scholarly journals Outbreak dynamics of COVID-19 in Europe and the effect of travel restrictions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Linka ◽  
Mathias Peirlinck ◽  
Francisco Sahli Costabal ◽  
Ellen Kuhl
Keyword(s):  
Mobility Model ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Global Network ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Network Mobility ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Network Epidemiology ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Diffusion Pattern ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTFor the first time in history, on March 17,2020, the European Union closed all its external borders to contain the spreading of the coronavirus 2019, COVID-19. Throughout two past months, governments around the world have implemented massive travel restrictions and border control to mitigate the outbreak of this global pandemic. However, the precise effects of travel restrictions on the outbreak dynamics of COVID-19 remain unknown. Here we combine a global network mobility model with a local epidemiology model to simulate and predict the outbreak dynamics and outbreak control of COVID-19 across Europe. We correlate our mobility model to passenger air travel statistics and calibrate our epidemiology model using the number of reported COVID-19 cases for each country. Our simulations show that mobility networks of air travel can predict the emerging global diffusion pattern of a pandemic at the early stages of the outbreak. Our results suggest that an unconstrained mobility would have significantly accelerated the spreading of COVID-19, especially in Central Europe, Spain, and France. Ultimately, our network epidemiology model can inform political decision making and help identify exit strategies from current travel restrictions and total lockdown.

scholarly journals Analysis of Strategies Implemented by AirAsia to Cater to the Covid-19 Effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-67
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar Nair ◽  
Varsha Ganatra ◽  
Karishma Kaur ◽  
Daisy Mui Hung Kee ◽  
Wan Teng Khoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Travel Demand ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Annual Loss ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Air Travel Demand ◽  
Border Controls

During the global pandemic, AirAsia reported an annual loss of RM5.9 billion ($1.4 billion) in 2020. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 outbreak, travel restrictions, and border controls had led to weaker air travel demand, which had impacted AirAsia’s operation badly. This paper depicts how Covid-19 impacted AirAsia and the strategies implemented by AirAsia during the pandemic in the marketing aspects. This paper also focuses on how AirAsia can anticipate a strong recovery in the airline industry while expanding to other industries. In extreme and under pressure circumstances, AirAsia implemented many strategies to cater to the effects of Covid-19. However, other strategies, such as focusing on their business in the food industry, should be expanded throughout Malaysia.

scholarly journals Is it safe to lift COVID-19 travel bans? The Newfoundland story.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Linka ◽  
Proton Rahman ◽  
Alain Goriely ◽  
Ellen Kuhl
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Newfoundland And Labrador ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Political Decision ◽  
Canadian Province ◽  
Network Epidemiology ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Political Decision Making

A key strategy to prevent a local outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic is to restrict incoming travel. Once a region has successfully contained the disease, it becomes critical to decide when and how to reopen the borders. Here we explore the impact of border reopening for the example of Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province that has enjoyed no new cases since late April, 2020. We combine a network epidemiology model with machine learning to infer parameters and predict the COVID-19 dynamics upon partial and total airport reopening, with perfect and imperfect quarantine conditions. Our study suggests that upon full reopening, every other day, a new COVID-19 case would enter the province. Under the current conditions, banning air travel from outside Canada is more efficient in managing the pandemic than fully reopening and quarantining 95% of the incoming population. Our study provides quantitative insights of the efficacy of travel restrictions and can inform political decision making in the controversy of reopening.

Feasibility and Evaluation of Automated Methods for Radiolabeling of Radiopharmaceutical Kits with Gallium-68

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alban Revy ◽  
François Hallouard ◽  
Sandrine Joyeux-Klamber ◽  
Andrea Skanjeti ◽  
Catherine Rioufol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The European Union ◽  
Preparation Time ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Manual Method ◽  
Personnel Costs ◽  
Automated Method ◽  
Gallium 68 ◽  
The Right ◽  
First Time ◽  
Automated Methods

Objective: Recent gallium-68 labeled peptides are of increasing interest in PET imaging in nuclear medicine. Somakit TOC® is a radiopharmaceutical kit registered in the European Union for the preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC used for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. Development of a labeling process using a synthesizer is particularly interesting for the quality and reproducibility of the final product although only manual processes are described in the Summary of Product (SmPC) of the registered product. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the feasibility and value of using an automated synthesizer for the preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC according to the SmPC of the Somakit TOC®. Methods: Three methods of preparation were compared; each followed the SmPC of the Somakit TOC®. Over time, overheads, and overexposure were evaluated for each method. Results: Mean±SD preparation time was 26.2±0.3 minutes for the manual method, 28±0.5 minutes for the semi-automated, and 40.3±0.2 minutes for the automated method. Overcost of the semi-automated method is 0.25€ per preparation for consumables and from 0.58€ to 0.92€ for personnel costs according to the operator (respectively, technician or pharmacist). For the automated method, overcost is 70€ for consumables and from 4.06€ to 6.44€ for personnel. For the manual method, extremity exposure was 0.425mSv for the right finger, and 0.350mSv for the left finger; for both the semi-automated and automated method extremity exposure were below the limit of quantification. Conclusion: The present study reports for the first time both the feasibility of using a [68Ga]- radiopharmaceutical kit with a synthesizer and the limits for the development of a fully automated process.

scholarly journals Global online platforms, COVID-19, and culture: The global pandemic, an accelerator towards which direction?

