scholarly journals Increased Interregional Travel to Shopping Malls and Restaurants in Response to Differential COVID-19 Restrictions in the Greater Toronto Area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul R. Soucy ◽  
Amir Ghasemi ◽  
Shelby L. Sturrock ◽  
Isha Berry ◽  
Sarah A. Buchan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Urban Core ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
The Government ◽  
Lower Transmission ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Peripheral Regions

Background: In the fall of 2020, the government of Ontario, Canada adopted a 5-tier, regional framework of public health measures for the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario, the urban core of the Greater Toronto Area (Toronto and Peel) were the first regions in the province to enter the highest restriction tier ("lockdown") on November 23, 2020, which closed restaurants to in-person dining and limited non-essential businesses, including shopping malls, to curbside pickup. The peripheral regions of the Greater Toronto Area (York, Durham, Halton) would not enter lockdown until later the following month. In this analysis, we examine whether the implementation of differentially timed restrictions in a highly interconnected metropolitan area led to increased interregional travel, potentially driving further transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We used anonymized smartphone data to estimate the number of visits by residents of regions in the urban core to shopping malls and restaurants in peripheral regions in the week before compared to the week after the November 23 lockdown. Results: Residents of Toronto and Peel took fewer trips to shopping malls and restaurants in the week following lockdown. This was entirely driven by reductions in visits within the locked down regions themselves, as there was a significant increase in trips to shopping malls in peripheral regions by these residents in the same period (Toronto: +40.7%, Peel: +65.5%). Visits to restaurants in peripheral regions also increased slightly (Toronto: +6.3%, Peel: +11.8%). Discussion: Heterogeneous restrictions may undermine lockdowns in the urban core as well as driving residents from zones of higher transmission to zones of lower transmission. These concerns are likely generalizable to other major metropolitan areas, which often comprise interconnected but administratively independent regions.

scholarly journals The potential dangers of not understanding COVID-19 public health restrictions in dementia: “It’s a groundhog day – every single day she does not understand why she can’t go out for a walk”

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Kerry Hanna ◽  
Manoj Rajagopal ◽  
Aravind Komuravelli ◽  
Jacqueline Cannon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Third Sector Organisations ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Second Wave

Abstract Background Sudden public health restrictions can be difficult to comprehend for people with cognitive deficits. However, these are even more important for them to adhere to due to their increased levels of vulnerability, particularly to COVID-19. With a lack of previous evidence, we explored the understanding and changes in adherence to COVID-19 public health restrictions over time in people living with dementia (PLWD). Methods Unpaid carers and PLWD were interviewed over the phone in April 2020, shortly after the nationwide UK lockdown, with a proportion followed up from 24th June to 10th July. Participants were recruited via social care and third sector organisations across the UK, and via social media. Findings A total of 70 interviews (50 baseline, 20 follow-up) were completed with unpaid carers and PLWD. Five themes emerged: Confusion and limited comprehension; Frustration and burden; Putting oneself in danger; Adherence to restrictions in wider society; (Un) changed perceptions. Most carers reported limited to no understanding of the public health measures in PLWD, causing distress and frustration for both the carer and the PLWD. Due to the lack of understanding, some PLWD put themselves in dangerous situations without adhering to the restrictions. PLWD with cognitive capacity who participated understood the measures and adhered to these. Discussion In light of the new second wave of the pandemic, public health measures need to be simpler for PLWD to avoid unwilful non-adherence. Society also needs to be more adaptive to the needs of people with cognitive disabilities more widely, as blanket rules cause distress to the lives of those affected by dementia.

Medical Waste Management during COVID-19 Situation: Perspective Towards Safe Environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANOJ KUMAR JINDAL ◽  
Dr. Santosh Kumar Sar
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Open Dumping ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave

The situation in the world of pandemics is rapidly changing, and the second wave of COVID-19 has put a lot of pressure on the government and private sector, which are primarily responsible for controlling the situation. COVID-19 positive cases have increased in recent months relative to last year, and the number of patients admitted to hospitals has also increased, despite the fact that few of them were denied admission due to shortage of beds. Normal people who experience any symptoms immediately isolate themselves and begin taking the COVID medications prescribed by medical personnel and their team. During these times, all domestic people tossed the wrappers and boxes of medicines into the regular trash can, and the waste was handed over to the waste collector, who treated it like any other domestic waste and disposed of it using open dumping or other methods. The goal of this perspective is to suggest the collections of these types of waste from domestics, and protect the natural resources like water, soil, and even living beings like animals from pollution (from the effect of SARS-CoV-2). The main challenge for environmental waste management agencies is determining who has COVID positive and which houses generate these types of waste; thus, proposed strategy may be beneficial to the long-term sustainability of natural resources and animals.

