Megs and Harry are soaking up the sun in Los Angeles and, according to those close to the couple, Meghan is starting to feel like her old, pre-royal self.
Ever since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry completed their royal duties more than two weeks ago, the Duchess is starting to feel more like herself again. (By the way, the couple is still referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton, and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel.)
US Weekly reports that ever since the two moved to Los Angeles in March, they’ve been trying to rebrand themselves as something other than “royalty.” Good luck with that.
“They’re very content and happy to finally be all settled in,” an insider tells the magazine. “And of course, Meghan feels more at home too and she’s really starting to feel like herself again.”
Another source tells Us that Harry is “excited for the future” with his growing family. “For Harry, the thing is, he’s always wanted Meghan to be happy, safe, and comfortable. He will go wherever she goes, and he’s made that clear … It’s the next chapter for him, and a breath of fresh air from his former duties.”
Photo by WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images
Us confirmed earlier this month that the royal(ish) pair were getting ready to launch Archewell, a charitable foundation named after their son, Archie, that will focus on emotional wellbeing.
The couple was most recently spotted partnering with Project Angel Food to deliver meals to those in need in West Hollywood — while wearing masks, of course. The organization’s director, Richard Ayoub, told a local paper that, “They wanted to help us relieve some of the drivers from their workload. So they made deliveries in West Hollywood today. It’s really, really amazing. We loved having them and they are the most down-to-earth people.”
In addition to settling into her new normal with Harry, Markle has already accomplished quite the “to do” list. According to Cosmo, she’s narrated the Disney+ movie, Elephants, and has plans to possibly write another cookbook and relaunch her popular lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Just because you’re stuck at home from the coronavirus doesn’t mean you have to be alone this 4/20.
Spend enough time around cannabis enthusiasts, and you’ll quickly learn 4/20 is, by default, a social holiday. It’s been this way from its inception in the early 70s, when a group of California high school teenagers gathered every day by the same statue to share a couple joints. Eventually, someone from that group worked with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh and the tradition spread to the biggest group of hippies any generation has ever known.
Sadly, this 4/20 will not follow tradition. The coronavirus pandemic has isolated us, with shelter-in-place orders prohibiting any meaningful physical social interaction. But that doesn’t mean this 4/20 needs to be lonely. Many cannabis groups have pivoted to hosting virtual events and most don’t cost a thing. We’ve rounded up some notable ones you can participate in on Monday.
Now's your chance to get good at weed. Join us on 4.20 for a workshop/ virtual smoke sesh. We'll be talking & learning & celebrating all things weed. It's free! But all donations will benefit @lastprisonerprj's Covid-19 emergency relief efforts. https://t.co/dscFanr5xU
From the Miss Grass brand comes the Get Good at Weed Summit. You should think of it as a digital smoking session, lunch-and-learn, and wellness workshop rolled into one. Notably, comedian Chelsea Handler will host a segment about how you in fact get good at weed. RSVP is free, though all donations will go to the Last Prisoner Project.
Two of the bigger names in cannabis events, The Emerald Cup and the National Cannabis Festival, join forces to create an online festival benefiting coronavirus relief funds. Melissa Etheridge and the Pharcyde will perform on the livestream, as well as a live taping of the Great Moments in Weed History podcast. Doug Benson will also make an appearance. The festival is backed by well-known advocacy groups like the Drug Policy Alliance and Americans for Safe Access.
Weedmaps will host a similar virtual festival with established musical acts like Wiz Khalifa, Berner, and Billy Ray Cyrus. Comedian Joey “Coco” Diaz will also perform.
“4/20 has not only become a celebration for cannabis enthusiasts around the world, but culturally, it has also served as a reminder for how far we’ve come since the days of prohibition and the continued work that is ahead,” said WeedMaps CMO Juanjo Feijoo. “We’re excited to partner with some of the best in music and entertainment to celebrate the plant and the culture with our community.”
Don’t care about the glitz and glamour? Just want to kick it with some fellow marijuana-loving buddies? This event is for you. International Highlife will invite enthusiasts from all over the world to join in a giant online smoking session hosted on Zoom. “This is the 420 you’ll be telling your grandkids about!” event organizers boasted.
