Cases Of COVID-19 Infection Research Articles

Traditional Chinese medicine application and evidence analysis of 1426 cases of long COVID: A retrospective study

BackgroundIn recent years, with the increase in COVID-19 infection cases, the focus of treatment and rehabilitation has shifted to symptoms and complications that arise during the recovery period. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in treatment and rehabilitation, but there is currently a lack of systematic clinical research. ObjectiveTo preliminarily evaluate the clinical efficacy of integrated Chinese and Western medical treatment plans and to describe the characteristics of "long COVID'' syndromes. MethodsEligible "long COVID'' patients diagnosed between December 2022 and June 2023 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University were identified through electronic medical records. Baseline demographic information was collected, and patients were divided into a TCM group and a Western medicine group based on their treatment methods. The primary outcome for efficacy evaluation was TCM syndrome scores and symptom improvement time, with secondary outcomes including symptom improvement rates. Survival curve analysis was used to assess symptom improvement time, and a Cox regression model was employed to identify potential risk factors affecting symptom prognosis. Chi-square tests were used to compare binary data between or among groups. The Jaccard method was applied for systematic clustering of TCM syndromes, and clinical characteristics at the start and end of treatment were reported. ResultsAnalysis showed that younger patients, those with underweight, and those receiving TCM treatment had shorter recovery times (P < 0.0001). Systematic clustering of the main symptom elements (33 elements with a frequency ≥ 5 %) identified six core combinations. The main symptoms of long COVID included cough, excessive sputum, nasal congestion, chest tightness, sore throat, and fatigue. Notably, symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite, classified as deficiency syndromes in TCM, had longer recovery times. ConclusionElderly, obesity, underlying diseases, and exclusive Western medicine treatment were associated with poorer prognosis. The early recovery period is characterized by a mix of deficiency and excess syndromes, whereas the later period is dominated by deficiency syndromes. TCM treatment can effectively improve clinical symptoms and shorten symptom duration, but further research is needed.

Perceptions of prevalence and management of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) infection among healthcare workers in Kweneng District, Botswana: Report of a district-wide survey.

Over 9.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in Africa. The syndrome of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) affects an estimated 32% to 87% of COVID patients globally. Data regarding prevalence and impact of PASC in Botswana are limited. This study used a cross-sectional survey design to query healthcare workers in Kweneng District, Botswana about perceived PASC prevalence, duration, symptoms, impact, and management strategies. The survey was disseminated to participants via pre-existing WhatsApp groups and paper copy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, including demographic data. 72 respondents consented and completed the survey, from an estimated 650 staff meeting eligibility criteria; 63% were female and 36% were male. The majority (90%) were nurses, with doctors and "other" accounting for 6% and 4% of respondents, respectively; no administrators responded. Over half (72%) worked at primary care facilities and 28% worked in hospitals. Nearly all (93%) indicated seeing patients with PASC on a weekly basis, though the majority (61%) identified these patients as comprising <10% of total patients. The most frequently reported PASC symptom was persistent cough (64%), followed by shortness of breath (54%) and fatigue (49%). A substantial minority of respondents were unsure how to manage common PASC symptoms, with 29% and 36% indicating uncertainty regarding management of persistent cough and fatigue, respectively. Findings indicate that PASC symptoms are frequently encountered in clinical practice in Botswana with significant overlap with acute COVID-19, influenza-like illnesses, and tuberculosis, likely placing increased burden on existing health system processes. Providers reported uncertainty in managing presumed PASC, and current practice patterns may contribute to unintended adverse effects. Clear clinical algorithms for PASC screening, diagnosis, and management should be developed and disseminated in Botswana to mitigate the effects of PASC symptoms and improve the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors.

Public Perception of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Protective Measures in Nigeria

The infection and fatality rates in many African countries have been unpredictably fluctuating since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Africa is also notably lower than on other continents. As part of Africa, Nigeria has also experienced several spikes in COVID-19 infection cases and fatalities. Focusing on Nigeria’s urgent need to ramp up the COVID-19 vaccination rate, this study investigated Nigerians’ perceived protective measures, which indicates their risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed the protection motivation theory (PMT) as its theoretical framework. The PMT explains how individuals are motivated to protect themselves and engage in protective measures when they encounter a health risk. Specifically, this study focused on the difference between healthcare professionals and the general public, comparing their risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic and its protective measures. Analysing data from 630 voluntary participants, this study provides recommendations and meaningful implications for Nigeria's current and future pandemic health communication campaigns and interventions.

