it's not time wasted."

Christchurch-based neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis said while the initial impulse for many parents was to set up a school-like schedule at home for theirchildren it wasn't the priority, especially in the early days of the lockdown.

"The thing they need to focus on is play. The children are really stressed out and the last thing they need is more stress from parents who might teach their children with a 1920s model rather than a 2020 model."

SUPPLIED

Neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis.

He said that could mean rotelearning and scaring children into learning when many are already stressed out.

There is no 'one size fits all' approach. The key was making the learning child-led, rather than enforcing a rigid schedule.

"It might make the parents feel good, butit's not necessarily as important for the children.

"I would focus on play, I would focus on connection, I would focus on self-care."

There were also practical tasks that can be worked on.

"Can these kids make their bed, do they know how to make their own sandwiches?"

Wallis said parents didn't have to choose betweenroutine orfree play as "they are really two sides of the same coin".

It was good for childrento havepredictable parts of the day, such as consistent breakfast and bed times,but a big chunk of the day should be open-ended and free play especially for younger children.

"It's about listening to what your child initiates. If they're putting on their school uniform, and saying, 'have we got a bell' maybe they need that routine and predictability, and I would respond to that.

How parents and families approached the time locked down was crucial, Wallis said.

"If we all expect everybody to go crazy and get cabin fever then that's what will happen. If we all expect to get a much stronger sense of connection, and for us to finally learn to slow down and be present with our loved ones and give them our full attention then that will happen too.

"I think we can frame it positively and think maybe in four weeks we've got much stronger family units who communicate much better because they've had this time to connect and work through things and really be with each other. I think it's an experience that children are going to remember for the rest of their lives."

While this was the ideal scenario, Wallis said that would not be the case for everyone.

"In reality, there will obviously be the whole spectrum. Just coming together and being in an intense space for a family that is already dysfunctional, and then you have restricted the access to alcohol, that's often a dependency. That's a recipe for domestic violence. But I don't think we need to think that way for the whole country. I think the majority of people will in fact get a stronger sense of connection with their family and their loved ones and that will be a positive experience."

The thorny issue of screen time for children during this time was even more prominent.

"I think a practical, sensible approach iswhat the research tells us. Kids shouldhave a clear, predictable two-hour window every day where they'll be device-free. That two-hour period takes the kids out of the risk group of associations with anxiety and depression, where there is a correlation. I don't want parents to interpret that as the kid can be on it for 22 hours a day, I mean within a normal scheduled day, with the kids on and off devices.

Having the lockdown in March and April may be a minor blessing as far as getting outside more, but that didn't matter too much, Wallis said.

"Kids can actually get outside when the weather is complete s..., too. Embrace that. You can still put a jacket on."

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Coronavirus: Education beyond the classroom and what to do with school-age kids - Stuff.co.nz

Anatomy

RuPauls Drag Race Recap: The Girls Are Fighting! – Vulture

OH BOY. After four episodes of queens kindly uplifting each other, this week we have ourselves a good, old-fashioned bitch fight. After receiving barbs left and right all episode long, Aiden Zhane finally snaps, culminating in the best Untucked episode of the season. After a brief eulogy for the gone-too-soon Rock M. Sakura, the girls waste no time telling our resident Hot Topic brand ambassador who they think really should have been in the bottom. While I personally would never say anything mean about Aiden, the girls do not shy away from listing all the reasons she should not be here. She takes naps, she poorly embellishes corsets, and she makes more excuses than Charlie Hides lip-syncing a Britney song. Despite all Aidens shortcomings, however, the judges see star quality in her a star quality that has yet to be revealed to the rest of the queens, or the Drag Race audience for that matter. Where the judges (and Heidi) see a fire in her, the rest of the girls, in the words of Poet Laureate Widow VonDu, see a candle. Which type of combustion reaction best describes Aiden is still TBD, but she lives to see another day, thanks to this weeks acting challenge.

