scholarly journals Trends of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody prevalence in selected regions across Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Peter Kojo Quashie ◽  
Joe Kimanthi Mutungi ◽  
Francis Dzabeng ◽  
Daniel Oduro-Mensah ◽  
Precious C. Opurum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Lower Case ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Phase Iv

Background: We set out to estimate the community-level exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Ghana. Methods: Phased seroprevalence studies of 2729 participants at selected locations across Ghana were conducted. Phase I (August 2020) sampled 1305 individuals at major markets/lorry stations, shopping malls, hospitals and research institutions involved in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) work. The study utilized a lateral flow rapid diagnostic test (RDT) which detected IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Results: During Phase I, 252/1305 (19%) tested positive for IgM or IgG or both. Exposure was significantly higher at markets/lorry stations (26.9%) compared to malls (9.4%), with 41–60-year group demonstrating highest seropositivity (27.2%). Exposure was higher in participants with no formal education (26.2%) than those with tertiary education (13.1%); and higher in informally employed workers (24.0%) than those in the formal sector (15.0%). Results from phases II and III, in October and December 2020 respectively, implied either reduced transmissions or loss of antibody expression in some participants. The Upper East region showed the lowest seropositivity (2%). Phase IV, in February 2021, showed doubled seropositivity in the upper income bracket (26.2%) since August 2020, reflective of Ghana’s second wave of symptomatic COVID-19 cases. This suggested that high transmission rates had overcome the initial socioeconomic stratification of exposure risk. Reflective of second wave hospitalisation trends, the 21-40 age group demonstrated modal seropositivity (24.9) in Phase IV whilst 40-60 years and 60+ previously demonstrated highest prevalence. Conclusions: Overall, the data indicates higher COVID-19 seroprevalence than officially acknowledged, likely implying a considerably lower-case fatality rate than the current national figure of 0.84%. The data also suggests that COVID-19 is predominantly asymptomatic COVID-19 in Ghana. The observed trends mimic clinical trends of infection and imply that the methodology used was appropriate.

scholarly journals Trends of SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in selected regions across Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kojo Quashie ◽  
Joe Kimanthi Mutungi ◽  
Francis Dzabeng ◽  
Daniel Oduro-Mensah ◽  
Precious C. Opurum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Exposure Rate ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Lower Case ◽  
Phase Iv

AbstractTo estimate the level of community exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Ghana, we conducted phased seroprevalence studies of 2729 participants in selected locations across Ghana. Phase I screening (August 2020) covered a total of 1305 individuals screened at major markets/lorry stations, major shopping malls, hospitals and research institutions involved in COVID-19 work. The screening was performed using a strip-in-cassette lateral flow type Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit that simultaneously and separately detected IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. In Phase I, 252/1305 (19%) tested positive for IgM or IgG or both. Exposure rate was significantly higher among individuals tested at markets/lorry stations (26.9%) compared to those at Shopping Malls (9.4%). The 41–60-years age group had the highest exposure rate (27.2%). People with only a basic level or no formal education had a higher exposure rate (26.2%) than those with tertiary level education (13.1%); and higher in informally employed workers (24.0%) than those in the formal sector (15.0%). Phases II and III screening activities in October and December 2020, respectively, showed no evidence of increased seroprevalence, indicating either a reduced transmission rate or loss of antibody expression in a subset of the participants. The Upper East region has the lowest exposure rate, with only 4 of 200 participants (2%) seropositivity. Phase IV screening in February 2021 showed that exposure rates in the upper income earners (26.2%) had almost doubled since August 2020, reflective of Ghana’s second wave of symptomatic COVID-19 cases, which began in December 2020. The Phase IV results suggest that seroprevalence levels have become so high that the initial socioeconomic stratification of exposure has been lost. Overall, the data indicates a much higher COVID-19 seroprevalence in the Greater Accra Region than was officially acknowledged, likely implying a considerably lower case fatality rate than the current national figure of 0.84%. Additionally, the high exposure levels seen in the communities suggest that COVID-19 in Ghana still predominantly presents with none-to-mild symptoms. Our results lay the foundation for more extensive SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Ghana and the West African sub-region, including deploying rapid antigen test kits in concert to determine the actual infection burden since antibody development lags infection.

