Community Lockdown Research Articles

Lockdown fatigue, personal resilience and coping appraisal of faculty in a state university

Many countries' lockdown measures have been effective in halting the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but there is rising worry about their negative effects on overall health and well-being, particularly among lecturer in the academe. This study aimed to assess the lockdown fatigue, personal resilience and coping appraisal involving 100 lecturers in Quirino State University-Diffun Campus. Four-likert scale questionnaires were adapted and used to gather data including the lockdown fatigue scale (LFS), brief resilience scale (BRS), and coping appraisal. Findings reveal that majority of the respondents are female, 31-40 years old, married, with an on-going Master’s Degree, with a permanent position in the university. The most prominent symptoms of fatigue, according to the respondents in this study, were worry, sadness, depression, tiredness or physical depletion, and anxiety. As to the personal resilience of lecturer, according to the findings, it is difficult for them to react quickly when anything negative occurs. As a result, efforts to reduce lockdown fatigue among lecturer must focus on developing their coping abilities, which will improve their mental and psychological well-being as well as their general health. A positive psychological intervention or program may be implemented to mitigate the negative effect brought by community lockdown.

Risk assessment and analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention in coronavirus disease.

To explore the advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in "prevention" and "control" of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this paper, we wish to estimate the effect on the virus transmission of scenarios assuming TCM were used to build the first defense line at the very early stage of the spread in Wuhan. We therefore first developed a classic susceptible infected removed (susceptible infected removed, SIR) transmission model based on the national data in China and then updated it to a TCM-SIR model to assess the potential impact of such assumptions, i.e. the underlying risk of lives lost and social economy loss. (a) With the nationwide community lockdown, the risk value was from 90 000 to 250 000 without TCM intervention and the risk value was from 70 000 to 220 000 with TCM intervention; (b) Based the risk assessment method, we forecasted that the infections peak would be 58016 without TCM intervention, which happened on February 17 2020. However, the infections peak would be 45713 with TCM intervention, which happened on 16 February 2020. The adoption of nationwide community lockdown is conducive to timely control the epidemic and protect people's lives and safety. At the same time, we can get lower infections if TCM intervention can be considered. We can also get the benefits from TCM prevention of COVID-19 pandemic by the basic number of infections.

The Philippines' snapshot situation of pregnancy-related and child feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundMaternal, infant and young child health and nutrition are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.AimThis study aimed to present the snapshot situation of maternal health practices of pregnant women including infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of children under two during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted through phone interview in nine selected areas from November 3 to December 3, 2020. A multi-stage sampling design was employed in the selection of areas with low, medium, and high risk categories across the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the Philippines. A total of 792 mother-child pairs, and 148 pregnant women were covered.ResultsMajority (84.5%) of pregnant women availed pre-natal check-ups, 82.4% of them had micronutrient supplements, of which 20.5% took IFA tablets. Almost 60.0% of children under two were currently breastfed during the pandemic, with 60.8% of infants less than 6 months receiving breastmilk exclusively. Appropriate complementary feeding practices based on this study were not drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, access to pregnancy-related information, along with breastfeeding and complementary feeding messages and advice were disrupted during the community lockdown.ConclusionAlthough maternal and child feeding practices were unchanged, innovative delivery of community health and nutrition services such as tele-visits by midwives, and community health workers are some of the ways to move forward in improving the health and nutrition of women and children in the wake of the pandemic and during subsequent waves.

Exposure to COVID-19 news and its relation to stress, depression, and anxiety in the context of difficulty in accessing social support

