scholarly journals Suppressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic using controlled testing and isolation

Author(s):  
Kobi Cohen ◽  
Amir Leshem

AbstractThe Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected lives of people around the world. Today, isolation policy is enforced by identifying infected individuals based on symptoms when these appear or by testing people and quarantining those who have been in close contact with infected people. In addition, many countries have imposed complete or partial lock-downs to control the spread of the disease. While this has resulted in some some success in slowing down the spread of the virus, lock-downs as well as widespread quarantine have devastating effects on the economy and social life. Thus, governments are urgently looking for efficient strategies to significantly relax lock-downs, while still controlling the spread of the virus. We argue that this can be done by using active feedback to control testing for infection by actively testing individuals with a high probability of being infected. We develop an active testing strategy to achieve this goal, and demonstrate that it would have tremendous success in controlling the spread of the virus on one million people, using 3,000 tests per day. Our results show up to a 50% reduction in quarantine rate and morbidity rate in typical settings as compared to existing methods.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Zafar Majeed Rather ◽  
Magray Ajaz Ahmad

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province, and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 corona virus pandemic. As of 9 June 2020, more than 7.12 million cases have been reported across 187 countries and territories, resulting in more than 406,000 deaths. More than 3.29 million people have recovered. The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking. The disease has been given official name as COVID-19[1]. Since its outbreak in china, infrared thermometers were used to check the body temperature in order to identify the infected people. Countries like China and Korea started the use of different technologies to detect, track and prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Among the major technologies used are Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning. With the invent of 5G technologies, we are able to transfer and process huge amounts of data on a real time basis. Health experts have argued that a key tool at governments’ disposal to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, and which was not around during the 1918 Spanish Flu, is the ability to harness digital technologies to track the spread. At the same time, deployment of contact tracing apps by governments or public health authorities has added to the debate on online privacy and personal data protection. In this research paper, we discuss the potential application of different information and communication technologies (ICT) like IoT, AI and 5G that can help in (i) Monitoring (ii) surveillance (iii) detection and prevention of COVID-19 and enhancing the healthcare to make it future-ready for any such diseases like COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 933-940
Author(s):  
Akhmad Kheru Dharmawan ◽  
Ibnu Aji Setyawan ◽  
Nia Triswanti ◽  
Hetti Rusmini ◽  
Ni Putu Sudiadnyani ◽  
...  

ABSTRAK COVID-19 atau Corona Virus Diesease-19 adalah sebuah penyakit terbaru di tahun 2019 yang disebabkan oleh Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 melanda banyak Negara di dunia termasuk Indonesia. Pandemi Covid-19 tidak hanya merupakan masalah nasional dalam suatu negara, tapi sudah merupakan masalah global. Covid-19 berawal dari daerah Wuhan Cina. Penyebaran Covid -19 yang begitu cepat dan beresiko kematian. Penularannya diduga melalui aerosol pada daerah mulut, mata dan hidung. Covid-19 berdampak kepada kehidupan sosial dan melemahnya ekonomi masyarakat yang kemudian mempengaruhi pelayanan publik. Permasalahan yang disoroti adalah bagaimana dampak pandemi Covid-19 terhadap pelayanan publik dan upaya penanggulangan wabah COVID-19.. Tujuan dari kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang pentingnya melakukan isolasi mandiri untuk memutus rantai penyebaran COVID-19 di lingkungan masyarakat.  Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu penyuluhan kepada ibu-ibu kader di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Kedaton tentang pentingnya menjalani protokol kesehatan dan melakukan isolasi mandiri di rumah sebagai tindakan preventif untuk memutus rantai penyebaran COVID-19. Pelaksanaan kegiatan oleh mahasiswa FK Malahayati kelompok 13 CHOP dan pihak puskesmas kedaton dan dilaksanakan pada tanggal 19 Desember 2020. Hasil dari kegiatan ini adalah meningkatnya pengetahuan kader tentang pentingnya penerapan protokol kesehatan di masa pandemi COVID-19 ini sehingga penyuluhan ini berdampak baik dan efektif. Kata Kunci : Edukasi, Kesehatan, Covid  ABSTRACT COVID-19 or Corona Virus Disease 19 is a new illness in 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 hit many countries in the world including Indonesia. The Covid-19 outbreak is not only a national problem in a country but already a global problem. Covid -19 originated in the Wuhan area of China. The spread of Covid-19 is so fast and deadly, transmission through physical contact is transmitted by the aerosol through the mouth, eyes, and nose. Covid-19 has an impact on social life and the weakening of the people's economy. The issue of how the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on public services and efforts to overcome the Covid-19 outbreak. The Problem that followed is about how’s the impact of the outbreak affects public service. The purpose of this activity is to increase the knowledge about how too important it do self-isolation to cut off the transmission of COVID-19 in the social community. The method that used in this activity is counseling the cadres in the puskesmas kedaton her territory about how too important to do self-isolation to cut off the transmission of COVID-19 in the social community. The activity was assisted by the students of the medical faculty of Malahayati University especially group 13 CHOP and staff of puskesmas kedaton and was held on December 19, 2020. The results of this activity are increased knowledge of the cadres about how too important to do self-isolation to cut off the transmission of COVID-19 in the social community so that can be concluded this counseling worked so well and effectively. Keywords: Education, Health, Covid


Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surya Goel ◽  
Ram Dayal

Background: The widespread of novel corona-virus from china is a global concern. With each passing day, the novel corona-virus is making its new borders. Research revealed that virus produced in bats and was transmitted to humans firstly in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December 2019. The contagion has been significantly acting as a vulnerable threat to the copious world. Objective: The purpose of this review is to provide the valuable and detailed information about the historical background, origin, classification, morphology, transmission pattern, symptoms, treatment parameters, number of cases as well as the preventive measures about the corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: The disease is transmitted into people by inhalation or close contact of infected droplets. To split the sequential chain of this contagious disease, we need to know about its symptoms, ways of transmission, preventive measures and safety guidelines. Results: The widespread of COVID-19 from china is a global concern. The morbidity rate due to COVID-19 is increasing regularly. As till now, there is no specific cure, vaccine and treatment the lives can be saved only by following the preventive measures and safety guidelines. Conclusion: As till now, there is no specific vaccine or treatment the lives can be saved only by following the preventive measures and safety guidelines. Several clinical trials are running for the development of a suitable vaccine to combat this disease. This review shall be helpful in providing detailed information about novel corona-virus so that the sequences of such infection can be reduced.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-11
Author(s):  
Devecioğlu Sebahattin

Coronavirus named Coronavirus 2019-nCoV or (Covid-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) has spread to all corners of the globe, disrupting many aspects of day-to-day life. The pandemic has led nations to implement stringent social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus; these include stay-athome advice, closures to schools and businesses and a pause to everyday social life to reduce close contact among people. Sport is no exception: livelihoods in the sector have been severely disrupted; gym, leisure, sport and recreational facilities have shut down; professional and community sport is suspended; and major events have been cancelled. Studies show that this has many economic and social repercussions, with the sports and tourism sectors effectively shutting down, and the strictest lockdown measures.


Author(s):  
S. A. Gorbanev ◽  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
N. M. Frolova

Introduction. Due to the impact of adverse working conditions and climate, workers in coal-mining enterprises in the Arctic are at increased risk of occupational diseases (OD).The aim of the study was to study the working conditions, causes, structure and prevalence of occupational diseases in miners of coal mines in the Arctic.Materials and methods. Th e data of social and hygienic monitoring “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of Vorkuta and Chukotka Autonomous District in 2007–2017 are studied.Results. It was established that in 2007–2017 years, 2,296 ODs were diagnosed for the first time in 1851 coal mines, mainly in the drifters, clearing face miners, repairmen and machinists of mining excavating machines. Most often, the ODs occurred when exposed to the severity of labor, fibrogenic aerosols and hand-arm vibration. The development of professional pathology in 98% of cases was due to design flaws of machines and mechanisms, as well as imperfections of workplaces and technological processes. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (36.2%), respiratory organs (28.9%) and nervous system (22.5%) prevailed in the structure of professional pathology of miners of coal mines. Among the three most common nosological forms of OD were radiculopathy (32.1%), chronic bronchitis (27.7%) and mono-polyneuropathy (15.4%). In 2017, coal miners in the Arctic had a professional morbidity rate of 2.82 times higher than the national rates for coal mining.Conclusions. To preserve the health of miners of coal mining enterprises, technical measures to improve working conditions and medical interventions aimed at increasing the body’s resistance to the effects of harmful production and climatic factors are necessary.


Author(s):  
Bartłomiej Juszczak ◽  
Jerzy Sułko

AbstractTo evaluate patient-reported effectiveness, safety and social influence of Pamidronate in the therapy of NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis in children. Authors reviewed self-created questionnaires, which asked patients for symptoms alleviation, adverse drug reactions frequency and degree of severity and daily activities self-reliance. Only surveys with complete answers, which were returned to authors by an e-mail from juvenile patients treated for NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis at the University Children’s Hospital of Cracow were analyzed. Between 2010 and 2019, 61 children were diagnosed with NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis at our department. Out of 61 requests sent, 42 complete replies (33 females, 9 males) were gathered and analyzed. All patients included in this research were administered with at least one set of Pamidronate intravenously in the dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days. Our analysis shows remarkable in terms of patient’s impressions decrease of pain intensity after 2.5 series of Pamidronate on average, and total pain resolution after 5.9 series on average. Overall number of adverse drug reaction events reported by responders was 105. One patient developed drug-dependent renal insufficiency in the course of therapy. Outcome assessment indicates that nearly 50% of the studied population was more eager to participate in social life just after the first infusion of the drug. 95% of the surveyed unanimously agreed to recommend Pamidronate therapy to cure NSAIDs-refractory CRMO. 39 out of 42 (93%) patients considered Pamidronate effective at the end of the treatment. Onset of Pamidronate’s action is gradual and differs in terms of symptoms alleviation between sexes. The therapy can induce considerable number of adverse drug reactions (2.5 per patient). Only 3 out of 42 (7%) patients were free from any ADRs. To demonstrate the impact of the use of Pamidronate on daily activities more precisely, further research with quantification of the quality of life is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danna Oomen ◽  
Annabel D. Nijhof ◽  
Jan R. Wiersema

