COVID-19 Restrictions Research Articles

Effect of COVID-19 restriction measures on multidrug resistant tuberculosis case notifications and treatment outcomes at treatment centres in Uganda

BackgroundMultidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global public health threat. In 2021, an incidence of 3.6% was reported among new TB patients, and 18% was reported among previously treated patients. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health sector, although little is known about the effect of restrictive COVID-19 measures on MDR-TB case notifications and treatment outcomes in Uganda. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 restriction measures on MDR-TB case notifications and treatment outcomes at treatment centres in Uganda.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study in which a total of 483 participants were enrolled—238 before (March 2018-February 2020) and 245 during (March 2020-February 2022) COVID-19 restrictions. The data were extracted from the Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Health Management Information System (HMIS), and patient charts, and census sampling was employed. Interrupted time series (ITSA) was used to compare MDR-TB case notifications and treatment outcomes.ResultsBefore the COVID-19 restrictions, the majority 58.0% were aged less than or equal to 38 years whereas during the restrictions, the majority 51.8% were aged greater than 38 years. A total of 238 cases of MDRTB were reported before, and 245 cases were reported during the restrictions. There was no immediate (β2; 0.134) or sustained (β3; 0.494) impact of COVID-19 restriction measures on monthly MDR-TB case notifications. The mean number of monthly MDR-TB notifications was similar for the 3-month period before (11.0 cases per month) and during (10.0 cases per month) the COVID-19 restrictions (p-value 0.661). The proportions of patients who achieved successful MDR-TB treatment before (81.5%) and during (81.7%) COVID-19 restriction was not significantly different (p- value < 0.001). During the COVID-19 restrictions, not being married (aPR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74—0.97) and treatment delay greater than 7 days (aPR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78—0.96) were negatively associated with successful treatment outcomes.ConclusionRestrictive COVID-19 measures did not affect MDR-TB case notifications or treatment outcomes. Not being married and having a treatment delay greater than 7 days reduced the chances of a successful treatment outcome during COVID-19. The WHO and MoH should continue strengthening active case finding, contact screening and community engagement to consolidate MDR-TB control and management in preparation for similar future pandemics.

Looking up the sky: unidentified aerial phenomena and macroeconomic attention

Attention to information plays a key role in recent macroeconomic analysis, yet measuring it is a challenging endeavor, most notably in terms of covering varying geographical levels and time frequencies. We propose a novel, unconventional measure of public attention, which addresses these limitations, based on individuals’ reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). We document a surprising link between UAP sightings and macroeconomic conditions at the U.S.-county, state, and national levels. Controlling for weather conditions, and external influences, UAP sightings are more common in wealthier regions, but within regions the pattern is counter-cyclical. Thus, variations in attention to exceptional phenomena in the skies implicitly point at more general patterns of variations in the public attention. We further support this interpretation by a quasi-experimental design that utilizes plausibly exogenous regional variations in COVID-19 restrictions and find evidence for a causal effect on public attention. We further show that the UAP sightings measure is highly correlated with conventional measures of attention that are based on expectations data. We then apply our measure in the context of monetary policy transmission. We find that it can account for sizable regional heterogeneity in the response to monetary shocks. Higher levels of attention across U.S. regions, as well as within regions over the business cycle, substantially mitigate the effect of monetary policy.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on fraud in the UK

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly altered socio-economic activities, human behaviors, and crime patterns. However, less is known about how the pandemic and associated restrictions affected cyber-enabled and traditional fraud. Here, we conducted a retrospective analysis using police-recorded crime data in the UK to examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and changes in human activity on fraud. Results indicate that following the onset of the lockdown, the number of recorded fraud cases increased by 28.5%, contrasting with traditional property crimes, which dropped by 28.1%. However, the lockdown did not have a significant impact on the long-term trend of fraud. With the lifting of restrictions, fraud gradually regressed to levels approaching those before the pandemic. By inspecting the effects of different government responses and changes in population mobility on various types of fraud, we found that more stringent restrictions were associated with larger increases in most types of cyber-enabled fraud, except for those that rely on offline activities, whereas the impact on traditional fraud was mixed and contingent upon specific opportunity structures. These findings overall align with the assumptions of routine activity theory and provide clear support for its applicability in fraud and cybercrime.

