Isolation Facilities Research Articles

The association between baseline viral load and long-term risk in patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a territory-wide study

COVID-19 can increase the long-term risk of multiorgan dysfunction. Few studies investigated the long-term risk in Asian populations or investigated the association between viral load and long-term risk. We aimed to investigate the post-discharge rates of hospitalization and association with baseline viral load in all patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong. This was a population-based cohort study included all patients with a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong between January 1st 2020 and August 30th 2020, routinely admitted to public health care facilities for isolation and treatment. Viral Ct values were available in 3433 (85%) of patients. Outcomes of interest included death, cause-specific hospitalizations, and initiation of medication from the Hospital Authority's territory-wide electronic health records from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System. In total, 4054 people in Hong Kong tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a public health care facility, of whom 167 (4.1%) were admitted to ICU. During a median follow-up time of 251 (interquartile range 240–279) days, 408 (11.9%) were hospitalized for any reason and 16 (0.5%) patients died. After discharge, patients were most often readmitted for respiratory reasons, followed by gastro-intestinal reasons. A higher viral load (lower RT-PCR Ct values) was associated with a higher likelihood of death (Hazard ratio [HR] 5.86, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 2.57–13.33), hospitalization (HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.08–1.39) or hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (HR 12.78, 95%CI 3.67–44.48). Patients with higher viral loads more likely started ACE-inhibitors (HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.12–1.68) and non-opioid analgesics (HR 1.01, 95%CI 1.01–1.23). In a relatively mild COVID-19 population from Hong Kong, the post-acute risk of complications was substantial. Our results highlight that higher viral load predict post-acute complications in patients with relatively mild disease.

Photocurable Sol-Gel Formulations for the Fabrication of Titanium Carbide/Carbon Nanocomposites via Digital Light Processing.

Additive manufacturing of carbide materials has received significant attention in the past years due to the ability to fabricate complex structures over different length scales. However, the typical limitations for powder-laden inks, such as nozzle clogging, rheological and geometric constraints, particle sedimentation, light-scattering and absorbing phenomena, narrow the range of available processes to manufacture carbide materials via conventional particle-based systems. To address these shortcomings, we have developed a one-pot synthetic route for the preparation of sol-gel-based UV-photocurable formulations, aiming at the fabrication of titanium carbide/carbon nanocomposites using digital light processing printing, pointing to potential applications in the field of nuclear physics. Carbides have attracted increasing interest as a target material for the production of radioisotopes in the ISOL facilities; however, the release of radioisotopes strictly relies on the presence of open porous structures, thus enhancing the diffusion and effusion phenomena from the target component. Through our approach, we have successfully fabricated hierarchical porous structures of TiC with a high specific surface area. By controlling the positioning of the building blocks within the framework and the supramolecular interactions during the polymerization of the molecular precursors, we achieved multiscale structuring of the network with precise control over the local arrangement of the pores.

Resilience Amidst Isolation and Connection: Exploring Psychological Well-Being of Covid-19 Survivors

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on individuals’ mental health, and understanding the psychological well-being of survivors is crucial for developing effective support and interventions. This descriptive phenomenological study aimed to explore and describe the psychological well-being of COVID-19 survivors during and after the recovery. The study was conducted in Ozamiz City, Province of Misamis Occidental and Municipality of Ramon, Province of Isabela. The participants of the study were three COVID-19 survivors who have recovered from the illness selected through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted and the seven-step method of data analysis of Colaizzi was employed to identify key themes related to psychological well-being. The findings reveal five central themes: 1) Anxiety due to Coronavirus, 2) Social Isolation, 3) Making Sense of the Experience, 4) Positive Relationships, and 5) Strong Spiritual Foundation. While these individuals faced significant anxiety and social isolation upon learning of their positive status—stemming from fears of being a carrier, concerns about imminent death, and worries for the welfare of their loved ones—they also discovered pathways to resilience and connection that enhanced their mental health. Social isolation was exacerbated by feelings of loneliness in isolation facilities and discrimination from neighbors. However, the pandemic also fostered positive effects on the survivors’ psychological well-being. They navigated their experiences by adopting healthy lifestyles, recognizing their strength in the face of adversity, and cultivating hope and gratitude. Additionally, they established positive relationships with loved ones and built a strong spiritual foundation by maintaining their faith and trusting God during and after their recovery. These elements illustrate how, despite the challenges, survivors found ways to enhance their psychological well-being.

