COVID-19 and Employment Law in South Africa: Comparative Perspectives on Selected Themes

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-55
Author(s):  
Lonias Ndlovu ◽  
Clarence Itumeleng Tshoose
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Employment Law ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Employment Contracts ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Comparative Content

Public health emergencies such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which was elevated to a global pandemic, usually have severe implications for people in various spheres of life. For example, people’s employment and social welfare are affected. In this paper, the authors explore the possible implications of COVID-19 on the rights of employers and employees in South Africa. The issues that need to be considered include leave when employees elect to stay at home as a precautionary measure against contracting the coronavirus at work, the enforcement of employment contracts, employment security, workplace discipline, working hours, absenteeism, and the employer’s duty to provide the employees with a safe working environment. Using a doctrinal legal research method, the article provides an analysis of the applicable laws and cases from South Africa and related jurisdictions. The comparative content, analysis of legislation, case law, and sector-specific guidelines show that COVID-19 has and will continue to have a significant impact on the employment laws as reflected in different jurisdictions. Although employment law is generally jurisdiction-specific, there are many commonalities in the laws of different countries, both on the African continent and globally. It is also important to note that the existing employment laws need to be adjusted in order to accommodate the effects of the pandemic. For example, South Africa can draw valuable lessons from other jurisdictions on how to deal with employment matters during a pandemic, and therefore COVID-19 presents the country with an opportunity to develop both its employment laws and the common law.

Synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs as promising therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekta Shirbhate ◽  
Preeti Patel ◽  
Vijay K Patel ◽  
Ravichandran Veerasamy ◽  
Prabodh C Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Synthetic Compounds ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

: The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a global pandemic that emerged from Wuhan, China has today travelled all around the world, so far 216 countries or territories with 21,732,472 people infected and 770,866 deaths globally (as per WHO COVID-19 update dated August 18, 2020). Continuous efforts are being made to repurpose the existing drugs and develop vaccines for combating this infection. Despite, to date, no certified antiviral treatment or vaccine prevails. Although, few candidates have displayed their efficacy in in vitro studies and are being repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. This article summarizes synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds displaying potent activity in their clinical experiences or studies against COVID-19 and also focuses on mode of action of drugs being repositioned against COVID-19.

FEATURES OF THE COURSE AND TACTICS OF MANAGING CHILDREN WITH KIDNEYS AND URINARY TRACT DISEASES DURING THE PANDEMIC OF NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 74-79
Author(s):  
I.M. Kagantsov ◽  
◽  
V.V. Sizonov ◽  
V.G. Svarich ◽  
K.P. Piskunov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Urinary System ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Significant Health

The novel coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2), which first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has been declared a global pandemic by WHO. COVID-19 affects people of all age groups. The disease in children is usually asymptomatic or mild compared to adults, and with a significantly lower death rates. Data on kidney damage in children with COVID-19, as well as the effect of coronavirus infection on the course of diseases of the genitourinary system, are limited, the risks of contracting a new coronavirus infection in children with significant health problems, including those with chronic kidney disease, remain uncertain. The pandemic has affected the activities of surgeons treating diseases of the urinary system in children. Since the prospects for the end of the pandemic are vague, it is necessary to formulate criteria for selecting patients who can and should be provided with routine care in the pandemic. The purpose of this review is to highlight the features of the clinical manifestations and treatment of children with COVID-19, occurring against the background of previous renal pathology or complicating its course.

scholarly journals Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 through recombination and strong purifying selection

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (27) ◽  
pp. eabb9153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Li ◽  
Elena E. Giorgi ◽  
Manukumar Honnayakanahalli Marichannegowda ◽  
Brian Foley ◽  
Chuan Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Evolutionary Constraints ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for deterring future zoonosis, discovering new drugs, and developing a vaccine. We show evidence of strong purifying selection around the receptor binding motif (RBM) in the spike and other genes among bat, pangolin, and human coronaviruses, suggesting similar evolutionary constraints in different host species. We also demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2’s entire RBM was introduced through recombination with coronaviruses from pangolins, possibly a critical step in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2’s ability to infect humans. Similar purifying selection in different host species, together with frequent recombination among coronaviruses, suggests a common evolutionary mechanism that could lead to new emerging human coronaviruses.