The impact of politics and COVID-19 on graduate STEM international students of color

Political factors and the COVID-19 pandemic have had profound impacts on international students in the U.S. These factors include anti-immigration rhetoric, the policies of the executive branch, and the additional COVID-19 restrictions placed on international students in 2020. In this study, we interviewed international students in graduate STEM programs and asked them about their political opinions and experiences during the pandemic. This article also provides a brief historical overview of immigration policy and how these policies relate to and impact international students. Many of our participants expressed negative emotions regarding President Trump for reasons ranging from his racist rhetoric to his administration’s policies before and during the pandemic.

Real-life physical activity in community-dwelling older adults over a year with changes in COVID-19 restrictions in Norway

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns have reduced physical activity (PA) among home-dwelling older adults. The main aim of this study was to investigate how real-life PA in home-dwelling older adults changed over a year with gradual eases in COVID-19 restrictions. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) were recruited from local exercise groups aimed at preventing functional decline and falls. All participants had been involved in the exercise groups before the pandemic but had been without the offer for 6 months prior to inclusion because of COVID-19 restrictions. Sensor-based PA was measured using Axivity accelerometers worn on the lower back and right thigh for seven consecutive days at baseline (autumn 2020), 6 (spring 2021) and 12 (autumn 2021) months. PA activities were classified using the HAR70+ machine learning model, validated on older adults. Results: Ninety-one older adults (78 ± 6.4 years, 88% female) were included. At baseline, 9% used walking aids and 26.5% reported a fall in the previous year. Daily time spent upright did not change, while time spent walking decreased by 8.19 minutes from baseline to 12 months (p&lt;0.048). Walking bouts of &gt;10 minutes decreased with 0.5 bouts per day (p&lt;0.001), and the longest walking bout showed a non-significant decrease of 17.7 minutes (p=0.056). This shows a change toward a more sedentary activity pattern over the year despite a gradual ease of the restrictions. Conclusion: In a relatively well functioning group of older adults, physical activity did not increase with gradual ease in COVID-19 restrictions.

The service-learning strategy "MicroMundo" helps to stimulate the practical training of future secondary education teachers

The “MicroMundo” project is an innovative educational initiative designed to address the issue of antibiotic resistance through a collaborative and service-learning approach focused on detection of antibiotic-producing bacteria. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, MicroMundo was adapted by integrating university students enrolled in the “Master’s in Teacher Training for Secondary Education” (SWITAs) which mentored high school students (SWISs) through the laboratory research experience. Evaluation of the project through surveys highlighted strong satisfaction among participants, with 100% of university students valuing the teaching experience and 80% reporting gains in essential skills such as planning and communication. Pre-university students also highly valued this experience, reporting an increase in motivation despite the challenging circumstances, and noting that it sparked their interest in the field of science. This hands-on approach reinforces the need for practical, research-based experiences and emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about critical health challenges, particularly in contexts beyond the scientific field.

Is start time a risk factor for amounts consumed on a given day if drinking duration is taken into account? An event-level study

Background This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on typical drinking patterns and the relationship between drinking start time and duration on daily drinks and drinking pace. Methods 573 participants from New South Wales (NSW), Australia completed five waves of weekly diaries assessing a ‘typical week’s alcohol consumption’ between March and November 2020. We examined the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on drinking start time, duration and pattern. Multilevel regression and mediation models were then conducted to ascertain the associations between start time and duration on the quantity and pace of drinking. Results Participants started drinking significantly earlier in the day during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown. The earlier drinking started on a given day the higher the number of drinks consumed that day. Earlier start times led to increased consumption indirectly, via increased duration. After adjusting for duration, later start times were associated with increased consumption. The daily drinking pace also increased significantly with later start times. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that start time is a risk factor for heavier alcohol consumption, but only because it leads to increased drinking duration. Later start times are associated with increased drinking pace, and after adjusting for duration, lead to higher daily drinking volumes.

The anomalous effect of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the duration of untreated psychosis.

