First Wave Of Infection Research Articles

Molecular Characterization and Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages in Central India.

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 in December 2019, several SARS-CoV-2 variants have evolved, and some of them have shown higher transmissibility, becoming the prevalent strains. Genomic epidemiological investigations into strains from different time points, including the early stages of the pandemic, are very crucial for understanding the evolution and transmission patterns. Using whole-genome sequences, our study describes the early landscape of SARS-CoV-2 variants in central India retrospectively (including the first known occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in Madhya Pradesh). We performed amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing of randomly selected SARS-CoV-2 isolates (n = 38) collected between 2020 and 2022 at state level VRDL, ICMR-NIRTH, Jabalpur, from 11899 RT-qPCR-positive samples. We observed the presence of five lineages, namely B.1, B.1.1, B.1.36.8, B.1.195, and B.6, in 19 genomes from the first wave cases and variants of concern (VOCs) lineages, i.e., B.1.617.2 (Delta) and BA.2.10 (Omicron) in the second wave cases. There was a shift in mutational pattern in the spike protein coding region of SRAS-CoV-2 strains from the second wave in contrast to the first wave. In the first wave of infections, we observed variations in the ORF1Ab region, and with the emergence of Delta lineages, the D614G mutation associated with an increase in infectivity became a prominent change. We have identified five immune escape variants in the S gene, P681R, P681H, L452R, Q57H, and N501Y, in the isolates collected during the second wave. Furthermore, these genomes were compared with 2160 complete genome sequences reported from central India that encompass 109 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Among them, VOC lineages Delta (28.93%) and Omicron (56.11%) were circulating predominantly in this region. This study provides useful insights into the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains over the initial course of the COVID-19 pandemic in central India.

Medical Team Intervention Into a Long-Term Care Health Facility in Japan During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Nursing homes face a high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection; in the early stages of the pandemic, outbreaks in nursing homes resulted in significant deaths among residents. Our medical team intervened in one nursing home struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the outcomes of 65 residents (52 women and 13 men; mean age, 89 years) during the first wave of infection, as well as changes in resident and staff numbers after the pandemic subsided. The mortality rates in the early and late transfer groups for the first three months of our intervention were 46.7% and 19.2%, respectively. The number of residents and staff fell to 34 and six, respectively, at their lowest point, but recovered to 64 and 33, respectively, by August 2023. Since the successful containment of the outbreak, no clusters of COVID-19-related illnesses have been observed at the facility despite nine infection waves occurring across Japan. Improving staff precautions, designing facilities with effective zoning, and sharing information with government agencies are essential for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hence, an inter-professional team approach is important to support residents, and ongoing mental health support for staff is essential to maintain optimal healthcare quality in nursing home facilities.

Duration and severity of COVID-19 symptoms among primary healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey.

This study aims to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers, including the severity, duration of infection, post-infection symptoms and related influencing factors. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to assess the post-infection status of primary healthcare workers in Jiangsu Province. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, post-infection clinical manifestations, work environment and recovery time of the respondents. Customized outcome events were selected as dependent variables and logistic regression models were employed to analyse the risk factors. Phi-coefficient was used to describe the relationship between post-infection symptoms. The analysis revealed that several factors, such as female, older age, obesity, previous medical history, exposure to high-risk environments and stress, were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing more severe outcomes. On the other hand, vaccination and regular exercise were found to contribute to an earlier resolution of the infection. Among the post-infection symptoms, cough, malaise and muscle aches were the most frequently reported. Overall, there was a weak association among symptoms persisting beyond 14 days, with only cough and malaise, malaise and dizziness and headache showing a stronger correlation. The study findings indicate that the overall severity of the first wave of infection, following the complete lifting of restrictions in China, was low. The impact on primary healthcare workers was limited, and the post-infection symptoms exhibited similarity to those observed in other countries. It is important to highlight that these conclusions are specifically relevant to the population infected with the Omicron variant. This study helps to grasp the impacts of the first wave of COVID-19 infections on healthcare workers in China after the national lockdown was lifted. Primary healthcare workers in Jiangsu Province, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other personnel from primary healthcare units such as community health service centres and health centres.

