International Travel Restrictions Research Articles

Economic Resilience: Fiscal Policy, Tourism, and ICT in COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has brought about unprecedented economic and social consequences worldwide. The implementation of isolation measures, including national and international travel restrictions, significantly affected contact-intensive sectors such as tourism. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was crucial during this lockdown period in maintaining connectivity and enabling remote activities. Governments worldwide implemented discretionary measures to mitigate the crisis's adverse effects on economic activity. This paper aims to analyse whether the level of ICT adoption and the importance of tourism influence the fiscal policy efforts pursued by governments. Based on the results of a linear regression analysis for 154 countries, the findings suggest that governments had to promote higher fiscal stimulus in countries with higher international tourism receipts. At the same time, ICT development diminished the efforts of the fiscal policy response to the crisis since it facilitated economic resilience. The findings of this study can contribute to understanding how governments responded to the pandemic crisis and the factors that influenced their fiscal policy decisions.

Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on air pollution in Ahvaz: a comparative dual-approach assessment of observed against baseline and forecasted criteria air pollutants.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian government swiftly implemented immediate and decisive measures to control the spread of the infection. This study aims to demonstrate the impact of restriction measure on air pollution, also to highlight the potential variability in results that can arias from different methodological approach. A comprehensive dual-approach assessment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the lockdown measures on criteria air pollutants. Firstly, a traditional approach compared air quality during the pandemic period with baseline conditions from 2013 to 2019. Secondly, observed air pollution values during different periods with varying restrictions in 2020 were compared with expected values. This comprehensive analysis allows for a robust comparison and quantification of the impact of different lockdown measures in Ahvaz. The study revealed significant changes in air pollutant concentrations in Ahvaz during 2020, with variations observed across different pollutants. Notable reductions were observed in O3 levels, particularly in November (-54.44% compared to the baseline) and December (-63.58% compared to expected values). Decreases in CO levels were observed in multiple months, while substantial reductions in PM10 and PM2.5 were observed during various periods. Inconsistencies in the magnitudes and directions of changes were found when comparing baseline and forecasted values. The overall stringency index showed an inverse association with changes in O3, NO2, and CO, with international travel controls and restrictions on internal movement having significant impacts. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on air pollution in Ahvaz, Iran, using a comprehensive dual-approach assessment. The findings highlight the effectiveness of these measures in reducing specific criteria air pollutants and emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate strategies for air quality management during similar public health emergencies.

What happens when tourism is turned off: Exploring the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions for Indigenous people in Rarotonga, The Cook Islands

The sea, sand, and sun allure of the Cook Islands has seen tourism become the most significant driver of the country's economic development. However, the increasing reliance on the tourism sector since the 1980's has created a mono-economy at the expense of diversification and alternative economic models. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the risks and consequences associated with an over- reliance on international tourism as the lockdown measures and international travel restrictions caused the sudden shutdown of international tourism, resulting in serious negative economic consequences for tourism-dependent communities. However, the pandemic also offered an opportunity for small island societies to reflect on pre-existing challenges associated with the tourism industry. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews with Indigenous Cook Islanders in Rarotonga, this study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of how the lived experiences of participants responding to the sudden collapse of tourism may have influenced how Indigenous Cook Islands peoples perceive the role of tourism in supporting the wellbeing of their small island nation. The presented study is the result of a collaborative research partnership between an Indigenous Pacific scholar and non-Indigenous European scholar. While the research adopted a western methodology, the relationships developed between the researchers and participants were guided by the cultural values of reciprocity and respect, which are key principles underpinning Indigenous research in the Pacific. The findings revealed that participants adapted to the adverse impacts of COVID-19 through the revitalization of their traditional socio-economies, the resurgence of customary practices, a strengthened connection to nature, and a renewed sense of community spirit and pride in cultural identity—all of which were perceived to positively impact their spiritual, social, cultural, environmental, physical, and mental wellbeing. By demonstrating the positive adaptive responses of participants, this article aims to emphasize the non-economic dimensions of wellbeing that are critical to supporting the cultural values, social priorities, and the Indigenous ways of life that preceded the development of tourism. These findings can be used to inform and guide international development policy makers and tourism stakeholders who seek to reduce the adverse impacts of tourism on the wellbeing of Indigenous communities in the Pacific.

THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES

The article examines the state and prospects of international tourism development in Ukraine amid global crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war. A comprehensive analysis of key factors affecting the tourism industry is conducted, including international travel restrictions, geopolitical instability, economic difficulties, and changes in consumer behavior. It demonstrates how global crises, such as COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war, have led to a significant reduction in international tourist flows, decreased foreign exchange earnings from tourism activities, and created additional risks for tourism infrastructure. In such conditions, the recovery of the industry and its integration into the country's economic development require a comprehensive approach that includes not only investments but also the digitalization of tourism services. The research highlights key changes in tourist flows, the level of economic activity in the sector, and the impact of internal and external challenges on tourism infrastructure. It was found that after a significant decline in 2022 due to the war, a gradual recovery began in 2023 thanks to the development of domestic tourism and the opening of new safe routes. Digitalization has become a key factor in the development of the modern tourism industry, affecting all stages of the tourist experience. The implementation of digital technologies, such as online booking, mobile applications, virtual and augmented reality, allows companies to enhance their service and improve competitiveness. The article emphasizes the importance of strengthening tourism infrastructure and supporting entrepreneurship in times of instability. Directions for further research are proposed, including the development of domestic tourism, the assessment of the resilience of tourism entities to crises, and the analysis of the long-term effects of the war on international tourist flows. The study underscores the significance of the tourism industry for Ukraine's economic recovery and its potential for integration into the global tourism market.

Symposium 4: Reflections on Hybridity in the Malta Networked Learning Forum 2021

This paper discusses the practicality, successes and possible failures of the Malta Networked Learning (NL) Forum held in May 2021. The forum was held in a hybrid synchronous face-to-face and virtual context, with a wide range of international participants, planned at short notice due to continuing uncertainty of Covid-19 restrictions. The paper outlines contexts and understandings of hybridity in both events and pedagogical approaches, noting varying definitions and concepts that may utilise this term to indicate forms of barrier breaking, overcoming limitation or supporting flexibility. Further context highlights recent literature concerning other digitally hybrid conference events, the need for which have been accelerated in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and additional considerations of climate change for reducing the carbon footprint of academic communities. Discussion leads to the type of hybridity implemented for the Malta NL Forum in May 2021, where pandemic international travel restrictions, local regulations and participant planning uncertainty required the adoption of a face-to-face and virtual synchronous event. The local organising team (authoring this paper) provides commentary to critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the modality adopted. Emphasis is placed on designing for hybridity in future events, to improve planning and organisation for flexible and agile awareness to support the full range of participants in hybrid contexts and activities. The paper attempts to support those whose role is to convene and host similar events aiming to foster rewarding engagement for those participating, both presenting as well as attending.

O-312 Home semen freezing for fertility patients at the time of global travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Study question Can an alternative process for freezing semen be utilized for patients in need of fertility care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic travel restrictions? Summary answer At-home sperm freezing was developed during COVID-19 to offer fertility care for travel restricted patients, which provided similar IVF outcomes compared to laboratory frozen sperm. What is known already Cases of COVID-19 were first detected in December 2019 spreading rapidly across the world leading to declaration of a pandemic on March 11, 2020 and resulting in international border closures and global travel restrictions lasting into 2023. Sperm freezing by trained laboratory personnel is well established and safe clinical practice. While home semen collection kits existed to extend sperm survival for hours allowing sufficient time for the sample to reach facility to be frozen in the laboratory, there were no home semen freezing methods for longer time constraints available for our patients. Study design, size, duration A specialized home semen freezing process has been developed and validated in-house on research samples. Retrospective analysis was performed to assess home sperm freezing efficiency in patients undergoing fertility treatment. IVF outcomes were compared between home sperm freezing to the samples frozen in our laboratory (control) from 2020 to 2023. Participants/materials, setting, methods In total 508 semen samples frozen at home have been received at the clinic, with 495 (98%) of samples arriving within set time of 18 days in optimal frozen condition. Delivery of 12 samples were delayed causing sample thawing during transportation that required a new at home freezing. Only IVF with ova donors were included to compare outcomes of 448 IVF with semen frozen at home to 421 IVF with semen frozen in the laboratory. Main results and the role of chance Only 17 (3%) of home semen samples arrived from patients within Canada, while 491 (97%) were from patients of 27 different countries of several regions: Europe 346 (68%), Australia 73 (15%), Middle East 36 (7%), USA 26 (5%), Asia 7 (1.5%), and Latin America 3 (0.5%). Men from the study group were similar to control in terms of age (36 ± 5.2 versus 36.8 ± 5.8). Post thaw test was performed on all home freezing samples as a quality control to ensure that sufficient sample was available for IVF: mean sperm concentration was 25.3 M/ml ± 14.8 and motility of 21% ± 10. IVF outcomes between samples frozen at home or in the lab were compared; fertilization (80.3% ± 14.6 v. 79.6 ± 19.3), blastulation (66.5% ± 20.7 v. 66.6% ± 19.3%), clinical pregnancy (39.1% v. 38.8%), miscarriage (14.6% v.6.7%) or life birth (30.9% v. 31.6%), respectively, were not statistically different. PGT-A was performed on 7224 blastocysts with results controlled by the age of ova donors and were not statistically different for embryos derived from sperm frozen at home and in the laboratory with euploidy (65.3% v. 64.6%), mosaic (14.8% v.13.8%) and aneuploidy (19.9% v. 21.6%), respectively. Limitations, reasons for caution Pre-freezing semen analysis was only available for laboratory frozen samples. Post-thaw results were not compared between home and laboratory frozen sample as different freezing protocols with two dilution factor (1:1 v. 3:1) and different sample volume per frozen unit (0.1-1.2 ml in vial v. 0.5 ml in straw) were used. Wider implications of the findings In cases where it is logistically difficult or impossible for sperm providers to travel to the clinic for IVF treatment, home semen freezing performed by the patient is a viable and safe method. Trial registration number not applicable

