scholarly journals Perspectives on the Sonic Environment and Noise Mitigations during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Acoustics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-507
Author(s):  
Heow Pueh Lee ◽  
Sanjay Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Noise Control ◽  
Industrial Activities ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Acoustic Treatment ◽  
Sonic Environment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

The pandemic has impacted every facet of our life, society, and environment. It has also affected both the requirement and challenges for acoustic research and applications. The present article attempts to present a summary of the impact of COVID-19 on several aspects of acoustics, from the changes in the sonic environment due to reduced human and industrial activities to natural ventilation requirements for mitigating the transmission of coronavirus while mitigating noise, and, more importantly, discusses the potential impacts and challenges for acoustics in the post-COVID-19 era. The present study specifically examines the effects of COVID-19 on the sonic environment, the acoustic treatment by considering the need for constant disinfection, the noise control on construction and neighborhood activities in response to an increased number of people working from home, and the need for having natural ventilation while mitigating noise at home and offices.

scholarly journals The Impact of Telework and Closure of Educational and Childcare Facilities on Working People During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-214
Author(s):  
Michèle Rieth ◽  
Vera Hagemann
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Working People ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract. This study examines the impact of telework and closure of educational and childcare facilities on working people during COVID-19. We compare telework versus nontelework conditions and people with and without stay-at-home children. Data from 465 working people in Germany were collected via an online survey. People who do not work from home experience more stress, more negative and less positive affect, less life satisfaction and trust in government, and less loss of control over career success than those working from home. Concerning the conservation of resources theory, working from home can thus be seen as a resource gain, representing, in accordance with the self-regulation theory, a way to deal with pandemic threats. However, home office only seems to be beneficial if working conditions at home are supportive; otherwise, it is experienced as a resource threat or loss, especially with stay-at-home children.

scholarly journals Impact of Remote Working on Human Resource Management: The Role of IT in the COVID-19 ERA

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Md Habibur Rahman ◽  
S. M. Mahbubur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Working At Home ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Working from home approaches are adopted by organizations to different extents during the COVID-19 Pandemic across the world. Basically, it is related to the organizational performance viewpoint- where the impact of COVID-19 on human resource management is obvious inside and outside the ICT environment. Therefore, in this paper, some aspects of human resource management are investigated to see the impact of working from home on HRM especially in a pandemic situation. The absence and non-adoption of ICT in different organizations explain why some organizations are away from performing their regular human resource management activities during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We interviewed 487 workers performing HRM functions either working at home or involved in office space working while approached 642 workers. The paper contributes to HRM functions by providing an understanding of the substitution of remote working during crisis situations. The shifting of remote working results in positive and negative effects on organizational and individual aspects of HRM.  We, therefore, conclude that remote working helps HR planning, recruitment and selection, meeting, and work schedule. Further, remote working strategies help work flexibility, improve health and safety, reduce commuting time, improve work autonomy and work/life balance within stay-at-home order to handle post-covid-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Estimating the impact of physical distancing measures in containing COVID-19: an empirical analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wee Chian Koh ◽  
Lin Naing ◽  
Justin Wong
Keyword(s):  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Viral Transmission ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Epidemic Modelling ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

AbstractBackgroundEpidemic modelling studies predict that physical distancing is critical in containing COVID-19. However, few empirical studies have validated this finding. Our study evaluates the effectiveness of different physical distancing measures in controlling viral transmission.MethodsWe identified three distinct physical distancing measures with varying intensity and implemented at different times—international travel controls, restrictions on mass gatherings, and lockdown-type measures—based on the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. We also estimated the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) for 142 countries and tracked Rt temporally for two weeks following the 100th reported case in each country. We regressed Rt on the physical distancing measures and other control variables (income, population density, age structure, and temperature) and performed several robustness checks to validate our findings.FindingsComplete travel bans and all forms of lockdown-type measures have been effective in reducing average Rt over the 14 days following the 100th case. Recommended stay-at-home advisories and partial lockdowns are as effective as complete lockdowns in outbreak control. However, these measures have to be implemented early to be effective. Lockdown-type measures should be instituted two weeks before the 100th case and travel bans about a week before detection of the first case.InterpretationA combination of physical distancing measures, if implemented early, can be effective in containing COVID-19—tight border controls to limit importation of cases, encouraging physical distancing, moderately stringent measures such as working from home, and a full lockdown in the case of a probable uncontrolled outbreak.Research in contextEvidence before this studyEvidence on the impact of physical distancing measures on containing COVID-19 has primarily relied on epidemic modelling studies. As cases accumulate worldwide, it has become possible to use empirical data to validate the model-based findings. The few empirical studies that analyze global case data find that lockdowns and international travel restrictions are important, but have not explored, beyond these broad findings, the intensity and timeliness of the various measures to inform policymaking.Added value of this studyWe assessed, at a normalized stage of the epidemic curve, how the intensity and implementation timing of various physical distancing measures in 142 countries affect viral transmission, measured by the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Other similar empirical studies treat the measures as binary variables, do not address the potential confounding effect of increased caseload on transmission, and do not use Rt as the primary metric.Implications of all the available evidenceOur results support the findings in modelling studies, and subsequent empirical studies, that physical distancing measures can limit disease spread. We found that full border control and complete lockdowns are effective, but less stringent measures such as stay-at-home recommendations and working from home are as effective. As such, the framing of lockdown measures as a binary approach may be counterproductive. Overall, these measures are only effective if they are implemented early.