BackgroundPast literature showed an increase in the tendency to seek out news media information when social connections are strained. In general, news exposure has been linked to a mix of both positive and negative outcomes, such as heightened protective behaviors, feelings of reassurance, lower uncertainty, and an increase in stress and anxiety. However, its impact on individuals living in communities under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be explored.AimsThis study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the effects of COVID-19-related news exposure on mental health outcomes (such as depression and anxiety) for people living in areas that are under community lockdown.MethodsUsing purposive sampling, 435 Filipinos under community quarantine were surveyed. The structural model of the relations between exposure to COVID-19-related news, difficulty accessing social support, stress, depression, and anxiety was tested via ML estimation with Robust specification using EQS 6.3 software. Social support access was hypothesized to have a moderating role in the impact of COVID-19 news exposure on stress.ResultsThe results showed an adequately fit model. Results show that higher exposure to news related to COVID-19 led to lower levels of stress, especially for those who were having more difficulty accessing social support. In turn, lesser stress was shown to lead to lesser symptoms of anxiety and depression.ConclusionsThis research illustrates the modest, positive impact news exposure has on mental health outcomes, particularly for individuals who may have difficulty accessing social support due to lockdown measures. In situations where social connectedness and access to social support becomes strained, accessing news can be one way to reduce distress among individuals in lockdown and quarantine.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple community lockdowns on total live birth rates and preterm births in Melbourne, Australia.

We evaluated the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and Melbourne's multiple community lockdowns (between 2020–21) on total live birth rates and preterm births in a large health network. Analysis revealed a decrease in total live birth rates following easing of initial lockdowns, and a sharp increase in births at one stage in between lockdowns. The proportion and number of preterm births (<37 weeks gestation) decreased at the start of initial lockdowns with the strongest decrease after the end of the second lockdown period. Births <34 weeks gestation also decreased during lockdowns, but no significant change was identified for births <28 weeks gestation.

The health impacts of a 4-month long community-wide COVID-19 lockdown: Findings from a prospective longitudinal study in the state of Victoria, Australia

To determine health impacts during, and following, an extended community lockdown and COVID-19 outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria, compared with the rest of Australia. A national cohort of 898 working-age Australians enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study, completing surveys before, during, and after a 112-day community lockdown in Victoria (8 July- 27 October 2020). Outcomes included psychological distress, mental and physical health, work, social interactions and finances. Regression models examined health changes during and following lockdown. The Victorian lockdown led to increased psychological distress. Health impacts coincided with greater social isolation and work loss. Following the extended lockdown, mental health, work and social interactions recovered to an extent whereby no significant long-lasting effects were identified in Victoria compared to the rest of Australia. The Victorian community lockdown had adverse health consequences, which reversed upon release from lockdown. Governments should weigh all potential health impacts of lockdown. Services and programs to reduce the negative impacts of lockdown may include increases in mental health care, encouraging safe social interactions and supports to maintain employment relationships.

Water quality index of Yamuna River in Delhi regiondue to community lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic has created a panic situation to the whole world because of its rapid contagious expansion in human beings. Social lockdown has been imposed throughout world including India to decrease the number of infections in public as no vaccine is available for its cure (at that time). During lockdown, the water quality of river Yamuna got improved as the entire commercial premises and industries were shut down. This paper presents the improvement of Yamuna river water quality in terms of DO, BOD, COD, pH, conductivity and suspended solids during first phase of lockdown (3 weeks) started from March 24th 2020 to April 14th, 2020 on the basis of data available on the website of CPCB, India. pH values were examined in the range from 7.1 to 8.7 (pre-lockdown) and it was decreased in a range of 7.2 -7.8 (post-lockdown). Similarly, 57% conductivity reduction in river water and 34% TSS reduction in drain water were recorded in postlockdown time. On an average of 62% BOD and 60% COD load of river Yamuna has been reduced in just three weeks of lockdown time period.

“Sana All”: Netizens’ Perception of Government Responses to COVID-19

Netizens posted views that contradicted the results released by research agencies about the Philippine government's responses to COVID-19. In this study, Twitter, which is a key communication channels, was the main source of data to explore the public’s perception of the Philippine government’s performance to the pandemic response. To limit tweets to be studied, sana all, a language phenomenon mostly used at the time of community lockdowns, was observed and utilized as a code identify relevant tweets. Between March and August 2020, 257 tweets were collected and researchers used presuppositions to extract socio-political context and truths implied in tweets. Then, the data underwent a 6-level thematic analysis and eleven categories were formed. The prevalent language intention emerging from the tweets is empathy. This paper will discuss how empathy associates the sound dissatisfaction of the netizens with the responses made by the current administration to combat the COVID-19 multi-effects.

