Positive Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health Measures on Healthcare

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, several unexpected positive outcomes have surfaced. The WHO public health measures have positively transformed people’s behaviour and lifestyles. The pandemic has prompted more focus on self-care and health awareness. Hand hygiene practice has been greatly emphasised. The acceptance rate for the use of personal protective equipment, such as face masks, has been remarkable. People with co-morbid conditions are paying more attention to their primary illnesses by improving diets and exercise methods. People are more willing to accept and act on public health messages. The pandemic lockdowns have not only successfully mitigated the transmission of coronavirus, but they have also indirectly reduced the hospital admission rates for endemic community respiratory infections and trauma-related emergencies like motor vehicle accidents. Fetomaternal health and wellness have significantly improved during the pandemic. The abrupt emergence of COVID-19 has also led to a massive societal shift on tobacco smoking cessation. Smokers are compelled to reflect on the harmful effects of cigarette smoking in relation to COVID-19. Issues of mental, relational and sexual health are put in the spotlight during the pandemic. People are investing more time in themselves, family and relationships. The world has seen an unprecedented global race in healthcare innovation and technology development in tackling the same global issue. Artificial intelligence, including robots and drones, have been rapidly developed and employed for healthcare as well as food and delivery services in order to minimise human physical contact. This article discusses several unforeseen positive impacts on healthcare that emerged from the COVID-19 public health measures that have been implemented. The positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic should be highlighted in order to provide hope to our community.

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Adjusting the Rear View Mirror: An Examination of Youth Driving Culture

Youth & Society ◽

10.1177/0044118x10376605 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 774-795 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kate C. Tilleczek

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Young People ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Historical Review ◽

Ethnographic Study ◽

Sociological Study ◽

Vehicle Accidents ◽

Young Drivers ◽

Close Observation ◽

Practical Implications

The majority of deaths for contemporary young people are related to injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. Most prevention efforts targeted at addressing the issue are less than effective and do not address youth driving as a culture. This article presents findings from an ethnographic study that attempts to understand the ways in which youth driving culture is organized in regulatory texts and practices. A brief historical review of youth studies provides a context for how we have come to frame the problem through public health and psychology. The study is based on close observation of youth driving lessons, examination of curricular and policy documents, and public health literatures. Results show that prevention efforts are most often attempted by assigning individual blame to risky young people and provide paradoxical messages that simultaneously pathologize and normalize youth and driving. Theoretical and practical implications for young drivers and the sociological study of youth are discussed.

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“Some Things Just Won’t Go Back”

Girlhood Studies ◽

10.3167/ghs.2020.130306 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 64-78

Author(s):

Alanna Goldstein ◽

Sarah Flicker

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Physical Contact ◽

Dating Relationships ◽

Health Measures ◽

Early Stages ◽

Online Focus Groups ◽

Relationship Experiences

We conducted three online focus groups [n=25] with teen girls in Canada in May and June 2020 to explore their dating and relationship experiences during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the strict public health measures limiting physical contact, participants reported connecting primarily online with possible dating partners and others. While facilitating platforms, like Snapchat, were already part of these teen girls’ dating and relationships repertoire, many participants reflected on the limitations and drawbacks of being able to connect only virtually. Results suggest the need to better attend to the impacts that COVID-19 restrictions are having on teen girls’ dating relationships, as well as to the larger impacts that the deterioration of these relationships might be having on their mental and emotional health.

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A compendium of evidence related to ‘social distancing’measure in view of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic

Healthline ◽

10.51957/healthline_141_2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 120-124

Author(s):

Anuradha Shah ◽

Kunal Shah

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Close Contact ◽

Physical Distance ◽

Physical Contact ◽

Definitive Treatment ◽

Infected Person ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Influenza Pandemics ◽

Health Measures

With no definitive treatment in place to date for the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on public health measures is of utmost importance. Social distancing requires maintaining a physical distance of at least one meter between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other. Modeling evidence from past influenza pandemics and current experiences with COVID-19 indicates the role of SD in delaying the spread of the virus by reducing the probability that uninfected person will come into physical contact with an infected person.

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Environment and Health: Vital Intersection or Contested Territory?

American Journal of Law & Medicine ◽

10.1177/009885880403000204 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 30 (2-3) ◽

pp. 189-215

Author(s):

Richard W. Clapp ◽

David Ozonoff

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Poor Quality ◽

The Body ◽

Public Health Burden ◽

Vehicle Accidents ◽

Environment And Health ◽

Contaminated Food

The effects of environmental exposure, broadly defined as any exposure from outside the body, on human health are unquestionably the most important determinants of public health. While important genetic determinants of disease exert their effects irrespective of exposure from outside the body, these do not contribute as much to the overall public health burden of disease as factors such as tobacco smoke, poor quality water, inadequate or contaminated food, occupational exposures to dusts and chemicals, motor vehicle accidents, interpersonal violence, air pollution, and other factors external to the body. In many cases, genetic predisposition and environmental exposures combined cause disease in an individual, so it may be impossible to separate out individual biological contributions from various external factors. Nevertheless, it is widely understood that public health concerns populations and communities, and that environmental determinants of health have been paramount throughout human history.

