Pandemic Disrupts

11 Austin South Asian | June 2021 New Tech Paving The Way For Safer In-Store Shopping

When it comes to in-store shopping, new data indicates that consumer confidence is on the rise. Experts attribute the confidence in part to a number of innovative technologies that have transformed the shopping experience.

Indeed, while an April 2020 survey by Sensormatic Solutions found that 79% of consumers were concerned (20%), moderately concerned (30%) or very concerned (29%) about shopping in-store, only 34% of consumers are still concerned in a spring 2021 survey.

“Shopping means many things to many people: a casual in-and-out, a chance for discovery, or just part of a daily routine.

However, during the pandemic, health and safety naturally became a top priority,” says Kim Melvin, global leader of marketing, Sensormatic Solutions by Johnson Controls, a leading retail solutions provider. “To aid in restoring conAs part of its mission to help retailers solve complex challenges

related to consumer confidence, health and safety, Sensormatic Solutions is providing unique insights into some of the top strategies, technologies and practices adopted over the past year in response to COVID-19:

sumer confidence as stores either stayed open or reopened, retailers have found creative ways to provide safer, more comfortable environments for shoppers.”

Pandemic Disrupts Critical Early Childhood Education

While young children have been less vulnerable to COVID-19 health dangers, a new study finds that they’ve been tremendously

impacted by the disruption to preschool activities triggered by the pandemic.

The National Institute for Early Education Research study finds that pre-K participation has tumbled during the pandemic. What’s more it finds that children are spending less time outdoors and on certain key learning activities at home with parents and caregivers, and more time in front of screens.

Education experts say early learning opportunities are critical for young chil dren’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development, as well as their mental health. New resources can help fill the preschool void and make this an enriching time for young children. To learn more, visit www.pncgrowupgreat. com.

While the pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for families with young children, building a love of learning early on can help pave the way for a great future. (StatePoint) and meet customer’s expectations. • A majority of survey respondents (53%) said social distancing monitoring would make them feel more comfortable shopping in-store.

Real-time occupancy tracking technology has helped many businesses successfully manage retail traffic in an effort to achieve safe social distancing.

instituted by businesses of all varieties, making payment faster and less stressful.

• New shopping arrangements, like freestanding stores and openair shopping centers are gaining popularity -- 54% of consumers surveyed shop most frequently for non-essential products at freestanding stores and strip centers, followed by open-air shopping centers (16%), online (14%), enclosed malls (9%) and outlets (7%).

To learn more about the evolving retail industry, as well as how an intelligent operating platform can put retailers in a position of strength to meet customer needs, visit sensormatic.com.

“The retail industry will continue to evolve but one thing is clear for retailers, adopting the latest technologies can provide consumers with more convenience, for an improved, safer shopping experience,” says Melvin. (StatePoint)

• Mask detection is another technology that retailers are using to keep employees and customers safe while adhering to local ordinances and mandates. With 47% of consumers preferring this type of monitoring, it’s also a technology with consumer support.

• Already gaining steam pre-pandemic, self-checkout and contactless payment have been widely

• “Buy Online, Pickup in Store” and curbside pickup have been particularly valuable options amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and many physical retailers continue to offer these services to customers.

Get your vaccine in time for summer!

The practice is convenient and frictionless, offering the same instant gratification as online shopping and is a prime example of how digital transformation is reshaping today’s retail industry.

As more people rely on this type of shopping experience, technology offering up-to-theminute inventory data has supported the change, helping stores successfully fulfill orders

VACCINE CARD

Are you or your family planning a vacation? Austin Public Health encourages anyone traveling to plan ahead and make sure you’re vaccinated.

Schedule your shots in advance, so you'll be fully vaccinated in time for your trip. For the Moderna shot – get your shots at least 6 weeks before your trip

APH has walk-up vaccine sites for the Moderna vaccine for ages 18+ Visit austintexas.gov/covid19-vaccines or call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 for locations and times.

12 Austin South Asian | June 2021 The Dash For PCR Covid-19 Test For Travel

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This means that if you want to ensure that the results are ready before the flight, you probably will have to take the test more than 48 hours before. Additionally, a home printout of the emailed results does not show all the details required by the airline. A traveler will have to dash to the test location for a printout with all details.

Many travelers are rethinking plans. Vacationing within the U.S. seems to be the to-go option, but for those who have no choice but to proceed, the race and dash are part and parcel of the game.

Here are some facts to help you through PCR testing.

The FDA approved PCR test, a COVID-19 test, detects genetic material of the virus using a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to

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At the round dinner table, the evening help would bring the rice dish speckled with pieces of meat and rest it on the Lazy Susan that my brother, sister and I would slowly turn to let the food reach us one by one.

There would be Kachoomar on the side, a Pakistani version of Pico de Gallo, and Chatni ka Raita, a yogurt sauce with a hint of freshly ground cilantro and green peppers.

“Wah, maza he aa gaya,” our dad would say, smiling at my mother, as we would start talking about the daily grind and the homework due the next morning as we separated the “boti” from the bone and used a fork to slide a combination of rice and meat in every bite.

The “cool” people only ate with a fork. They could balance everything in the slender tines, and the “uncool” would use a tablespoon. Acceptable test results for Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways must be in the form of written documentation (paper). Picture shows an example of the PCR Test form.

Mayo Clinic, a fluid sample is collected with a nasal swab or a throat swab, or you may spit into a tube to produce a saliva sample.

Results in Austin usually take 24 to 48 hours. PCR tests are very accurate when properly performed by a health care professional and cannot be substituted for the rapid test in case of international travel.

If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

The Center for Disease Control recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated.

Please check your airline requirements at least three days before departure to avoid being sent home from the airport. Be prepared to follow all these requirements even if you have proof of vaccination. Every lab can have a different form, but the information required on the form will be the same.

The documentation must include:

1. Type of test 2. Entity issuing the result (e.g., laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service) 3. Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 2 days before the flight. 4. Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) 5. Test Result 6. A stamp of the testing authority.

Mutton Pulao From A Pakistani Kitchen – A Conversation Of Thoughts

glances from my siblings, the under-your-breath snicker when some rice fell off into the plate, and a slight nod of awe from my

older brother when the pulao made it to its destination without falling would provide a great stimulus for a wonderful family meal. Mutton with bone 1 pound cut up Mutton ribs ½ pound

Finely sliced onion 1/2 Garlic cloves 2 minced Ginger 2 tablespoons crushed Tomato 1/2 uncut Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon Cloves, black pepper, black cardamon, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf Shaan Punjabi Pulao Mix 2 teaspoon (has salt in it) Grapeseed oil 2 tablespoons

Start with the metal cooking pot of the slow cooker placing it on the stove. 1. Golden brown onions in grapeseed oil. 2. Tarka of Zeera seeds until fragrant 3. Add ginger and garlic. Fry for a bit until fragrant and add the tomato. 4. Now add all the mutton, Shaan masala and other sabut garam masalas. Stir until meat opaque.

Move the cooking pot to the base of the slow cooker. 5. Add 1 ½ cups of boiling water and let it cook on low heat for at least two hours. Check for tenderness.

Once meat is tender, move the cooking pot back to the stove, increase heat, add ¾ cups of washed unsoaked basmati rice.

6. Cook rice on high heat uncovered for ten minutes making sure there is enough water until rice absorbs it and is slightly tender. Add water as needed.

Cover the rice with a wet paper towel, cover and move the cooking pot back to the slow cooker base for “dum,” on low setting for 15 minutes to ½ hour.

My family likes meat, so my meat ratio is on the higher side. My friends say the flavor is great because of this ratio.