scholarly journals Second wave of COVID-19 and hesitation of vaccination in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1853
Author(s):  
Amandeep Singh ◽  
Harleen Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Program ◽  
Window Of Opportunity ◽  
Slow Pace ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave

Amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in India have already risked its "window of opportunity" period to have ramped up its progressive and determined vaccination program. Today, as the government has the escalating threat of coronavirus variants, it has entered into the second wave, facing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The vaccination drive-through vital is again running at a slow pace.

scholarly journals Quantifying the relationship between lockdowns, mobility, and effective reproduction number (Rt) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dainton ◽  
Alexander Hay
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Secular Trend ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Global Mobility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The effectiveness of lockdowns in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 has been the subject of intense debate. Data on the relationship between public health restrictions, mobility, and pandemic growth has so far been conflicting. Objective We assessed the relationship between public health restriction tiers, mobility, and COVID-19 spread in five contiguous public health units (PHUs) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada. Methods Weekly effective reproduction number (Rt) was calculated based on daily cases in each of the five GTA public health units between March 1, 2020, and March 19, 2021. A global mobility index (GMI) for each PHU was calculated using Google Mobility data. Segmented regressions were used to assess changes in the behaviour of Rt over time. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients between GMI and Rt for each PHU and mobility regression coefficients for each mobility variable, accounting for time lag of 0, 7, and 14 days. Results In all PHUs except Toronto, the most rapid decline in Rt occurred in the first 2 weeks of the first province-wide lockdown, and this was followed by a slight trend to increased Rt as restrictions decreased. This trend reversed in all PHUs between September 6th and October 10th after which Rt decreased slightly over time without respect to public health restriction tier. GMI began to increase in the first wave even before restrictions were decreased. This secular trend to increased mobility continued into the summer, driven by increased mobility to recreational spaces. The decline in GMI as restrictions were reintroduced coincides with decreasing mobility to parks after September. During the first wave, the correlation coefficients between global mobility and Rt were significant (p < 0.01) in all PHUs 14 days after lockdown, indicating moderate to high correlation between decreased mobility and decreased viral reproduction rates, and reflecting that the incubation period brings in a time-lag effect of human mobility on Rt. In the second wave, this relationship was attenuated, and was only significant in Toronto and Durham at 14 days after lockdown. Conclusions The association between mobility and COVID-19 spread was stronger in the first wave than the second wave. Public health restriction tiers did not alter the existing secular trend toward decreasing Rt over time.

scholarly journals Analysis of second wave of COVID-19 cases in Nepal with a logistic model

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Radha Krishna Joshi ◽  
Sarita Bhatt ◽  
Tika Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Madhav Prasad Ghimire
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Logistic Model ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Data Modelling ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
New Variant ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave

Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a newly identified highly infectious disease. It has affected almost every country including Nepal causing a pandemic situation. Most of the properties of SARS-CoV-2 are not known and still under intense investigation. Due to high mutation rate, it reappears in many countries in the form of new variant. In Nepal, second wave impact of COVID-19 is mainly caused by newly found delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. In this case, the mathematical modelling is noted to play important role to understand control strategies for the spread of coronavirus. Aims and Objective: To analyze the second wave impact by modelling the data of COVID-19 cases in Nepal. Materials and Methods: We have analyzed COVID-19 daily cases and deaths reported by Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal from April 1 to May 31, 2021. A logistic model has been used to present the trend line of COVID-19 infection in Nepal, based on the law of population growth developed by Verhulst. Results: The results show a good fit between observed and predicted data by logistic model as indicated by coefficient of determination having value near to unity. The point of inflection from the logistic model predicted a maximum of 9951 daily new cases. The maximum number of cumulative cases estimated at the end of second wave was found to be 307293 with 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: Logistic model properly describes the growth of COVID-19 cases with time. This type of data modelling and analysis will be very useful in predicting the upcoming trend of COVID-19 in Nepal as a basis for making health policy management by the government.

scholarly journals Effect of the protection measures established by the peruvian government to prevent the Coronavirus in the Barranca district during the second wave of infections [Efecto de las medidas de protección establecidas por el gobierno peruano para prevenir el Coronavirus en el distrito de Barranca durante la segunda ola de contagios]

