South Africa has had to endure frequent blackouts, called "load-shedding", since 2008. This has been caused by its aging, state-owned power grid, and its mainly coal-fuelled power stations, struggling to keep up with demand. To try to help solve the problem, and boost its environmental credentials, the South African government is now continuing with efforts to boost the amount of solar-power generation in the country. To do this it is encouraging firms in the sector to tender for contracts. It currently wants to secure an additional 1,000 megawatts from solar power, enough to provide electricity for approximately one million homes in the country. This is in addition to a desire to boost onshore wind power generation by 1,600 megawatts. Currently only 11% of South Africa's power comes from renewables, and mostly wind. Just 0.9% so far comes from solar, in a country that gets an average eight to 10 hours of sun every day, compared with the UK's four.
Julia Fish, ‘South Africa turns to solar to help stop power cuts’, BBC
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COVID patients breathe large amounts of virus early on - Northwestern Now
It is the first longitudinal, direct measure of the number of SARS-CoV-2 viral copies exhaled per minute over the course of the infection — from the first sign of symptoms until 20 days after.
On day eight, exhaled levels of virus drop steeply, down to near the limit of detection — an average of two copies exhaled per minute.
Northwestern investigators tested breath samples — collected multiple times daily from 44 individuals — over the entire course of infection to determine when a person is most infectious.
...
“The vast majority of research on viral loads over the course of a COVID-19 infection has been based on nasal or oral swabs, which measure virus in the nose or throat,” said lead study author Gregory Lane, senior research project manager in Zelano’s lab. “However, SARS-CoV-2 is spread through breath, and virus on the breath may not match virus in the nose. The dynamics of viral shedding on breath over the course of infection are poorly understood, despite the fact that this is how the virus spreads.”
See also:
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Ask and thou shalt receive ✨❤️ hope you enjoy it!
Our Story - Max Fewtrell
gender neutral first person pov // 912 words // quadrant core being chaotic; just fluff
---
“Wait, Max, are you lying in bed?”
“Yeah? What of it?”
“Lazy sod!”
“Oi! It’s Sunday afternoon, I’m allowed to be lazy!”
The bickering continued next to me. Max was, in fact, lying on his bed with his phone stretched out in front of him, watching his friends faces on the screen. It was always nice when they did social calls - I got a good giggle out of whatever stories the core Quadrant members had to share.
Even though they didn’t know I existed.
My boyfriend looked over from his spot, to see me smiling as I lay next to him and I watched his eyes turn to hearts in front of me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one.
“Max! What are you looking at?” Ria’s voice was heard.
“Nothing.”
“Lies! He’s gone all gooey.” Niran. “Who’s with you?”
“No one, it’s just me.” Max tried to defend himself.
Even though I couldn’t see them, I could imagine the faces of everyone on the call as more chaos ensued.
I couldn’t stop myself: I laughed.
“Oh my god there is something with you!” Lando nearly yelled.
It became impossible to hear anyone clearly for a few seconds as they all spoke over each other. Max’s face scrunched up at all the voices, clearly regretting his life choices.
“Hello random person!”
“Is it someone we know?”
“Let’s see them then!”
Gently, I patted Max’s leg to get his attention and he moved closer.
“It’s ok, you can tell them,” I whispered in his ear.
“Are you sure?” He whispered back.
I nodded, to which Max smiled and got back in front of the camera.
“Ok, ok! All of you shut up!”
The silence came thick and fast.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
~
It had started just like any other day. The sun baked the streets and made buildings glitter as it hit windows far above my head. I had planned my day ahead of time and knew exactly what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go.
And then everything went sideways when I saw him. He was standing by himself on the pavement, a confused expression on his face and a map in his hand. Normally, I would leave tourists to their own devices – there were plenty of places to get help if one needed it. But there was something about him; maybe it was the spark of kindness that I saw in his eyes as he moved out of an elderly man’s way.
“Excuse me?”
He turned, looking as bewildered as I felt by this interaction.
“Do you need some help?” I asked, and watched his entire body relax.
“Yeah. Yes, please. I’m so lost.” He said in a British accent and smiled, almost nervously.
On the map, he pointed out where he was wanted to go and much to his luck, I was going the same way.
“We can walk together,” I suggested. “Make sure that you don’t get lost again.”
“I would very much appreciate that.”
And so, we walked. He told me his name was Max and then I told him mine. He explained to me about how he had wanted to be a normal tourist for the day, get out onto the streets and experience Dubai for himself. And how with that experience had come with getting lost within the first five minutes of leaving his hotel.
Although I felt bad, I was also amused. Max seemed so genuine in his efforts and the way he spoke about things. It didn’t hurt either that he was kind of cute.
-
“When’s your flight landing?”
“It should be 4pm UK time.”
The airport was grand and it seemed that the stream of people moving about never seemed to end. But soon enough I would be in the air and on my way to England, and this would be a memory.
“Ok, send me a message when you land,” Max’s voice was soft through the phone.
“Yes, Max. You’ve already asked me to do that.”
“Sorry, I just want to make sure that I’m there.” He paused. “I’ve really missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. But we’ll see each other soon.”
I looked up and saw the sign change, showing that it was time to board.
“Max, I have to go, we’re boarding.”
“Fly safe, please.”
I laughed a little at that.
“I’m not the one flying the plane.”
“I know but… just… Be safe, I love you.”
~
Max finished telling our story and waited with baited breath.
“You’ve been in a relationship for a year and we didn’t know about it!?” Lando finally said.
“Yeah.”
“Can we meet them?” Steve.
Max seemed hesitant. Despite having told them the whole story, a year of keeping everything on the downlow was about to officially end. I could see that Max didn’t want to give it up just yet.
“Max,” I said quietly. “Give me the phone.”
Slowly, Max passed the phone over as I sat up properly.
“Hello, everyone.”
Yet again that afternoon, chaos erupted as everyone on the call tried to be the first to say ‘hello’ or ask questions.
The smile was on my face without even thinking. I felt Max slip his arm around my shoulders and pull me closer.
“It’s nice to finally meet you all,” I said, though I doubted they could even hear me.
And so I started the next chapter of my story with Max.
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Viral shedding by asymptomatic people may represent a subset of total infections, but uncertainty remains regarding how much they contribute to totals.
Viral shedding may antedate symptoms, usually two days.
Viral titers are highest in the earliest phases of infection, 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms, and then in the first 4-6 days of illness in patients without immunosuppression.
When Is COVID-19 the Most Contagious?
Researchers estimate that people who get infected with COVID-19 can spread it to others 2-3 days before symptoms start and are most contagious 1-2 days before they feel sick.
&
How long after exposure will you test positive for COVID-19?
Depending on which COVID-19 variant you've been exposed to, you may test positive 3-5 days later. If you've been exposed to the virus but don't have any symptoms, wait for 5 days before you get tested. If you test too early and you do have COVID-19, you may falsely test negative.
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