scholarly journals An Assessment of the Smart COVID-19 Approach to Lockdown and its Empirical Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Ghaffar ◽  
Mubbasher Munir ◽  
Osama Aziz ◽  
Rada Alhajj ◽  
Asif Sanaullah

COVID-19 is a new and contagious disease that has changed human lifestyle and habits globally according to the directions provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until some authentic remedy or vaccine becomes available, every country is providing instructions to its public to follow precautionary measures. These measures may include lockdown, social distancing, restricting movement, and educating public about COVID-19. Lockdown is the most applied and successful way to control the virus spread and it remains helpful in curtailing the spike. However, it adversely affects developing countries like Pakistan. All types of lockdown disrupt the life of the poor and the middle class. In this paper, an intelligent-smart approach is suggested for developing countries as against complete lockdown to handle the pandemic. This approach will show the long-term results needed for controlling COVID-19 without creating any major disturbance in the economy. In this paper, evidence based approaches were used to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of the daily increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan. The results showed that Sindh, which has the maximum number of COVID-19 cases, is better in implementing smart lockdown as compared to other administrative regions of Pakistan. As the risk of the second wave of COVID-19 is enhanced, it would be effective to continue the intelligent-smart approach with mild SOPs to avoid the disastrous effects of COVID-19 in the future. Received Date: May 14, 2020, Last Received:  December 10, 2020 Acceptance:  December  25, 2020  

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Aída M. Reséndiz Barragán ◽  
Mariana A. Sierra Murguía

Obesity has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an epidemic, due to a growth trend in obesity rates over the past 60 years and it is estimated that by 2015 there will be approximately 2.3 billion overweighed adults and 700 million obese adults worldwide. Bariatric surgery has shown to be the most effective intervention for the treatment of severe obesity with better long-term results. While most post-operative patients of bariatric surgery show improvement in psychopathology and quality of life, psychological recurrences have been identified thereafter. It has been reported that for people who have not been able to implement changes in their lifestyle, the result of the operation may not be optimal and may even be counterproductive with undesirable outcomes, such as recovery of lost weight, malnutrition, depression and anxiety, as well as using food as a soothing agent to stressful stimuli, present failures in following the diet, as well as dissatisfaction with the staff of the clinic In recent years the number of bariatric surgeries performed annually has tripled showing a tendency to continue increasing, psychosocial and behavioral factors play a fundamental role in the long- term effects of the surgery; for this reason, the objective of this study is to describe the main psychological recurrences after bariatric surgery as well as a proposal for post-surgical cognitive behavioral group psychological support. Key words: bariatric surgery, obesity, post bariatric surgery, psychological intervention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-24
Author(s):  
Elena S. Akarachkova ◽  
◽  
Anton A. Beliaev ◽  
Dmitrii V. Blinov ◽  
Evgenii V. Bugorskii ◽  
...  

World Health Organization declared COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Fear of illness, self-isolation/quarantine, and reduced quality of life dramatically increased the prevalence of stress-related disorders in the population. Therefore, it is necessary to implement the preventive health-care measures aimed at short-term and long-term COVID-19 pandemic consequences reduction and promotion of social stability.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9061-9061
Author(s):  
Susan M. Swetter ◽  
Arianna Aldridge Gerry ◽  
Kelly Bugos ◽  
Ralph Steven Greco ◽  
Katherine L. McGurk ◽  
...  

9061 Background: Little is known about melanoma survivors and their long-term symptoms, sun protection practices and support needs from health professionals. Methods: Melanoma survivors previously treated at Stanford Cancer Center completed a quality improvement survey to explore the value of a melanoma survivorship clinic, as part of the Stanford Cancer Survivorship Program. The survey period ranged from July 2012 to September 2012, and 17% of the 893 invited survivors responded. We compared responses of melanoma survivors diagnosed between 2006-2011 (short-term) and 1995-2005 (long-term). Results: 153 cancer survivors (41% short- and 59% long-term) completed the survey. On average, they were 62 years of age (SD=15.1), 94% Caucasian, 47% female, and 68% underwent local excision alone. Long- vs. short-term survivors were less likely to receive routine skin screening every 3-6 months (38% vs. 83%, p<0.001) or follow-up for their melanoma in the last 6 months (54% vs. 76% p=0.045). Sun protection practices were similar between groups; however, long-term survivors decreased their use of tanning beds (33% vs. 18%, p=0.03) and time seeking a tan relative to short-term survivors (72% vs. 48%, p=0.002). Overall, survivors rated anxiety as the most prevalent symptom (33%), followed by numbness of the scar site (31%), forgetfulness (26%), sleep problems and depression (23%), pain and fatigue (17%). Sixty-eight percent of all survivors reported their symptoms were not addressed by their health provider, and of those stating their provider addressed their symptoms (32%), the survivor initiated the conversation 71% of the time. In general, survivors desired education about the long-term effects of melanoma (41%), family risk of skin cancer (28%), and protecting their skin from further damage (20%). Twenty percent of all survivors requested treatment for the long term effects of melanoma, and 12% wanted emotional support. Conclusions: Melanoma survivors experience continuing symptoms long after treatment, namely anxiety, and express a need for information about long-term melanoma effects, psychosocial support, and prevention of further skin cancer. Clinicians should routinely assess survivorship needs to improve quality of life.