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dante Cruz Nieto ◽  
Ronald Rodriguez Espinoza ◽  
Olga Valderrama Rios ◽  
Jorge López Balarezo ◽  
Ronald Ramos Pacheco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave

The objective of the investigation is to establish the effect of the protection measures established by the government to reduce the contagion by Covid -19 in the district of Barranca during the second wave of infections. Data were collected on compliance with protection measures such as distancing, use of masks, visors and disinfection with alcohol in public places such as streets, markets, banks and parks. For this, data collection instruments based on visual inspection were used to verify the appropriate use of protection measures, as well as a survey regarding the use of alcohol as a disinfectant; and the data obtained was processed through basic statistics and correlation with the data reported by the Ministry of Health of positive infections by Covid-19. It was determined that there is a growth relationship between compliance with protection measures and the number of positive infections, with correlation coefficients for distance of 0.7458, use of 0.6710 masks, 0.8784 visors and use of alcohol as a disinfectant of 0.7310. Regarding the analysis of variance, it is obtained that the use of visors influences the number of positive infections, which is why it is concluded that maintaining distance, in addition to the use of masks and disinfectant alcohol are effective measures to control the number of infections per coronavirus.

scholarly journals Digital Transformation vs COVID-19: the Case of Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junzo Iida
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Society ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Electronic Contracts ◽  
Court Proceedings ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Business Sectors

Whilst the DX policy of the Japanese government started in 2001, then called the E-Japan Strategy and being replaced a few years later by the i-Japan Strategy, in the 20 years since then IT has not been a success in Japan’s administrative system. On the other hand, the private sector, concerned about Japan’s lagging in its adoption of information technology, has been gradually moving forward to DX measures, such as electronic contracts. Then, this year, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Japan is (as of July 2020) about to experience a second wave of this disease. The need for DX has become imperative in all aspects of Japanese society, especially the government and business sectors. In the first half of 2020, the government set up DX policy rapidly; for example, civil court proceedings, the traditional carve seals custom, and the submission of administrative documents to government agencies have also been forced to move forward to DX due to COVID-19. It might be said that the crisis has been the catalyst for Japan’s shift to DX. However, it will be at least a few years before it can be known whether Japan’s DX will succeed, looking at the past examples within the Japanese bureaucratic system and politicians’ attitudes towards DX.

COVID-19 complications and entrepreneurial intention among the entrepreneurs of Pakistan: evidence from the second wave of the pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahadur Ali Soomro
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave

Purpose At present, nearly the whole globe is facing a severe threat of COVID-19. This study aims to examine the COVID-19 complications and entrepreneurial intention among the entrepreneurs of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The study used a deductive approach. An online survey is conducted to collect cross-sectional data from entrepreneurs of Pakistan. Convenience sampling is applied to target the respondents. In total, 278 usable answers proceed for final analysis. The structural equation model (SEM) is used to infer the results. Findings The findings of the study highlight a significant negative effect of fear of COVID-19 (FO19), perceived susceptibility (PSU) and perceived severity (PSE) on entrepreneurial intention (EI) among the entrepreneurs. Practical implications The study would provide the guidelines for policymakers and planners to combat the barriers of fear, PSU and PSE during a pandemic. The findings of the second wave of COVID-19 may provide a warning to the government to take preventive measures to face the severe effect of the pandemic. Finally, the outcomes of the study may enrich the depth of COVID-19 literature globally. Originality/value This study is the first study highlighting factors such as fear, PSU and PSE toward EI in COVID-19 second wave.

Policies to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Costa Rica

2020 ◽  
Vol 128 (S2) ◽  
pp. S218-S226
Author(s):  
Ronald Evans ◽  
Roger Bonilla ◽  
Roberto Salvatierra
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Social Security Fund ◽  
Effective Suppression ◽  
Security Fund ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Made In

The objective of this paper is to present a series of policies for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Costa Rican authorities. An exhaustive review of the pandemic control policies was made in the official government media, mainly the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund and some collective media. The first wave of the pandemic in Costa Rica was quite mild, allowing the government to address it with a series of quite effective suppression and mitigation measures, which had the unrestricted support of the population. The second wave grew aggressively, causing social discontent due to the economic impact. Due to the ineffectiveness of the “hammer and dance” strategy, the Costa Rican government has rethought that strategy, lifting certain restrictions while recognizing the risk involved in terms of the increase in cases of COVID-19 in cases and deaths.

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