The Centers for Disease Control states that certain guidelines must be met for implementing standards of safety when reusing PPE and masks.
“Disposable filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are not approved for routine decontamination and reuse as standard of care. However, FFR decontamination and reuse may need to be considered as a crisis capacity strategy to ensure continued availability. Based on the limited research available, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide, and moist heat showed the most promise as potential methods to decontaminate FFRs.” – (CDC)
What once was disposable is proving to be healthcare’s greatest weapon against COVID-19. In early April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared an emergency use authorization (EUA) that showcased the potential decontamination and reuse of millions of N95 respirators in the United States. The FDA mandated new guidelines just last week on decontaminating personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks and disposable filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) to help guide healthcare personnel and organizations on sound hygiene and safety best practices.
A study completed by Battelle Memorial Institute from 2014 to 2016 showcased proper protocols when decontaminating N95 masks after a health emergency that was cited by the FDA. In the study head researcher, William Richter shared, “The project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a test approach to evaluate FFR reuse and establish testing methods for future investigation of additional decontamination technologies.” Cited in the current COVID-19 crisis and as a precursor to the EUA, the study laid important groundwork for understanding decontaminating respirators and masks.
Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., FDA Commissioner explained the FDA’s decision, saying, “This authorization will help provide access to millions of respirators so our healthcare workers on the front lines can be better protected and provide the best care to patients with COVID-19.” (Their full Q&A on PPE and safety procedures can be found here.)
The FDA’s newest EUA gives permission to decontaminate Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) using the STERRAD Sterilization Cycles (STERRAD 100S Cycle, STERRAD NX Standard Cycle, or STERRAD 100NX Express Cycle) which can sanitize an average of 480 respirators a day.
Photo by Jonathan J. Castellon via Unsplash
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) — via their partner site, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) — states that certain guidelines must be met for implementing standards of safety when reusing PPE and masks. The CDC advised using caution on reusing respirators as, “there is no way of determining the maximum possible number of safe reuses for an N95 respirator as a generic number to be applied in all cases.”
When it comes to CBD the research is limited, but a small clinical trial at Colorado State University found that CBD oil reduced seizures in epileptic dogs.
Given that we’ve all been staying home lately, it seemed like a good time to talk about our four-legged friends and CBD. In fact, if I think about it, I first saw hemp-derived CBD (Hemp CBD) “in the wild” at my local pet store here in Seattle. Now CBD is so ubiquitous that I hardly notice it sitting on the counter when I pick up dog treats.
That changed when I started looking into Hemp CBD pet products in preparing for a CLE put on by the Seminar Group. Below are five things I learned about Hemp CBD for pet products in preparing for my presentation at CBD Considerations in the Northwest.
1. Many pets, like humans, have an endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a signaling system found in the cells of most mammals, including humans, cats, and dogs. The ECS is essentially a network of receptors in the brain, organs, tissue, glands and nervous system. The ECS is far from fully understood but is believed to promote homeostasis in mammals, keeping internal systems balanced despite external factors. This can include regulating things like appetite and digestion, motor control, sleep, and muscle and bone growth. Endocannabinoids, produced naturally in the body of mammals, are neurotransmitters that act as messengers in the body to communicate with itself.
Endocannabinoids connect to receptors to relay messages within the body. There are two main endocannabinoid receptors:
CB1 receptors – mostly found in the central nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord.
CB2 receptors – mostly found in the peripheral nervous system, which includes cells and organs.
Unlike endocannabinoids which are naturally occurring in mammals, phytocannabinoids are produced by the cannabis plant, as well as other plants. Phytocannabinoids include THC, CBD, CBN, and CBG. THC binds to the CB1 receptors, but the way that CBD interacts with ECS is not fully understood in humans or animals, despite the fact that Epidiolex has been approved as a drug for treating epilepsy.