Death anxiety and materialism during the pandemic: investigating the role of personal experiences of COVID-19

ABSTRACT Given that personal experiences related to coronavirus (such as being infected or having a close friend or family member diagnosed with it) may induce greater fear of death, and based on terror management theory, we hypothesised that personal experiences of COVID-19 would be associated with increased materialism. Furthermore, the relationship between personal experiences of COVID-19 and materialism was expected to be mediated by generalised anxiety. Two quasi-experimental studies were conducted: Study 1 (N = 1,138) during the first wave of infections in Poland and Study 2 (N = 285) during the second wave. Study 1 showed that individuals with close friends or family members who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 (n = 43) had higher levels of materialism (mainly in the dimension of centrality), and this relationship was mediated by the level of generalised anxiety. Study 2 showed that average levels of materialism decreased during the pandemic, but not among respondents who had suffered from coronavirus infection (n = 32) – levels of materialism increased in this group, especially in the dimension of centrality. Our studies are the first to show how personal real-life experiences related to COVID-19 can translate into levels of materialism in individuals.

Media exposure related to COVID-19 is associated with worse mental health consequences in the United States compared to Italy

ABSTRACT Background Prolonged media exposure after collective crises is widely shown to have adverse effects on people’s mental health. Do these effects show variation across different countries? In the present study, we compared the link between media exposure related to COVID-19 and mental health-related outcomes in the United States and Italy, two countries with high levels of early COVID-19 prevalence. Method Participants matched on age and gender in the United States (n = 415) and Italy (n = 442) completed assessments of media exposure, stress, anxiety, COVID-19 worry, and other variables shortly after the first wave of infections in 2020. Results COVID-19 related media exposure predicted higher levels of stress, anxiety, and COVID-19 worry, net of the effects of neuroticism, political identification, and demographics. Moreover, COVID-19 related media exposure interacted with country to predict more stress and COVID-19 worry in the United States than in Italy. Conclusions Findings are among the first to document cross-national differences in the association of media exposure with mental health outcomes.

Covid‐19 communication in emerging markets—Not viral enough?

Public health communication acts as a social vaccine in case of pandemics. Prior research has identified that such initiatives often fail to reach vulnerable sections of society. In India, while the first wave of infections mainly hit the urban areas, rural areas witnessed a surge in the second wave. Using the World Bank data, we attempt to understand the effectiveness of public awareness campaigns in rural areas. We use the Ecological Model for public health and find how the various factors relate to public health outcomes. The ecological factors are found to be related to awareness of Covid‐19. We find inadequate awareness about the symptoms and preventive measures associated with Covid‐19 among the rural population. We also find significant differences in communication and awareness along dimensions such as education and access to media. The role played by SHGs and hospitals in dealing with pandemics is also evident in this study. We conclude that the disparity in public health communication needs to be bridged to ensure equitable access to health information in society during public health crises.

Evidence for the utility of cfDNA plasma concentrations to predict disease severity in COVID-19: a retrospective pilot study.

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic caused by the highly infective SARS-CoV-2. There is a need for biomarkers not only for overall prognosis but also for predicting the response to treatments and thus for improvements in the clinical management of patients with COVID-19. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a promising biomarker in the assessment of various pathological conditions. The aim of this retrospective and observational pilot study was to investigate the range of cfDNA plasma concentrations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection, to relate them to established inflammatory parameters as a correlative biomarker for disease severity, and to compare them with plasma levels in a healthy control group. Lithium-Heparin plasma samples were obtained from COVID-19 patients (n = 21) during hospitalization in the University Medical Centre of Mainz, Germany between March and June 2020, and the cfDNA concentrations were determined by quantitative PCR yielding amplicons of long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1). The cfDNA levels were compared with those of an uninfected control group (n = 19). Plasma cfDNA levels in COVID-19 patients ranged from 247.5 to 6,346.25 ng/ml and the mean concentration was 1,831 ± 1,388 ng/ml (± standard deviation), which was significantly different from the levels of the uninfected control group (p < 0.001). Regarding clinical complications, the highest correlation was found between cfDNA levels and the myositis (p = 0.049). In addition, cfDNA levels correlated with the "WHO clinical progression scale". D-Dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were the clinical laboratory parameters with the highest correlations with cfDNA levels. The results of this observational pilot study show a wide range in cfDNA plasma concentrations in patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of infection and confirm that cfDNA plasma concentrations serve as a predictive biomarker of disease severity in COVID-19.