We investigated the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). First-episode psychosis admissions (n = 101) to the STEP Clinic in Connecticut showed DUP reduction (P = 0.0015) during the pandemic, with the median reducing from 208 days pre-pandemic to 56 days in the early pandemic period, and subsequently increasing to 154 days (P = 0.0281). Time from psychosis onset to antipsychotic prescription decreased significantly in the pandemic (P = 0.0183), with the median falling from 117 to 35 days. This cohort study demonstrates an association between greater pandemic restrictions and marked DUP reduction, and provides insights for future early detection efforts.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and antibody trajectories after easing of COVID-19 restrictions: a longitudinal study in China.

We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and investigate the trajectories of protective immunity and associated risk factors in eastern China between March and November 2023 after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. We conducted repeated population-based seroepidemiologic studies using a multistage, population-stratified, cluster random sampling method. We measured neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) using a fluorescence immunoassay. We calculated both overall and stratified seroprevalence. The latent class growth mixed model (LCGMM) was used to analyze the dynamic trajectories of antibodies, and a multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with different antibody trajectory patterns. A total of 6,147 participants were included at baseline, with a median age of 53.61 years. Both observed and adjusted seroprevalence remained high and stable throughout the study period. The LCGMM identified four distinct antibody trajectories: 75.22% of participants had a high and stable antibody trajectory, while nearly 8% of them exhibited an increase, decline, or low-stable antibody trajectory. Younger participants, women, those fully vaccinated, and individuals with a history of previous infection were more likely to have high and stable antibody trajectories. The majority of the population maintained sustained protective immunity after the outbreak, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the country.

‘COVID sucked the soul out of all things decent’:

The COVID-19 restrictions had a significant impact on higher education in the UK, with the majority of teaching moving to online delivery. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 students who were studying at universities across the United Kingdom in order to explore student experiences of digital teaching in the wider context of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the results. Two key themes with associated themes were identified. The first theme explored students’ experiences of the move to e-learning, the support that was offered, and the perceived impact on their academic performance. The second theme explored the wider impact on students, in relation to opportunities for work experience, social relationships, future prospects, and mental health. The results illustrated that the sudden move to online learning left many students feeling disengaged from their learning; worried about their future prospects, socially isolated and experiencing poorer mental health. Implications for the provision of online education are discussed

Randomized controlled trial of a pilot PrEP linkage intervention for individuals leaving incarceration in a southern state: Design and baseline characteristics.

We report baseline characteristics of a pilot intervention, PrEP-Link, which uses a community health worker (CHW) model to provide navigation to PrEP, the daily HIV preventative medication, and other medical and social services upon release from incarceration. This pilot study uses a randomized controlled trial design. The control group receives enhanced standard of care, and the intervention receives enhanced standard of care plus personalized navigation services from the CHW for up to one year. PrEP-Link is modeled after the Transitions Clinic Program, where a CHW who has lived experience of incarceration builds close relationships with individuals and community partners. After COVID-19 restrictions prevented recruitment within local jails, recruitment for this study took place in local reentry centers which house individuals as they near completion of their jail or prison sentence. Data are collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Planning and reporting was guided by the CONSORT 2010 checklist. We enrolled 80 participants between September 2021 and April 2023. Thirty-nine participants were assigned to the control group and forty-one to the intervention group. Data collected at baseline included measures of PrEP usage, HIV risk, drug and alcohol use, healthcare usage, and history of incarceration. Analysis of baseline characteristics show comparability of both demographic and HIV-related risk factors between the two arms. At baseline, participants had high clinical indication for potential PrEP benefit, particularly with respect to self-reported intravenous drug use and condomless sex. Participants responded with high PrEP acceptability within both study arms. Participants reported low preventative healthcare utilization at baseline. Barriers to accessing PrEP among the study population are significant. Results of this pilot RTC will help inform CHW lead PrEP-linkage interventions for people leaving incarceration.