Application of the damping bag on supersonic rocket sled tests

Abstract In recent years, ground-based ultra-high-speed systems such as high-speed rocket sled and super-high-speed railways have become a research hotspot, especially the rocket sled which can currently exceed March 8 in top speed. However, due to the non-perfect smoothness of the slide and the complex aerodynamic environment, the rocket sled has a serious impact on the test articles or test instruments on the rocket sled. Therefore, it is necessary to use vibration isolation facilities to reduce the vibration on the rocket sled. In this work, a vibration damper based on the 4 damping bags with high efficiency damping effect for high-frequency vibration is design. The FEM simulation, vibration table experiments and a supersonic rocket sled test are design to demonstrate the attenuation effect of the vibration damper. All results show the vibration damper can isolate elastic waves in the frequency range from 400 Hz to 2000 Hz.

Epidemiology and response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Dadaab Refugee Camp Complex, Kenya, March 2020–December 2022

IntroductionRefugee settings may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death, yet data on the response to the pandemic in these populations is scarce. MethodsWe describe interventions to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Dadaab Refugee Camp Complex, Kenya and performed descriptive analyses using March 2020 to December 2022 data from Kenya's national SARS-CoV-2 repository and line list of positive cases maintained by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We calculated case fatality rates (CFR) and attack rates per 100,000 (AR) using the 2019 national census and population statistics from UNHCR and compared them to national figures. ResultsSARS-CoV-2 infection was first reported in April and May 2020, among host community members and refugees respectively. Of 964 laboratory-confirmed cases, 700 (72.6 %) were refugees. The AR was 82.7 (95 % CI 72.6–92.8) for host community members, 228.3 (95 % CI 211.3–245.4) for refugees and 721.1 (95 % CI 718.7–723.5) nationally. The CFR was 1.5 % (95 % CI 0.15–3.18) for host community members, 1.76 % (95 % CI 1.71–1.80) nationally and 7.4 % (95 % CI 5.4–9.4) for refugees.Mitigation measures implemented by the Government of Kenya, UNHCR and partners during the pandemic included multisectoral coordination, movement restrictions, mass gathering bans, and health promotion. Social distancing, symptom screening and mandatory mask usage were enforced during mass gatherings. Testing capacity was bolstered, quarantine and isolation facilities established, and vaccination initiated. ConclusionsDespite a low AR and UNHCR's swift and comprehensive response, refugees' CFR was high, underscoring their vulnerability and need for targeted interventions during epidemic responses.

Antimicrobial prescribing practices and factors associated with antimicrobial prescribing in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Oyo state: A retrospective study.

Proportion of hospitalized COVID-19 patients receiving antimicrobial drug is significantly high despite evidence of low level of actual bacterial co-infection, potentially contributing to poor health outcome and global antimicrobial resistance. A retrospective study was performed on antimicrobial agents prescribed to adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted across three isolation facilities between 1 March 2020 and 30 April 2021 in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. From individual records, we evaluated patient demographics, COVID-19 risk factors, diagnostic testing, disease severity and antimicrobial utilization. The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial prescription as well as factors associated with antimicrobial prescribing in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Oyo state. In total, 271 patients were included in this study. The median age of the population was 51 years (IQR; 32-62 years). The mean duration of hospital admission was 13 days (IQR: 10-14 days). Majority of participants were symptomatic (81.5%). All participants had a COVID-19 PCR test performed and none had bacterial culture performed. All patients received antimicrobial therapy across the entire cohort. The mean DOT per LOT across cohorts was 1.2 for mild cases, 1.4 for moderate cases and 1.3 for severe cases. Factors associated with the number of antimicrobials per prescription were being single (P = 0.02), being below 60 years of age (P = 0.04), mild COVID-19 symptoms (P < 0.001) and diabetes comorbidity (P = 0.03). Given the high rate of antimicrobial prescription and absence of bacteriological culture analysis in these patients, there is risk of development and spread of antimicrobial resistant. Continuous review of antimicrobial prescription is critical in the management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Attitude, Behavior, and Practices of Infection Control (Hand Washing, Social Distancing and Wearing Mask) among Communities During COVID-19 Outbreak in Areas, (Orangi, Baldia, Movach, Site, Garden, Nazimabad, Qayyumabad) of Karachi, Pakistan