The impact of phytocannabinoids on the ECS is far from fully understood, whether in humans or animals, but there are some findings on phytocannabinoids and the ECS in dogs. For example, the US government conducted studies and found that dogs have many cannabinoid receptors in their cerebellum, brain stem, and medulla oblongata. This is believed to explain why THC causes static ataxia, an inability to sit still causing shaking and imbalance, in dogs. Remember, sometimes things that are safe for humans are dangerous for animals, including chocolate which is toxic in dogs.
When it comes to CBD the research is limited, but a small clinical trial at Colorado State University found that CBD oil reduced seizures in epileptic dogs meaning that it may have similar effects as found in humans.
2. The FDA regulates pet products and does not approve of the use of Hemp CBD in most scenarios.
Photo by R+R Medicinals via Unsplash
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a position on Hemp CBD in pet products that is very similar to its position on Hemp CBD in food. CBD products intended to have a therapeutic benefit or intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease are drugs under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA has sent warning letters to manufacturers of Hemp CBD pet products who made such claims. There is no equivalent to dietary supplements for animals, so structure-function claims about Hemp CBD also can classify pet products as drugs.
New animal drugs are subject to pre-market approval. The FDA requires that sponsors of new drugs establish that the drug is safe and effective. At this time the FDA has not approved any drugs for animals.
Similarly, animal food products are also subject to pre-market approval. Food must be approved for specific species. The FDA has not approved the use of CBD in animal food either.
The FDA regulates pet food labeling but has a powerful partner. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes model labeling regulations which are in turn implemented by many states. AAFCO is a non-profit, non-governmental agency that doesn’t have actual regulatory authority over pet food. Instead, it is an important advisory body that works with the FDA. AAFCO members include state agencies, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Candian Food Inspection Agency.
3. AAFCO says that “hemp and hemp products may not be used in animal feed or pet food in the United States.”
According to a statement released by AAFCO in 2019, “hemp and hemp products may not be used in animal feed or pet food in the United States.” AAFCO reasons that although private companies are working on applications to determine that pet food is safe, those applications have not been approved.
4. Some states follow the FDA and AAFCO (like Washington) while others are more lenient.
Could Treating Dogs With CBD Save Their Lives?
To really understand the power of AAFCO in regulating animal food, look no further than Colorado. Colorado was one of the first states to embrace hemp and has passed legislation that allows Hemp CBD to be added to man food and dietary supplements, so long as those products are prepared in licensed food handling facilities. But things are different when it comes to pet food.
According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s website, the same is not true for animal feed:
“Currently, CDA does not approve registration applications for commercial feed products that contain industrial hemp since it is not an approved ingredient recognized by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO, an organization of state agriculture departments from all 50 states) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine. CDA’s decision not to approve these products complies with AAFCO’s position on industrial hemp as well as the positions of other state agriculture departments. Products in the Colorado marketplace containing unapproved ingredients can be subject to Withdrawal from Distribution Orders.”
But not every state follows AAFCO. For example, Florida allows for hemp extract in animal feed.
5. Pets have been a major factor in the changing attitudes of Hemp CBD.
One of the first states to strongly regulate the sale of Hemp CBD products was Indiana. Back in 2018, I wrote about how Indiana had passed comprehensive legislation on labeling and manufacturing Hemp CBD products. Since then, many other states, including Utah and Texas have adopted similar labeling standards, making Indiana a leader in Hemp CBD policy. That’s in large part thanks to Indiana dog and CBD user Teddy McDermott.
A few months before Indiana’s Governor Eric Holcolmb signed Indiana’s CBD legislation, he got involved in a public dispute regarding CBD products and pets. This started when Hammond, Indiana’s mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. publicly stated that he would be giving his aging dog Teddy, CBD. McDermott did this in defiance of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s statement that CBD products were illegal in Indiana. Gov. Holcomb joined the Fido-based fray when he told the Times of Northwest Indiana that he was open to treating Indiana’s “first dog” Henry with CBD oil if it could relieve the miniature schnauzer’s pain.
