scholarly journals An Early Examination: Psychological, Health, and Economic Correlates and Determinants of Social Distancing Amidst COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hohjin Im ◽  
Christopher Ahn ◽  
Peiyi Wang ◽  
Chuansheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
State Level ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Political Partisanship ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
General Mobility

Federal and local government agencies were quick to issue orders for residents to shelter-in-place in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study utilized data collected from Unacast Inc., spanning observations of 3,142 counties across 50 states and the District of Columbia (N = 230,846) from March 8, 2020 to April 13, 2020 (n = 104,930) and from April 14, 2020 to May 24, 2020 (n = 131,912) in a 3-level multilevel model to examine the correlates of social distancing behavior, as measured by the relative reduction in (1) distance traveled and (2) non-essential visitations since baseline pre-COVID-19 times. Results showed that educational attainment and political partisanship were the most consistent correlates of social distancing. State-level indicators of culture appeared to have differentiated effects depending on whether the model outcomes were reduction in general mobility or to non-essential venues. State-level neuroticism was generally positively related to social distancing, but states marked by high neuroticism were slower to engage in such behaviors. Counties and states characterized as already engaging in preventive health measures (e.g., vaccination rates, preparedness for at-risk populations) enjoyed quicker engagement in social distancing. Specific implications of findings and future directions are discussed.

scholarly journals An Early Examination: Psychological, Health, and Economic Correlates and Determinants of Social Distancing Amidst COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hohjin Im ◽  
Christopher Ahn ◽  
Peiyi Wang ◽  
Chuansheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Political Partisanship ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
General Mobility

With the exponential spread of COVID-19 across the United States, federal and local government agencies have issued orders for residents to shelter-in-place. This study utilizes data collected from Unacast Inc. spanning observations of 3,142 counties across 50 states and the District of Columbia (N = 230,846) from March 8, 2020 to April 13, 2020 (n = 104,930) and from April 14, 2020 to May 24, 2020 (n = 131,912) in a 3-level multilevel model to examine the correlates of social distancing behavior, as measured by the relative reduction in 1) distance traveled and 2) non-essential visitations since baseline pre-COVID-19 times. Results indicate that educational attainment and political partisanship were the most consistent correlates of social distancing. State-level indicators of culture appeared to have differentiated effects depending on whether the model outcomes were reduction in general mobility or to non-essential venues. State-level neuroticism was generally positively related to social distancing, but states marked by high neuroticism were slower to engage in such behaviors. Counties and states characterized as already engaging in preventive health measures (e.g., vaccination rates, preparedness for at-risk populations) enjoyed quicker engagement in social distancing. Specific implications of findings and future directions are discussed.

scholarly journals Pandemic Politics: Timing State-Level Social Distancing Responses to COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Adolph ◽  
Kenya Amano ◽  
Bree Bang-Jensen ◽  
Nancy Fullman ◽  
John Wilkerson
Keyword(s):  
Event History Analysis ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Original Dataset ◽  
Political Partisanship ◽  
History Analysis ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractSocial distancing policies are critical but economically painful measures to flatten the curve against emergent infectious diseases. As the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spread throughout the United States in early 2020, the federal government issued social distancing recommendations but left to the states the most difficult and consequential decisions restricting behavior, such as canceling events, closing schools and businesses, and issuing stay-at-home orders. We present an original dataset of state-level social distancing policy responses to the epidemic and explore how political partisanship, COVID-19 caseload, and policy diffusion explain the timing of governors’ decisions to mandate social distancing. An event history analysis of five social distancing policies across all fifty states reveals the most important predictors are political: all else equal, Republican governors and governors from states with more Trump supporters were slower to adopt social distancing policies. These delays are likely to produce significant, on-going harm to public health.

scholarly journals State-level Citizen Response to COVID-19 Containment Measures in Brazil and Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-357
Author(s):  
Claire Dunn ◽  
Isabel Laterzo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
State Level ◽  
State Policies ◽  
The State ◽  
Policy Response ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Interactive Relationship ◽  
Citizen Response

In Brazil and Mexico, presidents failed to take swift, national action to stop the spread of COVID-19. Instead, the burden of imposing and enforcing public health measures has largely fallen to subnational leaders, resulting in varied approaches within each country and conflicting messaging from elites. We likewise see variation in compliance with social distancing across subnational units. To explain this variation, we contend that citizen responses are driven both by the comprehensiveness of state policies and whether they take cues from national or subnational elites. We hypothesize that support for national and subnational elites, and the nature of the state-level policy response, affect citizen compliance with public health guidelines. In both countries, we find that support for the governor has an interactive relationship with policy response. In Brazil, support for the president is associated with lower compliance. In Mexico, this effect is not present. We argue that these distinct relationships are due to the different cues emerging from each leader.

scholarly journals Changing Dynamics of COVID-19 in the U.S. with the Emergence of the Delta Variant: Projections of the COVID-19 Simulator

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagpreet Chhatwal ◽  
Yingying (Jade) Xiao ◽  
Peter Carl Powell Mueller ◽  
Turgay Ayer ◽  
Madeline Grace Adee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
State Level ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
The U.S