A multi-perspective qualitative exploration of the reasons for changes in the physical activity among 10–11-year-old children following the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK in 2021

Abstract Background Active-6 is exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted physical activity behaviour among Year 6 children (aged 10–11 years) and their parents in Southwest England. Initial findings from the Active-6 project have shown a 7–8 min decrease in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviour among children following the easing of restrictions in the UK in latter half of 2021. This finding suggests that the pandemic has had a persistent impact on child physical activity behaviour. This paper explored the possible mechanisms behind these changes. Methods Interviews with parents (n = 21), members of school staff (n = 9) and focus groups with children aged 10–11 years (n = 47) were conducted between August and December 2021 to discuss the impact of the pandemic on child physical activity behaviour. The framework method was used for analysis. Results Five themes spanning two key stages of the pandemic were described. Three themes related to the period of lockdowns and fluctuating restrictions (March 2020 – April 2021). These included: Theme 1) Lockdown: A short-lived adventure; Theme 2) Access to facilities during restrictions; and Theme 3) The importance of the parent. A further two themes were identified related to the period following the gradual easing of restrictions in April 2021. These included: Theme 4) An overwhelming return to normal; and Theme 5) Reopening fatigue. Conclusions The analysis suggested that feelings of novelty experienced during the initial stages of lockdown waned as restrictions were prolonged, creating an increasingly challenging period for parents and their children. However, during periods of restrictions, the importance of parental encouragement and access to appropriate facilities in the local and home environment helped facilitate physical activity. Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, emotional overwhelm and physical fatigue among children, stemming from a sedentary and socially isolated life in lockdown and other restrictions, were key contributors to the decreased moderate to vigorous physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour that was observed in a related quantitative study.

Intimate Partner Violence in the Late COVID-19 Period: A Study of 10 Countries from the I-SHARE Consortium

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue and violation of human rights. During 2021–2022, many countries relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. This provided a unique opportunity to understand the prevalence and correlates of IPV during a period of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. This cross-sectional study examined IPV during this period from the International Sexual HeAlth and REproductive Health (I-SHARE) study conducted from March to July 2022. Mixed-effects modeling was used to determine correlations of physical, sexual, and psychological violence as compared to before the COVID-19 restrictions. The population comprised individuals in 10 countries (Armenia, Brazil, Egypt, Denmark, Germany, Moldova, Nigeria, Portugal, Singapore and Spain). Our sample included 4,464 participants from these countries. In the previous 3 months, a total of 150 (6.1%) and 114 (4.6%) participants experienced physical violence once or multiple times, respectively. A total of 129 (5.1%) and 174 (6.9%) of participants experienced any form of sexual violence once or multiple times, respectively; and 377 (13.7%) and 574 (20.9%) of participants experienced any form of psychological violence once or multiple times, respectively. In general, identifying as a sexual minority and having children at home were associated with higher odds of experiencing IPV. Age, economic situation, cohabitation status, and a country’s GDP per capita were associated with recent IPV or a worsening of IPV compared to before the COVID-19 restrictions, although results varied depending on the types of violence. Further work is needed to strengthen IPV support for several groups, especially in emergency situations or future pandemics.

Understanding COVID-19 pandemic-related shifts in active commute patterns: Insights from employees of a Canadian university

IntroductionIt is well established that the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the commute patterns of people worldwide. Yet, little is known about how commuting by active transportation (AT) has shifted since COVID-19 restrictions lifted. This quasi-experimental study aimed to: 1) compare AT mode share pre-versus post-COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) identify key post-pandemic correlates of transport mode. MethodsA survey of employees from a Canadian university was conducted annually from 2013 to 2017 and in 2022. There were 644 valid participants who completed at least one of the surveys pre-COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022. Participants were categorized as using AT, passive transportation (PT), or mixed transportation (MT) as their primary transport mode between home and workplace. The mode share of each transport type pre-versus post-COVID-19 was analyzed. Additionally, shifts in individual-level transportation modes and related sociodemographic correlates were evaluated. ResultsCompared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic, AT decreased from 27.0% to 23.4%; however, PT increased from 52.0% to 60.7% in the post-pandemic era. Household income, age, and sex/gender were key correlates of transport mode shifting. Only the lowest income group showed an increase in AT (18.8%–20.3%); all other groups showed no change or a decrease, with the greatest decline observed in those earning $90,000 to $119,999 (20.5%–13.5%). AT use decreased in all age groups under 50 years with the clearest change in the 20- to 29-year-old age range (24.3%–8.1%). Females/women used AT at half the rates of males/men, both pre- and post-COVID-19. ConclusionsQueen's university's employees demonstrated changes in transport mode use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in AT coupled with an increase in PT shown in this sample emphasizes the importance of organizational- and/or municipal-level interventions to encourage transportation modes that are both sustainable and health-promoting in the post-pandemic era.