Perhaps Governor Holcomb did his research in treating Henry with CBD but I like to think it had to do with McDermott’s dog Teddy and his Twitter feud with AG Hill. Don’t worry, I have receipts:
Is this how Indiana’s Attorney General (@AGCurtisHill) wants to see me dressed? All because @tommcdermottjr gets me CBD Oil for medicinal purposes?
Dogs like Teddy helped normalize CBD in conservative states like Indiana. Hemp CBD pet products exist in a legal gray area but in most cases appear generally to be safe. However, stakeholders still need to establish the safety of these products with AAFCO and the FDA. Remember, what is safe for you may not be safe for your pet, so proceed with caution when giving your pets Hemp CBD.
Podcasts about love and sex are like the 3D version of reading a love and sex column. Here are 5 of our favorites you can listen to right now.
While a sex and advice columns are not things you normally associate with podcasts and radio programs, there are tons of them and they are very beloved by many. And while it might sound crazy to listen to someone else’s sex stories, if you’re alone and in quarantine, this might make the experience even more titillating.
Quarantine or not, podcasts focused on love and relationships work really well, functioning as if you were having an intimate conversation with a friend, only they’re the ones doing all of the talking and handing down the knowledge.
Whether these people are giving out therapist-like advice, telling you their most personal and embarrassing stories, or simply traveling the world and talking about sex when people were allowed to do these kinds of things, these podcasts are a good time. They might also teach you a thing or two about sex, cultures and relationships.
Here are the 5 must listen podcasts about love and sex.
Hosted by Courtney Kocak & Sofiya Alexandra, Private Parts Unknown is a travel podcast that discusses the different ways in which people interact with sex and gender throughout different countries. The conversations are funny and always enlightening, explaining why countries and their people are the way the are. I think we could also use any stories that involve travel right now.
Nicole Byer is a hilarious person, and her podcast is no different. Interviewing different guests that range from celebrities to experts, Why Don’t You Date Me? establishes intimate conversations that touch upon a little bit of everything. Queer relationships, STIs, single living, and bad hook-ups all have a spot on this podcast.
U Up? is a podcast hosted by Jordana Abraham, co-founder of Betches, and comedian Jared Fried. They discuss about all things modern dating, from wild sexual encounters to labeling relationships. It’s a good listen for anyone’s who’s young and single or anyone’s who’s curious about Tinder culture.
LoveLink is what you’d expect when you mention a traditional sex podcast: a program that features two hosts that are actually therapists and interview experts from all sorts of backgrounds, always with love and sex at the forefront.
Classroom Crush has a delightful idea at it’s core: one funny host who invites individuals on her show with the sole purpose of revealing their most embarrassing and life-impacting childhood crushes. Who doesn’t want to listen to that? It’s a million dollar idea.
A county judge ruled that Gov. Baker’s decision to close recreational stores was “constitutional,” while his former mentor called the move an “economic death sentence.”
Last month, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker forced the closure of all recreational marijuana shops in the state to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. It is the only state that has prohibited recreational sales during the pandemic, though Baker believes leaving stores open would attract out-of-state visitors.
Recreational marijuana stores sued Baker in response, citing the irreparable financial damage such a closure will cause. Massachusetts marijuana stores lose $2 million in sales every day they’re not in business, according to Marijuana Business Daily. Stores argued that Baker allowing liquor stores to remain open but closing recreational stores was an arbitrary decision.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez agreed with the opinion. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger did not, however. The judge instead ruled in favor of Baker, leaving state marijuana stores wondering when they will reopen.
“It was reasonable for the governor to be concerned that the relatively few adult-use marijuana establishments in Massachusetts are more likely than liquor stores or [medical marijuana treatment centers] to attract high volumes of customers, including people traveling from other states,” Salinger wrote. “The governor’s decision to treat medical marijuana facilities and liquor stores differently than adult-use marijuana establishments has a rational basis and therefore is constitutional.”
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who is a mentor of Baker’s, spoke out against the decision to keep recreational marijuana stores closed. He described the decision as an “economic death sentence” in Commonwealth Magazine this week.