Glucocorticoid treatment during COVID-19 infection: does it affect the incidence of long COVID?

Long COVID (LC) is a frequent complication of COVID infection. It usually results in cognitive impairment, myalgia, headache and fatigue. No effective treatment has been found yet. We aimed to explore the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment during COVID-19 infection on the later development of LC. We examined electronic health records from Clalit Health Services for documentation of COVID-19, GC treatment, and LC frequency. Background diagnoses, demographic data, hospitalization rates, and the use of anti-COVID drugs were recorded. 1,322,599 cases of COVID-19 infection met the inclusion criteria; 13,530 patients (1.02%) received GC treatment. 149,272 patients, 11.29% of COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with LC. Age and female gender were prognostic risk factors for LC (OR 1.06 for age, OR 1.4 for female gender; p value < 0.0001). Background psychiatric diagnoses, migraine, backache and irritable bowel syndrome were predisposing conditions for LC (OR 2.7, p value < .0001). Higher BMI was associated with a greater probability of LC (OR of 1.25 for obese population). COVID patients who received GC were diagnosed with LC more frequently: 2294 cases (16.95%) compared to 146,978 cases (11.23%) in the non-GC group; (adjusted OR of 1.28 ± 0.07, 95% CI, p < 0.0001). GC treatment during COVID-19 is correlated with the development of LC. In vivo and animal models may be used to explore the mechanism of this correlation. Future directions include prospective studies as well.

A case of severe Covid-19 infection as the first manifestation of Cushing's disease.

Cushing's disease (CD) is characterized by distinct syndromic features, often accompanied by obesity and depression. However, considering its gradual onset of symptoms, it is usually associated with diagnostic delays. In rare instances, CD may lead to severe infections due to the observed immunosuppression in affected individuals. We present a rare case of an undiagnosed CD in a 20-year-old male with a medical history of depression and obesity, complicated by severe COVID-19 infection. He presented to the Emergency Room with respiratory distress, hypertensive crisis, and fever, ultimately receiving the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The patient required mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During ICU care, he received remdesivir and dexamethasone, subsequently developing severe hyperglycemia and worsened hypertension, requiring insulin and multiple antihypertensive agents to manage metabolic disruption. Upon physical examination, classic signs of hypercortisolism were noted. Subsequent laboratory tests and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of CD. The patient underwent surgical resection with significant improvements in body composition and metabolic parameters postoperatively. After surgery, remission of hypercortisolism was evident, accompanied by notable improvements in mood and overall health. This case underscores the importance of recognizing hypercortisolism in the context of metabolic, physical, and mood changes. Timely diagnosis of CD is crucial to mitigate complications such as severe opportunistic infections and their outcomes. Despite some hallmark features such as proximal myopathy, easy bruising, purple striae, and facial plethora, Cushing's disease (CD) is a challenging diagnosis due to its nonspecific signs and symptoms and gradual onset. The case emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle signs of CD, such as social isolation, depressive symptoms, and changes in body composition, which may be confounded by external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with CD are prone to severe infections due to chronic hypercortisolism-induced immunosuppression. CD diagnostic delays are common, leading to worsening of metabolic and immune dysfunction over time. Heightened clinical suspicion and early intervention are essential to prevent diagnostic delays and optimize patient outcomes.

Long-Term Outcomes of Older Adults in Ireland after Geriatric Rehabilitation for COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Disease presentation and severity has evolved since its emergence in 2019. In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic but described it as an established and ongoing health issue. Studies to date have focused on disease presentation, prevalence and evolution and the immediate rehabilitation outcomes for older adults. There is a paucity of research reporting the long-term outcomes of older adults who have completed geriatric rehabilitation. The primary aim of this study was to describe the long-term functional outcomes of a cohort of older adults with acute COVID-19 who have completed inpatient geriatric rehabilitation. Methods This is a subgroup analysis of Irish data gathered as part of a pan-European prospective cohort study. Patients were recruited from two acute hospitals in the Republic of Ireland: Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Limerick. Patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 infection and accepted for geriatric rehabilitation in the hospital setting were eligible for recruitment. Functional ability, patient reported symptoms and quality of life were measured using the Barthel Index, the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Screen and the EQ-5D-5L respectively. Results Thirty patients were included in the subgroup analysis. The rate of mortality was 23.3% at six months after discharge from rehabilitation. Patients achieved a return to pre-admission functional ability but reported a significant increase in patient reported symptoms and their quality of life did not return to pre-admission levels when assessed at six months after discharge from rehabilitation. Conclusion Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for older adults with acute COVID-19 infection can assist patients to return to their premorbid functional ability. On discharge from rehabilitation, ongoing follow up of older adults is recommended to assist them to negotiate and manage ongoing symptomatology such as breathlessness or fatigue.