Factors Associated With Support for COVID-19 Travel Bans: The Role of Health Beliefs and Multilevel Institutional Trust

This study examined whether the Health Belief Model and the heuristic of multilevel institutional trust would help explain U.S. residents’ support for travel bans on foreigners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of data collected from two nationwide online surveys conducted in 2020 ( n = 511 fielded between March 19 and March 27; n = 472 fielded between April 30 and May 13) suggested that support for this policy was associated with individual differences in risk and benefit perceptions, the presence of interpersonal cues, and trust in domestic and foreign institutions. Efforts to promote or resist international travel restrictions during a pandemic may benefit from accounting for these differences.

Dynamic effects of tourism shocks on innovation in an open-economy Schumpeterian growth model

International travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced the number of tourists. This study explores the dynamic effects of tourism shocks in an open-economy Schumpeterian model with endogenous market structure. A tourism shock affects the economy via a reallocation effect and an employment effect. A positive tourism shock increases employment, which raises production and innovation in the short run. However, a positive tourism shock also reallocates labor from production to service for tourists, which reduces production and innovation. If leisure preference is weak, the reallocation effect dominates, and the short-run effect of positive tourism shocks on innovation is monotonically negative. If leisure preference is strong, the employment effect dominates initially, and the short-run effect of tourism shocks on innovation becomes inverted-U, which is consistent with the stylized facts that we document using cross-country data. Finally, permanent tourism shocks do not affect the steady-state innovation rate in our scale-invariant model.

The economic impact of international travel measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

IntroductionAssessment of the use of travel measures during COVID-19 has focused on their effectiveness in achieving public health objectives. However, the prolonged use of highly varied and frequently changing measures...

Health packages and affective infrastructures: promises of (Im)mobility in pandemic times

ABSTRACT In spring 2020, during the peak of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak across Europe, special COVID-19 health packages started to reach tens of thousands of overseas Chinese students. Ordered and distributed by Chinese Consulates and affiliated student and scholar associations, these health packages were delivered with a special message attached – “the homeland is always by your side”. Meanwhile, Chinese students found themselves stranded in various pandemic hotspots due to prolonged national lockdowns mandated by China’s stringent zero-Covid policies and persistent international travel restrictions. How did Chinese students continue to celebrate a sense of being cared for by the state when millions were forcibly stopped by heightened infrastructural barriers and denied the possibility of returning home? Focusing on Covid health packages, this paper explores the many layers of infrastructural processes at play – logistical, socio-cultural, technological, and emotional. Affective attachments are activated as patchwork remedies for halted physical infrastructures, serving to align and redirect individual hope while normalising rejections, failures, and neglect. Covid health packages offer insight into how nationalist affect is made infrastructural to stabilize and uphold a tightly controlled (im)mobility regime during troubled times. Overseas students are drawn towards specific Chinese attachments infused with state promises of provision and care, with which many find special meanings in their own immobility and prolonged isolation.