scholarly journals Covid-19 and food security: Jeopardy management and posterity deliberations

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 01-05
Author(s):  
Augustine Owusu-Addo ◽  
Atianashie Miracle A ◽  
Chukwuma Chinaza Adaobi ◽  
Larissa Agbemelo-Tsomafo
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Food Borne Infections ◽  
Safety Guidelines

COVID-19, also known as the ‘novel coronavirus disease 2019’, is a respiratory illness and the causative pathogen is officially named as ‘SARS-CoV-2’. Infections with SARS-CoV-2 have now been amplified to a global pandemic – as of April 3, 2020, nearly 1,018,000 cases have been confirmed in more than 195 countries, including more than 300,000 cases within the United States. Public safety guidelines are followed worldwide to stop the spread of COVID-19 and stay healthy. Despite COVID-19 is a respiratory illness with mode of invasion through the respiratory tract, not the gastrointestinal tract, an average food consumer is anxious and concerned about the food safety. Could an individual catch the deadly contagious COVID-19 from groceries brought home from the supermarket – or from the next restaurant takeout order? This brief review elucidates the epidemiology and pathobiological mechanism(s) of SARS-CoV-2 and its implications in food-borne infections, transmission via food surfaces, food processing and food handling.

scholarly journals The Impact of Armed Conflict on the Epidemiological Situation of COVID-19 in Libya, Syria and Yemen

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Daw
Keyword(s):  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

Background: Since the Arab uprising in 2011, Libya, Syria and Yemen have gone through major internal armed conflicts. This resulted in large numbers of deaths, injuries, and population displacements, with collapse of the healthcare systems. Furthermore, the situation was complicated by the emergence of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, which made the populations of these countries struggle under unusual conditions to deal with both the pandemic and the ongoing wars. This study aimed to determine the impact of the armed conflicts on the epidemiology of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) within these war-torn countries and highlight the strategies needed to combat the spread of the pandemic and its consequences.Methods: Official and public data concerning the dynamics of the armed conflicts and the spread of SARS-COV-2 in Libya, Syria and Yemen were collected from all available sources, starting from the emergence of COVID-19 in each country until the end of December 2020. Datasets were analyzed by a set of statistical techniques and the weekly resolved data were used to probe the link between the intensity levels of the conflict and the prevalence of COVID-19.Results: The data indicated that there was an increase in the intensity of the violence at an early stage from March to August 2020, when it approximately doubled in the three countries, particularly in Libya. During that period, few cases of COVID-19 were reported, ranging from 5 to 53 cases/day. From September to December 2020, a significant decline in the intensity of the armed conflicts was accompanied by steep upsurges in the rate of COVID-19 cases, which reached up to 500 cases/day. The accumulative cases vary from one country to another during the armed conflict. The highest cumulative number of cases were reported in Libya, Syria and Yemen.Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that the armed conflict provided an opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 to spread. The early weeks of the pandemic coincided with the most intense period of the armed conflicts, and few cases were officially reported. This indicates undercounting and hidden spread during the early stage of the pandemic. The pandemic then spread dramatically as the armed conflict declined, reaching its greatest spread by December 2020. Full-blown transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in these countries is expected. Therefore, urgent national and international strategies should be implemented to combat the pandemic and its consequences.