scholarly journals Significantly Lower Case-fatality Ratio of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) than Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong—A Territory-Wide Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Chung-Yan Lui ◽  
Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip ◽  
Vincent Wai-Sun Wong ◽  
Viola Chi-Ying Chow ◽  
Tracy Hang-Yee Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Composite Endpoint ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Lower Case ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Background The case-fatality ratios (CFR) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) appeared to differ substantially. We aimed to compare the CFR and its predictors of COVID-19 and SARS patients using a territory-wide cohort in Hong Kong. Methods This was a territory-wide retrospective cohort study using data captured from all public hospitals in Hong Kong. Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and SARS patients were identified. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint of intensive care unit admission, use of mechanical ventilation, and/or death. Results We identified 1013 COVID-19 patients (mean age, 38.4 years; 53.9% male) diagnosed from 23 January to 14 April 2020 and 1670 SARS patients (mean age, 44.4 years; 44.0% male) from March to June 2003. Fifty-five (5.4%) COVID-19 patients and 432 (25.9%) SARS patients had reached the primary endpoint in 30 days. By 30 June 2003, 286 SARS patients had died (CFR, 17.1%). By 7 June 2020, 4 COVID-19 patients had died (CFR, 0.4%). After adjusting for demographic and clinical parameters, COVID-19 was associated with a 71% lower risk of primary endpoint compared with SARS (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, .21–.40; P < .0001). Age, diabetes mellitus, and laboratory parameters (high lactate dehydrogenase, high C-reactive protein, and low platelet count) were independent predictors of the primary endpoint in COVID-19 patients, whereas use of antiviral treatments was not associated with primary endpoint. Conclusions The CFR of COVID-19 was 0.4%. Age and diabetes were associated with worse outcomes, whereas antiviral treatments were not.

scholarly journals Changes in the Relationship Between Formal Education and Formal Employment Sector in Nepal Between 1995 and 2014

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-73
Author(s):  
Thomas Bolli ◽  
Mahesh Nath Parajuli ◽  
Ursula Renold
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Employment Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Over Time

This paper uses seven individual-level surveys between 1995 and 2014 to analyse the hypothesis that formal education increases wage-employment and formal sector employment in Nepal. The results show that formal education has increased substantially. However, formal sector employment has remained relatively stable. Individuals with tertiary education are about twice as often employed in the formal sector than individuals without completed primary education. This relationship is less strong for secondary education (22%) and primary education (7%). The results further show that about half of the relationship arises from working in government-related sectors. The overall picture regarding the relationship between formal education and formal sector employment has remained similar over time. However, the strength of the relationship between completed primary and secondary education and formal sector employment has decreased over time. The relationship between tertiary education and formal sector employment has remained stable unless the government related sectors are excluded.

scholarly journals Blood Supply Management Amidst COVID -19 Pandemic

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
KIRTI DEVGAN ◽  
Subrat Gupta ◽  
VIJAY SHARMA
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Blood Supply ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Supply Management ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Phase Iv

Abstract AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The mandatory lockdown restrictions and curtailment strategies towards mass gatherings imposed by the government amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the organization of the voluntary blood donation camps were suspended and in house donations were limited leading to scarcity of blood With this we intend to assess the effect of this mass lockdown on our blood supply management in four phases [phase-I prior to the outbreak] ,phase-II[during the outbreak], Phase-III: The declining phase [Oct20-Feb21] and Phase IV: The second wave [March21-may21] MATERIALS AND METHOD : This is a retrospective study of twenty months of a blood bank supplying to a 1200 bedded multi-specialty Tertiary Care Academic Hospital in Lucknow. The study was divided into four phases namely: • Phase-I: Pre-pandemic phase [Oct’19 to Feb’20] • Phase-II: The full-blown pandemic phase [Mar 20-Sep 20] • Phase-III: The declining phase [Oct20-Feb21] • Phase IV: The second wave [March21-may21] Details of the blood units collected both in-house as well as in the VBDC’s were used for the study. The date of collection, expiry and date of issue for each packed red blood cell [PRBC] units were noted. The components prepared from the whole blood was also noted. The average In-house donations were tabulated. The various components issued month wise was also noted. The supply of Convalescent plasma in all the three phases was tabulate RESULT: The average whole blood collection pre pandemic was 1103 units (55%), 768units (51%) in pandemic phase, 1219units (61%) in declining phase and only 692units (21%) in second wave of the pandemic. In Phase I 27 VBDC collected 1153 units (58%) and in Phase III 8 VBDC collected 236units(12%) Due to restrictions in mass gatherings and lockdown enforced, the whole blood collections from Phase II and Phase IV was 93units (6.5%) and 76units (2.2%) only. In Phase I, the average In House Donation was 33.6%, In Phase II it was12%, In Phase III was 5.75% and lastly in Phase IV was 5.4% The PRBC issued on an average in the four phases was 59%, 48%, 55% and 26% respectively. Similarly the FFP issued in Phase I , II, III and IV was 62%,34%,58% and 20%. Lastly the RDP issued was 15%, 13%, 19% and 4.5% in all the various phases. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that COVID 19 pandemic had a negative impact on total number of In-house donations, voluntary blood donation camps, blood stock inventory and transfusion recipients along with taking a major toll on health and safety of our blood bank staff as well. With little insight of the disease and everyday learning, by motivating more voluntary donors and health care workers the efficient chain of blood supply and demand can be maintained as the virus is to stay with us for a long time.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in General Hospitals and Clinics in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3786
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Yoshihara ◽  
Kazuya Ito ◽  
Masayoshi Zaitsu ◽  
Eunhee Chung ◽  
Izumi Aoyagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
General Population ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Immunoglobulin G ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
General Hospitals ◽  
Second Wave