Background Novel corona virus infectious disease covid-19 was first time reported in Wuhan city of China at the end of December 2019.[1] Which proliferated rapidly in China and then around the globe in 209 countries of USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia as well as Pakistan. The death toll around the world has been reached to more than 42 million and 2 billion have been affected so far,[3] in Pakistan the death toll reached to 23 thousand and affected population reached to 10 million and still numbers increasing rapidly.[5] Government taken Various measures in Pakistan for the control of covid-19. Despite of having insufficient funds Pakistan also taken accurate quantify like planned special hospitals, laboratories for testing, isolation facilities, mindfulness drive and lock down to minimize spread virus. Despite the government strict policy towards COVID-19 there are many people who are unable to follow the measures which add into the rapid spread of virus. the aim of the study is to assess the attitude, behavior, and practice among the resident of Karachi specifically those who are residing in SITE area, Orangi Town, Baldia Town, Movach Goth, Nazimabad, Garden, Qayyumabad and Gulshan-e-Iqbal to know the public response towards following SOPs.  Method A self-administered questionnaire was designed, based on determined attitude, behavior, and practices among the resident of Karachi during COVID-19 outbreak. Questionnaire were prepared at google form and accessible online for the participants. The questionnaire was processed to the residents of Karachi, between the duration from 12, June to 10, July 2021. The collected data was analyzed with help of SPSS version 26.0 (IBM) to identify the attitude behavior and practices of people during COVID-19 outbreak. The responses were analyzed based on age, gender, level of education, and income, to identify statistical correlation by utilizing chi square test.  Results The study included 318 participants, out of which 193(61%) males and 125(39%) were female. The majority (291;92%) of the participant was familiar with the covid 19, (94%; 299) of the participant were concerned about the health of their families, (95%;303) agreed that self- care and protection can reduce the possibility to get infected by COVID-19 infection, a vast majority (98%; 313) participants were following cough etiquettes.  Conclusion All of the study participants were from Karachi and they have reasonably good attitude, behavior and practices towards COVID-19 precautions, but still there must be given further awareness to cope with the social and psychological impact of the COVID-19 on public health, and also awareness session should be taken into account to reduce the spread of the infection COVID-19.

Comparative analysis of embodied carbon in modular and conventional construction methods in Hong Kong

Addressing the rise in global temperatures and the associated increase in greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, is a critical challenge necessitating innovative approaches within the building sector, a significant contributor to worldwide carbon emissions. While previous studies have demonstrated the prefabrication’s potential in reducing emissions, comprehensive assessments using actual project data for buildings constructed entirely with modular methods in Hong Kong are lacking. This study bridges this gap by evaluating the modular integrated construction (MiC) method through an embodied carbon assessment of the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility. Using comprehensive project data from China State Construction (HK) Limited, the research conducts a comparative analysis between the actual emissions of the MiC method and those of a hypothetical conventional construction approach. Quantitative analysis reveals that MiC achieves a 20.7% reduction in embodied carbon, primarily due to shortened construction timelines, decreased waste generation, and optimized material usage. This significant reduction suggests substantial potential for decreasing the construction industry’s carbon footprint. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the environmental benefits of MiC in Hong Kong construction industry, promoting its broader adoption of MiC as a strategy for achieving carbon reduction targets. The findings align with Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality goals and contribute to the global initiative to mitigate the effects of climate change.

2021 NEDI-Singapore study: an updated inventory of emergency department characteristics.

The last national emergency department (ED) inventory was performed in 2007, and major changes in population demographics, healthcare needs and infrastructure have since occurred. We sought to obtain an updated inventory of EDs in Singapore to identify and describe changes in their characteristics and capabilities across the years. In 2021, the National Emergency Department Inventories (NEDI) instrument was administered to the leadership of Singapore EDs. Emergency departments in Singapore are opened round the clock, have no restrictions on who can access care and are equipped to handle general medical emergencies. The questionnaire comprises 16 items across three categories: (a) general characteristics, (b) patient volume and (c) medical capabilities. We achieved 100% response rate from all 17 EDs - nine EDs in public hospitals and eight in private hospitals. In 2021, the EDs saw a total of 1,140,388 visits, an increase of 27% from 2007, with the median number of visits almost doubling (from 39,450 to 77,989); 41% and 59% of the EDs reported over 20% of visits arriving by ambulance and over 20% of visits resulting in inpatient admission, respectively. A clear distinction between public and private EDs across these metrics remained. Medical capabilities grew: 59% had access to a dedicated computed tomography scanner (up from 46%) and 82% had negative pressure isolation facilities (up from 54%). Overall, 41% of EDs self-assessed to be operating above their capacity. Singapore EDs have progressed in capabilities and capacity. Despite this, the increasing volume, complexity and acuity of patients are imposing strains on the emergency care system, signalling potential for systems improvement.

