Digital entertainment in the face of COVID-19

The work analyzed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digital entertainment. The focus is on three types of digital entertainment: computer games, virtual reality and streaming, respectively. The first two types of entertainment were analyzed based on data from the Steam platform, while streaming was analyzed based on Twitch. Data were collected from 2019, i.e. the period before the pandemic, and 2020, i.e. the time of the pandemic. Then the data from both of these years were compiled for analysis. The study particularly focused on events related to the pandemic, such as the March declaration of the Covid-19 virus as a pandemic by the WHO or the holiday period in which the restrictions were reduced.

Chine : Enseignement des langues étrangères confiné en ligne

In January 2020, an unprecedented pandemic hit the world. Although it was the middle of a holiday period, Chinese teachers mobilised. In a very short time, the school year started online and distance learning was introduced. Everyone had to deal with the advantages and disadvantages of this new form of teaching. One month after the start of the school year, we conducted a survey to better understand the requirements of distance work, to find out the strong and weak points in order to start thinking about solutions to better conduct this new form of teaching.

Evaluating the “holiday season effect” of hospital care on the risk of mortality from pulmonary embolism: a nationwide analysis in Taiwan

We aimed to determine whether hospital admissions during an extended holiday period (Chinese New Year) and weekends were associated with increased mortality risk from pulmonary embolism (PE), compared to admissions on weekdays. We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Data of newly diagnosed PEs during the months of January and February from 2001 to 2017 were obtained from patient records and classified into three admission groups: Chinese New Year (≥ 4 consecutive holiday days), weekends, and weekdays. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for 7-day and in-hospital mortality were calculated using multivariable logistic regression models. The 7-day and in-hospital mortality risks were higher for patients admitted during the Chinese New Year holiday (10.6% and 18.7%) compared to those admitted on weekends (8.4% and 16.1%) and weekdays (6.6% and 13.8%). These higher mortality risks for holiday admissions compared to weekday admissions were confirmed by multivariable analysis (7-day mortality: aOR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.15–2.44, P = 0.007; in-hospital mortality: aOR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.05–1.90, P = 0.022), with no subgroup effects by sex or age. Hospital admission for PE over an extended holiday period, namely Chinese New Year, was associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Risk of COVID-19 Introduction into the Scottish Hebrides and Strategies for Control

Background In the context of an outbreak the natural boundaries of islands can allow for control of movements between populations. We estimate the risk of introduction of COVID-19 to each of the Hebridean islands situated off the west coast of mainland Scotland due to individual movements, and explore control strategies to mitigate this risk.Methods We use a combination of real human mobility data and census data to generate seasonally varying patterns of human movements amongst the Hebrides and from elsewhere. We consider three distinct periods: each of summer and winter 2019, illustrating a year prior to the pandemic, and summer 2020 illustrating a "pandemic summer". Movements during these periods serve as input to simulate COVID-19 transmission from the mainland to the archipelago in a stochastic meta-population model allowing us to explore the impact of seasonal variations on the risk of introduction and the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions.Results Despite strong seasonality in movement patterns, partly driven by tourism, for islands closely connected to the mainland there is evidence of substantial risk of disease introduction even over winter. In summer, when the risk is the highest, some islands can delay the introduction of COVID-19 by over six weeks, i.e. beyond the summer holiday period, through a 70% reduction of movements. Conclusion A high introduction risk in winter will be of particular concern if COVID-19 becomes a seasonal respiratory infection affecting temperate areas in winter concomitantly with other seasonal infections such as flu.For some islands, control of movements in peak summer tourist season has the potential for delaying the introduction risk beyond the summer holiday period, i.e. beyond a period of high mobility of people, potentially inducing a risk for rapid spread. Such measures would be particularly relevant in the occurrence of a variant escaping the vaccine given the current progress of the vaccine roll-out. However, such restrictions must be balanced against indirect negative economic impacts that might result.