Mucocutaneous manifestation of COVID-19 infection in pediatrics age groups

Background and objectives: It is known that the COVID-19 virus can induce a wide range of mucocutaneous symptoms. This study's main goal is to describe the variety of cutaneous symptoms caused by COVID-19 in the pediatric age category. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study of pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Jamal Ahmad Rashid Pediatrics Teaching Hospital in Sulaimaniyah city from September 2021 to March 2022. Moderate to severe Covid-19 infection was a factor in the patients' admissions. The patient’s complete medical history was reviewed, which should include their age, gender, and any mucocutaneous manifestations, as well as their past medical history, family history. Results: Three hundred twenty three cases of COVID-19 infection were enrolled in this study, 36 of them had skin manifestations. There were 56% female and 44% males. Their ages ranged from zero to 13 years. Skin manifestations were 13 patients (36%) had erythematomaculopapular rash, 8 patients (22%) had vesicular lesions, 7 patients (19%) had chilblain, 6 patients (17%) had urticaria and 2 patients (6%) had erythema multiforme. Overall 41 patients had Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), 11 patients had cutaneous manifestations (6 patients had erythematomaculopapular rash, 5 patients had vesicular rash), and 6 patients had mucosal lesions (4 patients had conjunctivitis, 2 patients had oral lesions). Conclusions: We found that despite pulmonary and other systemic manifestation also corona virus infection can cause many mucocutaneoues manifestation in pediatrics age groups.However, further studies with larger samples size and longer duration is recommended.

An Explainable Multichannel Model for COVID-19 Time Series Prediction

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every country and changed people's lives. Accurate prediction of COVID-19 trends can help prevent the further spread of the outbreak. However, the changing environment affects the COVID-19 prediction performance, and previous models are limited in practical applications. Methods: An explainable multichannel deep learning model with spatial, temporal and environmental channels for time series prediction, STE-COVIDNet, was proposed. The time series data of COVID-19 infection, weather, in-state population mobility, and vaccination were collected from May, 2020, to October, 2021, in the USA. In the environmental channel of STE-COVIDNet, an attention mechanism was applied to extract significant environmental factors related to the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the attention weights of these factors were analyzed with the actual situation. Results: STE-COVIDNet was found to be superior to other advanced prediction models of COVID-19 infection cases. The analysis results of attention weight were reported to be consistent with existing studies and reports. It was found that the same environmental factors that influence the spread of COVID-19 can vary across time and region, which explains why findings of previous studies on the relationship between the environment and COVID-19 vary by region and time. Conclusion: STE-COVIDNet is an explainable model that can adapt to environmental changes and thus improve predictive performance.

Clinical cases of vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA vasculitis) induced by COVID-19

COVID-19 is similar to immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases in clinical manifestations, immune responses and pathogenetic mechanisms. Specific autoantibodies as markers of autoimmune diseases can be detected in patients with coronavirus infection. Most often, after COVID-19, antinuclear antibodies, antibodies to phospholipids, to cardiolipin, to β2-glycoprotein, to cytoplasmic antigens SS-A and SS/B, and cyclic citrulline-containing peptide are detected. In moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 infection with pulmonary-renal syndrome, cytokine storm, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antibodies to myeloperoxidase and to proteinase 3 have become more frequent, which can trigger neutrophil NETosis with the formation of extracellular neutrophil traps — networks and induce the development of autoimmune processes and the appearance of de novo immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases: arthritis , systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA vasculitis). Our study presents 4 clinical cases of patients with ANCA vasculitis with a history of recent coronavirus infection, chronologically verified. The average time after COVID-19 and the onset of ANCA vasculitis was about 3 months; damage to the upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and renal syndromes were observed. The severity of ANCA vasculitis did not depend on the severity of coronavirus infection: a mild course of COVID-19 infection did not exclude a severe course of ANCA vasculitis. It is recommended that all patients during and after coronavirus infection with post-COVID syndrome in the presence of damage to the ENT organs, kidneys, and skin are screened the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to exclude the onset of ANCA vasculitis.