Trust in management and state government mitigate the relationships between individual- and state-level stressors and well-being during COVID-19

PurposeThis study aims to examine the role of trust in management and state government in mitigating the relationships between individual- and state-level stressors and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a US sample still working during the first wave of infections (N = 437) and was supplemented with objective state-level data. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression modeling with the PROC MIXED procedure with SAS software to incorporate both individual- and state-level variables.FindingsResults indicated that individual-level stressors (work and family role overload) were positively associated with stress; however, the relationship between family role overload and stress was mitigated among those with high trust in state government. Results indicated that state-level stressors (infection rates and population density) were not associated with stress; however, the relationship between state population density and stress was positive among those with low trust in management and negative among those with high trust in management.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the need for organization and government leaders to build trust before and during crisis situations, as well as engage in a collaborative approach to managing stressors in crisis situations.Originality/valueThis study highlights the importance of expanding the focus of employee trust across organizational boundaries for understanding employee well-being during a crisis situation. This study also demonstrates the cross-over effects of trust, such that organization leaders can protect workers from community stressors, while government leaders can protect workers from family stressors.

Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia between 2010 and 2020 – a German nation-wide study

BackgroundAim of this study was to analyze long-term trends of hospitalizations, treatment regimen and in-hospital mortality of in-patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) over the past decade and effects of the SARS-CoV2-pandemic.MethodsWe analyzed fully anonymized data from the German Federal Statistical Office of patients with AMI between 2010 and 2020. Besides descriptive analyses of age, gender, in-hospital mortality, comorbidity burden and treatment regimen, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent variables associated with in-hospital mortality and different treatment.ResultsA total of 278,121 hospitalizations (120,667 male [43.4%], mean age 72.1 years) with AMI were included in this study. The total number of hospitalizations increased from 2010 (n = 24,172) to 2019 (n = 26,684) (relative increase 10.4%). In-hospital mortality decreased over the past decade from 36.6% to 2010 to 31.1% in 2019 (rel. decrease 15.2%). Independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality were older age (OR = 1.03 per year), higher comorbidity burden (OR = 1.06 per point in van Walraven score [vWs]), male gender (OR = 1.07), AMI as a secondary diagnosis (OR = 1.44), and the need for surgical (visceral surgery: OR = 1.38, vascular surgery: OR = 3.33) and endovascular treatment (OR = 1.21). We report a decline in hospitalizations during the first wave of infection in spring 2020 (rel. decrease 9.7%).ConclusionIn-hospital mortality rate has declined over the past decade, but remains high at above 30%. Older age, increased comorbidity and male gender are independent factors for in-hospital mortality. Hospitalizations requiring vascular surgery are associated with high in-hospital mortality, followed by visceral surgery and endovascular approaches. The first wave of the SARS-CoV2-pandemic in spring 2020 implied a decrease in hospital admissions.