With the recent emergence of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S., many states are seeing rising cases and hospitalizations after a period of steady decline. As We used the COVID-19 Simulator, an interactive online tool that utilizes a validated mathematical model, to simulate the trajectory of COVID-19 at the state level in the U.S. COVID-19 Simulator's forecasts are updated weekly and included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ensemble model. We employed our model to analyze scenarios where the Delta variant becomes dominant in every state. The combination of high transmissibility of the Delta variant, low vaccination coverage in several regions, and a more relaxed attitude towards social distancing is expected to result in a surge in COVID-19 deaths in at least 40 states. In several states -- including Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, and West Virginia -- the projected daily deaths in 2021 could exceed the prior peak daily deaths under current social distancing behavior and vaccination rate. The number of COVID-19 deaths across the U.S. could exceed 1600 per day. Between August 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, there could be additional 157,000 COVID-19 deaths across the U.S. Of note, our model projected approximately 20,700 COVID-19 deaths in Texas, 16,000 in California, 12,400 in Florida, 12,000 in North Carolina, and 9,300 in Georgia during this period. In contrast, the projected number of COVID-19 deaths would remain below 200 in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island. We project COVID-19 deaths based on the current vaccination rates and social distancing behavior. Our hope is that the findings of this report serve a warning sign and people revert to wearing masks and maintain social distancing to reduce COVID-19 associated deaths in the U.S. Our projections are updated weekly by incorporating vaccination rates and social distancing measures in each state; the latest results can be found at the COVID-19 Simulator website.

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

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.

scholarly journals Nonconcordance of E, N, and RdRp Genes in SARS-Coronavirus-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Among Patients Older than 60 Years

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S126-S127
Author(s):  
H Caulkins ◽  
K Rand ◽  
N Harris ◽  
S Beal
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Onset Date ◽  
Sars Coronavirus ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Systematic Processing ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Processing Errors

Abstract Introduction/Objective During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA authorized emergency use of nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing. Accurate and rapid testing identifies infected persons, especially among at-risk populations. In our institution, the InGenius platform detects three gene targets of SARS-Coronavirus-2: envelope (E), nucleocapsid (N), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Nonconcordance of these components present accuracy or precision errors or may correspond to varying expression of viral genes with disease progression. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the result components from 93 nasopharyngeal swabs from 50 patients older than 60 years and positive for SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The symptom onset date was determined by chart review. Results We found a significant 26% nonconcordance rate, with a predominant pattern demonstrating positive N with negative RdRp and E (χ2 = 27.25, P < 0.0005). This nonconcordant pattern was more prevalent at longer symptom durations. In 7 patients with serial testing, the transition from concordant to nonconcordant results occurred 12 days (95% CI 3.5 – 20.3 days) after symptom onset. Conclusion This may be caused by several mechanisms. Possibilities include decreased expression of E and RdRp over time, inhibition of expression by treatments or host immune response, or lower viral titers by clearance or migration to the lower respiratory tract. Presence of a different viral strain or systematic processing errors are less likely causes of nonconcordance. Future directions of study would determine whether a similar decline in RdRp and E detection is seen in tracheal samples or if this correlates with changes in symptom severity.

scholarly journals Mask-wearing and social distancing: Evidence from a video-observational and natural-experimental study of public space behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lasse Suonperä Liebst ◽  
Peter Ejbye-Ernst ◽  
Marijn de Bruin ◽  
Josephine Thomas ◽  
Marie Rosenkrantz Lindegaard
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
False Sense ◽  
Dutch Cities ◽  
Natural Experimental Study

Background: Face masks have been widely employed as a personal protective measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns remain that masks create a false sense of security that reduces adherence to other public health measures, including social distancing. Purpose: This paper tested whether mask-wearing was negatively associated with social distancing compliance. Methods: In two studies, we combined video-observational records of public mask-wearing in two Dutch cities with a natural-experimental approach to evaluate the effect of an area-based mask mandate. Results: We found no observational evidence of an association between mask-wearing and social distancing (Study 1: p = .398; Study 2: p = .511), but found a positive link between crowding and social distancing violations (Study 1: p < .001; Study 2: p < .001). Our natural-experimental analysis showed that an area-based mask mandate did not significantly affect social distancing or crowding levels (Study 2: p = .781 and p = .126, respectively). Conclusions: Our results alleviate the concern that mask use reduces social distancing compliance or increases crowding levels. On the other hand, crowding reduction may be a viable strategy to mitigate social distancing violations.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccination of HCWs in the First Phase of a Large-Scale Mass Vaccination Program within a Healthcare System

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s11-s11
Author(s):  
Kimberly Korwek ◽  
E. Jackie Blanchard ◽  
Julia Moody ◽  
Katherine Lange ◽  
Ryan Sledge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
State Level ◽  
Mass Vaccination ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccination Program ◽  
Vaccination Rates