CORRELATION OF COVID-19 TO LUNG INFECTIONS AND PREDICTION OF LUNG INFECTIONS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS IN IRAQ USING DATA MINING METHODS

The Covid-19 pandemic emerged as an unforeseen global crisis, exerting a profound influence on various aspects of human life. Hence, the need for collaborative efforts and scholarly investigations to address and alleviate the challenges arising from this crisis is crucial. One notable concern pertains to lung infections, which are recognized as a highly perilous consequence of the aforementioned virus. Thus, this study aims to investigate the potential correlation between Covid-19 and lung infections, and test the efficacy of various algorithms in predicting lung infections amongst Covid-19 patients. For this purpose, data has been procured from multiple health institutions in Iraq. Using this data, a robust correlation between Covid-19 and lung infection cases was found and the bagging, boosting, naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbour, J48, random forest, PART, and logistic regression algorithms showcased a high accuracy in prediction lung infection in Covid-19 patients, with naïve Bayes achieving the highest accuracy of 93.41 percent.

The Impact Of Economic Contraction On The Financing Collectability Of Islamic Banking In Indonesia

The COVID-19 pandemic affected Indonesia's economic growth, which experienced a contraction in the first and second quarters of 2020. This study examines how economic contraction affects the collectability of Islamic banking in Indonesia, period for 2019: IV - 2020: II. The measurement of financial collectability is based on non-performing financing (NPF). The research data source comes from secondary data in publications from the Central Statistics Agency (CSA) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Data analysis uses descriptive statistics with the help of percentages, growth, and graphs. The results indicated that the economic contraction significantly impacted the decline in Islamic banking performance, as evidenced by an increase in NPF. The NPF increase occurs in all debtor groups: MSMEs, non-MSMEs, and households (consumption financing). The collectability of financing is separate from the area where COVID-19 spreads; where DKI Jakarta, East Java, and West Java are in the top five highest COVID-19 cases, they have better financing collectability than other provinces. Based on economic sectors, only mining and quarrying did not experience an increase in the NPF during the economic contraction period. These findings show differences with the growth-led finance paradigm. Regions that experience high cases of COVID-19 infection have better financing collectability. The practical implication of these findings is the importance of coordinating macro prudential policies with others, such as fiscal and actual sector policy, in encouraging the resilience of MSMEs, including managing the collectability of financing during economic contraction periods.

Urban Wastewater-Based Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Virus: A Two-Year Study Conducted in City of Patras, Greece.

Wastewater-based epidemiology, during the COVID-19 pandemic years, has been applied as a complementary approach, worldwide, for tracking SARS-CoV-2 virus into the community and used as an early warning of the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. The present study presents the results of the 2-year surveillance project, in the city of Patras, Greece. The purpose of the study was to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and implement WBE as an early warning method of monitoring Public Health impact. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was determined and quantified in 310 samples using RT-qPCR assays. For the years 2022 and 2023, 93.5% and 78.7% of samples were found positive, respectively. Comparison of detection methods have been conducted to select the method with the highest recovery of the viral load. A seasonal variation of the virus was recorded, showing a recession in summer months confirming the country's epidemiological data as indicated by positive correlation of wastewater viral load with registered cases of COVID-19 infections during these years (p < 0.05) and moreover sealed with a significant negative correlation observed with Daily Average (p < 0.01) and Daily Maximum Temperature (p < 0.01). More research was carried out to elucidate a possible association of physicochemical characteristics of wastewater with viral load showing positive correlation with Chlorides (p < 0.01) advocating possible increased use of chlorine-based disinfectants and Electrical Conductivity (p < 0.01) indicates that wastewater during periods of increased infections is more heavily loaded with ions from chemical and biological pollutants. No correlation found with rainfall and physicochemical indicators, such as COD, BOD5, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, and Total Suspended Solids. According to the findings, WBE represents a useful tool in the management of epidemics based on an environmental approach and it can also shed light on the interacting parameters that capture Public Health since any infections that may lead to epidemics lead to a parallel change in the use of pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials, disinfectants, and microbial load in urban wastewater.

Socioeconomic disparities in risk perceptions and precautionary actions against COVID-19 among the working age population aged 18–59 in Japan: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionRisk perceptions and precautionary actions against COVID-19 have been reported to be generally insufficient globally, and differences by subpopulation group have been concerning, as a key driver to widening health...