2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
T E Mukantayev

Aim. To evaluate the efficiency and to review the indications for laparoscopic endocystectomy in liver echinococcosis.Methods. The results of laparoscopic endocystectomy in 86 patients treated for liver echinococcosis compared to cystectomy by laparotomy in 159 patients are presented.Results. Optimal characteristics for laparoscopic endocystectomy were types CL, CE1-CE3 of cystic echinococcosis according to cystic echinococcosis ultrasonic classification by H.A. Gharbi (1981) modified by World Health Organization (2003) with cysts localized in 2-6 liver segments; partial superficial location of cysts; cyst size not less than 5 cm; no cysts in 1, 7 and 8 liver segments or deeply located cysts of any size, as well as cysts of CE4-CE5 types. Of the 86 cases in which laparoscopic endocystectomy was completed successfully, in 4 patients the surgery was continued by a laparotomy access. The reasons for the continuation with laparotomy were unsuccessful attempts for stable hemostasis at resection of liver fibrous capsule excesses (1 case), presence of large fistula between the cyst and components of the biliary system at the bottom of the fibrous cavity (2 patients), and location of the second cyst in the segment unavailable for laparoscopic manipulation (1 case). The frequency of early complications after laparoscopic endocystectomy was 15.1% (p=0.23). Relapse occurred in 1 (1.2%) patient (p=0.23). Comparative assessment of echinococcosis recurrence risk in different periods (Kaplan-Meier analysis) after laparoscopic interventions and laparotomy, both followed by albendazole treatment, did not identify any statistically significant differences.Conclusion. The early and long-term effects of laparoscopic endocystectomy in liver echinococcosis are not inferior to conventional laparotomy if indications are strictly followed.


2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2021-107763
Author(s):  
Nancy S Jecker ◽  
Derrick K S Au

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic, diverse strategies have emerged to address it. This paper focuses on two leading strategies, elimination and mitigation, and examines their ethical basis. Elimination or ‘Zero-COVID’ dominates policies in Pacific Rim societies. It sets as a goal zero deaths and seeks to contain transmission using stringent short-term lockdowns, followed by strict find, test, trace and isolate methods. Mitigation, which dominates in the US and most European nations, sets targets for community transmission and lifts restrictions once targets are met. This approach takes calculated risks and regards a certain amount of disease and death as ethically justified. Section I examines different societal responses to risk that underlie these different policy approaches. Section II focuses on ethical arguments favouring Zero-COVID and raises health equity objections. Section III proposes a long-term strategy that balances the twin goals of promoting population health and health equity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-44
Author(s):  
Karen M. Hogan

The growing threat of cyber breach has become one of the most feared risks corporations around the world are currently dealing with. This paper uses a methodology similar to Hogan, Olson, and Angelina (2020) to analyze global shareholder value effects of cyber breaches from 1990 to 2019 for five major non-US countries. Cumulative Average Returns (CARs) are calculated using the first notice date to periods of up to 90 days post-announcement to compare short-term and long-term effects of cyber breaches on the stock price. Results for this data set show significant negative returns for US corporations in all windows. Unlike its US counterparts, short-term results for non-US countries show no significant changes to price as a result of cyber breach announcements. Long-term results for the aggregate non-US sample show significance only at the (0,30) window. Individual country long-term analysis shows some significance depending on the event windows, but no common patterns are seen among countries. These results point to differences in how news of a cyber breach, by country, is perceived in the market. The results help explain some of the patterns insurance companies have seen in the reticent buying habits of global companies with respect to cyber insurance.