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In general, healthcare workers are considered to be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Japan is not well characterized. In this study, we aimed to examine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among 2160 healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics that are not designated to treat COVID-19 patients in Japan. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G was 1.2% in August and October 2020 (during and after the second wave of the pandemic in Japan), which is relatively higher than that in the general population in Japan (0.03–0.91%). Because of the higher risk of COVID-19 infection, healthcare workers should be the top priority for further social support and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Letters from a dying college: How the climate crisis demands a wilder pedagogy and wilder policies

2021 ◽  
pp. 147821032110016
Author(s):  
Daniel Ford ◽  
Sean Blenkinsop
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Bearing Witness ◽  
Ecological Responsibility ◽  
Open Discussion ◽  
Inclusive Governance ◽  
Climate Crisis

This paper takes the academically unorthodox form of personal correspondence. This method, of letters between two educators writing to one another across the distance of two continents and different experiences, seeks to create an inclusive, confessional tone, one that invites the reader to get closer to the lived experience of those struggling within the educational and environmental crises. Critically, this correspondence also seeks to open discussion about the difficult demands of state secondary and tertiary education. The authors explore issues regarding their denuded experiences of working in formal education settings while bearing witness to environmental degradation and ecological collapse. In light of their exploration, the authors argue for an ‘agrios’, a wilder, more expansive polis, coupled with more ecologically-inclusive governance, to address the current potentially catastrophic political leadership that has seemingly turned away from ecological responsibility. This paper culminates in direct letters that focus on a series of practical proposals for action and on four premises for developing agriocy – the policy that supports the agrios/agriocity.

scholarly journals Estimating effective infection fatality rates during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Staerk ◽  
Tobias Wistuba ◽  
Andreas Mayr
Keyword(s):  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Temporary Increase ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Second Wave

Abstract Background The infection fatality rate (IFR) of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most discussed figures in the context of this pandemic. In contrast to the case fatality rate (CFR), the IFR depends on the total number of infected individuals – not just on the number of confirmed cases. In order to estimate the IFR, several seroprevalence studies have been or are currently conducted. Methods Using German COVID-19 surveillance data and age-group specific IFR estimates from multiple international studies, this work investigates time-dependent variations in effective IFR over the course of the pandemic. Three different methods for estimating (effective) IFRs are presented: (a) population-averaged IFRs based on the assumption that the infection risk is independent of age and time, (b) effective IFRs based on the assumption that the age distribution of confirmed cases approximately reflects the age distribution of infected individuals, and (c) effective IFRs accounting for age- and time-dependent dark figures of infections. Results Effective IFRs in Germany are estimated to vary over time, as the age distributions of confirmed cases and estimated infections are changing during the course of the pandemic. In particular during the first and second waves of infections in spring and autumn/winter 2020, there has been a pronounced shift in the age distribution of confirmed cases towards older age groups, resulting in larger effective IFR estimates. The temporary increase in effective IFR during the first wave is estimated to be smaller but still remains when adjusting for age- and time-dependent dark figures. A comparison of effective IFRs with observed CFRs indicates that a substantial fraction of the time-dependent variability in observed mortality can be explained by changes in the age distribution of infections. Furthermore, a vanishing gap between effective IFRs and observed CFRs is apparent after the first infection wave, while an increasing gap can be observed during the second wave. Conclusions The development of estimated effective IFR and observed CFR reflects the changing age distribution of infections over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Further research is warranted to obtain timely age-stratified IFR estimates, particularly in light of new variants of the virus.

scholarly journals Dynamique glacielle à la pointe d’Argentenay, île d’Orléans, Québec

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Allard ◽  
Paul Champagne
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Iv

Les observations faites au cours des hivers 1977-1978 et 1978-1979 ont permis la détermination de six phases d’évolution de la glace sur les rives de l’extrémité aval de l’île d’Orléans, dans l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent. Les basses températures du début de l’hiver amorcent l’englacement (phase I) qui débute par la formation de plaquettes de glace en eaux calmes et d’une carapace de glace sur les rivages rocheux, tandis que les chutes de neige occasionnent la formation de boules de neige et de glace. L’assemblage des cellules de glace initiales en radeaux de glace constitue la 2ephase; cet assemblage conduit aussi à la formation d’un pied de glace au haut de l’estran. L’englaçonnement, c’est-à-dire l’agglomération des radeaux de glace sur l’estran, constitue la 3ephase qui est suivie de la fixation de la glace de rive (phase IV). Au pléni-glaciel (phase V), au plus fort de l’hiver, l’extension de la glace est maximale. Enfin, intervient le déglacement printanier (phase VI) plus ou moins brutal selon l’exposition des sites. Une étude portant sur 219 blocs glaciels répartis en cinq sites d’exposition différente permet de constater que la mobilité des blocs glaciels est très grande dans les sites exposés aux vagues et très faible dans les sites protégés. Quelques observations permettent aussi de conclure que le transport de blocs glaciels peut aussi bien parfois s’effectuer à l’automne et pendant le pléni-glaciel qu’au printemps.

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