scholarly journals Quantifying the preventive effect of wearing face masks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Britton
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Preventive Effect ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Growth Decline ◽  
Universal Measure

AbstractAn important task in combating the ongoing covid-19 effect lies in estimating the effect of different preventive measures. Here we focus on the preventive effect of enforcing the use of face masks. Several publications study this effect, however often using different measures such as: the relative attack rate in case-control studies, the effect on incidence growth/decline in a specific time-frame, the effect on the number of infected in a given time-frame. These measures all depend on community-specific features and are hence not easily transferred to other community settings. We argue that a more universal measure is the relative reduction in the reproduction number, which we call the face mask effect, EFM. It is shown how to convert the other measures to EFM. We also apply the methodology on three publications using different other measures (two of them resulting in two different estimates each, and all five estimates of EFM lie between 20-40%, suggesting that mandatory face masks reduce the reproduction number by 20-40% as compared to no individuals wearing face masks.

scholarly journals Quantifying the preventive effect of wearing face masks

2021 ◽  
Vol 477 (2251) ◽  
pp. 20210151
Author(s):  
Tom Britton
Keyword(s):  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Preventive Effect ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Growth Decline ◽  
Universal Measure

An important task in combating the current Covid-19 pandemic lies in estimating the effect of different preventive measures. Here, we focus on the preventive effect of enforcing the use of face masks. Several publications study this effect, however, often using different measures such as: the relative attack rate in case-control studies, the effect on incidence growth/decline in a specific time frame and the effect on the number of infected in a given time frame. These measures all depend on community-specific features and are hence not easily transferred to other community settings. We argue that a more universal measure is the relative reduction in the reproduction number, which we call the face mask effect , E FM . It is shown how to convert the other measures to E FM . We also apply the methodology to four empirical studies using different effect-measures. When converted to estimates of E FM , all estimates lie between 15 and 40%, suggesting that mandatory face masks reduce the reproduction number by an amount in this range, when compared with no individuals wearing face masks.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours in Cameroon: A Six-Month Online National Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2554
Author(s):  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
Leonard Ngarka ◽  
Wepnyu Y. Njamnshi ◽  
Leonard N. Nfor ◽  
Michel K. Mengnjo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Adherence Score ◽  
Preventive Behaviour ◽  
Predictors Of Adherence

Since March 2020, the Cameroonian government implemented nationwide measures to stall COVID-19 transmission. However, little is known about how well these unprecedented measures are being observed as the pandemic evolves. We conducted a six-month online survey to assess the preventive behaviour of Cameroonian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of the following preventive measures: physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, not touching one’s face, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Predictors of adherence were investigated using ordinal logistic regression models. Of the 7381 responses received from all ten regions, 73.3% were from male respondents and overall mean age was 32.8 ± 10.8 years. Overall mean adherence score was 3.96 ± 1.11 on a scale of 0–5. Mean weekly adherence scores were initially high, but gradually decreased over time accompanied by increasing incidence of COVID-19 during the last study weeks. Predictors for higher adherence included higher age, receiving COVID-19 information from health personnel, and agreeing with the necessity of lockdown measures. Meanwhile, experiencing flu-like symptoms was associated with poor adherence. Continuous observance of preventive measures should be encouraged among Cameroonians in the medium- to long-term to avoid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

scholarly journals Clinical Efficacy of Novel Patient-Covering Negative-Pressure Box for Shielding Virus Transmission during Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A Prospective Observational Study

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1679
Author(s):  
Shintaro Fujihara ◽  
Hideki Kobara ◽  
Noriko Nishiyama ◽  
Naoya Tada ◽  
Kazuhiro Kozuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Pressure ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Preventive Effect ◽  
Degree Of Contamination ◽  
Cutoff Value ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Particle Counts ◽  
The Difference

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has a high risk of virus transmission during the current coronavirus disease 2019 era, and preventive measures are under investigation. We investigated the effectiveness of a newly developed patient-covering negative-pressure box system (Endo barrier®) (EB) for EGD. Eighty consecutive unsedated patients who underwent screening EGD with EB use were prospectively enrolled. To examine the aerosol ratio before, during, and after EGD, 0.3- and 0.5-μm aerosols were measured every 60 s using an optical counter. Moreover, the degree of contamination of the examiners’ goggles and vinyl gowns was assessed before and after EGD using a rapid adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test for simulated droplets. Data were available in 73 patients and showed that 0.3- and 0.5-μm particles did not increase in 95.8% (70/73) and 94.5% (69/73) of patients during EGD under EB. There were no significant differences in the total 0.3- or 0.5-μm particle counts before versus after EGD. The difference in the ATP levels before and after EGD was −0.6 ± 16.6 relative light units (RLU) on goggles and 1.59 ± 19.9 RLU on gowns (both within the cutoff value). EB use during EGD may provide a certain preventive effect against aerosols and droplets, decreasing examiners’ exposure to viruses.

scholarly journals Exploring online search behavior for COVID-19 preventive measures: The Philippine case

