COVID-19 in Okayama Prefecture: Looking back and looking forward

In Japan, clinical and experimental studies addressing COVID-19 have been increasing in number since early February 2020, with many case reports being published. Concurrently, many notifications and guidelines have been issued from the government and academic societies. Taking optimal measures at the prefectural level as well as the national level is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Surveying and analyzing details of the incidences of infected persons in each prefecture is extremely important. This report describes the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 observed in Okayama Prefecture, followed by discussion of the direction of public health actions to be taken in the future. We reiterate the crucial importance of reinforcing and maintaining current public health measures, including rapid and detailed compilation of information related to infected persons and their surroundings, appropriate blocking of viral transmission, and early containment of infected persons, to minimize the spread of infection especially during the overlapping epidemic period of influenza in Okayama Prefecture.

COVID-19 in People with Diabetes: Epidemiological Perspectives and Public Health Actions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

It is evident that COVID-19 and diabetes have a significant influence on population health across the world, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. COVID-19 patients with diabetes have been observed to be more prone to developing severe infections and higher risk of mortality compared to non-diabetics. As diabetes is one of the major health issues, widely prevalent in the MENA countries, the current review focused on understanding the epidemiology of COVID-19 in people with diabetes, and the interventions implemented by the governments to minimize the impact of it. Considering the importance and need, the MENA countries have enforced several prevention and control measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Though there has been a considerable amount of research on COVID-19, only a few countries from the MENA region focused on the epidemiology of COVID-19 among patients with diabetes and its effects. Hence, we emphasize the need for intensive research which is an urgent need to have a clear understanding of COVID-19 and its association with diabetes to develop and implement evidence- based programs and policies in the MENA region.