COVID-19 restrictions and sense of humanness: the role of human needs threat / Las restricciones por la COVID-19 y el sentido de humanidad: el papel de la amenaza a las necesidades humanas

The present study analyses the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on self-perception of humanness through the increased sense of threat to fundamental human needs. Furthermore, in an explorative way, we analysed the possible impact of this pattern on the identification with all humanity, in terms of bond with humanity and concern for all humanity. Through a preregistered experimental study ( N = 278), we showed that participants who were asked to recall COVID-19-related restrictions reported a greater sense of human needs threat and, in turn, higher levels of self-dehumanization. In addition, we found that remembering restrictions, compared to the control group, led to lower concern for humanity and indirectly affected it via increased threat of human needs and self-dehumanization.

Clinical characteristics and booster vaccine effectiveness of the Omicron variant

BackgroundAlthough many people received the COVID-19 vaccine, shortly after the Chinese government announced that the three-year COVID-19 restrictions were being eased, the first large number of Omicron infections appeared in Beijing. We describe epidemiological characteristics, clinical severity, and time-to-event distribution of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing Omicron outbreak, comparing those who received the booster vaccine with cases of full-course/partial-course vaccines.MethodsWe collected epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and clinical management data from the hospital information system (HIS) for 1495 cases during Dec 2022-Jan 2023. We also collected illness onset time, diagnosis time, hospital admission time, and start and end times of each treatment. In addition, we collected the time of vaccination, inoculation times, and type of COVID-19 vaccination thorough the vaccination system. We described the epidemiological characteristics across vaccine inoculation doses, and estimated the risk of death, mechanical ventilation, and admission to the intensive care unit for patients admitted to hospital. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to estimate the survival rate and plot the survival curve, and the Cox proportional hazards model to assess the effect of covariates on survival time.ResultsOf the 1495 cases, 58.1% were male. The median ages in the non-vaccinated and vaccinated groups were 80 and 47 years. Elderly with underlying medical conditions and lower BMI less willing to vaccinate(p < 0.05). Both the inactivated vaccine and adenovirus vaccine could reduce clinical severity and prolong survival time, and the protective effect of booster vaccination was the best. The clinical severity increased linearly from the booster vaccinated group to the full-course vaccinated group and non-vaccinated groups, and the death risk of COVID-19 cases without vaccination was the highest.ConclusionBooster vaccines of COVID-19 can provide greater protection against severe illness and death, and continuous monitoring and regular assessment are needed to minimize the risk of a recurrence of the pandemic.

Exploring the impact of locking down citizen’s voice on citizen participation in local government budgeting during COVID-19 public restrictions in Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unmatched challenges for citizen participation worldwide in local government budgeting processes. Zimbabwe in particular was grappling with the pandemic’s effects and pre-existing governance issues. The pandemic ignited the central government to put COVID-19 public restrictions militating on citizen engagement in the budgeting process. The implemented measures were aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. While these measures were necessary for public health, they unintentionally constrained citizens’ ability to be unreservedly involved in local government decision-making. The paper employed a qualitative case study research design, employing interviews, Google Forms, and document analysis, to gather data exploring the experiences and perspectives of citizens, civil society organizations, and local government officials regarding the repercussions of constrained citizen participation in local government budgeting during the pandemic. The argument was hinged on the participatory theory based on two broad views: the normative and the instrumentalist perspectives. The paper notes that COVID-19 restrictions severely constrained citizen participation, limiting public input, deliberation, and accountability opportunities. The inability to convene public meetings, consultations, and workshops weakened the citizen-government engagement process, hindering transparency and the ability of citizens to influence resource allocation and stewardship. Furthermore, the restricted participation by marginalized communities exacerbates existing inequalities due to the technological divide hindering their ability to voice their concerns and interests in the budgeting processes. The paper calls for the exigent need for inventive methodologies to guarantee comprehensive and evocative citizen participation, by leveraging digital technologies and promoting alternative channels for engagement to augment citizen participation in local government budgeting.