The Recent Outbreak of COVID-19 in China During the Omicron Variant Predominance: Clinical Features and Outcomes in Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on vulnerable populations with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) has been variable with variants and of great concern. Here we report the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors for infection and hospitalization in patients with AIIRDs in the first wave of infection in China in December 2022. A real-world survey was conducted in Chinese patients with AIIRDs from 8December 2022 to 13January 2023. The survey was distributed via internet nationwide, clinic consultation, and to inpatients at a tertiary hospital in Beijing. Clinical features, outcomes, and vaccination status were collected. A total of 2005 patients with AIIRDs completed the survey. There were 1690 (84.3%) patients infected and only 48.2% of patients received COVID-19 vaccination. Most of the fully vaccinated patients received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, including Sinovac (55.6%) and Sinopharm (27.2%), followed by recombinantsubunitvaccine from Zhifei Longcom (2.0%). The independent protecting factors for infection were a time interval of less than 3months from last vaccination (OR0.53, p = 0.037) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as the underlying AIIRD (OR0.62, p = 0.041). A total of 57 out of 1690 patients (3.4%) were hospitalized for COVID, with 46 (2.7%) experiencing severe/critical course and 6 deaths (0.4%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for hospitalization were age over 60years (OR11.52, p < 0.001), with comorbidity (OR1.83, p = 0.045) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as the AIIRDs (OR2.59, p = 0.036). Receiving booster vaccine was an independent protective factor for hospitalization (OR0.53, 95%CI 0.30-0.98; p = 0.018). Hesitation for vaccination is common among Chinese patients with AIIRDs. The time from last vaccination of less than 3months and having RA decreased the risk of COVID infection. Older age and having comorbidity or SLE increased the risk of hospitalization, while booster vaccination reduced the risk.

#6576 SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 LEVELS AS A PREDICTOR OF ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY IN MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS WITH COVID-19-OMICRON INFECTION: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract Background and Aims Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key mediators of inflammation and has been linked to the severity and mortality of COVID-19-Omicron in the general population. With higher mortality rates observed in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients infected with COVID-19-Omicron, the study aimed to examine the correlation between IL-6 levels and mortality in this patient population and to indentify the optimal IL-6 level for predicting the risk of death. Method The retrospective observational study was conducted in MHD patients diagnosed with COVID-19-Omicron infection between December 01, 2022 and January 31, 2023 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University during the first wave of infection in COVID-19-Omicron outbreak in China. Clinical and biochemical data were collected during the infection, IL-6 levels of the patients were measured before consecutive dialysis sessions by a commercial kit. The Cox model was used to investigate the risk factors of mortality, meanwhile, ROC curve to determine the cut off value of IL-6 levels on mortality. Results A total of 162 MHD patients infected with COVID-19-Omicron were included in this study. During a median follow-up period of 40 days, 10 (6.2%) deaths occurred due to COVID-19 infection. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients who died. Univariate Cox regression analyses showed that the risk factors associated with death included IL-6 levels (HR: 1.009; p&amp;lt;0.001), C-reactive protein (HR: 1.01; p = 0.016), serum potassium (HR: 2.258; p = 0.015, procalcitonin(PCT) (HR: 1.01; p = 0.048), and the Charlson comornidity index(CCI)(HR: 1.34; p = 0.002). However, in multivariate analysis, only IL-6 levels was independently associated with all-cause mortality(HR: 1.01; p = 0.001).The ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significantly worse survival risk among MHD patients with higher serum IL-6 levels (≥104.87 pg/mL) (sensitivity:100%; specificity:78.2%; AUC: 0.92; p = 0.001). Conclusion Serum IL-6 levels greater than 104.87 pg/mL were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in MHD patients infected with COVID-19-Omicron. Hemoperfusion or hemofiltration to remove IL-6 may provide appropriate treatment options for hemodialysis patients with COVID-19-Omicron.

The National COVID-19 Epi Model (NCEM): Estimating cases, admissions and deaths for the first wave of COVID-19 in South Africa.

In March 2020 the South African COVID-19 Modelling Consortium was formed to support government planning for COVID-19 cases and related healthcare. Models were developed jointly by local disease modelling groups to estimate cases, resource needs and deaths due to COVID-19. The National COVID-19 Epi Model (NCEM) while initially developed as a deterministic compartmental model of SARS-Cov-2 transmission in the nine provinces of South Africa, was adapted several times over the course of the first wave of infection in response to emerging local data and changing needs of government. By the end of the first wave, the NCEM had developed into a stochastic, spatially-explicit compartmental transmission model to estimate the total and reported incidence of COVID-19 across the 52 districts of South Africa. The model adopted a generalised Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed structure that accounted for the clinical profile of SARS-COV-2 (asymptomatic, mild, severe and critical cases) and avenues of treatment access (outpatient, and hospitalisation in non-ICU and ICU wards). Between end-March and early September 2020, the model was updated 11 times with four key releases to generate new sets of projections and scenario analyses to be shared with planners in the national and provincial Departments of Health, the National Treasury and other partners. Updates to model structure included finer spatial granularity, limited access to treatment, and the inclusion of behavioural heterogeneity in relation to the adoption of Public Health and Social Measures. These updates were made in response to local data and knowledge and the changing needs of the planners. The NCEM attempted to incorporate a high level of local data to contextualise the model appropriately to address South Africa's population and health system characteristics that played a vital role in producing and updating estimates of resource needs, demonstrating the importance of harnessing and developing local modelling capacity.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Interventional Radiology inGermany.

