Test to release from isolation after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2

The rapid spread and high transmissibility of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to lead to a significant number of key workers testing positive simultaneously. Under a policy of self-isolation after testing positive, this may lead to extreme staffing shortfalls at the same time as e.g. hospital admissions are peaking. Using a model of individual infectiousness and testing with lateral flow tests (LFT), we evaluate test-to-release policies against conventional fixed-duration isolation policies in terms of excess days of infectiousness, days saved, and tests used. We find that the number of infectious days in the community can be reduced to almost zero by requiring at least 2 consecutive days of negative tests, regardless of the number of days' wait until testing again after initially testing positive. On average, a policy of fewer days' wait until initiating testing (e.g 3 or 5 days) results in more days saved vs. a 10-day isolation period, but also requires a greater number of tests. Due to a lack of specific data on viral load progression, infectivity, and likelihood of testing positive by LFT over the course of an Omicron infection, we assume the same parameters as for pre-Omicron variants and explore the impact of a possible shorter proliferation phase.

Continuity of care for children with special healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the continuity of care for children with special healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic through the perception of their caregivers in the Northeast of Brazil. Methods: Qualitative descriptive-exploratory research carried out between June and September 2020, in a municipality in the Northeast of Brazil. Eleven caregivers participated through semi-structured interviews conducted at home. The data were submitted to thematic content analysis. Results: The social isolation period and the suspension of health services affected the continuity of care, configuring the category “Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the continuity of care”. Caregivers expressed fear of children contracting the coronavirus, characterizing the category “Fears and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic in view of the vulnerability of children with special healthcare needs”. Final considerations: Caregivers’ reports revealed problems in the continuity of care for the studied cohort. Therefore, health care practices must be rethought in times of pandemic.

Upaya Peningkatan Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Pencegahan Penularan Covid-19 dan Optimalisasi Adaptasi Kebiasaan Baru

Since the start of the pandemic, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in DIY has been steadily increasing. This includes the Kasihan 2 Health Center in Bantul's work area. UMY Thematic Health KKN students identified several Covid-19-related issues. Based on the root cause analysis, four programs have been identified: (1) IT-based assistance and monitoring programs for COVID-19 survivors, (2) comorbid screening programs for the elderly population, (3) mentoring programs for COVID-19 survivors who have recovered, and (4) Covid-19 transmission prevention programs, vaccinations, and the implementation of new adaptations for health cadres and community volunteers. With this activity, it is hoped that patients will be able to live a happy isolation period, without appearing to be isolated and feeling cared for, so that immunity can be maintained and healed without sequelae, there is an increase in the knowledge of post-recovery patients so that they do not become infected again, and they can also become reliable educators and motivators for other communities. , the gathering of information on the elderly with comorbidities. Furthermore, it is hoped that by optimizing the empowerment of health cadres and community volunteers, public awareness of the importance of adhering to health protocols during the new life during the COVID-19 pandemic will increase. Door-to-door comorbid screening activities cannot be carried out optimally because, according to the Covid-19 task force, they are too dangerous for students. In general, all activities went off without a hitch, with nearly 100% participation.

Extending upon: What effect might border screening have on preventing importation of COVID-19 compared with other infections? - Considering the additional effect of post-arrival isolation

We recently described a simple model through which we assessed what effect subjecting travellers to a single on-arrival test might have on reducing risk of importing disease cases during simulated outbreaks of COVID-19, Influenza, SARS, and Ebola. We build upon this work to allow for the additional requirement that inbound travellers also undergo a period of self-isolation upon arrival, where upon completion the traveller is again tested for signs of infection prior to admission across the border. Prior results indicated that a single on-arrival test has the potential to detect 9% of travellers infected with COVID-19, compared to 35%, 10% and 3% for travellers infected with influenza, SARS, and Ebola respectively. Our extended model shows that testing administered after a 2-day isolation period may be able to detect up to 41%, 97%, 44% and 15% of COVID-19, Influenza, SARS, and Ebola infected travellers respectively. Longer self-isolation periods increase detection rates further, with an 8-day self-isolation period suggesting detection rates of up to 94%, 100%, 98% and 62% for travellers infected with COVID-19, Influenza, SARS, and Ebola respectively. These results therefore suggest that testing arrivals after an enforced period of self-isolation may present a reasonable method of protecting against case importation during international outbreaks.

