The importance of initial response during outbreaks: A perspective from observations on COVID-19

Comparison of the efficacy of COVID-19 responses in South Korea and the United States

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated many countries worldwide by causing large numbers of fatalities. In our research, we wanted to answer the question: Why was there such a large difference in the mortality rate between South Korea and the United States? This is because many East Asian countries, such as Korea, had a lower mortality rate than many countries, including developed ones, across the world - the mortality rate of South Korea was about five times lower than the United States.

METHODS

This study comprehensively compares strategies used to address the COVID-19 pandemic in two different countries: South Korea and the United States. The various aspects of these two countries' responses are examined, including initial response, information dissemination and public compliance, mitigation strategies, and vaccine rollout and their impacts.

RESULTS

Early and widespread testing, rigorous contact tracing, the clear release of government information, and an organized vaccine rollout powered a proactive approach in South Korea. The United States had a contrasting response consisting of delayed and more decentralized measures, where testing lagged due to varying policies and the political controversies facing vaccine distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

We signify the gravity of rapid response and testing, clear communication, and efficient vaccine distribution, as we believe this could correlate with a lower mortality rate. In addition, we discuss future directions, including the need for a specific health infrastructure and protocol against highly infectious outbreaks.

Health and safety of health workers in the Suame Municipality of Ghana - Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 outbreak in infection prevention and control for future pandemics

Objectives

Effective adherence to infection prevention and control practices is needed to reduce the rate of healthcare-acquired infections among healthcare workers. Policies to control healthcare-acquired infections among healthcare workers can be designed and implemented using information on adherence to infection prevention and control practices adherence and its determinants. This study, therefore, sought to assess the adherence to infection prevention and control practices among healthcare workers during the 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic.

Methods

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among 323 randomly selected healthcare workers in four health facilities in the Suame Municipality, Ghana. Data on participants' socio-demographics, knowledge of infection prevention and control practices and adherence to infection prevention and control practices were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of demographic characteristics and knowledge of infection prevention and control on adherence to infection prevention and control practices among study participants.

Results

Over three-quarters (75.9%) of the study participants had adequate knowledge of infection prevention and control practices with a significant knowledge gap in the colour coding of bin liners for waste segregation (35.6%). The proportion of study participants who reported good adherence to infection prevention and control practices was 86.7%. Healthcare workers who were 33 years and above (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.27; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.08-0.92) and absence of an infection prevention and control committee at the facility AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08-0.73) had reduced odds of good adherence to infection prevention and control practices. Nursing staff (AOR: 9.49, 95% CI: 2.51-35.87) and having adequate knowledge of infection prevention and control practices (AOR: 2.66; 95% CI: 1.19-5.97) were associated with increased odds of good adherence to infection prevention and control practices.

Conclusion

Adherence to infection prevention and control practices was high among this sample of Ghanaian healthcare workers. Interventions and strategies to improve adherence should include the setting up of infection prevention and control committees, education and strict observance of colour coding of bin liners for waste segregation and intensification of training of healthcare workers in infection prevention and control practices.

COVID-19 patient and personal safety - lessons learnt for pandemic preparedness and the way to the next normal

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly challenged societies and healthcare systems in particular. To prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies had to be developed on the local, national and international level. The aim of this study is to provide details of the COVID-19 experience at the Vienna General Hospital (VGH) in the context of the national and international COVID-19 response for learning and improvement.

METHODS

This is a retrospective report, outlining the evolution of IPC measures and challenges encountered at the health facility (VGH), the national (Austria) and global level between February 2020 and October 2022.

RESULTS

The IPC strategy at the VGH has been continuously adapted to changes in the epidemiological setting, new legal directives and Austrian by-laws. The current strategy, nationally and internationally, focuses on endemicity rather than maximum transmission risk reduction. For the VGH, this has recently resulted in an increase in COVID-19 clusters. To protect our particularly vulnerable patients, many COVID-19 precautions have been maintained. Barriers to adequate IPC implementation at the VGH and other hospitals include a lack of sufficient isolation options and non-adherence with universal face mask regulations. Globally, misinformation on COVID-19 hampered an effective response.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 response at the VGH and international reports underline the need for pandemic preparedness, readiness and response by improving future hospital design and infrastructure, conducting regular trainings for protective attire and increasing health literacy as now recently published in a concise document by WHO.