Heterotopic ossification following COVID-19 infections: systematic literature review of case reports and case series

BackgroundThis review aims to study the clinical characteristics, diagnostic results, treatments, and outcomes in patients with heterotopic ossification following COVID-19 infection.MethodsA literature search for eligible articles was conducted using MEDLINE/Pubmed, Global Health, and Scopus databases (January 12th, 2023), including all case reports and case series from any country and language. The criteria for inclusion in this review were cases of COVID-19 infection subsequently developing heterotopic ossification.ResultsThis systematic review analysed 15 reports (n = 20 patients) documenting cases of heterotopic ossification following COVID-19 infection. 80% of the patients were male, with a median age of 59 years. All patients required intensive care unit stay with an average duration of 48.5 days. Mechanical ventilation was necessary for all patients and 30% of them underwent tracheostomy. Common symptoms included stiffness and pain, most frequently affecting multiple locations (70%), with the hips and shoulders being predominantly involved. X-rays were the most commonly used imaging modality, followed by computed tomography. Although treatment was given, some of the patients continued to experience symptoms, particularly stiffness.Conclusion20 patients who developed heterotopic ossification after COVID-19 have been reported, the majority of which had at least two independent risk factors for this condition. The link between those two clinical entities is therefore uncertain, requiring further investigation. It is nonetheless important to suspect heterotopic ossification in patients with severe COVID-19 infection, prolonged immobilisation, mechanical ventilation, who develop joint pain and stiffness, as this condition can significantly impact patients’ quality of life.Protocol registrationCRD42023393516.

Community-acquired neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection: case report

Background and Objectives: Data collection on the incidence of COVID-19 is conducted less frequently in newborns (NB) than in adults. In view of the small number of described neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections, in this study, we report a clinical case of community-acquired COVID-19 infection in a newborn. Methods: Clinical characteristics were collected from the medical records from April 2021 until the final outcome of the newborn in May 2021. Results: This article discusses the case of a full-term male newborn aged 38 weeks. On the 17th day of life, this newborn was admitted to the pediatric unit with fever and zone 4 jaundice, mild lower chest retraction and tachypnea. The mother was diagnosed with COVID-19. Late neonatal sepsis with pulmonary focus was detected. The newborn was hospitalized and the antigen test for COVID-19 came back positive. The condition of the neonate rapidly deteriorated and he was referred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he was intubated and placed on pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation. During his second week in the NICU, he developed severe pulmonary hypertension with decreased peripheral oxygen saturation and tachycardia. The newborn required blood transfusion and was put into prone position during part of the treatment. Reductions in mechanical ventilation parameters were not tolerated by the NB’s organism and he developed progressive hypoxemia. The newborn died 1 month and 3 days after hospitalization. Conclusion: Our study shows a case of community-acquired COVID-19 that progressed to the severe form of the disease.

Assessing the Waste and Sanitation Infrastructures toward COVID-19 Spreading in Surakarta City, Indonesia

COVID-19 can spread rapidly in areas having high-density populations. The COVID-19 spreading in urban areas is higher than that in rural areas due to the population of urban areas being denser than that of rural areas. The existence of urban infrastructures is assumed to affect COVID-19 spreading in cities. The existence of waste and sanitation systems are the critical urban infrastructures relating to COVID-19 spreading. Surakarta is one of the cities in Indonesia having a high number of COVID-19 infection cases. Based on the Surakarta official website concerning COVID-19, it is known that COVID-19 infected about 37132 persons, or seven percent of the population until the end of the year 2022. This research seeks to reveal the correlation between the existence of waste and sanitation systems and COVID-19 spreading in Surakarta City. This research uses a quantitative approach supported by the statistical data which were retrieved from the Surakarta Statistics Agency, and the official website of the Surakarta Government concerning COVID-19 cases. The statistical data was processed by correlation analysis. The research result revealed that waste management correlates with the number of COVID-19 survivors’ cases. Meanwhile, the sanitation facilities even individually or communally do not correlate with the number of COVID-19 survivors’ cases. Furthermore, the factor of implementing health protocols has a low correlation with the number of COVID-19 survivors’ cases. The waste management is one of the important urban strategies for COVID-19 spreading. Furthermore, this study case describes that COVID-19 risk reduction relates more to urban management than urban planning.