The Influence of Transport on PAHs and Other Carbonaceous Species’ (OC, EC) Concentration in Aerosols in the Coastal Zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (Gdynia)

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of transport on the concentration of carbon species in aerosols collected in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk in the period outside the heating season. Elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and the ΣPAHs5 concentrations were measured in aerosols of two size: <3 μm (respirable aerosols) and >3 μm in diameter (inhalable aerosols). Samples were collected between 13 July 2015 and 22 July 2015 (holiday period) and between 14 September 2015 and 30 September 2015 (school period). In both periods samples were taken only during the morning (7:00–9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (3:00–5:00 p.m.) road traffic hours. The highest mean values of the ΣPAHs5 and EC were recorded in small particles during the school period in the morning road traffic peak hours. The mean concentration of OC was the highest in small aerosols during the holiday period. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the concentrations of organic carbon in the morning and afternoon peak hours. Strict sampling and measurement procedures, together with the analysis of air mass backward trajectories and pollutant markers, indicated that the role of land transport was the greatest when local to regional winds prevailed, bringing pollution from nearby schools and the beltway.

Fueling the Covid-19 pandemic: summer school holidays and incidence rates in German districts

BackgroundThe Robert-Koch-Institute reports that during the summer holiday period a foreign country is stated as the most likely place of infection for an average of 27 and a maximum of 49% of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany.MethodsCross-sectional study on observational data. In Germany, summer school holidays are coordinated between states and spread out over 13 weeks. Employing a dynamic model with district fixed effects, we analyze the association between these holidays and weekly incidence rates across 401 German districts.ResultsWe find effects of the holiday period of around 45% of the average district incidence rates in Germany during their respective final week of holidays and the 2 weeks after holidays end. Western states tend to experience stronger effects than Eastern states. We also find statistically significant interaction effects of school holidays with per capita taxable income and the share of foreign residents in a district’s population.ConclusionsOur results suggest that changed behavior during the holiday season accelerated the pandemic and made it considerably more difficult for public health authorities to contain the spread of the virus by means of contact tracing. Germany’s public health authorities did not prepare adequately for this acceleration.

Time use and social mixing during and around festive periods: Potential changes in the age distribution of COVID-19 cases from increased intergenerational interactions

RationaleAmid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in which many countries have adopted physical distancing measures, tiered restrictions, and episodic “lockdowns,” the impact of potentially increased social mixing during festive holidays on the age distribution of new COVID-19 cases remains unclear.ObjectiveWe aimed to gain insights into possible changes in the age distribution of COVID-19 cases in the UK after temporarily increased intergenerational interactions in late December 2020.MethodWe modelled changes in time use and social mixing based on age-stratified contact rates using historical nationally-representative surveys and up-to-date Google mobility data from four weeks before and after the festive period. We explored changes in the effective reproduction number and the age distribution of cases, in four scenarios: (1) “normal”: time use and contact patterns as observed historically, (2) “pre-lockdown”: patterns as seen before the lockdown in November 2020, (3) “lockdown”: patterns restricted as in November 2020, and (4) “festive break”: similar to 3 but with social visits over the holiday period as in 1.ResultsAcross ages, the estimated Reff decreases during the festive break in scenarios 1-3 and returns to pre-holiday levels in scenarios 2-3, while remaining relatively stable in scenario 4. Relative incidence is likely to decrease in children aged 0-15 but increase in other ages. Changes in age distribution were large during the holidays, and are likely to start before the holidays for individuals aged 16-24 years in scenarios 1-3.ConclusionsOur modelling findings suggest that increased contacts during the festive period may shift the age distribution of COVID-19 cases from children towards adults. Given that COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths rise by age, more intergenerational mixing risks an increased burden in the period following the holidays.HighlightsHome visits are associated with increased intergenerational mixing.The effective reproduction number is likely to remain stable or even reduce slightly due to a reduction in contacts at work and school.Relative incidence is likely to become lower in children, but higher in theolder (more vulnerable) age groups around the holiday period, which could lead to increased health care burden.