Space-time COVID-19 monitoring in Morocco

Introduction

In Morocco, the first case was detected on March 02, 2020. Few days later, new cases are notified, followed by deaths. The government decided to adopt large-scale drastic measures against the epidemic. This study aims to describe and analyse the COVID-19 distribution in Morocco, according to key measures taken to curb this health problem.

Methods

An observational study of all cases daily reported by the Ministry of Health of Morocco from 02 March to 05 May 2020, was carried out. A mapping was performed.

Results

Before the implementation of the state of health emergency, 86 confirmed cases out of 471 biological examinations carried out have been reported and the highest cumulative incidence (0.43 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) was recorded in Fes-Meknes region. During the 1st quarantine, 2,960 positive cases out of 15,915 examinations carried out have been detected. Marrakech-Safi region was the most affected (15.33 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). Halfway through extended quarantine, 2,173 confirmed cases out of 49,570 biological examinations realized have been notified, the highest cumulative incidence has observed in Draa-Tafilalet region (27.45 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). The highest mortality was observed in Marrakech-Safi region (1.05 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) and the highest case fatality rate (13.46%) was registered in Souss-Massa region.

Conclusion

The strategy adopted by Morocco has enabled it to avoid a health catastrophe. But, it’s not over yet. Morocco should continue the massive efforts and reinforce the existing measures against the virus, especially in regions very affected by the epidemic.

Safe but Lonely? Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms and COVID-19

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has led governments worldwide to implement unprecedented response strategies. While crucial to limiting the spread of the virus, “social distancing” may lead to severe psychological consequences, especially in lonely individuals.

Methods

We used cross-sectional (n = 380) and longitudinal (n = 74) designs to investigate the links between loneliness, anxiety, and depression symptoms (ADS) and COVID-19 risk perception and affective response in young adults who implemented social distancing during the first 2 weeks of the state of epidemic threat in Poland.

Results

Loneliness was correlated with ADS and with affective response to COVID-19’s threat to health. However, increased worry about the social isolation and heightened risk perception for financial problems was observed in lonelier individuals. The cross-lagged influence of the initial affective response to COVID-19 on subsequent levels of loneliness was also found.

Conclusion

The reciprocal connections between loneliness and COVID-19 response may be of crucial importance for ADS during the COVID-19 crisis.

A Computational Model for Estimating the Progression of COVID-19 Cases in the US West and East Coast Population Regions

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is of global concern and has recently emerged in the US. In this paper, we construct a stochastic variant of the SEIR model to estimate a quasi-worst-case scenario prediction of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US West and East Coast population regions by considering the different phases of response implemented by the US as well as transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in countries that were most affected. The model is then fitted to current data and implemented using Runge-Kutta methods. Our computation results predict that the number of new cases would peak around mid-April 2020 and begin to abate by July provided that appropriate COVID-19 measures are promptly implemented and followed, and that the number of cases of COVID-19 might be significantly mitigated by having greater numbers of functional testing kits available for screening. The model is also sensitive to assigned parameter values and reflects the importance of healthcare preparedness during pandemics.

Safe but Lonely? Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms and COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has led governments worldwide to implement unprecedented response strategies. While crucial to limiting the spread of the virus, "social distancing" may lead to severe psychological consequences, especially in lonely individuals.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional (n = 380) and longitudinal (n = 74) designs to investigate the links between loneliness, anxiety, and depression symptoms (ADS) and COVID-19 risk perception and affective response in young adults who implemented social distancing during the first 2 weeks of the state of epidemic threat in Poland.

RESULTS

Loneliness was correlated with ADS and with affective response to COVID-19's threat to health. However, increased worry about the social isolation and heightened risk perception for financial problems was observed in lonelier individuals. The cross-lagged influence of the initial affective response to COVID-19 on subsequent levels of loneliness was also found.

CONCLUSION

The reciprocal connections between loneliness and COVID-19 response may be of crucial importance for ADS during the COVID-19 crisis.