Anxiety, depression, and family dysfunction among COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital and isolation facilities in the Philippines

COVID-19 patients are prone to developing psychosocial distress during and after admission to healthcare facilities. This prospective cohort study determined the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and family dysfunction among COVID-19 patients discharged from health facilities in Metro Manila, Philippines. Data was collected through phone interviews with COVID-19 patients two weeks and eight weeks after discharge. The questionnaires were based on validated tools such as HADS-P for screening anxiety and depression symptoms and Filipino Family APGAR and SCREEM Family resources survey for the perceived family function and resource, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Factors associated with anxiety, depression, and family function were analyzed using logistic regression. Approximately 31.6% (23.8 – 40.2%) presented with anxiety symptoms, and 12.0% (7.3 – 18.4%) had depression symptoms two weeks after being discharged from COVID-19 infection. From two weeks after discharge, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms decreased to 19.8%, while depression increased to 13.5% eight weeks after discharge. The percentage of patients with a perceived moderate family dysfunction was 12.8% at two weeks and most inadequate resources for the patients. The patient's anxiety was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.034) and moderately inadequate family resources (p = 0.034). Depression most inadequate resources for the patients. The patient's anxiety was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.034) and moderately inadequate family resources (p = 0.034). Depression was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.020) and low income (p = 0.036). This is one of the first studies to determine how COVID-19 infection affects the mental health status of Filipino patients. The study’s results highlight the importance of holistic care for COVID-19 patients and the need to include mental health in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Implementation of a High-Level Isolation Unit Readiness Checklist in the Irish Setting.

A high-level isolation unit (HLIU) is a specially designed biocontainment unit for suspected or confirmed high-consequence infectious diseases. For most HLIUs, maintaining readiness during times of inactivity is a challenge. In this case study, we describe a checklist approach to assess HLIU readiness to rapidly operate upon activation. This checklist includes readiness criteria in several domains, such as infrastructure, human resources, and material supplies, that are required to safely activate the unit at any time. The checklist audit tool was derived from a novel activation readiness checklist published by the biocontainment unit at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. It was then adapted for the Irish healthcare setting and implemented at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Ireland's current isolation facility. Results from the audit were also used to inform recommendations for the construction of a new HLIU to open in 2025. The audit tool is user friendly, practical, and focuses on the essential elements of readiness to ensure a successful rapid operation.

Clinical Management of Hospitalized Patients With High-Consequence Infectious Diseases in England.

Infectious disease physicians in England have been diagnosing and managing occasional cases of viral hemorrhagic fever since 1971, including the United Kingdom's first case of Ebola virus disease in 1976. Specialist isolation facilities to provide safe and effective care have been present since that time. Following the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012, and the avian influenza A (H7N9) outbreak in 2013, and the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, clinical and public health preparedness and response pathways in England have been strengthened for these types of diseases, now called high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). The HCID program, led by NHS England and Public Health England between 2016 and 2018, helped to deliver these enhancements, which have since been used on multiple occasions for new UK cases and outbreaks of MERS, mpox, avian influenza, and Lassa fever. Additionally, HCID pathways were activated for COVID-19 during the first 3 months of 2020, before the pandemic had been declared and little was known about COVID-19 but HCID status had been assigned temporarily to COVID-19 as a precaution. The HCID program also led to the commissioning of a network of new airborne HCID treatment centers in England, to supplement the existing network of contact HCID treatment centers, which includes the United Kingdom's only 2 high-level isolation units. In this case study, the authors describe the airborne and contact HCID treatment center networks in England, including their formation and structures, their approach to safe and effective clinical management of patients with HCIDs in the United Kingdom, and challenges they may face going forward.