Unwrapping the Surprisingly High Risk of Dying from Cardiovascular Disease at Christmas: The HUNT Prospective Population-based Cohort Study in Norway

BackgroundAlthough it is known that winter inclusive of the Christams holiday period is associated with an increased risk of dying compared to other times of the year, very few studies have specifically examined this phenomenon within a population cohort subject to baseline profiling and prospective follow-up. In such a cohort, we sought to determine the specific characteristics of mortality occuring during the Christmas holidays. MethodsBaseline profiling and outcome data were derived from a prospective population-based cohort with longitudinal follow-up in Central Norway - the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study. From 1984-1986, 88% of the target population comprising 39,273 men and 40,353 women aged 48±18 and 50±18 years, respectively, were profiled. We examined the long-term pattern of all-cause mortality and specific causes of death according to season, month and individual days of the year to determine the number of excess (cause-specific) deaths occuring at key timepoints (including the Christmas holidays). ResultsDuring 33.5 (IQR 17.1-34.4) years follow-up, 19,879 (50.7%) men and 19,316 (49.3%) women died at age-adjusted rate of 5.3 and 4.6 deaths per 1000/annum, respectively. Each winter, there were 44 (95% CI 43-45) more all-cause deaths compared to summer, with 21 (95% CI 20-22) more deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease. Compared to any other time of the year, December 25th-27th was the deadliest; being associated with an excess of 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.5) all-cause and 1.0 (95% CI 0.7-1.3) cardiovascular-related deaths per day each year. Compared to the pre-Christmas/Winter period (1st-21st December), the incidence rate ratio of all-cause mortality increased to 1.22 (95% CI 1.16-1.27) and 1.17 (95% 1.11-1.22) in men and women, respectively, in the next 21 days (Christmas/New Year holiday period). All observed differences were highly significant (P<0.001). A less pronounced pattern of seasonally-linked deaths attributable to respiratory illnesses (but not cancer) was also observed.ConclusionChristmas in Central Norway is characterised by a distinctive change and increase in cardiovascular-related mortality over and above that observed between winter (more deaths) and summer (fewer deaths). This distinctive pattern contrasted with cancer-related deaths. Further research to address vulnerability to the darker consequences of winter and, more specifically Christmas, is required.

Summer School Holidays and the Growth Rate in Sars-CoV-2 Infections Across German Districts

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo estimate the effect that summer school holidays had on the growth rate in Sars-CoV-2 infections across German districts. The Robert-Koch-Institute reports that during the summer holiday period a foreign country is stated as the most likely place of infection for an average of 27 and a maximum of 49 percent of new Sars-CoV-2 infections in Germany. Yet, infection may have taken place elsewhere, not all international travel is holiday-related and any impact of holiday-related travel will not be restricted to holidays abroad.DesignCross-sectional study on observational data. In Germany, summer school holidays are coordinated between states and spread out over 13 weeks. We analyse the association between these holidays and the weekly infection growth rate in SARS-CoV-2 infections across 401 German districts. Employing a dynamic model with district fixed effects, we test whether the holiday season results in a statistically significantly higher infection growth rate than the period of two weeks before holidays start, our presumed counterfactual.ResultsWe find effects of the holiday period equal in size to almost 50 percent of the average district growth rate in new infections in Germany during their respective final week of holidays and the two weeks after holidays end. States in the West of Germany tend to experience stronger effects than those in the East. This is consistent with another result, namely that we find statistically significant interaction effects of school holidays with per capita taxable income and the share of foreign residents in a district’s population, with both factors hypothesised to increase holiday-related travels.ConclusionsOur results suggest that changed behaviour during the holiday season accelerated the pandemic and made it considerably more difficult for public health authorities to contain the spread of the virus by means of contact tracing. Governments did not prepare adequately or timely for this acceleration.

A Comparison of Body Composition among Korean University Students before and after a Korean Traditional National Holiday Period

The article's abstract is no available.