To investigate the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on interventional radiology (IR) in Germany in 2020 and 2021. This retrospective study is based on the nationwide interventional radiology procedures documented in the quality register of the German Society for Interventional Radiology and Minimally Invasive Therapy (DeGIR-QS-Register). The nationwide volume of interventions in the pandemic years 2020 and 2021 was compared with the pre-pandemic period (Poisson-test, Mann-Whitney test). The aggregated data were additionally evaluated by intervention type with differentiated consideration of the temporal epidemiological infection occurrence. During the two pandemic years 2020 and 2021, thenumber of interventional procedures increased by appr. 4 % compared to the same period of the previous year (n = 190 454 and 189 447 vs. n = 183 123, respectively, p < 0.001). Only the first pandemic wave in spring 2020 (weeks 12-16) showed a significant temporary drop in the number of interventional procedures by 26 % (n = 4799, p < 0.05). This primarily involved interventions that were not immediately medically urgent, such as pain treatments or elective arterial revascularization. In contrast, interventions in the field of interventional oncology, such as port catheter implantations and local tumor ablations, remained unaffected. The decline of the first wave of infection was accompanied by a rapid recovery and a significant, partly compensatory, 14 % increase in procedure numbers in the second half of 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year (n = 77 151 vs. 67 852, p < 0.001). Subsequent pandemic waves had no effect on intervention numbers. The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany led to a significant short-term decrease in interventional radiology procedures in the initial phase. A compensatory increase in the number of procedures was observed in the subsequent period. This reflects the adaptability and robustness of IR and the high demand for minimally invasive radiological procedures in medical care. · The study shows the nationwide pandemic-related effects on interventional radiology in Germany.. · In quantitative terms, the ongoing pandemic caused a significant, temporary decline in intervention cases only in the initial phase.. · Subsequent waves of infections had no effect on the scope of services provided by interventional radiology.. · Short-term deficits, especially in elective interventions, could be partially compensated.. · Schmidbauer M, Busjahn A, Paprottka P et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Interventional Radiology in Germany. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 597 - 604.

The Impact of COVID‐19 on Family Dementia Caregivers in Vietnam ‐ Insights from A Memory Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic has unprecedented consequences on stress, isolation, and financial well‐being for family caregivers of people with dementia globally. In Vietnam, soaring COVID‐19 cases have led to widespread social distancing, isolation, and quarantine orders from the government. To date, limited evidence exists about the situation of persons with dementia and their family caregivers during the pandemic in Vietnam.ObjectivesThe study aimed to provide insights into the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on family caregivers of people with dementia.MethodsMixed methods were used, and data collection took place in two rounds. In the first round during the first wave of infections at Ho Chi Minh City, semi‐structured interviews with caregivers and health care workers (n = 16) were conducted and analysed thematically. In the second round, this data will be complemented with survey data from family caregivers of people with dementia (n = 30). The survey includes a combination of closed‐ and open‐ended questions on the impact of the pandemic on the caregivers’ health and caregiving responsibilities.ResultsResults of the first round of data collection showed a high impact of the pandemic on caregivers resulting in negative psychosocial and emotional consequences of caregivers such as worry, stress, frustration as well as restrictions in time and place. Caregivers had reduced access to counselling services needed. At the same time, treatment services for people with dementia were reduced or even halted. The results from the survey will give additional insights into the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on family caregivers of people with dementia, including their challenges and concerns. These results will help to adapt counselling and treatment services for dementia family caregivers and will be presented in detail.ConclusionThe study will lead to a better understanding of the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on family caregivers of people with dementia and will facilitate the adaptation of the existing as well as integration of new topics into our caregiver counselling program. Additionally, the development of (digital) self‐help groups for caregivers could be another option to prevent disruption of the health care system and to ensure ongoing service provision despite pandemic‐related restrictions.