Photo by Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance
“This has been widely—and correctly—viewed as a matter of social equity and economic justice,” Weld wrote. “Many such entrepreneurs borrowed money and risked all they had to open in the adult use market, which is just now starting to bear fruit. They could be wiped out if they are forced to remain closed — the exact opposite of what the law, and the cannabis commission, intended.”
Though Baker’s order allows medical dispensaries to remain open as an “essential business,” his decision stands in stark contrast to those in other legal states across the country.
“Of the 11 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized adult-use cannabis, only Massachusetts has imposed this economic death sentence on small and previously disadvantaged business owners,” Weld wrote. “In the other states, three let storefronts remain open, two are permitting deliveries, four are allowing both open storefronts and deliveries, and two have not yet launched recreational programs.”
While the FDA is now backtracking its initial statement, ingesting combustible smoke could lead to more serious symptoms from coronavirus.
Just three weeks ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced vaping or smoking could increase risk to contracting the novel coronavirus. Health officials followed their lead and warned smoking or vaping would compromise the lungs and immune system, compounding susceptibility to COVID-19.
The FDA is now walking back its initial statement. The agency states no data links smoking or vaping to increasing your risk of coronavirus infection. However, the FDA maintains the public stance that this behavior will lead to worse symptoms.
“E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of COVID-19 is not known,” an FDA spokesperson emailed Bloomberg Wednesday.
The agency also altered its stance on cigarette smoke from previous public statements. As preliminary studies from China have shown, serious COVID-19 infections were more than twice as likely in patients who smoked versus those that didn’t.
“Cigarette smoking causes heart and lung diseases, suppresses the immune system, and increases the risk of respiratory infections,” FDA spokeswoman Alison Hunt said. “People who smoke cigarettes may be at increased risk from COVID-19, and may have worse outcomes from COVID-19.”
Photo by Andres Siimon via Unsplash
U.S. organizations have been left searching for answers, as rates of young coronavirus patients in America exceed those seen in China. Health officials have pointed to vaping trends in the U.S. as a possible culprit. Marijuana advocacy group NORML also advised marijuana users to refrain from ingesting combustible smoke when possible, suggesting the use of alternative cannabis delivery methods instead.
Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, wrote in a recent blog post that those suffering from substance abuse disorders could be higher risk from the coronavirus. She added that because the infection “attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape. “
Virtual dates are becoming increasingly popular now that we’re all in lockdown. Here’s what you can do to make them a little more normal.
Virtual dates are pretty much the only option for single people right now who still want to date. Having coffee six-feet away from someone just doesn’t sound very romantic. Although they make for an awkward experience, especially when it comes to first dates, getting to know someone through Zoom or FaceTime is pretty much the only way we can get to see someone up close during this crisis climate.
Here’s what you can do to make the most of your virtual date:
Make an effort
Sadly, just because you’re in quarantine and haven’t worn pants in weeks doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to look nice for your date. Take a shower and put on some nice clothes, that way you feel more prepared and comfortable for the occasion. The more effort you put into your date, the more normal you’ll end up feeling.
Before your date, find a comfortable position for your cellphone or laptop. If you’re using your laptop you’ll be way more comfortable since you can set it somewhere and don’t have to worry about it falling. Just keep your phone out of the way and try to listen to whatever your date is saying. If you’re using your phone, you can try propping it up against something stable. Fix your room a bit and make sure to have a light on that’s flattering.
Avoid talking about coronavirus the entire call
It’s difficult to avoid talking about the coronavirus but you should still make an effort and use this date as an opportunity for escape and for having a “normal” conversation with another person. Touch base on the standard coronavirus topics and then move on to other things, such as the person’s life experiences, work, and all the regular stuff people ask on first dates.
While it might be awkward to eat something as if you were on a real date, you can try having a drink or something that can provide some sort of distraction. You can also use an app like HouseParty, which has trivia games you can play.
It’s okay if it’s weird
Awkwardness is expected on a first date, whether it’s in person or through a computer screen, so cut your expectations. Don’t worry if it’s weird and don’t overthink things if the conversation gets stilted or if your phone loses service. If you have a bad virtual date, don’t stress about it and move on. Keep trying until and you’ll get more comfortable with it. The silver lining in all of this is that if you’re having a sucky time with your date, you can just abruptly end your date and blame it on internet connection.