Aiden earns a brief respite from constant scrutiny as Ru tells the girls they will be starring in Gays Anatomy. Oh, the Drag Race acting challenges. I would like to use this opportunity and my public platform to make a plea to the Drag Race producers. Please let me punch up these scripts, I beg of you. Just to pick one example at random, I found myself wishing for any sort of story justification to explain why Dr. Sandra Okurrr had to have sex with her patient to treat her incurable Restless Ass Syndrome. I dont even need money! I will happily accept payment in the form of Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencils and RuPaul Iron Fist shoes. That said, Gays Anatomy is by no means bad (like, for example, Breastworld or Sex and the Kitty Girl 3) and cements itself as one of the better installments into the Drag Race adapted-screenplay canon.

Nicky Doll and Gigi Goode are put in charge of casting (Allison Mossey was not available). While the process is done mostly without incident, it does provide us with another five minutes of dunking on Aiden Zhane. Aiden doesnt really strike me as someone whos going to stand out, Gigi foretells. We cut to Aiden in the middle of a long yawn. Maybe shes about to nap again. They ultimately assign Aiden the role of Henny, explaining, When we were deciding, we were like she could do good as a ghost! *Shade rattle reverberates*

Acting challenges are all about the performances, so lets get to them. While the judges give us a top six on the runway, its clearly a three-way Best Actress race between Jackie Cox, Widow VonDu, and Sherry Pie. Jackie Cox is nuanced and subtle in the titular role of Meredith Gay. She has by far the most lines of the group, which include narrating the entire episode. Jackies a smart one: She understands how to deliver every joke, and her delivery even sells some of the less funny non-sequiturs. An actress! We simply had to stan(islavski). At the beginning of Untucked, Jackie expresses her frustrations with her Pandora Boxxx-esque run thus far, and I understand why! This makes two acting challenges in a row shes lost to Sherry, which cant be fun for a polished perfectionist like Jackie.

Widow is also a standout. Shes initially frustrated with her assigned role, but the part seems tailor-made for her. Shes funny, gives excellent ad-libs, and serves some of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments of the sketch. Widows role is significantly less featured than Jackies or Sherrys, but between her scene-stealing performance and her supercute watermelon cape runway, I think she could have taken the win this week.

Of course, the infamous Sherry Pie continues her streak of strong performances and serves a very smart, polished Elvis look on the runway. At this point, Sherrys Top 4 trajectory seems unstoppable. This week she notches her second main challenge win and shows no sign of weakness or diminishing momentum. Her victory casts an unfortunate shadow over an otherwise fun episode.

Now lets talk bottoms. No, not Ross and Carson; Im of course referring to Nicky, Heidi, and Brita. The writing was on the wall for Nicky this week, and her lackluster performance rightfully locked her into the bottom two. While Nicky clearly understands the critiques shes received, she is consistently unable to let her hair down and show the judges the goofiness they crave, and so this week Nicky Doll sashays away. Well always have Paris. Heres looking at you, queen!

Though she survives the lip-sync, Heidi still got a little forked over this week. Heidi is excellent in the acting challenge. Her physical comedy is on point, and her chemistry with Crystal makes their scene one of the best of the group. However, Michelle insists that she knows Heidi couldve given more. Uta Hagen has spoken! Granted, Heidis rainbow cape runway is definitely a little mismatched, but it feels disingenuous to critique her on a very solid acting performance, especially since they lavish praise on Crystal for the very same scene. A knife (or fork) in the back, indeed!

Finally, my dear Brita. Can you remind me where Brita is from again? I think it was Albuquerque? Toronto? I had to look it up, but apparently Brita is from New York. In New York, Brita Filter is a former Entertainer of the Year. In New York, Brita Filter lights up a Hells Kitchen gay bar with her charm and effervescence alone. But unfortunately, 3,000 miles away in this Los Angeles warehouse studio, Brita is just Brita, and the judges arent buying what shes filtering. Ross wants more, and Michelle says her cape runway isnt quite on-theme enough. I feel for Brita, and anyone whos seen her live can attest to the star quality she exudes on stage. But even I have to admit that the Brita Im watching on TV is not quite as lovable and is acting more than a little cocky. Shes spared from the bottom two this week, but that doesnt stop her from storming into Untucked guns blazing and directing all her ire toward (who else?) Aiden Zhane.

As ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once wrote in his seminal work Analytica Priora, if youre not watching Untucked, youre only getting HALF the story. And never has that been more true than this week. Untucked starts off slow, but when the critiqued girls make their way backstage, shit hits the fan. Brita, you look twisted right now, says Sherry (from out of frame). And indeed she is. In what comes as no surprise, Brita reveals who she really thinks deserves to be in the bottom: Aiden. Nicky and Jaida are quick to agree, but before they can really go in, Aiden interrupts. From day one of this competition, I have had everyone in this goddamn place coming for me. And shes right! What follows is one of the best Untucked fights in a while. Everyone loses their shit: Jaida, Brita, and Nicky because Aiden has been getting a pass from the judges (I cant blame em), Aiden because of the constant needling from her supposed sisters (I cant blame her), and Heidi because she has a goddamn lip-sync to learn and she cant hear the Kim Petras on her iPod over everyone screaming about Aiden. (I cant blame her either!)

In one way or another, everyone is right, and everyones outbursts are coming from a real, raw emotional place, which is what makes this explosion so compelling. I do feel bad for Aiden (who, again, Ive never said a mean word about) but I also fully understand the girls frustrations with her. I cant see her lasting much longer, but I said that last week. So what do I know? Maybe Aiden will nap herself all the way to the crown. This is Drag Race, baby! Anything can happen.

Quotes that left me mouth agape

Aiden: Who gives a shit?Nicky: Us! Because our fucking asses are about to be kicked out! Are you serious?

Nicky went out in a BLAZE this episode. Looking forward to seeing her at the reunion.

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. Imma worry about Heidi Heidi N. Closet

Even when shes mad as hell, you cant not love Heidi. Tell em, queen!

It may not be RuPauls Best Friend Race, but it has to be RuPauls Colleague and Co-worker Race. Jackie Cox

RuPauls Colleague and Coworker Race: premiering this Fall, coming to a Slack channel near you.

Motherfucking Sherry Pie. Widow VonDu

Same, girl.

Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows!

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RuPauls Drag Race Recap: The Girls Are Fighting! - Vulture

Anatomy

Infographic for kids: Anatomy of the coronavirus – Livescience.com

With most U.S. states closing K12 schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children are home, their lives turned upside-down. Lots of questions are likely swirling through their heads, as they wonder when they'll ever get to start playing with friends and stop hearing the constant "Wash your hands!" from caregivers. To help give your children a better understanding of the coronavirus that is causing such havoc, Live Science created this "just for kids" infographic.

We hope parents and teachers can use it to help explain a complex situation, while also teaching kids about the wonders of science.

If asked how this virus gets into a person, you can scroll down to the cartoon characters highlighting the fact that teensy virus globs are tucked inside snot, so when a person sneezes or coughs, that yucky virus-holding snot gets flung across a table, say, and right onto your hand or mouth. Once inside a person, that virus multiplies and can make a person sick.

Another question: Why do we have to stay indoors and not make any play dates? You can explain how the virus spreads with this graphic and also explain why it's so important to "slow" this spread (without using confusing terms). For instance, the phrase "flattening the curve" has been visualized in lots of ways, primarily ways that make adults say "aha!" but not so illustrative for kids. To explain to kids, it's best to show them how doctors can care for only a certain number of people and if that group of sick people gets too big, it's hard for doctors to keep up.

For more kid-friendly information on the coronavirus, check out our "ultimate kids guide to the coronavirus." And here's a round-up of activities and online resources for homebound kids.

Originally published on Live Science.

Originally posted here:
Infographic for kids: Anatomy of the coronavirus - Livescience.com

Anatomy

Anatomy of a cluster: Hereford conference linked to 20 cases – Otago Daily Times

Authorities are busy tracking close contacts linked to theWorld Hereford Conference in Queenstown, which has so far been linked to 20 Covid-19 cases, a number which is expected to grow in coming days.