Severe mental illnesses and mortality following COVID-19 infection: Data linkage study using the Clinical Practice Research Database (CPRD).

BackgroundThe association of COVID-19 infection with death in people with severe mental illnesses (SMI), and the relationship to multimorbidities/ underlying health conditions ethnicity is unclear. Health records linked to COVID-19 tests data could help to inform this knowledge gap.&#x0D; ObjectiveTo determine the risk of death in people with SMI following COVID-19 infection compared to reference groups and assess whether excess mortality is accounted through underlying health conditions or further elevated in minority ethnic groups.&#x0D; Design, setting and participantsNationally representative cohort study using primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Database (CPRD), with participants followed from the start of the pandemic in 2020, for 1.5 years, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For consenting practices, CPRD data was linked to COVID-19 data Public Health England (PHE) Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS), PHE COVID-19 Hospitalisation in England Surveillance System (CHESS), and Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) data on COVID-10 intensive care admissions. The cohort comprised 795,836 individuals, with 7,493 individuals with SMI and a positive COVID-19 test (“SMI/COVID-19”). Comparison groups were: 2,325 individuals with SMI/ testing negative for COVID-19 (“SMI/ non COVID-19”), 657,414 individuals from a non-SMI group/ testing positive for COVID-19 (“non-SMI/ COVID-19”), and 128,604 individuals from a non-SMI group/ testing negative for COVID-19 (“non-SMI/ non-COVID-19”).&#x0D; ExposuresSMI defined as the presence of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or affective disorders with psychosis, according to the International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD-10). COVID-19 diagnoses identified through confirmed laboratory tests and clinical diagnoses.&#x0D; OutcomesAll-cause mortality&#x0D; ResultsA higher proportion of SMI patients with COVID-19 were obese (37% versus 22% in the non-SMI/non-COVID-19 group), current smokers (27% versus 23% in the non-SMI/non-COVID-19 group), had underlying health conditions, and were Black Caribbean/ Black African (5% versus 1% in the non-SMI/non-COVID-19 group). Relative to the non-SMI/ non-COVID-19 group, the SMI/ COVID-19 group had an elevated risk of death (age and sex-adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 5.03 (95%CI: 4.61-5.54)). This was elevated to a lesser extent, in the SMI/ non COVID-19 group (aHR: 1.93 (95%CI: 1.54-2.41)) and in the non-SMI/ COVID-19 group (aHR: 2.85 (95%CI: 2.72-2.98). Excess risk persisted after adjusting for tobacco use, weight and comorbidities. Mortality trends were similar across groups by ethnicity. Risk of death was highest for the SMI/ COVID-19 group during the first wave of infection in the UK, however excess mortality was still evident and substantially elevated at the second wave also.&#x0D; ConclusionsPeople living with SMI are at an increased risk of death compared to population controls; this excess risk is further elevated following COVID-19 infection, with similar trends by ethnicity. Underlying health conditions only partially account for deaths following COVID-19 infection in this group.

INDIA’S HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS: COULD A RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH OVERCOME SYSTEMATIC INADEQUACIES?

Covid-19 exposed the fragility and inadequacies in India’s health care system, especially in its public health services. The sudden lockdown imposed during the first wave of the virus severely impacted the livelihoods of millions of migrant workers. Then, in spite of warnings about an impending second wave of infection, the government’s failure to prepare the health infrastructure, together with delays in vaccine distribution, cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Unlike the first wave of infection, the second wave impacted rural India very badly. Taking into consideration the existing social hierarchies and inequalities, it was marginalised groups of the population who bore the brunt of the pandemic. This article analyses the failures of the Indian government in handling the Covid-19 crisis, especially during the second wave, and concludes by suggesting ways in which the state needs to intervene to avert disasters of this kind in the future. It argues for the adoption of a ‘rights-based’ approach to public health on the grounds that successive governments have not been properly held to account for their long-term failures to address the issue.