Impact of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol on COVID-19 case-fatality rate reduction in Algeria. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Youssef Kada
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Doubling Time ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Therapeutic Protocol ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

BACKGROUND Covid-19 is an emerging infectious disease like viral zoonosis caused by new coronavirus SARS CoV 2. On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in Hubei province (China) reported cases of pneumonia, the origin of which is a new coronavirus. Rapidly extendable around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares it pandemic on March 11, 2020. This pandemic reaches Algeria on February 25, 2020, date on which the Algerian minister of health, announced the first case of Covid-19, a foreign citizen. From March 1, a cluster is formed in Blida and becomes the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic in Algeria, its total quarantine is established on March 24, 2020, it will be smoothly alleviated on April 24. A therapeutic protocol based on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was put in place on March 23, for complicated cases, it was extended to all the cases confirmed on April 06. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol in Algeria, in particular after its extension to all patients diagnosed COVID-19 positive on RT-PCR test. We were able to illustrate this fact graphically, but not to prove it statistically because the design of our study, indeed in the 7 days which followed generalization of therapeutic protocol, case fatality rate decrease and doubling time increase, thus confirming the impact of wide and early prescription of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol. METHODS We have analyzed the data collected from press releases and follow-ups published daily by the Ministry of Health, we have studied the possible correlations of these data with certain events or decisions having a possible impact on their development, such as confinement at home and its reduction, the prescription of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination for serious patients and its extension to all positive COVID subjects. Results are presented in graphics, the data collection was closed on 31/05/2020. RESULTS Covid-19 pandemic spreads from February 25, 2020, when a foreign citizen is tested positive, on March 1 a cluster is formed in the city of Blida where sixteen members of the same family are infected during a wedding party. Wilaya of Blida becomes the epicentre of coronavirus epidemic in Algeria and lockdown measures taken, while the number of national cases diagnosed begins to increases In any event, the association of early containment measures combined with a generalized initial treatment for all positive cases, whatever their degree of severity, will have contributed to a reduction in the fatality rate of COVID 19 and a slowing down of its doubling time. CONCLUSIONS In Algeria, the rapid combination of rigorous containment measure at home and early generalized treatment with hydroxychloroquin have demonstrated their effectiveness in terms of morbidity and mortality, the classic measures of social distancing and hygiene will make it possible to perpetuate these results by reducing viral transmission, the only unknown, the reopening procedure which can only be started after being surrounded by precautions aimed at ensuring the understanding of the population. CLINICALTRIAL Algeria, Covid-19, pandemic, hydroxychloroquin, azithromycin, case fatality rate

scholarly journals A global analysis of the impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on crime

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Nivette ◽  
Renee Zahnow ◽  
Raul Aguilar ◽  
Andri Ahven ◽  
Shai Amram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Urban Crime ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Time Series Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

AbstractThe stay-at-home restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 led to unparalleled sudden change in daily life, but it is unclear how they affected urban crime globally. We collected data on daily counts of crime in 27 cities across 23 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. We conducted interrupted time series analyses to assess the impact of stay-at-home restrictions on different types of crime in each city. Our findings show that the stay-at-home policies were associated with a considerable drop in urban crime, but with substantial variation across cities and types of crime. Meta-regression results showed that more stringent restrictions over movement in public space were predictive of larger declines in crime.

Using an App to monitor postoperative pain at home in pediatric patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 136749352091931
Author(s):  
Emanuela Tiozzo ◽  
Valentina Biagioli ◽  
Matilde Brancaccio ◽  
Riccardo Ricci ◽  
Anna Marchetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postoperative Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Pain Scale ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Prospective Comparative Study ◽  
Paper And Pencil ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

A prospective comparative study was conducted in 487 pediatric patients (69% male, mean age = 6.4 ± 4.0) to evaluate (a) the incidence, intensity, and characteristics of pain in pediatric patients at home during the first 24 hours and 5 days after surgery and (b) the factors associated with higher pain intensity, including the impact of an application (App) compared to the paper-and-pencil approach. Postoperative pain was assessed by patients or their parents at home using the ‘Bambino Gesù’ Children’s Hospital (Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, OPBG) tool for participants aged 4–17 years or the Faces, Legs, Arms, Cry, and Consolability scale for participants less than four years old. Participants were assigned to two groups: those who used the paper-and-pencil version of the pain scale and those who used the App. Overall, 209 of the 472 (44%) participants reported pain during the first 24 hours, and 92 of the 420 (22%) reported pain between one and five days after surgery. Higher pain intensity scores were associated with being in the App group, directly assessing own pain, and using the OPBG tool. The App was effective in facilitating pain assessment. Health professionals could empower pediatric patients and their parents in assessing pain at home through a dedicated App.

scholarly journals Abstract No. 550 The impact of stay-at-home orders on code stroke activations and mechanical thrombectomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. S151
Author(s):  
A. Hines ◽  
J. Rhoten ◽  
D. Strong ◽  
T. Prasad ◽  
E. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document