Making your own cannagars not only saves money, it allows you to get as creative as you want by adding your favorite strains, wraps, and concentrates.
For those cannabis connoisseurs who like a big smoke with a sophisticated flair, consider the cannagar. Its predecessor the Thai Stick originated in Thailand and was the ultimate cannabis blunt. Thai Sticks became really popular in the U.S. during the 60s and 70s where U.S. troops brought the knowledge back with them from the Vietnam War. But it faded out within a decade as the war on drugs escalated.
A cannagar is a cannabis cigar that is smoked more like a cigar than a joint. Use a cigar cutter to trim the end before lighting up. According to Sidney Quitorio, Founder and CEO at Purple Rose Supply, “A cannagar pulls so much easier and burns hotter due to the hole for airflow, which is why you’d want to puff on it like a cigar rather than a joint. Set aside a couple of hours to enjoy the long burn time.”
In Quitorio’s estimation, a major plus of smoking a cannagar versus a preroll is the burn time. “Due to the compressed cannabis, cannagars can smoke for hours. It also hits a lot smoother because you create a hole for airflow.”
Making your own cannagars not only saves money, it allows you to get as creative as you want by adding your favorite strains, wraps, and concentrates. However, the process for making cannagars by hand requires patience, and it can become a very tedious process if you’re making it without a cannagar mold. Using a cannagar mold will save you time and money and you’ll have a cannagar made within minutes. Quitorio offers these suggestions for those looking to purchase a cannagar mold.
Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images
You can tell a cannagar mold is not good quality if it doesn’t feel durable (there are some that use a 3D printer and those can break pretty easily). The best cannagar molds will make your life simpler by having a few steps and making it as easy as possible. They’ll also come as a kit and include just about everything you need to create your first cannagar.
A major challenge to smoking cannagars is that the pre-made cannagars available at dispensaries tend to be on the pricey side. Prior to paying for this premium product, research who produced this cannagar and which cultivator’s flower went in it. Also, Quitorio observes, “Some pre-made cannagars can be dressed in terpenes to make it taste good, but the flower could be trim/shake, so it’s difficult to know for sure unless you’re making it yourself.”
Quarantine has made people more vocal about their loneliness. And they’re not afraid to show (and tell) it.
Many are spending their time in quarantine alone, working from home, cooking, watching tons of TV and cycling through different moods. And one of the most prominent moods is horniness, which is only made worse by the fact that social distancing guidelines are set for an indeterminate amount of time.
Terms like “nudes,” “dick picks” and “coronavirus” were tweeted about more often, increasing 384% from March to April, according to data from Khoros. The peach emoji was used 46% more and experts predict a rise in its use, along with the eggplant emoji, as the month progresses.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller from the Kinsey Institute told Mashable that one in five people (of about 1,200 surveyed) reported that they’ve incorporated something new into their sex lives since the pandemic began, mainly sexting and sending nudes pics.
But these virtual behaviors aren’t indicative of what people are experiencing in their real lives. Lehmiller said that initial data from a new study he and his team are working on suggests that people are less sexually active now, with some even limiting masturbation since the pandemic started.
“There are different things happening for different people,” said Lehmiller, “with some people just being too stressed and anxious to even feel sexual desire, but others who may be coping with stress and anxiety by increasing their sexual behavior.”
Photo by kulinetto via Pixabay
Even people who are quarantined with their significant other(s) might be experiencing less sex as a sign of stress.
When asked about the likelihood of there being a COVID-19 baby boom, the New York Times said it was highly unlikely. “Less sex as a result of stress — economic uncertainty, illness, you name it — and the reduced availability of sexual partners. That one may sound familiar, and thus, a baby boom toward the end of 2020 or in early 2021 seems unlikely.”
While people may go through different moods and use social media to talk about their loneliness more openly than before, it’s likely that the stress of the pandemic is leaving an imprint in their lives, one that might not be noticeable until some time has passed and there’s hindsight.