Using WhatsApp During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Emotions and Perceptions of Users.

BackgroundSocial media is an integral part of daily life as people are exposed to considerable amounts of information via social media. In particular, WhatsApp is a messaging application used for sharing information and keeping in touch with individuals and groups. It is a platform considered appropriate for expressing emotions.PurposeThis study analyzed a WhatsApp group of friends in Saudi Arabia and their messages regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic during the first wave of infections to capture their attitudes, emotions, and perceptions related to the pandemic. We also investigated WhatsApp usage during COVID-19.Methods and ParticipantsA quantitative exploratory study and qualitative content analysis of a sample of WhatsApp group interactions during the pandemic in Saudi Arabia were combined.ResultsWe found that WhatsApp was used more frequently than other social media platforms for communication with family and friends. Moreover, denial was the first behavior evident at the beginning of the pandemic, followed by hope, sadness, and anxiety, and then, panic, fear, and happiness.ConclusionWhatsApp affects its users’ attitudes, perceptions, and behavior just as much as any other social media. Posts and comments shared on WhatsApp reflected different emotions, ranging from fear, anger, and sadness to hope, happiness, and pride.

Trust Mitigates the Negative Effects of COVID-19 Stressors on Employee Well-being

This study examines the role of managerial and institutional trust in mitigating the detrimental effect of stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989), we posited that trust in management and state government would mitigate the negative effects of individual-level (changes in work and family role overload) and state-level (infection rates and population density) stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multisource, multilevel data from the United States, including a sample of Americans still working during the first wave of infections (N = 437), we found that changes in individual-level stressors (work and family role overload) were positively associated with changes in stress; however, these effects were mitigated among those with high trust in state government. Results indicated that state-level COVID-19 stressors (infection rates and population density) did not have a direct effect on changes in stress; however, the effect of population density on changes in stress was mitigated among those with high trust in management. This study highlights a potential mechanism – trust – through which organization leaders and government officials can mitigate the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and perhaps other large-scale adverse events, on workers. This study also demonstrates the cross over effects of trust, such that managers can protect workers from community stressors, while government officials can protect workers from work and family stressors. Theoretical and practical implications, future directions, and limitations are discussed.

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in patients presenting neurological manifestations.

During the first wave of infections, neurological symptoms in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients raised particular concern, suggesting that, in a subset of patients, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could invade and damage cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Indeed, up to date several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to reach the CNS. Both viral and/or host related features could explain why this occurs only in certain individuals and not in all the infected population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if onset of neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients was related to specific viral genomic signatures. To this end, viral genome was extracted directly from nasopharyngeal swabs of selected SARS-CoV-2 positive patients presenting a spectrum of neurological symptoms related to COVID-19, ranging from anosmia/ageusia to more severe symptoms. By adopting a whole genome sequences approach, here we describe a panel of known as well as unknown mutations detected in the analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomes. While some of the found mutations were already associated with an improved viral fitness, no common signatures were detected when comparing viral sequences belonging to specific groups of patients. In conclusion, our data support the notion that COVID-19 neurological manifestations are mainly linked to patient-specific features more than to virus genomic peculiarities.

Psychological wellbeing in the English population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A series of cross-sectional surveys

Psychological distress has been elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies published to date have investigated distress after the first wave of infections (Spring – Summer 2020). We investigated distress and wellbeing between April 2020 and April 2022 in England through a series of cross-sectional online surveys. People aged 16 years or over living in the UK were eligible for the surveys; for this study we selected only those living in England due to differences in restrictions between UK nations. Distress was measured using the PHQ4 (n = 60,921 responses), while wellbeing was measured using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (n = 61,152 responses). Throughout, approximately 50%–60% of women and 40%–50% of men reported distress, higher than the 25%–30% of women, and 20%–25% of men reported in normative data. Wellbeing was also worse than population norms, with women reporting lower wellbeing than men. Rates of distress in the English population have been consistently high throughout the pandemic. Patterns of distress have broadly mirrored the pattern of restrictions and case numbers, but there are notable exceptions which indicate that other factors may play a part in population mental health.