Workers whose states denied them unemployment aid during the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to retroactively access benefits back to Feb. 2, 2020, according to a new Labor Department rule issued Thursday. The Department of Labor (DOL) broadened access to the federal pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) established under the CARES Act, and comes in response to a Jan. 22 executive order seeking clarification on who qualifies for it. The DOL rule expands eligibility to certain workers who… Source link
Read More »Google expands health goals with new wellness features for Pixel phones
Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free! GET STARTED What is it? STAT+ is STAT’s premium subscription service for in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis. Our award-winning team covers news on Wall Street, policy developments in Washington, early science breakthroughs and clinical trial results, and health care disruption in Silicon Valley and… Source link
Read More »Google expands into health tracking using smartphone cameras to monitor heart, respiratory rates
Google is stepping up its health-tracking game with a new tool to help consumers monitor key vital signs. And while Google just closed a deal acquiring Fitbit, it says this new product doesn’t need a wearable. Instead, Google Health, the tech giant’s health and wellness division, has added new features to its Google Fit app that enables users to take their pulse just by using their smart phone’s camera. e-book Industry insights for healthcare marketers To build trusted… Source link
Read More »Two ways Fitbit could boost Google’s health ambitions
Google’s newly finalized purchase of Fitbit is poised to provide the tech giant with a potentially lucrative toehold into two competitive markets: clinical trials and employer benefits. The $2.1 billion buyout could give Google an edge in the race to court employers and health plans as companies seek to boost staff benefits amid the pandemic, industry observers told STAT. The acquisition also sets Google up to more closely compete with Apple in the clinical trial space using Fitbit’s… Source link
Read More »Carmelo Anthony not with Blazers due to health and safety protocol
Carmelo Anthony did not travel with the Portland Trail Blazers to Los Angeles on Sunday due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the team announced. Portland is set to take on both the Lakers and the Clippers on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, this week — both games that Anthony will now likely miss. The “health and safety protocols” designation is used throughout the league for players who either have contracted COVID-19 or have come into contact with someone who has tested… Source link
Read More »For the first time, there’s an ‘unprecedented interest from the C-suite’ in mental health
TipRanks 3 “Strong Buy” Stocks That Are Still Undervalued After a year that most of us want to forget, 2021 is shaping up to start with stability and an even keel. The election is safely behind us, the new Biden Administration promises a ‘no drama’ approach, a closely divided and hyper-partisan Congress is unlikely to enact any sweeping legislation, reform or otherwise, and COVID vaccines are ready for distribution. It’s a recipe for a calm news cycle.Which makes it a perfect time to… Source link
Read More »Europe clears Google-Fitbit with a ten-year ban on using health data for ads – TechCrunch
Europe has greenlit Google’s $2.1BN acquisition of fitness wearable maker Fitbit, applying a number of conditions intended to shrink competition concerns over letting it gobble a major cache of health and wellness data following months of regulatory scrutiny of the deal. While Google announced its plan to buy Fitbit over a year ago, it only notified the transaction to the Commission on June 15, 2020 — meaning it’s taken half a year to be given a caveated go-ahead by Europe. It is… Source link
Read More »Boston Children’s first to launch on Google’s health study app
Researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have launched an app-based research project to study the spread of COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses through a partnership with Google. It’s the first project to launch as part of Google Health Studies, an Android app Google launched Wednesday. It’s an effort to make it easier for researchers to recruit volunteers from across the country to participate in medical research, according to Google, by letting… Source link
Read More »Google launches health research app
Google announced Wednesday that it is launching a new research app for Android phones, which would allow anyone with a device to participate in medical studies. The first study run through the app, called Google Health Studies, will look at respiratory illnesses like the flu and COVID-19. Participants in the study will use the app to report any respiratory symptoms, the precautions they’re taking to prevent disease, and whether they’ve been tested for COVID-19 or the flu. The app will… Source link
Read More »Google tackling mental health among staff with ‘resilience training’
Google’s “resilience” lead Lauren Whitt installed a series of tutorials and video content for Google employees experiencing burnout while working through the pandemic. Google Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Google has emphasized employee health, establishing long-term remote work plans and offering periodic days off called “reset” days. Even that hasn’t been enough to deal with the mental stress caused by the virus. “Covid-19 is something we weren’t anticipating or frankly prepared for… Source link
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