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249810
Author(s):  
Adrian Galido ◽  
Jerina Jean Ecleo ◽  
Atina Husnayain ◽  
Emily Chia-Yu Su
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Public ◽  
Hand Sanitizer ◽  
Search Terms

Public health agencies have suggested nonpharmaceutical interventions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 infections. The study intended to explore the information-seeking behavior and information needs on preventive measures for COVID-19 in the Philippine context. The search interests and related queries for COVID-19 terms and each of the preventive measures for the period from December 31, 2019 to April 6, 2020 were generated from Google Trends. The search terms employed for COVID-19 were coronavirus, ncov, covid-19, covid19 and “covid 19.” The search terms of the preventive measures considered for this study included “community quarantine”, “cough etiquette”, “face mask” or facemask, “hand sanitizer”, handwashing or “hand washing” and “social distancing.” Spearman’s correlation was employed between the new daily COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 terms and the different preventive measures. The relative search volume for the coronavirus disease showed an increase up to the pronouncement of the country’s first case of COVID-19. An uptrend was also evident after the country’s first local transmission was confirmed. A strong positive correlation (rs = .788, p < .001) was observed between the new daily cases and search interests for COVID-19. The search interests for the different measures and the new daily cases were also positively correlated. Similarly, the search interests for the different measures and the COVID-19 terms were all positively correlated. The search interests for “face mask” or facemask, “hand sanitizer” and handwashing or “hand washing” were more correlated with the search interest for COVID-19 than with the number of new daily COVID-19 cases. The search interests for “cough etiquette”, “social distancing” and “community quarantine” were more correlated with the number of new daily COVID-19 cases than with the search interest for COVID-19. The public sought for additional details such as type, directions for proper use, and where to purchase as well as do-it-yourself alternatives for personal protective items. Personal protective or community measures were expected to be accompanied with definitions and guidelines as well as be available in translated versions. Google Trends could be a viable option to monitor and address the information needs of the public during a disease outbreak. Capturing and analyzing the search interests of the public could support the design and timely delivery of appropriate information essential to drive preventive measures during a disease outbreak.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential and rural-urban disease burden disparities across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, March 2020 — May 2021

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Kesewaa Ofori ◽  
Chigozie Alexandra Ogwara ◽  
Seoyon Kwon ◽  
Xinyi Hua ◽  
Kamryn M. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
R Package ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Southern States ◽  
October 17 ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
At Home

Purpose: To quantify and compare SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and selected counties with populations in the 50th, 75th, and 100th percentile. Methods: To determine the time-varying reproduction number Rt of SARS-CoV-2, we applied the R package EpiEstim to the time series of daily incidence of confirmed cases. Median Rt percentage change when policies changed was determined. Linear regression was performed between log10-transformed cumulative incidence and log10-transformed population size at four time points. Results: Stay-at-home orders, face mask mandates, and vaccinations were associated with the most significant reductions in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the three southern states. Rt across the three states decreased significantly by 20% following stay-at-home orders. We observed varying degrees of reductions in Rt across states following other policies. Rural Alabama counties experienced higher per capita cumulative cases relative to urban ones as of June 17 and October 17, 2020. Meanwhile, Louisiana and Mississippi saw the disproportionate impact of SARS-CoV-2 in rural counties compared to urban ones throughout the study period. Conclusion: State and county policies had an impact on local pandemic trajectories. The rural-urban disparities in case burden call for evidence-based approaches in tailoring health promotion interventions and vaccination campaigns to rural residents.

scholarly journals The risk for a new COVID-19 wave – and how it depends on R0, the current immunity level and current restrictions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Britton ◽  
Pieter Trapman ◽  
Frank Ball
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
The World ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Different Parts ◽  
Future Outbreak

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has hit different parts of the world differently: some regions are still in the rise of the first wave, other regions are now facing a decline after a first wave, and yet other regions have started to see a second wave. The current immunity level î in a region is closely related to the cumulative fraction infected, which primarily depends on two factors: a) the initial potential for COVID-19 in the region (often quantified by the basic reproduction number R0), and b) the timing, amount and effectiveness of preventive measures put in place. By means of a mathematical model including heterogeneities owing to age, social activity and susceptibility, and allowing for time-varying preventive measures, the risk for a new epidemic wave and its doubling time, and how they depend on R0, î and the overall effect of the current preventive measures, are investigated. Focus lies on quantifying the minimal overall effect of preventive measures pMin needed to prevent a future outbreak. The first result shows that the current immunity level î plays a more influential roll than when immunity is obtained from vaccination. Secondly, by comparing regions with different R0 and î it is shown that regions with lower R0 and low î may now need higher preventive measures (pMin) compared with other regions having higher R0 but also higher î, even when such immunity levels are far from herd immunity.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Risk Perception of The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among Adult Nigerians: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erick Wesley Hedima ◽  
Samuel Adeyemi Michael ◽  
Emmanuel Agada David
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
World Health ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Income Status

AbstractCOVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly infectious disease declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The Knowledge and risk perception in the adult population may influence adherence to safety guidelines.ObjectiveTo assess the knowledge, preventive measures and risk perception of adult Nigerians regarding COVID-19.MethodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional survey in which five hundred and ten (510) adult participants consented and filled the questionnaire. The questionnaire is divided in to four sections: 1) socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, 2) assessment of knowledge, 3) risk perception and the 4) preventive measures.ResultsOf the 510 respondents, 95.9% claimed knowledge of COVID-19, through the traditional media (55.3%), and social media (41%), while only 3.7% got informed through health officials. Level of education (P=0.0001), income status (P<0.00001) and being a healthcare worker (P=0.002) were significantly associated with a good knowledge of COVID-19. Overall Risk perception was high (median score of 4 out of 5). Risk perception was significantly high among the female participants (P=0.04), young adult (P=0.039) and healthcare providers (P=0.001), while knowledge of preventive measures like avoiding to eat outside the home (P=0.001), traveling to high risk areas (P=0.017), wearing face mask (P=0.01) and eating balanced diet (P=0.014) were significant across gender.ConclusionMost participants demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19 and its preventive measures, while risk perception was higher among healthcare workers. Findings from this survey could guide information campaigns by public health authorities, clinicians, and the media.

scholarly journals Analysis of Effectiveness of Quarantine Measures in Controlling COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garima Kaushik ◽  
Shaney Mantri ◽  
Shrishti Kaushik ◽  
Dhananjay Kalbande ◽  
B. N. Chaudhari
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Rates ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractCOVID-19 has created an interesting discourse among the people of the world particularly regarding preventive measures of infectious diseases. In this paper, the authors forecast the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak and study how the reduction of transmission rates influences its decline. The paper makes use of the SIR (Susceptible Infected Recovered) Model which is a deterministic model used in the field of epidemiology-based on differential equations derived from sections of the population. The Basic Reproduction Number (Ro) represents the criticality of the epidemic in numeric terms. Forecasting an epidemic provides insights about the geographic spreading of the disease and the case incidences required to better inform intervention strategists about situations that may occur during the outbreak. Through this research paper, the authors wish to provide an insight into the impact of control measures on the pandemic. By drawing a comparison of three countries and their quarantine measures, observations on the decline of the outbreak are made. Authors intend to guide the intervention strategies of under-resourced countries like India and aid in the overall containment of the outbreak.

scholarly journals Face Mask Wearing Behaviors, Depressive Symptoms, and Health Beliefs Among Older People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Yiu Cho Kwan ◽  
Paul Hong Lee ◽  
Daphne Sze Ki Cheung ◽  
Simon Ching Lam
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Older People ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Perceived Severity

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 100 countries. Despite the global shortage of face masks, the public has adopted universal mask wearing as a preventive measure in many Asian countries. The COVID-19 mortality rate is higher among older people, who may find that wearing a face mask protects their physical health but jeopardizes their mental health. This study aimed to explore the associations between depressive symptoms, health beliefs, and face mask wearing behaviors among older people. By means of an online survey conducted between March and April 2020, we assessed depressive symptoms, health beliefs regarding COVID-19, and face mask use and reuse among community-dwelling older people. General linear models were employed to explore the associations among these variables. Of the 355 valid participants, 25.6% experienced depressive symptoms. Health beliefs regarding the perceived severity of disease (p = 0.001) and perceived efficacy of practicing preventive measures (p = 0.005) were positively associated with face mask use. Those who reused face masks (p = 0.008) had a stronger belief in disease severity (p &lt; 0.001), had poorer cues to preventive measures (p = 0.002), and were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Mask reuse was significantly associated with depression only among those who perceived the disease as serious (p = 0.025) and those who had poorer cues to preventive measures (p = 0.004). In conclusion, health beliefs regarding perceived severity and efficacy contributed to more frequent face mask use, which was unrelated to depressive symptoms. Older people who had a stronger belief in disease severity had less adequate cues to preventive measures and reused face masks experienced greater depressive symptoms. A moderation effect of health beliefs (i.e., disease severity and cues to preventive measures) on face mask reuse and depression was observed.

Genetic factors of polygenic urolithiasis

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Filippova Tamara Vladimirovna ◽  
Khafizov Кamil Faridovich ◽  
Rudenko Vadim Igorevich ◽  
Rapoport Leonid Mikhailovich ◽  
Tsarichenko Dmitry Georgievich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Case Control ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genetic Technologies ◽  
High Throughput Dna Sequencing

The article summarizes the findings of Russian and international studies of the genetic aspects of polygenic urolithiasis associated with impairment of calcium metabolism. The article analyzes the genetic risk factors of polygenic nephrolithiasis that show significant association with the disease in case-control studies and Genome-Wide Association Studies (16 genes). We described the gene functions involved in concrement formation in polygenic nephrolithiasis. The modern molecular and genetic technologies (DNA microarray, high-throughput DNA sequencing, etc.) enable identification of the genetic predisposition to a specific disease, realization of the individualized treatment of the patient, and carrying out timely preventive measures among the proband’s relatives.

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