Impact of school closures and re-openings on COVID-19 transmission

Background: Globally, the education of students at primary and secondary schools has been severely disrupted by the implementation of school closures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The effectiveness of school closures in reducing transmission of COVID-19 and the impact of re-opening schools are unclear. Methods: Research criteria for this rapid review included empirical studies, published or pre-published worldwide before January 25, 2021, that assessed the effectiveness of school closures in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of school re-openings on COVID-19 transmission. Results: Twenty-four studies on the impact of school closures and re-openings on COVID-19 transmission were identified through the seven databases that were searched. Overall the evidence from these studies was mixed and varied due to several factors such as the time of implementation of public health measures, research design of included studies and variability among the levels of schooling examined. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that school closures have limited impact on reducing COVID-19 transmission, with other non-pharmaceutical interventions considered much more effective. However, due to the limitations of the studies, further research is needed to support the use of this public health measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Estimating Force of Infection from Serologic Surveys with Imperfect Tests

10.1101/2020.06.09.20125724 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Neal Alexander ◽

Mabel Carabali ◽

Jacqueline K Lim

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Health Measure ◽

Important Public Health ◽

Control Programs ◽

Force Of Infection ◽

Belief Elicitation ◽

Health Measure ◽

Serological Studies ◽

Using Data ◽

The Impact

The force of infection, or the rate at which susceptible individuals become infected, is an important public health measure for assessing the extent of outbreaks and the impact of control programs. Here we present methods for estimating force of infection from serological surveys of infections which produce lasting immunity, taking into account imperfections in the test used, and uncertainty in such imperfections. The methods cover both single serological surveys, in which age is a proxy for time at risk, and repeat surveys in the same people, in which the force of infection is estimated more directly. Fixed values can be used for the sensitivity and specificity of the tests, or existing methods for belief elicitation can be used to include uncertainty in these values. The latter may be applicable, for example, when the specificity of a test depends on co-circulating pathogens, which may not have been well characterized in the setting of interest. We illustrate the methods using data from two published serological studies of dengue.

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Modelling the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong in early 2020

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11889-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wang-Chun Kwok ◽

Ka-Chun Wong ◽

Ting-Fung Ma ◽

Ka-Wai Ho ◽

Louis Wai-Tong Fan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Public Health Measure ◽

Seir Model ◽

Health Measure ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Almost All ◽

Isolation Facilities ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to pandemic that affected almost all countries in the world. Many countries have implemented border restriction as a public health measure to limit local outbreak. However, there is inadequate scientific data to support such a practice, especially in the presence of an established local transmission of the disease. Objective To apply a metapopulation Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model with inspected migration to investigate the effect of border restriction as a public health measure to limit outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019. Methods We apply a modified metapopulation SEIR model with inspected migration with simulating population migration, and incorporating parameters such as efficiency of custom inspection in blocking infected travelers in the model. The population sizes were retrieved from government reports, while the number of COVID-19 patients were retrieved from Hong Kong Department of Health and China Centre for Disease Control (CDC) data. The R0 was obtained from previous clinical studies. Results Complete border closure can help to reduce the cumulative COVID-19 case number and mortality in Hong Kong by 13.99% and 13.98% respectively. To prevent full occupancy of isolation facilities in Hong Kong; effective public health measures to reduce local R0 to below 1.6 was necessary, apart from having complete border closure. Conclusions Early complete travel restriction is effective in reducing cumulative cases and mortality. However, additional anti-COVID-19 measures to reduce local R0 to below 1.6 are necessary to prevent COVID-19 cases from overwhelming hospital isolation facilities.

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Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Following COVID-19 Public Health Measures on People Living With Dementia and Carers

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.1177/0891988721996816 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089198872199681

Author(s):

Kerry Hanna ◽

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Hilary Tetlow ◽

Kym Ward ◽

Justine Shenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Support Services ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Health Measures ◽

Social Support Services ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Background: To date, there appears to be no evidence on the longer-term impacts caused by COVID-19 and its related public health restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our societies. The aim of this research was to explore the change in impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the mental wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers. Method: Semi-structured, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with PLWD and unpaid carers between June and July 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences of accessing social support services during the pandemic, and the impact of restrictions on their daily lives. Results: 20 interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed, which produced 3 primary themes concerning emotional responses and impact to mental health and wellbeing during the course of the pandemic: 1) Impact on mental health during lockdown, 2) Changes to mental health following easing of public health, and 3) The long-term effect of public health measures. Conclusions: The findings from this research shed light on the longer-term psychological impacts of the UK Government’s public health measures on PLWD and their carers. The loss of social support services was key in impacting this cohort mentally and emotionally, displaying a need for better psychological support, for both carers and PLWD.