A systematic review of evidence relating to the use of telesupervision for speech-language pathology students on clinical placements.

The use of telepractice in delivering speech-language pathology services is increasing and speech-language pathologists are providing supervision to students on clinical placements through telesupervision. The review examined literature on telesupervision for speech-language pathology students on a clinical placement. To systematically review the literature on how, when, and why telesupervision is used by speech-language pathologists supervising students; and the views and experiences of students, practice educators, and clients on telesupervision. A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines through searches in six databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Educational Resources Information Center). Quality of the studies was examined using the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs. In total, the eight studies included in the review described the use of telesupervision with speech-language pathology students. The studies revealed that telesupervision is considered an effective supervision model for speech-language pathology students, as an adjunct to in-person supervision. Multiple aspects of telesupervision in the studies related to workplace settings, access to and training of technology, type of caseload, practice educator attributes, and the student-educator supervisory relationship. Speech-language pathology educators and students consider telesupervision to be a useful and effective model of supervision, when used as an adjunct to in-person supervision. Although there is limited research to date examining the use of telesupervision in speech-language pathology, the findings of this review can be used to guide support of educators and students as well as inform future research in this area. What is already known on this subject Telesupervision in speech-language pathology allows for an extension of clinical placement opportunities into a wider variety of locations including rural and remote settings and where a practice educator might not be available in person. Telesupervision can reduce costs and travel time and increase the time in the day available for supervision. What this study adds to existing knowledge Considering the potential for telesupervision to expand placement opportunities, this review provides important insights into educator and student views on its implementation and outcomes. All studies in this review occurred prior to COVID-19 restrictions on placements and so provide a context for any developments since and inform future research on telesupervision. What are the clinical implications of this work? While there is some evidence that practice educators and students alike consider that telesupervision can be effective, no studies were found to report on telesupervision as a standalone supervision method. Review findings could be used by speech-language pathology student placement co-ordinators and practice educators in (a) deciding if telesupervision holds potential for the specific work setting and clinical caseload, (b) determining if they have suitable technology and support in the use of the technology, and (c) identifying ways to support the educator-student relationship when using telesupervision.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Air Pollution in Sharjah City Pre-to-Post COVID-19 Lockdown

This study presents an analysis of O3, NO2, and PM10 variations in Sharjah City, UAE, from 2018 to 2021. Data from monitoring stations across the city showed consistent daily, weekly, and monthly trends. Ozone and NO2 were inversely related, with O3 increasing and NO2 decreasing from noon to sunset, and vice versa afterward. Weekends exhibited a weekend effect, with high O3 and low NO2 levels. Winters had high NO2 and low O3 levels, while summers showed the opposite trend. Urban and industrial stations had higher NO2 and lower O3 levels compared to sub-urban and rural stations. PM10 levels peaked in the afternoon to late evenings and decreased during nights and early mornings. They were lowest on weekends and highest at the start of the weeks, with July as the peak and December as the lowest month for PM10. During the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020-2021, O3, NO2, and PM10 levels significantly decreased compared to 2018-2019. Higher winds correlated with higher O3 and PM10 levels and lower NO2 levels. This study provides the first documentation of Sharjah’s air quality spatiotemporal variations pre-to-post COVID-19 restrictions using ground measurements.

Teaching analysis of fortified monuments in a time of remote learning

First COVID-19 then the war in Ukraine forced educational institutions to adapt to online and hybrid teaching methods in new realms. Despite the challenges presented by this, some educators have found innovative ways to teach in hybrid mode, such as using new technologies or creative teaching methods. This article shows the method used by Olha Tikhonova and Oresta Remeshylo-Rybchynska to engage students in difficult situations with different kinds of restrictions and challenges, both during the COVID-19 restrictions and then after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from 24 February 2022. The method is rooted in Olha Tikhonova’s comprehensive approach to analyzing case studies focused on castles, and the teaching methodology is built around this approach. The method is suitable for use in a partially or entirely virtual teaching environment. It is easily adaptable to interactive communication with participants through web meetings.