The Benefits and Impact of COVID Lockdown on the Environment

Evidence-based research indicates that river basins are cleaner due to fewer people driving due to community lockdowns. Further, air quality has improved due to lessened home-to-work/school transportation and more Work-From-Home (WFH) remote options. Moreover, governments are experiencing challenges providing food to the most vulnerable communities from a food security standpoint. For example, those in global slums are particularly challenged during this time. Air, water, soil, and noise pollution have diminished since the pandemic as manufacturing production has been severely reduced in some industries. Food quality has been diminished because manufacturers are focused more on the quality of products rather than on perceived consumer quality. Solid and waste challenges abound as the use of hand sanitizers and chemicals to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus have created elevated levels of chemicals in waste programs threatening to refuse environmental factors and soil quality via toxic substances. The impacts of growth on the ecosystem are global because some species are in an overabundance within the food cycle, threatening the delicate balance of nature. On the other hand, algae overgrowth has lessened because of less carbon and nitrogen emissions. Also, human traffic and visitations to international parks have decreased. For instance, in Canada and other nature parks, animals on the plains now run free because of social distancing measures and park closures. From an economic perspective, as some industries have grown (masks/sanitation chemical/respirator production), others have declined (transportation/aviation). As a result, the pandemic has reduced air quality impacts of commercial aviation travel and lessened global cargo, which has reduced air and sound emissions worldwide

Starting a Small Business amidst COVID-19: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Entrepreneurship Students in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

This study described the entrepreneurial journey of 23 college entrepreneurship students of Nueva Ecija University and Science and Technology, Philippines, who have established small businesses amid pandemic. This study utilized a descriptive method of research and used questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide as research instruments. The study revealed that the student’s preparedness to start a business had been attributed to the entrepreneurship education they have gained from their course. Gaining financial wealth while still studying has been the top factor that motivated students to engage in business. By establishing their small businesses, they have gained moderately to a high level of personal entrepreneurial competencies. Peer mentorship and attendance to free webinars have helped them improve their businesses. Time management, strict compliance to safety and health protocols, and community lockdowns have challenged students in their business operations. The study recommends that the university must continue offering a relevant entrepreneurship education curriculum and make it relevant to the needs of the times. The Philippines government must extend its assistance to entrepreneurship students to help them thrive as successful entrepreneurs.

Sexual behaviour during COVID-19: a repeated cross-sectional survey in Victoria, Australia.

During 2020, the State of Victoria (Australia) experienced two COVID-19 waves. Both resulted in community lockdowns followed by eased restrictions. We examined variation of sexual behaviour in Victorians over time during COVID-19. We conducted a repeated online survey at four timepoints corresponding with two lockdown (LD1, LD2) and two reduced restriction (RR1, RR2) periods in Victoria. A convenience sample of participants aged ≥18years was recruited via social media and asked about their recent (past 4weeks) sexual behaviour. Using multivariable logistic regression, we investigated variation in sexual behaviour between surveys. A total of 1828 surveys were completed; 72% identified as female, 69% were aged 18-29years, 90% were metropolitan residents. The proportion reporting recent partnered sex ranged from 54.9% (LD2) to 70.2% (RR1). Across all timepoints, the most common sexual partners were regular (81.5%, n =842) and 10.8% (n =111) reported casual partners (e.g. hook-ups). Compared with LD1, respondents were >2-fold more likely to report casual partner(s) during reduced restrictions (RR1: aOR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.7; RR2: aOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.3-5.9). Across all timepoints, 26.6% (n =486) reported using dating apps. Compared with LD1, dating app use for face-to-face activities (e.g. dates, hook-ups) was >4-fold higher during reduced restrictions (RR1: aOR 4.3; 95% CI 2.3-8.0; RR2: aOR 4.1; 95% CI 1.9-8.8). App use for distanced activities (e.g. sexting, virtual dates) was highest during LD1 (48.8%) than other periods. In this convenience sample, self-reported sexual behaviours fluctuated between lockdowns and reduced restrictions. While dating apps may provide a mechanism for virtual connections, this may be temporary until physical connections are possible.