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported a negative psychological and mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact is likely to be stronger for people with autism as they are at heightened risk of mental health problems and because the pandemic directly affects social functioning and everyday routines. We therefore examined COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in mental health, the impact of the pandemic on their social life and routines, satisfaction with pandemic-related information and tips, and participants’ wishes for guidance. Methods We used a mixed-method approach, collecting quantitative and qualitative survey data from adults with and without autism across three European countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK (N = 1044). Results We found an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms in response to the pandemic for both the non-autism and the autism group, which was greater for adults with autism. Furthermore, adults with autism showed a greater increase in worries about their pets, work, getting medication and food, and their own safety/security. They felt more relieved from social stress, yet experienced the loss of social contact as difficult. Adults with autism also felt more stressed about the loss of routines. Pleasant changes noted by adults with autism were the increase in solidarity and reduced sensory and social overload. Adults with autism frequently reported problems with cancellation of guidance due to the pandemic and expressed their wish for (more) autism-specific information and advice. Limitations Our sample is likely to reflect some degree of selection bias, and longitudinal studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Conclusions Results highlight the psychological burden of the pandemic on adults with autism and shed light on how to support them during this COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially important now that the pandemic is likely to have a prolonged course. There is a need for accessible, affordable (continued) support from health services. Guidance may focus on the maintenance of a social network, and adjusting routines to the rapid ongoing changes. Finally, we may learn from the COVID-19 pandemic-related changes experienced as pleasant by adults with autism to build a more autism-friendly society post-pandemic.


Author(s):  
Shaden A. M. Khalifa ◽  
Mahmoud M. Swilam ◽  
Aida A. Abd El-Wahed ◽  
Ming Du ◽  
Haged H. R. El-Seedi ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for societies around the globe as entire populations have fallen victim to the infectious spread and have taken up social distancing. In many countries, people have had to self-isolate and to be confined to their homes for several weeks to months to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing measures have had both negative and positive impacts on various aspects of economies, lifestyles, education, transportation, food supply, health, social life, and mental wellbeing. On other hands, due to reduced population movements and the decline in human activities, gas emissions decreased and the ozone layer improved; this had a positive impact on Earth’s weather and environment. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on human activities and positive impacts on nature. This study discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different life aspects including the economy, social life, health, education, and the environment.


Author(s):  
Hubert Dobrowolski ◽  
Dariusz Włodarek

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a number of changes in social life around the world. In response to the growing number of infections, some countries have introduced restrictions that may have resulted in the change of the lifestyle. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of the lockdown on body weight, physical activity and some eating habits of the society. The survey involving 183 people was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire. The mean age of the study participants was 33 ± 11 and mean height 169 ± 8 cm. An average increase in body weight was observed in 49.18% by 0.63 ± 3.7 kg which was the result of a decrease in physical activity and an increase in food consumption. We also observed a decrease in PAL from 1.64 ± 0.15 to 1.58 ± 0.13 and changes in the amount of food and individual groups of products consumption, including alcohol. Among the study participants who did not lose body mass, there was an average weight gain of 2.25 ± 2.5 kg. In conclusion, an increase of weight was shown in about half of the respondents in the study group which was associated with a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the consumption of total food and high energy density products.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Shi ◽  
Shijiong Qin ◽  
Yung-ho Chiu ◽  
Xiaoying Tan ◽  
Xiaoli Miao

AbstractChina’s commercial banks have developed at a very rapid speed in recent decades. However, with global economic development slowing down, the impact of gross domestic product growth as an exogenous factor cannot be ignored. Most existing studies only consider the internal factors of banks, and neglect their external economic factors. This study thus adopts an undesirable dynamic slacks-based measure under an exogenous model in combination with the Kernel density curve to explore the efficiency of state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), joint-stock commercial banks (JSCBs), and urban commercial banks (UCBs) in China from 2012 to 2018. The results show that SOCBs have the highest overall efficiency, followed by JSCBs, then UCBs. The efficiencies of SOCBs, JSCBs, and UCBs in the financing stage are greater than those in the investment stage, indicating that the latter stage brings down overall efficiency. Thus, all commercial banks need to focus on the efficiency of non-performing loans and return on capital. Finally, SOCBs need to strengthen internal controls, reduce non-performing loans and improve return on capital. JSCBs should actively expand its business while controlling costs, and UCBs should optimize its management.


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