Teledentistry Platforms for Orthodontics

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Jae Hyun Park ◽  
Leah Rogowski ◽  
Janet H Kim ◽  
Sumayah Al Shami ◽  
Scott E I Howell
Keyword(s):  
Orthodontic Treatment ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Interpersonal Interactions ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives. Smartphones enable patients to request, receive, and transmit information irrespective of the time and place. The global pandemic has forced healthcare providers to employ technology to aid in ‘flattening the curve. The Novel Coronavirus, which is responsible for COVID-19, is transmitted primarily through person-to-person contact but may also be spread through aerosol generating procedures, so many clinics have severely limited interpersonal interactions. The purpose of this article is to provide helpful information for those orthodontists considering some form of remote practice. Various HIPAA-compliant telecommunication or teledentistry systems that can be used for orthodontic treatment are introduced and discussed. Detailed information about each platform that can potentially be used for orthodontics is provided in Figure 1. The authors do not endorse any of the products listed and the included software is not all inclusive but instead is a glimpse into the options available.

Face masks are an essential tool to mitigate the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a call to action

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-159
Author(s):  
P. Dehgani-Mobaraki ◽  
A. Kamber Zaidi ◽  
J.M. Levy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Airway ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Current Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Over the past several months, an increasing volume of infor- mation has expanded awareness regarding the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus associated with COVID-19. Following the pandemic declaration by the World Health Orga- nization (WHO), global authorities immediately took measures to reduce the transmission and subsequent morbidity associa- ted with this highly contagious disease. However, despite initial success in “flattening the curve” of viral transmission, many areas of the world are currently experiencing an increase in com- munity transmission, threatening to replicate the early public health emergencies experienced by Italy (1,2). In addition, the possibility of contact tracing through geosocial applications and public service platforms have been met with variable interest (3). Given current spread and the upcoming influenza season, it is essential that we use our voices as experts in upper airway health and disease to educate and encourage all communities to adopt appropriate protective measures, including the routine use of facemasks.

scholarly journals Prevention and treatment system of novel coronavirus infection in medical and health institutions: experience in West China Hospital of Sichuan University

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 639-641
Author(s):  
Qiao Zhou ◽  
He Yu ◽  
Zong-An Liang ◽  
Rong Yao ◽  
Feng-Ming Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment System ◽  
The Novel ◽  
West China Hospital ◽  
West China ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus infection broke out in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and progressed to a global pandemic. We describe the measures taken by West China Hospital of Sichuan University to address the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the infection.

scholarly journals The Role of Dental Professionals in Pandemic Events and Disaster Responses

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangwen Li ◽  
Bei Chang ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Gang Li
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Mass Casualties ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Emergency Responses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Dental Professionals

Abstract The past 20 years have seen major public health emergencies and natural disasters, including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak caused by the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2003; the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008; and the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) of 2019, which caused mass casualties, infections, and panic. These also resulted in complex demands for medical resources and information, and a shortage of human resources for emergency responses. To address the shortage of human resources required for these emergency responses, Chinese dental professionals made useful contributions. From this work, deficiencies in emergency response training and opportunities for the expansion of rescue capabilities were identified, and relevant recommendations made.

scholarly journals Emergence of the first manic episode in recovered COVID-19 patients: A case series from Egypt

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayam M. Elgohary ◽  
Mohammad G. Sehlo ◽  
Usama M. Youssef ◽  
Mohamed Abdelghani
Keyword(s):  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Manic Episode ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Manic Symptoms ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Objective In December 2019, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection was first reported in Wuhan city, China, which had rapidly spread as a global pandemic. This infection was commonly presented by respiratory and /or gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is still unclear whether COVID-19 infection could be associated with central nervous system (CNS) damage which would result in development of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Method A total of five cases of suddenly emerged manic episodes during the pandemic of COVID-19 were extensively described. We presented the symptoms and described the diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of each case. Results All patients had positive findings of ribonucleic acid (RNA) tests for COVID-19 in specimens of their sputum. The patients later developed manic symptoms during and after the recovering period of their illness. Conclusions The case series of newly emerged manic symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection highlights the essential need for evaluation of mental health status and would contribute to our understanding of the potential risk of CNS affection by COVID-19 infection. The limited number of cases would limit the generalizability of association. Future research should investigate the behavioral changes accompanying and following COVID-19 infection.

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