scholarly journals Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Starting Residency in a Foster Institution

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 238212052110240
Author(s):  
Jiekai Tan ◽  
Lin Wee ◽  
Faith Li-Ann Chia ◽  
Wee Khoon Ng
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Response Level ◽  
Emotional Challenges ◽  
The Public ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Health Response

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) raised the public health response level from DORSCON (Disease Outbreak Response System Condition) ‘Yellow’ to ‘Orange’ on 7 February 2020. This instituted strict movement restrictions for all healthcare workers to minimise cross-institutional transmission of COVID-19, creating a unique scenario where many residents physically located in different healthcare institutions at the start of DORSCON Orange were unable to return to their matched Sponsoring Institutions (SIs) to begin residency training in July 2020. Residents faced multiple administrative and emotional challenges as a result of freezing of cross-institutional movement. These challenges included concerns with regards to meeting training requirements (due to different modes of assessment, and posting structures between the 3 SIs) and concerns with regards to emotional support (due to starting residency in an unfamiliar environment where the resident may have less pre-existing connections/support). These challenges were swiftly addressed by the strong support of foster and parent institutions, and close communication between the leadership of the 3 SIs. Lessons learnt from the current pandemic include the need for a common online platform across the 3 SIs with regards to assessment forms, importance of sharing teaching materials between the different SIs and the need for close collaboration between parent and foster SIs with regards to balancing training requirements versus the needs posed by a pandemic situation on the healthcare structure.

scholarly journals Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Walton ◽  
Esther Murray ◽  
Michael D Christian
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Valuable Resource ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Critical Part ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for society. Supporting the mental health of medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers (staff) is a critical part of the public health response. This paper details the effects on staff and addresses some of the organisational, team and individual considerations for supporting staff (pragmatically) during this pandemic. Leaders at all levels of health care organisations will find this a valuable resource.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in a San Francisco Homeless Shelter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Imbert ◽  
Patrick M Kinley ◽  
Ashley Scarborough ◽  
Caroline Cawley ◽  
Madeline Sankaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Case Investigation ◽  
Symptom Screening ◽  
Health Response

Abstract We report the public health response to a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a San Francisco shelter where 67% of residents and 17% of staff tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe the limited utility of case investigation, person-based contact tracing and symptom screening, and the benefits of mass testing in outbreak response.

scholarly journals Estimation of the Actual Incidence of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Emergent Hotspots: The Example of Hokkaido, Japan during February–March 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2392
Author(s):  
Andrei R. Akhmetzhanov ◽  
Kenji Mizumoto ◽  
Sung-Mok Jung ◽  
Natalie M. Linton ◽  
Ryosuke Omori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Actual Number ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Actual Incidence

Following the first report of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Sapporo city, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, on 14 February 2020, a surge of cases was observed in Hokkaido during February and March. As of 6 March, 90 cases were diagnosed in Hokkaido. Unfortunately, many infected persons may not have been recognized due to having mild or no symptoms during the initial months of the outbreak. We therefore aimed to predict the actual number of COVID-19 cases in (i) Hokkaido Prefecture and (ii) Sapporo city using data on cases diagnosed outside these areas. Two statistical frameworks involving a balance equation and an extrapolated linear regression model with a negative binomial link were used for deriving both estimates, respectively. The estimated cumulative incidence in Hokkaido as of 27 February was 2,297 cases (95% confidence interval (CI): 382–7091) based on data on travelers outbound from Hokkaido. The cumulative incidence in Sapporo city as of 28 February was estimated at 2233 cases (95% CI: 0–4893) based on the count of confirmed cases within Hokkaido. Both approaches resulted in similar estimates, indicating a higher incidence of infections in Hokkaido than were detected by the surveillance system. This quantification of the gap between detected and estimated cases helped to inform the public health response at the beginning of the pandemic and provided insight into the possible scope of undetected transmission for future assessments.

scholarly journals United States response to the COVID-19 pandemic, January–November 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Mathew Alexander ◽  
Lynn Unruh ◽  
Andriy Koval ◽  
William Belanger
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
United States Healthcare