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The Use of Twitter as an Interactive Learning Tool Within a Postgraduate Public Health Course: A Pilot Study

Pedagogy in Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/2373379920978429 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 237337992097842

Author(s):

Rimante Ronto ◽

Alexandra Bhatti ◽

Josephine Chau

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Teaching Staff ◽

Learning Tool ◽

Interactive Approach ◽

Master Of Public Health ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact

Twitter has gained attention in recent years as a tool to use in higher education to enhance students’ learning, engagement, and reflective writing. This study explored public health students’ perceptions on the usefulness of Twitter as a learning tool, engagement with their peers, staff, and the broader public health community. Participants were Master of Public Health students from a public university based in Sydney, Australia. A mixed methods approach was used combining content analysis of tweets, an online survey and two focus groups. Students were asked to engage with Twitter by reflecting on each week’s teaching content and by liking and replying to their peers’ tweets. Participation and engagement in this task were high initially and declined toward the end of semester. Most student tweets aligned with topics taught during the semester. Survey and focus group data indicated most students had positive views on using Twitter and reported finding engagement with Twitter beneficial in obtaining current information on health promotion news and trends, increasing their professional networks and allowing them to connect with their peers and teaching staff. Results indicate Twitter is a promising interactive approach to enhance public health students’ engagement and overall learning experience, as well as being useful for professional networking. Larger scale empirical studies are needed to investigate the impact of the use of social media platforms such as Twitter to various learning outcomes longitudinally and beyond this course.

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The impact of COVID-19 on the care of people living with noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: an online survey of physicians and pharmacists in nine countries

Primary Health Care Research & Development ◽

10.1017/s146342362100030x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Chris Bullen ◽

Jessica McCormack ◽

Amanda Calder ◽

Varsha Parag ◽

Kannan Subramaniam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health Measures ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where people may have limited access to affordable quality care, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a particularly adverse impact on the health and healthcare of individuals with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A World Health Organization survey found that disruption of delivery of healthcare for NCDs was more significant in LMICs than in high-income countries. However, the study did not elicit insights into the day-to-day impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare by front-line healthcare workers (FLHCWs). Aim: To gain insights directly from FLHCWs working in countries with a high NCD burden, and thereby identify opportunities to improve the provision of healthcare during the current pandemic and in future healthcare emergencies. Methods: We recruited selected frontline healthcare workers (general practitioners, pharmacists, and other medical specialists) from nine countries to complete an online survey (n = 1347). Survey questions focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and NCDs; barriers to clinical care during the pandemic; and innovative responses to the many challenges presented by the pandemic. Findings: The majority of FLHCWs responding to our survey reported that their care of patients had been impacted both adversely and positively by the public health measures imposed. Most FLHCs (95%) reported a deterioration in the mental health of their patients. Conclusions: Continuity of care for NCDs as part of pandemic preparedness is needed so that chronic conditions are not exacerbated by public health measures and the direct impacts of the pandemic.

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Harnessing testing strategies and public health measures to avert COVID-19 outbreaks during ocean cruises

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95032-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gerardo Chowell ◽

Sushma Dahal ◽

Raquel Bono ◽

Kenji Mizumoto

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Contact Network ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Individual Level ◽

Health Measures ◽

Testing Strategies ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact

AbstractTo ensure the safe operation of schools, workplaces, nursing homes, and other businesses during COVID-19 pandemic there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective public health strategies. Here we focus on the cruise industry which was hit early by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 40 cruise ships reporting COVID-19 infections. We apply mathematical modeling to assess the impact of testing strategies together with social distancing protocols on the spread of the novel coronavirus during ocean cruises using an individual-level stochastic model of the transmission dynamics of COVID-19. We model the contact network, the potential importation of cases arising during shore excursions, the temporal course of infectivity at the individual level, the effects of social distancing strategies, different testing scenarios characterized by the test’s sensitivity profile, and testing frequency. Our findings indicate that PCR testing at embarkation and daily testing of all individuals aboard, together with increased social distancing and other public health measures, should allow for rapid detection and isolation of COVID-19 infections and dramatically reducing the probability of onboard COVID-19 community spread. In contrast, relying only on PCR testing at embarkation would not be sufficient to avert outbreaks, even when implementing substantial levels of social distancing measures.

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Cracks to Craters: College Advising During COVID-19

AERA Open ◽

10.1177/23328584211018715 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 233285842110187

Author(s):

Meredith R. Naughton

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Marginalized Students ◽

School Closures ◽

Wide Range ◽

College Advising ◽

Communication Challenges ◽

High Need Schools ◽

Education Of Students ◽

The Impact ◽

Systemic Barriers

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease–2019) pandemic disrupted the education of students across the globe in the spring of 2020. Students who were previously at most risk for falling behind their peers and through the cracks because of academic, financial, racial, and/or generational disadvantage faced a wide range of additional obstacles in the pursuit of their college goals. This qualitative study sought to uncover postsecondary advising implications for students through the perspectives of near-peer college advisers (n = 23) serving in high-need schools in two different states as intensive, in-person advising was forced to adapt to virtual formats. Two key thematic findings reveal that advisers faced new communication challenges and existing systemic barriers for marginalized students became even larger. For seniors who had not yet made final postsecondary decisions or who had remaining to-dos, the impact of school closures and distanced advising may have fatally widened existing cracks in the path to college.

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