Eating behavior of preschool-age children during social distancing period due to COVID-19

The aim of the study was to investigate the eating behavior of preschool children during the social isolation period of the first wave of COVID-19 in Fortaleza, Ceará. This is a cross-sectional observational study, carried out with caregivers of preschool children aged from 2 to 6 years. The PENSE questionnaire (IBGE) was used to collect socio-economic data and the data referring to eating behavior was used the CEBQ. 286 parents (mother and father) and their children participated in the research, of which 53.8% were female. The preschoolers in the study constituted 5.2% of infant I, 9.8% infant II, 14.7% infant III, 20.6% infant IV, 23.1% infant V, 15.4% 1-year elementary school and 11.2% did not attend school. As for the education of most mothers, 83.9% completed higher education. Regarding the number of people who lived in the household, 44.4% lived with 4 people and 73.1% had 1 child. The highest mean values ​​are present in the dimension "Pleasure to eat" (EF) and "Response to satiety" (SR), while the lowest refer to the dimensions "About Emotional Intake" (EOE) and "Response to food" (FR). The statistical results of the “Food Fussiness” (FF) subscale point out important aspects about the selectivity in the sample of the present study, demonstrating a good tendency to picky eating. The dimension with the lowest mean was “Emotional Overeating”, demonstrating that when confined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preschoolers still have EOE lower than all other subscales. It follows that children in preschool stage have presented a higher prevalence in subscales that are linked to food avoidance behavior.

Quarantine Hotels: The Adaptation of Hotels for Quarantine Use in Australia

The COVID-19 global health crisis has spatial implications concerning social isolation to control the spread of the virus. The preventive measures require travelers to stay in mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon arrival from another country. Due to a shortage of government facilities, more hotels have started to function as quarantine facilities. This research focuses on quarantine hotels in Australia, as one of the first countries to implement an international border restriction, to evaluate the spatial needs of users and what see outcomes can be identified. By primarily focusing on hotel users’ well-being during the isolation period, this paper responds to an information gap regarding the quarantine hotel system by providing user opinions on the negative and positive factors affecting their well-being. A survey with multiple-choice and open-ended questionnaire items was conducted with 54 participants to investigate their experiences in quarantine hotels. Among the nine key sources of well-being, the three highest-scored responses were an operable window (4.7), ventilation (4.5), and natural lighting (4.3). Access to the outdoor environment via a balcony or operable window was an acute and fundamental requirement for guests. Additionally, participants mentioned that they are unwilling to return to the hotel where they spent their quarantine, which raises issues regarding the future of hotels.

Home training recommendations for soccer players during the COVID-19 pandemic

This pandemic of COVID-19 has a major impact on people's lives, and several governments ordered extended quarantine and requested social isolation to contain the spread of COVID-19 and flatten its contagion curve. Soccer practice was also severely affected by these pandemic effects, including the postponement of several championships, which involve large audiences. In Brazil, the professional leagues restart the official matches (e.g., Brazilian National Fourth, Third, Second, and First Divisions Leagues). However, some youth academies have not yet restarted their professional activities. Therefore, home-based training can be a good option in these cases. Here, we outline the benefits of home workouts using a multidimensional approach. First, we provide practical recommendations for physical, psychological, and tactical training. Next, we propose an example of a home training program spanning one weekly microcycle for soccer players, using load control based on the rating of perceived exertion. We highlighted that is crucial to make all these exercises fun and entertaining during the self-isolation period. The home training recommendations discussed and proposed in this research can and should be adjusted by the coaches according to their own ideas and athletes' access to equipment (e.g., treadmills, flywheel training, virtual reality).