Community Transmission of Respiratory Infectious Diseases using Agent-based and Compartmental Models

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were the mainstay to control the spread of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic. Mathematical modeling has played an important role in determining the effects of these NPIs. An agent-based model and a compartmental model (i.e., extended susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered) were formulated to simulate the spread of a respiratory infection between two neighboring communities. The study aimed to determine the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, community lockdowns and the use of protective gears. The chance of traveling to another community and within the community during the lockdown, and an initial percentage of exposed and infected individuals in both communities influenced the increase in the number of newly infected individuals on both models. It was shown through simulations that an increase in exposed individuals increased the number of new infections; hence, the need for amplified testing-isolation efforts. Protection level of 75-100% effectiveness impeded disease transmission. Inter- or intra-community travels can be an option given that strict preventive measures (e.g., non-pharmaceutical interventions) were observed. The ideal setup for neighboring communities was to implement lockdown when there is a high risk of local transmission while individuals observe social distancing, maximizing protective measures and isolating the exposed. The results of the agent-based and compartmental models showed similar qualitative dynamics; the differences were due to different spatiotemporal heterogeneity and stochasticity. These models can aid decision-makers in designing infectious disease-related policies to protect individuals while continuing population movement.

Covid-19: The Nexus Between Community Lockdown and Upsurge in Crime in Nigeria

COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for the current phase of social existence which is characterized with the need for lockdown, social distancing, regular washing of hands and ensuring proper hygiene. Globally, social lives have been adjusted and various measures have been enacted to curb the spread of the virus. Nigeria is not an exception; governments at various levels have put in place measures to avert the spread of the COVID 19 virus. Some of these measures are apparent in the community lockdown and stay at home order instituted. The intention has been to control the spread of the virus and to support the health practitioners in their fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and importantly, to ensure a proper social order. However, Criminals have been exploring the period of the community lockdown to exhibit their latest modus of operandi, thereby engaging in various criminal activities. The instituted community lockdown, which is geared towards containing the spread of the virus, seems to have been hijacked by the criminals and turned into an opportunity to cause civil unrest. Nigeria as a nation has witnessed an increase in the reports of rape cases; kidnapping; armed banditry as well as other security challenges during the lockdown. The increase in the rate of crime and social vices seems to have subverted the fundamental intentions of the government. This paper demonstrates the nexus between community lockdown and upsurge in crimes. Crimes, which should have declined during the lockdown, took another dimension. The lockdown was primarily geared toward reducing criminal activities, however, the mode only changed but the crime did not only continue but increases.

Preterm Infant Outcomes Following COVID-19 Lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia.

Background Community lockdowns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may influence preterm birth rates, but mechanisms are unclear. Methods We compared neonatal outcomes of preterm infants born to mothers exposed to community lockdowns in 2020 (exposed group) to those born in 2019 (control group). Main outcome studied was composite of significant neonatal morbidity or death. Results Median gestational age was 35 + 4 weeks (295 infants, exposed group) vs. 35 + 0 weeks (347 infants, control group) (p = 0.108). The main outcome occurred in 36/295 (12.2%) infants in exposed group vs. 46/347 (13.3%) in control group (p = 0.69). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use, jaundice requiring phototherapy, hypoglycaemia requiring treatment, early neonatal white cell and neutrophil counts were significantly reduced in the exposed group. Conclusions COVID-19 community lockdowns did not alter composite neonatal outcomes in preterm infants, but reduced rates of some common outcomes as well as early neonatal inflammatory markers.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the well-being of clients of a specialist personality disorder service.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the well-being of people with severe borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the first wave of COVID-19 social restrictions.MethodClients of an outpatient specialist personality disorder clinic (n = 77) were invited to the study. An online survey was conducted including a range of open-ended questions exploring well-being and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) which assesses ‘coronaphobia’. Qualitative data were analysed using inductive content analysis with NVivo software. CAS data were analysed descriptively using SPSS version 25.ResultsThirty-six surveys were completed (48% response rate). Many participants experienced significant challenges to their overall well-being during lockdown although some reported improvements in psychosocial functioning. Three participants (8.3%) experienced clinically significant ‘coronaphobia’.ConclusionThe self-reported physical and mental health of participants with BPD demonstrated resilience, suggesting that the capacity to maintain treatment via telehealth helped to mitigate many of the adverse aspects of social restrictions. This study was conducted during the first wave of social restrictions; subsequent studies will reveal longer-term effects of extended community lockdowns.