A joint statement from Ministry of Health, Southern District Health Board and Canterbury District Health Board said 400 people from 18 countries attended the conference and as of earlier this week 840 close contacts linked to the conference had been identified.

The conference, which took place between is one of a small number of New Zealand clusters of Covid-19 cases, which also include one at Marist College in Auckland, a travel group to the United States, a rest home in Hamilton and a wedding in Wellington.

The Ministry of Health tonight updated information about several clusters it has been keeping an eye on.

One is the World Hereford Conference in Queenstown, with two new cases being added to the tally today.

There are now 17 confirmed cases linked to the event, held from March 9-13, and one probable. Another two people from overseas, who had been at the conference, were previously revealed to have tested positive.

The Southern District Health Board believes more cases connected to it will be found.

After attending the conference, some of the 400 participants went on to travel around the South Island as part of a pre-arranged tour. Before the conference some attendees travelled around the North Island.

The conference and cases connected to it are a major reason why the South has more Covid-19 cases per head of population than most other parts of New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health yesterday released statistics from New Zealands Covid-19 cases; with 31, the South ranked fourth behind Auckland (45), Capital and Coast (39) and Waikato (34) among the 20 DHBs.

The majority of the 12 new cases in the South revealed yesterday had some connection to the Hereford Conference.

The SDHB confirmed at least one Covid-19 case attended the Wanaka A&P Show, an event which attracted thousands of visitors, including people from theWorld Hereford Conference.

"We ask anyone who has developed symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 and who attended the Wanaka A&P show (March 13-15) to contact Healthline or their family GP as they may need testing," an SDHB spokeswoman said.

"More Southern DHB Covid-19 cases are expected to be confirmed in coming days as New Zealanders return home from overseas and as a result of exposure at the World Hereford Conference."

In a joint statement from SDHB, the Ministry and theCanterbury District Health Board,provided to the Otago Daily Tmes, the group detailed the magnitude of finding and tracking all contacts linked to the conference.

"This was a significant conference for the rural sector with extensive reach: 400 people from 18 countries attended the event in Queenstown, and a number continued their travel to other parts of New Zealand after it finished

"The first case health authorities were informed about wasn't exhibiting typical symptoms at the time of the conference.

"He returned to Australia where he subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

When alerted to the positive test, organisers contacted public health officials at Southern and Canterbury District Health Boards (where some of the participants had travelled), and based on advice regarding contacts, an initial message was sent to attendees on March 18 alerting them to possible contact with a confirmed case.

"Since then, public health units - along with Healthline and the Minstry's newly established contact tracing unit - have been working to contact trace and follow up on cases and contacts. Figures through to today have identified 840 close contacts, 583 of whom have been tracked.

"The World Hereford Conference is a clear example of the very real need for action by all of us to help stamp out clusters of Covid-19.

"This action includes health authorities acting swiftly and appropriately to provide initial advice and then actively investigating every case they are notified about.

"It also means individuals acting responsibly and in line with the clear public health advice."

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Anatomy of a cluster: Hereford conference linked to 20 cases - Otago Daily Times

Anatomy

These TV shows aren’t finishing their seasons because of coronavirus – USA TODAY

Kevin Bacon calls Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson "very generous and humane" to go public with their positive coronavirus diagosis. (March 23) AP Entertainment

Is there a part of our lives that the coronavirus hasn't disrupted?

The schedules of beloved television programs have also been affected by the pandemic that continues to wreak havoc.

From early finales to delayed endings, here's how some series are shifting plans:

"Grey's Anatomy":Production won't resume on the 16th season of the medical drama, which premiered15 years ago, so the season finale will air April 9 (ABC, 9 ET/PT), with its 21st episode.

"Supernatural": Writer Andrew Dabb shared March 23 via Twitter that that night's episode would "be our last episode for a while," as a result of being shut down. A few more episodes, including the series finale, planned for May, will now air later this year.