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Accidental Childhood Death and the Role of the Pathologist

Pediatric and Developmental Pathology ◽

10.1007/s100240010089 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 405-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Roger W. Byard

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Motor Vehicle Accidents ◽

Child Safety ◽

Vehicle Accidents ◽

Childhood Death ◽

Childhood Accidents ◽

Eating Practices ◽

Public Health Strategies

The following study provides an overview of accidental childhood death. This study is based on a review of 369 cases of fatal childhood accidents taken from the records of the Department of Histopathology, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia, over a 34-year period from 1963 to 1996. Data provide information on deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, drownings, accidental asphyxia, burns, poisonings, electrocution, and miscellaneous trauma. In addition, certain categories have undergone further examination, including asphyxial deaths due to unsafe sleeping environments and unsafe eating practices, drowning deaths, and deaths on farms, following identification of significant child safety problems in these areas as part of the “Keeping Your Baby and Child Safe” program. Previously unrecognized dangers to children detected through this program include mesh-sided cots, V-shaped pillows, and certain types of stroller-prams. The production of information pamphlets and packages for parents and the recall of certain dangerous products following recommendations made by pathologists demonstrate that pediatric and forensic pathologists have an important role to play in preventive medicine issues and in formulating public health strategies.

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Epidemiological trends in COVID-19 pandemic: prospective critical appraisal of observations from six countries in Europe and the USA

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e045782

Author(s):

Maria Alexandra Velicu ◽

Luciano Furlanetti ◽

Josephine Jung ◽

Keyoumars Ashkan

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Disease Prevalence ◽

Warning Signs ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Admission Rates ◽

Health Measures ◽

The Usa ◽

Using Data ◽

Over Time

IntroductionEurope was the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with the highest number of cases and deaths between March and April. In May, the infection numbers registered a fall followed by a second new rise, not proportionally reflected by an increase in the number of deaths. We aimed to investigate the relationship between disease prevalence and infection fatality rate (IFR), and the number of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital admissions over time, to develop a predictive model, as well as appraising the potential contributing factors underpinning this complex relationship.MethodsA prospective epidemiological study using data from six countries collected between 10 March and 4 September 2020. Data on the number of daily hospital and ICU admissions with COVID-19 were gathered, and the IFR and the prevalence were calculated. Trends over time were analysed. A linear regression model was used to determine the association between the fatality rates and the number of admissions.FindingsThe prediction model confirmed the linear association between the fatality rates and the numbers of ICU and hospital admissions. The exception was during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when the model underestimated the fatalities indicating that a substantial number of deaths occurred outside of the hospitals. The fatality rates decreased in all countries from May until September regardless of the trends in prevalence, differences in healthcare systems or strategic variations in handling the pandemic.InterpretationThe observed gradual reduction in COVID-19 fatality rates over time despite varying disease prevalence and public health measures across multiple countries warrants search for a biological explanation. While our understanding of this novel virus grows, hospital and ICU admission rates remain effective predictors of patient outcomes which can be used as early warning signs for escalation of public health measures.

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Public Health Surveillance for the Great American Solar Eclipse in Oregon

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics ◽

10.5210/ojphi.v10i1.8954 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laurel Boyd ◽

Meredith Jagger ◽

Kathryn Kuspis ◽

Melissa Powell ◽

Sandy Giffin

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Solar Eclipse ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Motor Vehicle Accidents ◽