The impact of lockdown policies on labor market outcomes of the Chinese labor force in 2020: Evidence based on an employee tracking survey

This paper uses data from an employee tracking survey in China for about 6000 incumbent workers to document their dynamic labor market outcomes throughout the year 2020. I find that the employment situation worsened sharply during the lockdown period and then recovered gradually, showing a “V” shaped pattern. However, by the end of November 2020, about 4.4 per cent of 2019 incumbent workers were still unemployed, with few social protections. By adopting a Difference-in-Differences approach, I further estimate the impacts of city and community lockdowns on labor market outcomes of surveyed employees and their mental health. The estimation results show that lockdowns reduced the probability of resuming work by 13.2 percentage points, which in turn worsened their mental health status. My findings suggest that stringent measures to counter the virus brought about negative shocks in the labor market and reduces the welfare of workers, at least in the short run.

Special Issue Introduction: Thinking Through “Being in the COVID‐19 World” and Bright Spots for our Food Futures

Special Issue Introduction: Thinking Through “Being in the COVID‐19 World” and Bright Spots for our Food Futures

Technology-driven dyadic interaction in caregiving.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and the resulting community lockdowns, people with dementia and their family might be at risk of social deprivation and increased relationship strains. Technological means have the potential to engage participants in meaningful positive interactions. The tablet-based activation system I-CARE offers social activities specifically designed for people with dementia and their caregivers, by offering user-specific contents adapted to their needs and sensitivities. Little is known about the impact of Covid-19 on social health for this population. The ongoing study, presented as a part of the Marie-Curie Innovative-Training-Network action, H2020-MSCA-ITN, grant agreement 813196, assesses how COVID-19 has impacted community-dwelling dementia caregiving dyads. Contextual factors of technology use and motivations for inviting technology into social interactions is explored. As a part an ongoing pre-post mixed-methods feasibility study, baseline assessments through semi-structured interviews were conducted and subjected to inductive thematic statement analysis by two independent researchers. Participants differed in how COVID-19 restrictions impacted their lives and how they coped with dementia, revealing different motivations for inviting technology into their lives. Dyads who were socially active pre-COVID-19, and who managed use technology to maintain social participation during COVID-19, reported to have been less negatively impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Four subthemes within "Social technology during COVID-19" were identified. During and beyond this pandemic, social technology is a valuable tool to promote social participation in this population. Successful uptake of technology is dependent on customizing to individuals' needs and conditions.

Economic Optimization of Local Australian Ammonia Production Using Plasma Technologies with Green/Turquoise Hydrogen

Growing concern about the supply of goods under the COVID pandemic due to border restrictions and community lockdown has made us aware of the limitations of the global supply chain. Fertilizers are...

Changes in Sewage Sludge Chemical Signatures During a COVID-19 Community Lockdown, Part 2: Nontargeted Analysis of Sludge and Evaluation with COVID-19 Metrics.

Sewage sludge and wastewater include urine and feces from an entire community, and it is highly likely that this mixture contains chemicals whose presence is dependent on levels of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the community. We analyzed primary sewage sludge samples collected in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, during the initial wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic using liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry and performed an exploratory investigation of correlations between chemical features and COVID‐19 metrics including concentrations of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) RNA in the sludge and local COVID‐19 case numbers and hospital admissions. Inclusion of all chemical features in this analysis is key for discovering potential indicator compounds for COVID‐19, whose structures may not be known. We found correlations with COVID‐19 metrics for several identified chemicals as well as many unidentified features in the data, including three potential indicator molecules that are recommended for prioritization in future studies on COVID‐19 in wastewater and sludge. These features have molecular weights of 108.0935, 318.1214, and 331.1374. While it is not possible to achieve prediction of COVID‐19 epidemiological metrics from the one data set used in the present study, advances in this research area are important to share as scientists worldwide work on discovering efficient methods for tracking SARS‐CoV‐2 in wastewater and the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1193–1201. © 2021 SETAC