2021 ◽  
pp. 016344372199453
Author(s):  
Antonios Vlassis
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Major Development ◽  
The Us ◽  
Media Platform

The article proposes to consider the COVID-19 global pandemic as new major development for cultural industries and policies and to highlight timely and crucial trends due to the lockdown measures. Thus, it attempts to stimulate the scholarship debate regarding the consequences of the pandemic to the action of global online platforms, as well as to policy and economic aspects of cultural sectors. Taking as case study the audio-visual sector, the article explores whether the US global streaming platforms are the winning players of the lockdown measures and emphasizes the multifaceted strategies developed by US-based platforms in order to strengthen their soft power. Focusing on China and the European Union, the article also argues that the overwhelming action of US-based online platforms triggers the potential emergence of media platform regionalization in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, it highlights the regulatory challenges and how the new empirical trends are expected to shape the current audio-visual policy framework. The analysis focuses on the period between the beginning of global pandemic in Asia-Pacific in January 2020 and the progressive easing of lockdown measures in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific in July 2020.

To bee or not to beet with neonicotinoids

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
Lynda M. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Environmental Standards ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Precautionary Approach ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Commercial Sugar ◽  
The Uk ◽  
First Time

In January 2021 the UK government granted an application for authorisation to use thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid pesticide, to protect commercial sugar beet crops from attack by viruses transmitted by aphids. This was the first time such an authorisation had been granted in the United Kingdom (UK) and there were concerns that it signalled a weakening of environmental standards now that the UK was no longer part of the European Union. In fact, similar authorisations had been granted by several European Member States in the last 2 years, despite the ban on the use of neonicotinoids introduced in 2018. Nevertheless, the reasons for granting the authorisation do suggest that the balance between adopting a precautionary approach to environmental protection and taking emergency action to protect economic interests may have shifted. It was acknowledged that the proposed mitigation to safeguard bees and other wildlife was not entirely satisfactory. In the end, due to unforeseen weather conditions it meant that the pesticide is not necessary, which in itself demonstrates that short-term emergency measures are unsuitable for dealing with the problem. If the sugar beet industry is to continue to prosper in the UK, it will need to be managed in a way that provides resistance to virus infection without the use of controversial chemicals.

scholarly journals The politics of crisis management by regional and international organizations in fighting against a global pandemic: the member states at a crossroads

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232098451
Author(s):  
Steven Van Hecke ◽  
Harald Fuhr ◽  
Wouter Wolfs
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Added Value ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
Health Organization

Despite new challenges like climate change and digitalization, global and regional organizations recently went through turbulent times due to a lack of support from several of their member states. Next to this crisis of multilateralism, the COVID-19 pandemic now seems to question the added value of international organizations for addressing global governance issues more specifically. This article analyses this double challenge that several organizations are facing and compares their ways of managing the crisis by looking at their institutional and political context, their governance structure, and their behaviour during the pandemic until June 2020. More specifically, it will explain the different and fragmented responses of the World Health Organization, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund/World Bank. With the aim of understanding the old and new problems that these international organizations are trying to solve, this article argues that the level of autonomy vis-a-vis the member states is crucial for understanding the politics of crisis management. Points for practitioners As intergovernmental bodies, international organizations require authorization by their member states. Since they also need funding for their operations, different degrees of autonomy also matter for reacting to emerging challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential for international organizations is limited, though through proactive and bold initiatives, they can seize the opportunity of the crisis and partly overcome institutional and political constraints.

Business Travel GHG Emissions Analysis: Factors, Tools, and Cases for Calculating GHG Emissions and Setting Science-Based Targets for Organizations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria McCain ◽  
Allison Dowd ◽  
Dan Salzer ◽  
Erin Toothaker ◽  
Shengyin Xu
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Business Travel ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Improved Accuracy ◽  
Global Travel ◽  
Over Time

Air travel is an increasing source of global GHG emissions, yet still many organizations have struggled to reduce business travel activity. Originating out of the COVID-19 pandemic and global travel restrictions, this working paper is part of a series addressing business travel reduction opportunities. This paper discusses how various organizations can and have conducted GHG emissions measurement on air travel, set science-based reduction targets, and improved accuracy and efficiency of data over time.