The State ◽

Poison Center ◽

Vehicle Accidents ◽

Mass Gatherings

ObjectiveDevelop a public health surveillance plan for the Oregon Public Health Division (OPHD) in anticipation of the expected influx of visitors for the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse.IntroductionThe Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017 provided a rare opportunity to view a complete solar eclipse on the American mainland. Much of Oregon was in the path of totality and forecasted to have clear skies. Ahead of the event, OPHD aggregated a list of 107 known gatherings in mostly rural areas across the state, some with estimated attendance of up to 30,000 attendees. Temporary food vendors and a range of sanitation solutions (including open latrines) were planned. International travelers were expected, along with large numbers of visitors traveling by car on the day of the eclipse.The potential for multiple simultaneous mass gatherings across the state prompted OPHD to activate an incident management team (IMT) and to create a Health Intelligence Section to design a mass gathering surveillance strategy. Statewide syndromic surveillance (Oregon ESSENCE) has been used to monitor previous mass gatherings (1) and captures statewide emergency department (ED), urgent care, Oregon Poison Center, and reportable disease data.MethodsThe OPHD Health Intelligence Section identified five categories of public health effects associated with large outdoor gatherings based on literature review (2–5) and an internal risk assessment. These included health system status (total visit or call counts), communicable disease (fever, bloody diarrhea and reportable disease counts), injuries and substance abuse (including motor vehicle accidents), and outdoor exposure (heat-related illness, snake bites and asthma-related visits). An event-related category monitored trends in eclipse-related visits or eye-related injuries (looking directly at the sun). Where possible, syndromic trends were assessed in multiple data sources. These categories were used to create dashboards within Oregon ESSENCE and shared in a guidance document for local health departments and hospitals.Health Intelligence monitored syndromes of interest during a period of enhanced surveillance (9/18-9/22), and met daily with members of the OPHD IMT to share surveillance summaries, which were also sent to OPHD leadership and external partners.ResultsDuring the enhance surveillance period, the OPHD Health Intelligence Section did not identify statewide increases in healthcare utilization (total ED visits and calls to the Oregon Poison Center), but did observe increases in visits at select emergency departments in the state. Visits by out-of-state residents (as determined by patient zip code at time of registration) increased during the surveillance period. Fever-related visits increased as well but were not accompanied by reports of illnesses clusters.Increases were noted for motor vehicle accidents, eye-related injuries, and “eclipse”-related visits. Increases in eye-related injuries appeared to be an annual seasonal trend and not related to the eclipse. There were no increases of note in the other queries monitored. Development of new queries (West Nile Virus) was begun based upon mosquito pool surveillance findings. Surveillance highlights were posted publicly in a special edition of the biweekly Oregon ESSENCE Hazard Report (see Image 1).ConclusionsStatewide public health surveillance during the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse in Oregon did not identify clusters of infectious disease or other opportunities for real-time public health intervention. Nevertheless, surveillance identified increases in motor vehicle accidents, especially among out-of-state residents, due perhaps to increased road travel for the event. Preparations for this event increased capacity of state health department staff to conduct this type of surveillance in the future. Tools created for the eclipse have been used in several IMT activations since the eclipse.References1. Jagger MA, Jaramillo S, Boyd L, Johnson B, Reed KR, Powell M. Mass Gathering Surveillance : New ESSENCE Report and Collaboration Win Gold in OR. 2017;9(1):2579.2. WHO. Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations. World Health Organization. 2015.3. Lombardo JS, Sniegoski CA, Loschen WA, Westercamp M, Wade M, Dearth S, et al. Public health surveillance for mass gatherings. Johns Hopkins APL Tech Dig (Applied Phys Lab. 2008;27(4):347–55.4. Polkinghorne BG, Massey PD, Durrheim DN, Byrnes T, MacIntyre CR. Prevention and surveillance of public health risks during extended mass gatherings in rural areas: The experience of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Australia. Public Health. 2013;127(1):32–8.5. Burdick TE. Wilderness event medicine: Planning for mass gatherings in remote areas. Vol. 3, Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2005. p. 249–58.

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A New Perspective; Co-Infection of Influenza with COVID-19 During The COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Iran

10.21203/rs.3.rs-558099/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Owrang Eilami ◽

Amir Emami ◽

Atefeh Amiripour ◽

Kaveh Taghipour ◽

Abdulrasool Hemmati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Influenza B ◽

Influenza Outbreak ◽

Health Measures ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Seasonal Flu ◽