Remdesivir in Severe Cases of COVID-19 Infection

Background:: Assessing the efficacy of remdesivir for COVID-19 infection holds historical significance. Understanding its effectiveness from previous pandemic instances can enable us to gain insights into its efficacy, informing our strategies for responding to future outbreaks or variants. Objective:: Gaining an insight into the historical efficacy of remdesivir can offer valuable data for evaluating the advancement of COVID-19 treatments and the development of medical expertise in handling the disease. Method:: The historical data regarding the effectiveness of remdesivir can enrich the pool of knowledge and evidence accessible for public health planning and decision-making. Understanding whether remdesivir was efficacious in previous instances may aid in comprehending its real-world impact on patient outcomes at those times. Such insights are crucial for evaluating treatment efficacy and refining strategies based on past experiences. Results:: In the late treatment of severe COVID-19 cases, which are particularly challenging, remdesivir has demonstrated a 6% improvement. Conclusion:: The 6% enhanced effect of remdesivir is not substantial, considering that it is an unweighted average of works with varying degrees of importance and reliability. Additionally, there are instances where conflicts of interest may have impacted the results. It is also possible that the observed improvement could be attributed to better patient care in certain environments.

Analysis of the Role of Hong Kong's Key Industries During the Pandemic of COVID-19

This study investigates the variables that affect and encourage inbound travel to Hong Kong using data from 2019 to 2020. Five important regional source markets for tourism in Hong Kong have been chosen, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. Based on the research results, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major destructive effect on Hong Kong's tourism sectors while significantly impact the quantity of inbound tourists due to government response to COVID-19 infection case. The quantity of inbound tourists to Hong Kong is significantly impacted by the government's actions based on the COVID-19 infection cases. Additionally, existence of COVID-19 in the tourism source countries is often considered when defining Hong Kong's travel restrictions. According to the empirical findings, the demand for visitor arrivals was also lowered by the distance to Hong Kong and the expensive cost of travel there, while the expansion of tourism was facilitated by improved aviation services and potential for the tourism sector. These results demonstrate that for the city to be recognized as an attracting and cherished tourist destination, the tourism sector and the government must collaborate to restore after the pandemic. The complementary nature of pandemic control and tourist recovery is highlighted by this study. To establish a positive ripple effect, these operative and budgetary standards must demand the government to provide early recovery support to tourism sectors.

Combination of Chinese and Western Medicine: Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen in the Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19)

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen in treating patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: We conducted a study involving 14 cases of COVID-19 infection within a unit group in Laos. During the treatment regimen, these patients received the antiviral drugs Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen as prescribed. We utilized laboratory results of viral nucleic acid tests as observational parameters and statistically analyzed the data using SPSS 26.0 software (linear regression analysis). Our data analysis aimed to determine if there were significant differences in the Ct values of the N gene and ORF1ab gene of SARS-CoV-2 before and after treatment. Results: The results indicated statistically significant differences in the N gene (t =﹣7.014, P &lt; 0.001) and ORF1ab gene (t =﹣7.398, P &lt; 0.001). Post-treatment, the values of the N gene and ORF1ab gene were significantly higher than their pre-treatment values, signifying that the combined utilization of Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen had a substantial impact on the treatment of COVID-19. Conclusion: Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen effectively inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2, resulting in a marked improvement in the clinical symptoms of the patients. Laboratory test results also indicated a significant reduction in viral load. These findings provide substantial evidence supporting the efficacy of the combination of Molnupiravir and Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of COVID-19.

Characteristics of patients with severe Covid-19 infection admitted at El Kerma Hospital – CHU Oran – Algeria

Objective: The purpose of this work was to describe the characteristics of patients with severe Covid-19 infection treated at the Oran Hospital in Algeria. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of cases of severe SARS-COV-2 infection hospitalized at El kerma – CHU Oran hospital , for a period of 04 months, from July 01, 2021 to October 31, 2021 (period that corresponds to the wave of the DELTA variant). Results: We collected 498 cases of severe Covid-19 infection, 50% were over 60 years of age with male predominance (58%), the average length of hospitalization was 12 9 days, more than half had comorbidities, The most common was hypertension, followed by diabetes. Clinical signs were dominated by the triad : asthenia (72.5%), fever (65%) and aches (59%). The main biological abnormalities observed were increased inflammation marker (PRC), hyperglycemia and lymphopenia. The trend was favourable for 71% of cases. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations and some biological parameters were similar to the presentation of the