Background: The approval of the first SARS-COV-2 vaccines for COVID-19 were accompanied by unprecedented efforts to provide vaccination to healthcare workers and first responders. More information about vaccine uptake in this group is needed to better refine and target educational messaging. Methods: HCA Healthcare used federal guidance and internal experience to create a systemwide mass vaccination strategy. A closed point-of-dispensing (POD) model was developed and implemented. The previously developed enterprise-wide emergency operations strategy was adapted and implemented, which allowed for rapid development of communications and operational processes. A tiering strategy based on recommendations from the National Academies was used in conjunction with human resources data to determine vaccine eligibility for the first phase of vaccination. A comprehensive data and reporting strategy was built to connect human resources and vaccine consent data for tracking vaccination rates across the system. Results: Vaccination of employed and affiliated colleagues began December 15, 2020, and was made available based on state-level release of tiers. Within the first 6 weeks, in total, 203,544 individuals were eligible for vaccine based on these criteria. Of these, 181,282 (89.1%) consented to and received vaccine, 19,788 (9.7%) declined, and 2,474 (1.2%) indicated that they had already been vaccinated. Of those eligible, the highest acceptance of vaccine was among the job codes of specialists and professionals (n = 7,914 total, 100% consent), providers (n = 23,335, 99.6%,), and physicians (n = 3,218, 98.4%). Vaccine was most likely to be declined among job codes of clerical and other administrative (n = 12,889 total, 80.1% consent), clinical specialists and professionals (n = 22,853, 81.0%,) and aides, orderlies and technicians (n = 17,803, 82.6%,). Registered nurses made up the largest eligible population (n = 56,793), and 89.5% of those eligible consented to receive vaccination. Average age among those who consented was slightly older (48.3 years) than those that declined (44.7 years), as was length of employment tenure (6.9 vs 5.0 years). Conclusion: A large-scale, closed POD, mass vaccination program was able to vaccinate nearly 200,000 healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 in 6 weeks. This program was implemented in acute-care sites across 20 different US states, and it was able to meet the various state-level requirements for management of processes, product, and required reporting. The development of a standardized strategy and custom, centralized monitoring and reporting facilitated insight into the characteristics of early vaccine adopters versus those who decline vaccination. These data can aid in the refining and targeting of educational materials and messaging about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies six months into the vaccination campaign in Geneva, Switzerland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Stringhini ◽  
María-Eugenia Zaballa ◽  
Nick Pullen ◽  
Javier Perez-Saez ◽  
Carlos de Mestral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Random Samples

Background: Up-to-date seroprevalence estimates are critical to describe the SARS-CoV-2 immune landscape in the population and guide public health measures. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 15 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and six months into the vaccination campaign. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional serosurvey between June 1 and July 7, 2021, recruiting participants from age- and sex-stratified random samples of the general population. We tested participants for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies targeting the spike (S) or nucleocapsid (N) proteins (Roche Elecsys immunoassays). We estimated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies seroprevalence following vaccination and/or infection (anti-S antibodies), or infection only (anti-N antibodies). Results: We included 3355 individuals, of which 1814 (54.1%) were women, 697 (20.8%) were aged <18 years and 449 (13.4%) were aged ≥65 years, 2161 (64.4%) tested positive for anti-S antibodies, and 906 (27.0%) tested positive for anti-N antibodies. The total seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 66.1% (95% credible interval, 64.1-68.0). Considering the presence of anti-N antibodies, we estimated that 29.9% (28.0-31.9) of the population developed antibodies after infection; the rest having developed antibodies only via vaccination. Seroprevalence estimates were similar across sexes, but differed markedly across age groups, being lowest among children aged 0-5 years (20.8% [15.5-26.7]) and highest among older adults aged ≥75 years (93.1% [89.6-96.0]). Seroprevalence of antibodies developed via infection and/or vaccination was higher among participants with a higher educational level. Conclusions: Most adults have developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, while most teenagers and children remain vulnerable to infection. As the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant spreads and vaccination rates stagnate, efforts are needed to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly among younger individuals and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and to minimize spread among children.

scholarly journals Social distancing responses to COVID-19 emergency declarations strongly differentiated by income

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (33) ◽  
pp. 19658-19660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joakim A. Weill ◽  
Matthieu Stigler ◽  
Olivier Deschenes ◽  
Michael R. Springborn
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
State Level ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Device Location

In the absence of a vaccine, social distancing measures are one of the primary tools to reduce the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We show that social distancing following US state-level emergency declarations substantially varies by income. Using mobility measures derived from mobile device location pings, we find that wealthier areas decreased mobility significantly more than poorer areas, and this general pattern holds across income quantiles, data sources, and mobility measures. Using an event study design focusing on behavior subsequent to state emergency orders, we document a reversal in the ordering of social distancing by income: Wealthy areas went from most mobile before the pandemic to least mobile, while, for multiple measures, the poorest areas went from least mobile to most. Previous research has shown that lower income communities have higher levels of preexisting health conditions and lower access to healthcare. Combining this with our core finding—that lower income communities exhibit less social distancing—suggests a double burden of the COVID-19 pandemic with stark distributional implications.

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