Viral Respiratory

Abstract Background In the current COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 viral respiratory symptoms have been confused with other viral respiratory infections such as influenza. Given that both viruses cause respiratory diseases, there are important differences between these two viruses in terms of how they are spread, controlled and treated. Due to these differences, a definitive diagnosis of each infection has important implications for the public health measures that can be implemented in response to the treatment of each virus.Method In this cross-sectional retrospective study from 4th September 2020 to 5th December 2020 (time period of influenza outbreak in Iran, a total of 455 Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) patients were included. Two nasopharyngeal and one oropharyngeal throat swab samples were collected from all participants and evaluated for COVID-19 by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay using the E-Gene specific primers/FAM probe and S Gene primers/ROX probe (Covitech, Iran) for SARS-CoV-2. Due to the concurrence of the study in autumn and the history of influenza outbreak at this time in Iran. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected and tested for influenza viruses A (H1N1, H3N2, seasonal flu), and Influenza B by one step qRT-PCR Master Mix (Invitrogen, United States) and AG synthesis probe and primers (Metabion, Germany) for Influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, seasonal flu) and B.Results In this study, 455 patients with SARI were hospitalized during September to December 2020. 203(44.61%) were infected with SARS-COV-2 and of these patients, one patient was positive for both COVID-19 and Influenza. The mean age was estimated 54.93 ± 17.00 and 50.65 ± 17.71 in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups, respectively which was significantly different (P < 0.001). Sex distribution between two groups showed that most of COVID-19 patients were male, this is in contrast with the COVID-19 negative group, in which most of patients were female and these differences were statistically significant. (P = 0.057). Clinical outcomes of patients with diagnosed SARI were measured. The main parameters were discharge from ICU and death during hospital admission. There was no significant difference between the number of patients discharge from ICU who were COVID positive or COVID negative. In addition, there was no significant difference between the number of patients who died who were COVID positive or COVID negative.Conclusion The decline in Influenza incidence and coinfection with COVID-19 in comparison to previous years appears to be significant due to its concurrence with the COVID19 pandemic and general population awareness on observing the instructions for personal respiratory protection e.g mask-wearing, hand washing, self-isolation and public health measures. Therefore, routine testing and empirical treatment for suspected influenza coinfection in COVID-19 patients is not recommended.

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COVID-19 behavioural insights study: Preliminary findings from Finland, April-May, 2020

10.1101/2020.10.11.20210724 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Veronica Cristea ◽

Timothee Dub ◽

Oskari Luomala ◽

Jonas Sivelä

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Mean Value ◽

Control Measures ◽

Physical Contact ◽

List Type ◽

Limited Information ◽

Health Measures ◽

Behavioural Insights

AbstractThe COVID-19 monitoring behavioural insights study was conducted from April-May 2020 in Finland. Respondents reported feeling confident protecting themselves against COVID-19 infection. Worries shifted from overloading the health system (mean value 5.5 [95% CI: 5.4-5.6]) to mental health concerns (mean value 5.3 [95% CI 5.2-5.4]). Maintaining physical distancing from families and friends decreased by 7% and 6%. Respondents mostly agreed that if a vaccine would become available, they would get it. The decrease in acceptance of recommended measures needs further analysis, but current results provide evidence to support the response.Key pointsCurrently limited information available on the complex interaction between epidemiology, media attention, pandemic control measures, risk perception and compliance with public health measures.Despite the relatively high risk perception of a possible infection with COVID-19, we observed a steady decrease in adherence to public health measures.Throughout the study, information-seeking behaviour shifted.We observed a decrease in acceptance among the participants in regards to avoiding physical contact.

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Trends in the leading causes of childhood mortality from 2004 to 2016 in Qatar

Central Asian Journal of Global Health ◽

10.5195/cajgh.2018.334 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Al-Thani ◽

Al-Anoud Al-Thani ◽

Amine Toumi ◽

ShamsEldin Khalifa ◽

Muhammad Asif Ijaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Congenital Malformations ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Circulatory System ◽

Motor Vehicle Accidents ◽

Childhood Mortality ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Trend Test ◽

Vehicle Accidents

Introduction: Childhood mortality is an important health indicator that reflects the overall health status of a population. Despite the decrease in global childhood mortality rates over the past decades, it still remains an important public health issue in Qatar.Methods: The data from 2004-2016 were extracted from the Qatar Ministry of Public Health Birth and Death Database. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was used for coding the causes of death. The childhood mortality rate was defined as the probability of a child dying between the first and the fifth birthday, expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 children surviving to 12 months of age. The sex ratio was calculated by dividing the mortality rate of males by that of females. Mann-Kendall trend test was performed to examine time trends. Relative risks were calculated to examine differences by nationality (Qatari and non-Qatari) and sex.Results: A significant decrease in mortality rate of children aged one to five was observed from 1.76 to 1.05 per 1000 children between 2004 and 2016 (Kendall tau=-0.6, p=0.004). Three prominent causes of mortality were motor vehicle accidents, congenital malformations of the circulatory system, and accidental drowning/submersion. A statistically non-significant decrease in childhood mortality from motor vehicle accidents was oberved for all nationalities (total (Kendall tau=-0.03), Qatari (Kendall tau=-0.14), and non-Qatari (Kendall tau=-0.12)). A significant decrease was seen for total accidental drowning and submersion (Kendall tau=-0.54, p=0.012), while no statistically significant decrease was seen for total congenital malformations of the circulatory system (Kendall tau=-0.36, NS). The Qatari population did have a significant decrease in childhood mortality due to congenital malformations of the circulatory system (Kendall tau=-0.67, p=0.003) and accidental drowning and submersion (Kendall tau=-0.55, p=0.016).Conclusion: The study is a first attempt to evaluate childhood mortality statistics from Qatar and could be useful in supporting Qatar’s ongoing national health strategy programs.

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