Abstract As of November 2020, the United States leads the world in confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths. Over the past 10 months, the United States has experienced three peaks in new cases, with the most recent spike in November setting new records. Inaction and the lack of a scientifically informed, unified response have contributed to the sustained spread of COVID-19 in the United States. This paper describes major events and findings from the domestic response to COVID-19 from January to November 2020, including on preventing transmission, COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, ensuring sufficient physical infrastructure and healthcare workforce, paying for services, and governance. We further reflect on the public health response to-date and analyse the link between key policy decisions (e.g. closing, reopening) and COVID-19 cases in three states that are representative of the broader regions that have experienced spikes in cases. Finally, as we approach the winter months and undergo a change in national leadership, we highlight some considerations for the ongoing COVID-19 response and the broader United States healthcare system. These findings describe why the United States has failed to contain COVID-19 effectively to-date and can serve as a reference in the continued response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

scholarly journals Toward a critical race analysis of the COVID-19 crisis in US carceral institutions

2021 ◽  
pp. 026101832110014
Author(s):  
Paddy Farr
Keyword(s):  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Racial Justice ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Detention Centers ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Race Analysis

People in carceral institutions are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Applying critical race theory to the problem of COVID-19 provides tools to analyze the risk of infection and evaluate the public health response within the imprisoned, jailed, and detained population. On the surface, this is due to factors related to a lack of hygiene products, an inability to physically distance, a low quality and inaccessible health care, and poor health. However, at root, the increased risk for infection is directly linked to the legacy of slavery and colonization within the history of US prisons, jails, and detention centers. As a solution to the crisis of COVID-19 and prevention of future pandemics within prisons, jails and detention centers, a critical race orientation provides reason and direction for mass decarceration and racial justice.

scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on childhood Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in Chengdu, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Yijie Huang ◽  
Tao Ai ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
Hanmin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Western China ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a change in the incidence and transmission of respiratory pathogens was observed. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiologic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among children in Chengdu, one of the largest cities of western China. Method M. pneumoniae infection was diagnosed in 33,345 pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms at the Chengdu Women’s & Children’s Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2020, based on a serum antibody titer of ≥1:160 measured by the passive agglutination assay. Differences in infection rates were examined by sex, age, and temporal distribution. Results Two epidemic outbreaks occurred between October-December 2017 and April-December 2019, and two infection peaks were detected in the second and fourth quarters of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Due to the public health response to COVID-19, the number of positive M. pneumoniae cases significantly decreased in the second quarter of 2020. The number of M. pneumoniae infection among children aged 3–6 years was higher than that in other age groups. Conclusions Preschool children are more susceptible to M. pneumoniae infection and close contact appears to be the predominant factor favoring pathogen transmission. The public health response to COVID-19 can effectively control the transmission of M. pneumoniae.

scholarly journals The Australian industrial system in the era of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 002218562110128
Author(s):  
Michele O’Neil
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
National Level ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Union Movement ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Decentralised Systems ◽  
Australian Economy

COVID-19 caused sudden and serious damage to the Australian economy. The effects have been spread unevenly, and highlighted the shortcomings of over-reliance on insecure forms of work. The lack of any form of paid leave for casual and other insecure workers undermined the public health response, and was emblematic of the broader consequences of insecurity. Despite its limitations, Australia’s industrial relations system responded to the challenges of the pandemic in a way that less regulated and ‘decentralised’ systems would not have been able to. This article argues that the union movement was critical to Australia’s successful response, and that the award system proved to be an adaptable mechanism to deliver change at a national level while ensuring that the representative voice of workers was heard, and basic industrial protections were not jettisoned. Industry bargaining would have also been a beneficial tool to deal with economy-wide issues of this kind. The article urges that the lessons of the pandemic be learned as we move to a recovery phase and that we ensure there are more secure jobs, better bargaining rights and improvements to basic protections to ensure that workers’ rights are not eroded.

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