scholarly journals The autumnal lockdown was not the main initiator of the decrease in SARS-CoV-2 circulation in France

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Pereda-Loth ◽  
Aldair Martínez Pineda ◽  
Lenka Tisseyre ◽  
Monique Courtade-Saidi ◽  
Christophe Bousquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Health State ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Collateral Effects ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Period

Abstract Background In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, governments have taken drastically restrictive public health measures with significant collateral effects. It is important to understand the impact of these measures on SARS-CoV-2 circulation. However, pandemic indicators lag behind the actual level of viral circulation and these delays are an obstacle to assessing the effectiveness of policy decisions. Here, we propose one way to solve this problem by synchronizing the indicators with viral circulation in a country (France) based on a landmark event. Methods Based on a first lockdown, we measured the time lag between the peak of governmental and non-governmental surveillance indicators and the highest level of virus circulation. This allowed alignment of all surveillance indicators with viral circulation during the second period of the epidemic, overlaid with the type of public health measures implemented. Results We show that the second peak in viral circulation in France happened ~21 October 2020, during the public health state of emergency but before the lockdown (31 October). Indicators also suggest that viral circulation decreased earlier in locations where curfews were implemented. Indicators did, however, begin to rise once the autumnal lockdown was lifted and the state of emergency resumed. Conclusions Overall, these results suggest that in France, the 2020 autumnal lockdown was not the main initiator of the decrease in SARS-CoV-2 circulation and curfews were important in achieving control of the transmission. Less-restrictive measures may need to be balanced with more-stringent measures to achieve desirable public health outcomes over time.

scholarly journals Investigating the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine using epidemiological and genomic sequencing data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Gankin ◽  
Vladimir Koniukhovskii ◽  
Alina Nemira ◽  
Gerardo Chowell ◽  
Thomas A. Weppelmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Viral Population ◽  
Genomic Sequencing ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Population Number ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China in December 2019 and has rapidly spread around the globe. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020 just three months after the introduction of the virus. Individual nations have implemented and enforced with varying degrees of success a variety of social distancing interventions to slow the virus spread. Investigating the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 transmission in different settings is an important research. While most transmission modeling studies have focused on the dynamics in China, neighboring Asian counties, Western Europe, and North America, there is a scarcity of studies for Eastern Europe. This study starts to fill this gap by analyzing the characteristics of the first epidemic wave in Ukraine using mathematical and statistical models together with epidemiological and genomic sequencing data. Using an agent-based model, the trajectory of the first wave in terms of cases and deaths and explore the impact of quarantine strategies via simulation studies have been characterized. The implemented stochastic model for epidemic counts suggests, that even a small delay of weeks could have increased the number of cases by up to 50%, with the potential to overwhelm hospital systems. The genomic data analysis suggests that there have been multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Ukraine during the early stages of the epidemic with eight distinct transmission clusters identified. The basic reproduction number for the epidemic has been estimated independently both from case counts data and from genomic data. The findings support the hypothesis that, the public health measures did not have a decreasing effect on the existing viral population number at the time of implementation, since strains were detected after the quarantine date. However, the public health measures did help to prevent the appearance of new (and potentially more virulent) SARS-CoV-2 variants in Ukraine.

scholarly journals The Effect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Mitigation Strategies on Seasonal Respiratory Viruses: A Tale of 2 Large Metropolitan Centers in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C Sherman ◽  
Ahmed Babiker ◽  
Andrew J Sieben ◽  
Alexander Pyden ◽  
James Steinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
The United States ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Impact

Abstract To assess the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on seasonal respiratory viruses, absolute case counts and viral reproductive rates from 2019–2020 were compared against previous seasons. Our findings suggest that the public health measures implemented to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission significantly reduced the transmission of other respiratory viruses.

scholarly journals Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Seasonal Respiratory Viruses: A Tale of Two Large Metropolitan Centers in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Sherman ◽  
Ahmed Babiker ◽  
Andrew J. Sieben ◽  
Alexander Pyden ◽  
James Steinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTo assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on seasonal respiratory viruses, absolute case counts and viral reproductive rates from 2019-2020 were compared against previous seasons. Our findings suggest that the public health measures implemented to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission significantly reduced the transmission of other respiratory viruses.

scholarly journals Restrictions of Fundamental Rights in Private Law Relations in the Special Legal Order, with Exceptional Regard to the Specific Circumstances Caused by the Epidemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-86
Author(s):  
Tatjana Josipović
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Legal Order ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Private Law ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
The Impact

In this text, the author analyses the intervention measures within the realm of private law relations that were aimed at alleviating or possibly also eliminating the consequences of the serious epidemic.  The author presents and analyses the measures introduced in Croatian law to protect private law entities in their private law relations affected by the consequences of the pandemic and the public health measures. The author’s focus is on the impact of these measures on the protection and restriction of fundamental rights in private law relations to establish whether they met all the necessary requirements when allowing for such restrictions of fundamental rights in private law relations. The aim of this paper is to consider the criteria for the assessment and proportionality of these measures which in private law relations restrict people’s fundamental rights while being imposed to protect people’s health in a serious epidemic.

scholarly journals Reduced Dengue Incidence During COVID-19 Restrictions in Sri Lanka From March 2020 to April 2021