Strategic Minorities and the Global Network of Power: Western Thrace and Northern Ireland in Comparative Perspective

2000 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 28-42
Author(s):  
Manussos Marangudakis ◽  
William Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Social Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
Identity Status ◽  
Global Network ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Northern Irish ◽  
National Space ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
State Relations

The relationship between ethnic communities who share a common national space is often affected by factors above civil society, such as inter-state relations, political and economic alliances, and geopolitical interests. The relevance of ethnic minorities’ identity and behaviour to the international political environment becomes clear whenever an ethnic minority occupies territory of geopolitical and/or geo-economic importance to countries with conflicting interests in the area - we will call such a minority, ‘strategic minority’. Using a model of ‘network compatibility’ we could delineate the mechanisms and factors which affect the social outlook of a given minority. To highlight the paramount importance of national and international relations in shaping ethnic minorities’ identity and behaviour the paper examines and compares two strategic minorities situated at the fringes of Europe: The Northern Irish Catholic minority and the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, North Eastern Greece. Using as our analytic tool the theory of ‘networks of social power’ we tentatively conclude that the formation as well as the current identity, status, and behaviour of the two minorities cannot be fully understood unless we examine the role of the two sets of neighboring countries (G. Britain - Ireland, and Greece - Turkey), as well as the two major Western political powers, i.e., the European Union, and the United States, in the two contested regions.

scholarly journals UNWTO World Tourism Barometer and Statistical Annex, October 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
International Travel ◽  
International Tourism ◽  
The European Union ◽  
International Tourist ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Slow Virus ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Main Barrier ◽  
The Impact

International travel plunges 70% in the first eight months of 2020 International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) declined 70% in the first eight months of 2020 over the same period of last year, amid global travel restrictions including many borders fully closed, to contain the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. International arrivals plunged 81% in July and 79% in August, traditionally the two busiest months of the year and the peak of the Northern Hemisphere summer season. Despite such large declines, this represents a relative improvement over the 90% or greater decreases of the previous months, as some destinations started to reopen to international tourism, mostly in the European Union. The decline in January-August 2020 represents 700 million fewer international tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2019, and translates into a loss of US$ 730 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than 8 times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis. Asia and the Pacific, the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic, saw a 79% decrease in arrivals in January-August 2020. Africa and the Middle East both recorded a 69% drop this eight-month period, while Europe saw a 68% decline and the Americas 65%. Data on international tourism expenditure continues to reflect very weak demand for outbound travel, though in several large markets such as the United States, Germany and Italy there is a small uptick in spending in the months of July and August. Based on latest trends, a 75% decrease in international arrivals is estimated for the month of September and a drop of close to 70% for the whole of 2020. While demand for international travel remains subdued, domestic tourism is strengthening recovery in several large markets such as China and Russia. The UNWTO Confidence Index continues at record lows. Most UNWTO Panel Experts expect a rebound in international tourism by the third quarter of 2021 and a return to pre-pandemic 2019 levels not before 2023. Experts consider travel restrictions as the main barrier weighing on the recovery of international tourism, along with slow virus containment and low consumer confidence.

scholarly journals Analysis and Assessment of New Permanent Teacher Training Activities under the Erasmus+ Program from the Perspective of the Participants of Spain in Times of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11222
Author(s):  
Daniel Salcedo-López ◽  
Mercedes Cuevas-López
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The European Union ◽  
International Mobility ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Training Activities ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The Erasmus+ program (2014–2020) is one of the main initiatives developed by the European Commission in the field of education and is the final joint evolution of other minor and prior actions that provide schools and teachers with funding to carry out international mobility projects with a variety of formative activities. The benefits of carrying out international mobility activities to strengthen student learning and teacher training are well known and have been researched or reported even from the early stages of a program that was born back in the 1980s but has always been focused on the university level. When considering teachers at early levels (schools and high schools), the 2014–2020 Erasmus+ program was the main source of funding to grant Spanish teachers permanent training activities abroad with a direct positive impact on their careers. The year 2020 is the last year of the first evolution of the Erasmus+ program, which has been renewed, extended, and strengthened for a new six-year term (2021–2027). However, 2020 has also been a significant year. The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to affect the mobility of citizens within the different territories of the union and, thus, have a direct negative impact on international teacher and student mobility. Being 2020 the end of a cycle and a critical moment, it is the perfect time to conduct an analysis of the data associated with the participation of teachers and schools in Spain, their perceptions of the program, the different activities carried out, and the impact of the pandemic. This research study is based on an analysis of an opinion survey through a nationwide sample of teachers participating in KA101 Erasmus+ projects. This paper gathers and presents data and conclusions using information previously not available that most of the time is published in official reports globally without considering the particularities of the different states of the European Union.

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