"Supernatural" stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have been unable to film the series finale, planned for May but now delayed until later this year.(Photo: JACK ROWAND/CW)

2020 TV premiere dates: When your favorite show returns, and your next one starts

Coronavirus: Our picks for the best entertainment nostalgia to revisit during quarantine

"American Idol":ABC's singing competition will name its top 20 finalists in a final taped episode scheduled for April 5. Live shows are delayed indefinitely while producers explore "multiple options within statewide guidelines," including an audience-free version. Clip shows are planned to fill the gap April 12 and 19.

"The Walking Dead": The series' official Twitter account announced March 24 that the season would wrap April 5, earlier than planned. "The planned finale will appear as a special episode later in the year," the announcement read.

America Ferrera is leaving NBC's "Superstore," but the show's season finale hasn't been filmed. Will there be loose ends to tie up later?(Photo: Ron Batzdorff, NBC)

"Superstore": As a result of NBCUniversal suspending production on about 35 series, production for "Superstore" was halted one episode shy of its full season. It's unclear how (and whether) the show will address the departure of star America Ferrera.NBC declined comment.

"The Resident": The Fox medical drama will now finish its third season with Episode 20 on April 7 (8 EDT/PDT). That's a bit short of the traditional22-episode broadcast-network season.

"Saturday Night Live": The sketch show joined other late-night comedy shows in putting production on hiatus indefinitely. The next original episode, with John Krasinski due to host, had been scheduled for March 28. Additional episodes in early April are also canceled, but no word on plans for three final episodes for the 45th season due to start May 2.

"New Amsterdam": NBC scrapped an episode of the series about a flu pandemic that hit a little too close to home amid the current climate, show creatorDavid Schulner detailed in an essay for Deadline. The drama's second season will end April 14. (Beginning onMarch 31, the program will air at 9 EDT/PDT, while NBC News specials on the COVID-19 pandemic will air at 10). .

"Fargo":After temporarily shutting down production of "Fargo," FX postponedthe scheduled Season 4 premiere date, scheduled for April 19. Physical production on eight of 10 episodes, starringChris Rock, has been completed.FX hopes to broadcast the latest edition of the franchise this year, but it will not air in time to be eligible for the 2020 Emmys.

Chris Rockon changing his humor for 'Fargo' Season 4 and the 'surreal' 'SNL' with Eddie Murphy

Dr. Faucitries to reach young people with Trevor Noah 'Daily Show' coronavirus interview

Contributing:Cydney Henderson,Gary Levin and Bill Keveney

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These TV shows aren't finishing their seasons because of coronavirus - USA TODAY

Anatomy

Former OSU wide receiver to guest star on Greys Anatomy – 247Sports

After spending time on the gridiron at Oklahoma State, former wide receiver Anthony Hill took his talents to Hollywood in pursuit of an acting career. Hill's latest role has him guest starring on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. He will make his first appearance on the show Thursday at 8 p.m. (CT).According to Hill's Twitter account, he will play Winston, a new doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Hill, a native of Springfield, Missouri, has also appeared in Scream: The TV Series,Fuller House, Silicon Valley, Watchmen, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, N.C.I.S. Los Angeles andLooking among other shows.

A graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School in Kansas City, Kansas, Hill arrived at Oklahoma State in 2008after one season at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College. During his senior season in 2010, Hill played in seven games and recordedjust one reception for six yards against in-state rival Tulsa.

Hill, who studied acting while attending Oklahoma State University, saidfootball helped prepare him for the mental aspect of being an actor during an interview with a Stillwater-based radio station in 2015.

"It actually has played hand and hand in preparing me for the mental game that Hollywood can be. Athletic and acting are very comparable and it is actually scary and I didn't realize it until coming out here that when it comes to training and how it flows into performing the two are very similar.

"With football you practice every day, watch video, have weightlifting and conditioning and you are preparing throughout the week to perform on Saturday. A scrimmage in football is a lot like an audition in acting. With acting you take classes throughout the week and participate in workshops and then you read for parts and that is like a scrimmage."