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinnathamby Noble Surendran ◽  
Ratnarajah Nagulan ◽  
Kokila Sivabalakrishnan ◽  
Sivasingham Arthiyan ◽  
Annathurai Tharshan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Tropical Islands ◽  
Sarima Model ◽  
Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BackgroundDengue is a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. COVID-19 in Sri Lanka was first detected in January 2020, and has continued to be prevalent in the country since that time. The impact of public health measures imposed to restrict COVID-19 transmission on the incidence of dengue throughout the island and particularly its northern Jaffna district in the period March 2020 to April 2021 was determined.MethodsThe incidence of dengue and COVID-19, rainfall and the public health measures implemented to contain COVID-19 transmission for each district in Sri Lanka were obtained from Government sources. The Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model was used to predict the dengue incidence expected in March 2020 to April 2021, based on pre-pandemic data and this was compared with the actual reported incidence of dengue during the period of COVID-19 restrictions. Ovitrap collections of Aedes larvae were also carried out in the Gurunagar ward of Jaffna city in the Jaffna district during the 2020 and 2021 lockdown and the findings compared with data from 2019.ResultsThe reported number of dengue cases for the whole country from March 2020 to April 2021 was significantly lower than the numbers of dengue cases predicted from the five years immediately preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-2019). Decreased numbers of dengue cases were reported compared to predicted numbers of cases in all 25 administrative districts in the country including the Jaffna district. Aedes larval numbers collected from ovitraps in the Gurunagar ward in Jaffna city during the COVID-19 lockdown period were decreased, with significantly lower proportions of Ae. aegypti than Ae. albopictus, compared with 2019. ConclusionPublic health measures that restricted movement of people, closed schools, universities and offices in order to contain COVID-19 transmission unexpectedly led to a marked reduction in the incidence of dengue in Sri Lanka, in contrast to Singapore. The differences between the two tropical islands have significant implications for the epidemiology of dengue.

scholarly journals Freedom of Worship during a Public Health State of Emergency in France

Laws ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Anne Fornerod
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health State ◽  
State Council ◽  
Fundamental Freedom ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
The Impact

This paper analyses three key decisions issued by the French State Council in 2020 following emergency proceedings concerning the impact of pandemic-related measures on the freedom of worship. The Council interestingly recalls that the freedom of worship is a fundamental freedom, but shows, too, how it is influenced by circumstances when determining whether the measures limiting the freedom to practice one’s religion are proportionate to the goal of protecting public health.

scholarly journals Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and virtual care for people living with dementia and care partners living in the community

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Roach ◽  
A Zwiers ◽  
E Cox ◽  
K Fischer ◽  
A Charlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
Informal Supports ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated public health measures that have impacted the provision of care for people living with dementia and their families. Additionally, the isolation that results from social distancing may be harming well-being for families, as formal and informal supports become less accessible. For those with living with dementia and experiencing agitation, social distancing may be even harder to maintain, or social distancing could potentially aggravate dementia-related neuropsychiatric symptoms. To understand the lived experience of social and physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada we remotely interviewed 21 participants who normally attend a dementia specialty clinic in Calgary, Alberta, during a period where essential businesses were closed and healthcare had abruptly transitioned to telemedicine. The impacts of the public health measures in response to the pandemic emerged in three main categories of experience: 1) personal; 2) health services; and 3) health status (of both person living with dementia and care partner). This in-depth understanding of the needs and experiences of the pandemic for people living with dementia suggests that innovative means are urgently needed to facilitate provision of remote medicine and also social interaction and integration.

scholarly journals Green Deal as a Climate Changes Dam on the Road to Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Road ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in Southeast Asia: Implications for workers and unions

2021 ◽  
pp. 002218562110000
Author(s):  
Michele Ford ◽  
Kristy Ward
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
First Year ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Market Effects ◽  
Export Orientation ◽  
Health Measures

The labour market effects in Southeast Asia of the COVID-19 pandemic have attracted considerable analysis from both scholars and practitioners. However, much less attention has been paid to the pandemic’s impact on legal protections for workers’ and unions’ rights, or to what might account for divergent outcomes in this respect in economies that share many characteristics, including a strong export orientation in labour-intensive industries and weak industrial relations institutions. Having described the public health measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam, this article analyses governments’ employment-related responses and their impact on workers and unions in the first year of the pandemic. Based on this analysis, we conclude that the disruption caused to these countries’ economies, and societies, served to reproduce existing patterns of state–labour relations rather than overturning them.

scholarly journals Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Following COVID-19 Public Health Measures on People Living With Dementia and Carers

2021 ◽  
pp. 089198872199681
Author(s):  
Kerry Hanna ◽  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Hilary Tetlow ◽  
Kym Ward ◽  
Justine Shenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Social Support Services ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Background: To date, there appears to be no evidence on the longer-term impacts caused by COVID-19 and its related public health restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our societies. The aim of this research was to explore the change in impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the mental wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers. Method: Semi-structured, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with PLWD and unpaid carers between June and July 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences of accessing social support services during the pandemic, and the impact of restrictions on their daily lives. Results: 20 interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed, which produced 3 primary themes concerning emotional responses and impact to mental health and wellbeing during the course of the pandemic: 1) Impact on mental health during lockdown, 2) Changes to mental health following easing of public health, and 3) The long-term effect of public health measures. Conclusions: The findings from this research shed light on the longer-term psychological impacts of the UK Government’s public health measures on PLWD and their carers. The loss of social support services was key in impacting this cohort mentally and emotionally, displaying a need for better psychological support, for both carers and PLWD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document