2001 ◽  
Vol 178 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramin Mojtabai ◽  
Ezra Susser ◽  
Vijoy K. Varma ◽  
Savita Malhotra ◽  
Surendra K. Mattoo ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe short-term course of schizophrenia is reported to be better in some developing country settings. The long-term course in such settings, however, has rarely been studied.AimsTo examine the long-term course and mortality of schizophrenia in patients with a poor 2-year course.MethodThe report is based on two incidence cohorts of first-contact patients in urban and rural Chandigarh, India, originally recruited for the World Health Organization Determinants of Outcome of Severe Mental Disorders study. Patients were assessed using standardised instruments at 2- and 15-year follow-ups.ResultsNinety-two per cent of the patients with a poor 2-year course had a poor long-term course and 47% died – a nine times higher mortality rate than among patients with other 2-year course types.ConclusionsIn this developing country setting, a poor 2-year course was strongly predictive of poor prognosis and high mortality, raising questions about the adequacy of care for such patients.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1631-1641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebere C. Anyanwu ◽  
John E. Ehiri ◽  
Ijeoma Kanu ◽  
Joav Merrick

The endemicity of malaria in tropical areas of the world persists, especially in countries south of Saharan Africa. The efforts and concerns invested by the World Health Organization and other health agencies to eradicate malaria are commendable. However, in spite of all these efforts, the loss in economic and human resources continues. In a previous report, the long-term health effects of insecticide-impregnated bednet (IIBN) use were highlighted with the expectation of attracting serious thoughts and further research on the issue. This present paper is an update on that expectation. Results from a comprehensive literature search show that not much work has been done on the effects of long-term exposure to IIBNs in combating malarial infection. The efficacy of IIBNs is not in question. What is in question is whether long-term exposure to IIBNs have any health effects. The aims and outcomes of the research found in the literature on the subject to date seem to support only the efficacy of the temporal use of plain bednets, but not the use of IIBNs, and do not tell much about the long-term effects of IIBN exposure. All pesticides are toxic by nature and present risks of adverse effects. While there is agreement that IIBNs can be effective in reducing malarial morbidity and mortality under field trials, a number of factors relating to their long-term-exposure health effects have yet to be determined. Further reliable research projects are recommended urgently. However, some of the anticipated behavioral effects caused by insecticidal use will be avoided by the use of untreated nets instead.


Author(s):  
Sajad Delavari ◽  
Zahra Jamali ◽  
Mohsen Bayati

Abstract Background: Countries are trying several policy options for decreasing the incidence and burden of the COVID-19. One of these strategies is a lockdown, complete closure, to reduce the risk of distributing disease via social interactions. This study aimed to analyze the effect of a three-week lockdown on the mortality and morbidity of the COVID-19 in Iran. Methods: Official daily data on COVID-19 incidence and death reported on the COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) were extracted from September 1, 2020, to January 14, 2021. Data were analyzed using interrupted time series analysis via STATA 14 software. Results: Lockdown resulted in a significant reduction in the daily death from Covid-19 in the short-term (β=-139, P<0.01) and in the long-term (β=-12, P<0.01). Moreover, lockdown in the short-term insignificantly (β=-21.58, P=0.969), and in the long-term significantly (β=-317.31, P<0.01) reduced the Covid-19 daily incidence. Discussion: The results showed that the lockdown has a significant effect on incidence and death numbers. Therefore, it could be a suitable short-term strategy for controlling the COVID-19 outbreak. On the other hand, its negative effects on households and businesses should be considered.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Delmastro

Abstract Efficacy is one of the essential elements of laws and norms. In this paper I focus on the so-called “primary efficacy of legal norms, by measuring the level of compliance of citizens with norms introduced to counter the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, this analysis is carried out on Italy which was the first western democracy to face the pandemic and its effects. However, the norms considered take on a more general significance, since they mostly derive from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and were introduced widespread. To gather relevant data on citizens compliance with the norms, geographical factors, psychological characteristics and (mis)information consumption choices, we adopt a multidisciplinary perspective combining a traditional consumer survey with an experiment design focused on individual mood and perceptions. The results of the analysis allow to evaluate the expected short- and long-term effects of the norms, both with reference to those posed to combat the pandemic, and to social norms more generally.


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