Grey's Anatomy, created and produced by Shonda Rhimes, first aired in 2005 and is currently on its 16th season. It is a drama centered on the personal and professional lives of several surgical interns and their supervisors.The series stars Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T.R. Knight, Patrick Dempsey, James Pickens Jr. among other award-winningactors. Grey's Anatomy has been nominated for more than 25 Primetime Emmy Awards throughout the years. It won People's Choice Award for Best Drama five times, most recently in 2017.

The Oklahoma State football program is entering its 107th season and 16th under current head coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys hold an all-time record of567-520-41with 10 conference championships and one National Championship in 1945. Oklahoma State has finished with a winning record and qualified for a bowl game in 14 straight seasons. The Cowboys finished the 2019 season with an 8-5 record capped off with a loss in the Texas Bowl to Texas A&M.

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Former OSU wide receiver to guest star on Greys Anatomy - 247Sports

Anatomy

Sandra Oh Has Barely Aged Since ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Because Of This At-Home Device – Yahoo Lifestyle

From Women's Health

Audiences first fell in love with Sandra Oh in Greys Anatomy. Thanks to the success of Killing Eve, her fanbase has grown and more accolades have come rolling in (hello, Golden Globe). Despite the high-pressure entertainment industry that sometimes stifled her greatness, shes given "fewer f*cks" (her words) as she's aged. The actress, now 48, feels even more confident than she did in her 20s.

Aging is the greatest, Sandra told InStyle. With its come even more professional success (but you already knew that) and focus on self-love (which you might have not). For Sandra, beauty is twofold: mental and physical, per The New Potato. The mental stuffor, being a compassionate personis something youll have to take up on your own. But, you can adopt the other half of her beauty routine. Sandras mastered the art of caring for whats on the outside with a skincare routine that reflects how good shes feeling on the inside. Now, you can too.

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

Growing up and until my gosh, early-mid 30s, I had terrible, terrible skin, Sandra told TNP. It made me feel ugly and insecure. She was dealing with eczema, asthma, and allergies that caused inflammation all over her face. After her skin started affecting her routine on Greys Anatomy, Sandra turned to an acupuncturist who she still sees today. She changed my life, Sandra added. This was not an overnight thing. I saw her regularlysometimes twice a weekfor two years. After four years, my whole being felt better, from the inside to out. No creams, no inhalers but from a cellular level, my insides have changed, and its reflected on my skin.

Photo credit: Emma McIntyre/BAFTA LA - Getty Images

Now, Sandras product collection isnt for the faint of heart, but her nighttime routine is doablein factit's kind of a biggie. In the evening before bed, Ill clean off my makeup with Neutrogena eye makeup remover (non-oil) then clean with Clarisonic and a gentle cleanser, she told TNP. Makeup remover does the work of breaking down the layer of product her face, while her second cleanser will kick out the dirt and gunk thats built up in her pores throughout the day.

The Clarisonic exfoliator isnt a daily must, but it is an effective tool since it has the power to remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin, brighten your complexion, and help your other products penetrate deeper into your skin, Womens Health previously reported.

Before you discover their magic, serums might sound like woo-woo elixirs that youll spend a pretty penny on to sit unused in your bathroom and collect dust. But theyre actually quite effective. These products contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than moisturizers and creams, for example, Joel Schlessinger, MD, board-certified dermatologist and RealSelf advisor previously told Womens Health. The wide range of serums out there are formulated to treat a ton of skin concerns including wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.

Sandras picks? The entire collection by iS Clinical, including the brand's active serum. Shell occasionally swap that out with the iGlow Illuminating C serum, and the Le Mieux hyaluronic and glycolic serums. I also love Caudalie Resveratrol Serum, she tells TNP.

Sandra will back up her serum-loaded regimen with LightStima light therapy system used to treat the skin. According to Sandras TNP interview, it makes a real difference. And according to the experts, shes right. Devices equipped with red, blue, yellow, and green LED lights treat a number of skin conditions including wrinkles and acne. The light receptors in molecules react to varying frequencies, which is why different colors of light have different skin benefits, NYC dermatologist Howard Sobel, MD, previously told Womens Health.

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Sandra Oh Has Barely Aged Since 'Grey's Anatomy' Because Of This At-Home Device - Yahoo Lifestyle