Airflow and Pressure Design Review of Modular Negative Pressure Wards

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgent need for the rapid deployment of healthcare facilities propelled the rise of modular construction using an infill approach. In these modular, negative-pressure wards, the design of indoor airflow and pressure plays a crucial role in meeting the ventilation strategies required for isolation facilities. Accordingly, this paper focuses on modular negative-pressure wards employing an infill construction method and proposes an appropriate spatial pressure distribution to address the problem of air tightness degradation due to leakage. This study analyzed the indoor airflow and pressure distribution of a unit module corresponding to an infill. It aimed to examine whether the pressure difference with the adjacent room is maintained and to assess its effectiveness in isolating contaminated air. First, the airflow rate of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in the unit module was calculated to ensure that it would meet the performance criteria of the negative-pressure ward. Afterward, based on the calculated rate, the study assessed the airflow and room-specific pressure within a typical floor, encompassing both the unit module and associated nursing support facilities. Here, the airflow in the external corridor of the typical floor was divided into two cases according to the pressure distribution: negative pressure and atmospheric pressure. The calculation results were compared using a computational fluid dynamics tool. The analysis results confirm that the air isolation performance is adequate as the pressure difference between adjacent rooms in the unit module and the typical floor was maintained at 2.5 Pa. Additionally, the indoor airflow in the negative-pressure isolation room formed a stable flow at a slow speed of 0.1–0.2 m/s, minimizing the possibility of air contamination from outside the isolation room. In particular, Case B of the typical floor design proposes a method to optimize the pressure distribution in the modular negative-pressure ward by designing the ventilation flow rate at atmospheric pressure level. Thus, this study emphasizes that atmospheric pressure design is appropriate when designing pressure in areas where negative-pressure control is difficult and can contribute to the design and improvement of similar medical facilities in the future.

Virus cross-transmission potential via sanitary plumbing networks in an infectious disease isolation facility

This study investigates the potential transmission of viruses through sanitary plumbing systems, focusing on a small-scale bathroom pilot test and numerical analysis in a hospital setting. The experiments revealed that under typical conditions, airflow and viruses could travel through piping due to room pressure differentials. However, when water seals inside traps were maintained, virus transmission did not occur in uninterrupted conditions. Conversely, loss of water seals led to induced airflow and virus transfer when the room's pressure differential exceeded 2.5 Pa, emphasizing the role of negative pressure in interconnected bathrooms. Numerical analysis indicated that isolating the infectious disease isolation facility's plumbing system from the general hospital's system prevented virus transfer through sewage pipes. The study concludes that fundamental preventive measures involve separating plumbing systems and ensuring adequate trap numbers to preserve water seals. These findings provide a basis for establishing installation and operation standards in sanitary plumbing systems to curb infectious disease spread, highlighting the critical importance of maintaining water seals to mitigate potential virus transmission through indoor air.

Numerical simulation and experimental characterization of the TRIUMF-FEBIAD cathode temperature for optimizing the ion source performance

The FEBIAD ion source is routinely used to produce radioactive ions of halogens, molecules, and noble gases in several ISOL facilities worldwide. At TRIUMF, an extensive numerical and experimental campaign has been performed to fundamentally understand the source while improving its reliability and overall performance. Particularly, the cathode temperature has been studied by pyrometric measurements, Schottky analysis and numerical simulations to properly understand the electron emission driving the ionization. The temperature values found are consistent within the error bars and confirm the equivalence of the methodologies used. The findings can be used as part of a numerical ionization model for more realistic electron emission and the benchmarked thermal model can be used to propose novel and more robust geometries.

Highly porous carbon-SiC composites with continuous carbon fibers for the production of radioisotopes in ISOL facilities

New C/SiC composites with continuous fibers were produced through impregnation of carbon fiber preforms and consolidation by hot pressing. The resulting sintered material was investigated as a potential target for nuclear applications, such as radioisotope production. Desired properties include high porosity and high thermal conductivity to allow isotope release from the targets while working at high temperature. To this end, porosimetry and thermal and mechanical characterizations were conducted up to 1250°C. It was shown that the addition of fibers resulted in high porosity, about 40%, while maintaining a very high thermal conductivity, 40 W/m∙K at 1250°C, a value particularly attractive for the intended application. Emissivity at 1250°C was 0.76, compressive strength at room temperature was 134 MPa, and flexural strength passed from about 90 MPa before thermal conductivity measurements to 50 MPa after the tests.

Telehealth program for symptomatic COVID-19 patients in Mindanao, Philippines: a whole-of-system, pragmatic interventional study on patient monitoring from isolation facilities to community reintegration

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting individuals and society's physical and mental health. Despite the lack of any definite and effective therapeutic regimen, public health measures such as quarantine and isolation have been instituted to contain this pandemic. However, these mitigating measures have also raised issues regarding isolated patients' mental and psychological well-being. Several stakeholders were engaged in this approach, including the university, the local health office, the tertiary hospital, and the local communities. This intervention addresses concerns regarding the health status of isolated individuals due to COVID-19 infection, making the program available to anyone who agrees to participate. This was done through telehealth services delivered via phone calls and SMS. The university provided technical support and telehealth manpower through medical students. The local health unit manages the isolation facilities, while the referral hospital offers specialty care for isolated patients through teleconsultation. Finally, the local community is the one that reintegrates discharged patients into their communities. Three hundred forty-four (344) participants were provided seven sessions on telehealth education and tracking of their COVID-19 prescribed practices and mental health. The mean age of the patients was 37 years; half were females, and 15% had comorbidities. Regarding their mental health status, the level of depression dropped from 6% to 1% (p<0.0001), the level of anxiety dropped from 12% to 2% (p<0.0001), and the level of stress dropped from 3% to 0% (p<0.0001) from the first day of admission to 2 weeks after discharge. Moreover, a general trend of statistically significant increase in various practices was noted: wearing face masks, physical distancing, disinfecting frequently held objects, hand hygiene, and self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. Those with progressing symptoms of COVID-19 were referred immediately to the referral hospital. There were also no reports of complications of co-morbidities during their stay in the isolation facilities or social isolation upon community reintegration. The study concludes that telehealth services have the potential to address many challenges in providing continuous healthcare services to isolated patients until they are reintegrated into their community. Furthermore, a whole-of-society approach is necessary to provide holistic care to patients affected by the pandemic.

Mental health impact on patients with COVID-19 in the community under a long period of full lockdown in Vietnam.

We aimed to investigate the impact on the mental health of patients with COVID-19 in a centralized isolation facility in the community who experienced a long period of full lockdown during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study among 125 patients with COVID-19 in a centralized isolation facility in the community of Ho Chi Minh City from September to November 2021. We collected data on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as indicated by scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, as well as sociodemographic characteristics. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with COVID-19 was 14.4%, 20.8%, and 20.0%, respectively. Depression scores were significantly and positively correlated with body mass index whereas stress scores were significantly and positively correlated with age. Our findings indicated an increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with COVID-19 who were in a centralized isolation facility during the fourth COVID-19 wave in Vietnam. Overweight and older age were identified as risk factors for adverse mental health in patients with COVID-19. Psychological intervention programs should be implemented in isolation facilities for individuals with COVID-19 infection.

Study on the Safety Management of Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Test Roads Based on the Evaluation of Traffic Safety Facilities

More and more connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) open test roads reconstructed on the basis of traditional roads have appeared in China. However, the management policies vary, which makes the traffic environment complicated. This paper takes CAV test road safety management as the research aim and investigates the open test condition through the evaluation of the traffic safety facilities. Indicators were rigorously screened, then the game theory model was used to determine the combination weight of the indicators, and the set pair analysis was applied to solve the uncertain problems. A case study for the CAV test road network of a city in central China was implemented and the results show, regarding the traffic safety facilities’ condition, among the 20 sections of the city’s CAV test road network, 15% of which are at an excellent level, 75% of which are at a good level and 10% of which are at a moderate level; road signs, guardrail facilities, isolation facilities and road features are the main limiting factors affecting the level of traffic safety facilities. Based on the results, recommendations have been made for the transport management authorities in the aspects of safety management policy-making and facilities maintenance.

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater in the Kingdom of Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several countries, including Bahrain, used wastewater surveillance for disease activity monitoring. This study aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2in untreated wastewater and to correlate it with the disease spread. A retrospective review was conducted for all wastewater samples tested for SARS-CoV-2 in public health laboratories from November 2020 to October 2022. Samples were collected weekly between February and October 2022 from different areas across Bahrain. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, and the results were correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases in the same area. Of 387 wastewater samples, 103 (26.6%) samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In late 2020, of 42 samples collected initially, four (9.5%) samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the four locations that hosted COVID-19 isolation facilities. Between February and October 2022, 345 specimens of wastewater were tested, and 99 (28.7%) were positive. The highest detection rate was in February, June, and July (60%, 45%, and 43%, respectively), which corresponded to COVID-19 peaks during 2022, and the lowest detection rate was in August and September (11% and 0%, respectively), corresponding to the low number of COVID-19 cases. The detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples from Bahrain was high and was significantly correlated with the number of reported COVID-19 cases. Wastewater surveillance can aid the existing surveillance system in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 spread.