Expanding domestic tourism in Nepal: an analysis of homestays in the COVID-19 era

ABSTRACT Community-based homestay (CBH) facilities were adversely affected by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite its role in sustaining rural livelihood. This study aimed to assess the potential, challenges, and policies regarding domestic tourism in CBHs in COVID-19 era, focused on CBHs throughout Nepal. Seventy-seven online interviews were conducted on Facebook Messenger and ZOOM with 54 homestay owners, 12 coordinators, and 11 policymakers. The transcribed interview scripts were open-coded and thematically analyzed. CBHs initially prioritized domestic guests after seeing the high potential of domestic tourism during international travel restrictions. Domestic guests consider homestays as a learning center and a place to enjoy traditional food, culture, and hospitality. The number of guests traveling to CBHs decreased primarily due to COVID-19 and secondarily due to road problems, tourism attractions, and publicity issues. Policy measures to attract domestic guests by providing two-day weekend leave, official homestay visits of governmental employees, and other promotional offers are recommended.

On the economic implications of international travel restrictions: Evidence from Chinese MNEs’ firm value

During the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and regions issued travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. However, little is known about the impacts of such policy changes on individual businesses, particularly multinational enterprises (MNEs) that involved in business activities across countries. Drawing upon signaling theory and resource dependence theory, we find that the MNEs directly affected by travel restrictions experience significant reductions in shareholder value in both the short and long term. Furthermore, state ownership mitigates the negative effect of travel restrictions on MNEs, but having a large number of overseas subsidiaries and high-tech characteristics deepens the adverse effects caused by travel restrictions. These findings offer new research directions for international business scholars to explore the economic consequences of public policies resulting from global emergencies, and provide insightful lessons for managers to respond to international crises and for policymakers to develop future public policies.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions to combat COVID-19 in the Americas described through daily sub-national data

This dataset covers national and subnational non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the Americas. Prior to the development of a vaccine, NPI were governments’ primary tools to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Variation in subnational responses to COVID-19 is high and is salient for health outcomes. This dataset captures governments’ dynamic, varied NPI to combat COVID-19 for 80% of Latin America’s population from each country’s first case through December 2021. These daily data encompass all national and subnational units in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. The dataset includes individual and aggregate indices of nine NPI: school closures, work suspensions, public event cancellations, public transport suspensions, information campaigns, local travel restrictions, international travel controls, stay-at-home orders, and restrictions on the size of gatherings. We also collected data on mask mandates as a separate indicator. Local country-teams drew from multiple data sources, resulting in high-quality, reliable data. The dataset thus allows for consistent, meaningful comparisons of NPI within and across countries during the pandemic.

Primate field research during a pandemic: Lessons learned from the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted most primate field research in early 2020. While international travel bans and regional travel restrictions made continuing primate field research impossible early on in the pandemic, ethical concerns of transmitting the virus from researchers to primates and surrounding human communities informed decisions regarding the timing of resuming research. Between June and September 2020, we surveyed field primatologists regarding the impacts of the pandemic on their research. We received 90 completed surveys from respondents residing in 21 countries, though most were from the United States and Canada. These data provide a valuable window into the perspectives and actions taken by researchers during the early stages of the pandemic as events were still unfolding. Only 2.4% of projects reported continuing research as usual, 33.7% continued with some decrease in productivity, 42.2% reported postponing research projects, and 21.7% reported canceling projects or postponing research indefinitely. Respondents most severely impacted by the pandemic were those establishing new field sites and graduate students whose projects were postponed or canceled due to pandemic-related shutdowns. Fears about increased poaching, the inability to pay local assistants, frozen research funds, declining habituation, disruptions to data collection, and delays in student projects were among the top concerns of respondents. Nearly all the projects able to continue research in any capacity during the early months of the pandemic were run by or employed primate habitat country primatologists. This finding is a major lesson learned from the pandemic; without habitat country scientists, primate research is not sustainable.

Information seeking behaviors of individuals impacted by COVID-19 international travel restrictions: an analysis of two international cross-sectional studies

Access to accurate information during a crisis is essential. However, while the amount of information circulating during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased exponentially, finding trustworthy resources has been difficult for many, including those affected by international travel restrictions. In this study, we examined the information-seeking behaviors of individuals seeking to travel internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored perceptions regarding the value of resources in supporting understanding of COVID-19 travel restriction-related information. Two online cross-sectional surveys targeting four groups were conducted. The groups targeted were: (1) citizens and permanent residents stranded abroad; (2) individuals separated from their partners; (3) individuals separated from immediate families; and (4) temporary visa holders unable to migrate or cross international borders. In total, we analyzed 2,417 completed responses, and a further 296 responses where at least 75% of questions were completed. Findings suggest that social media groups (78.4%, 1,924/2,453), specifically Facebook (86.6%, 2,115/2,422) were the most useful or most used information resource for these groups. Some significant information seeking behavior differences across age and gender were also found. Our study highlights the diversity in information needs of people impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions and the range of preferred channels through which information is sought. Further, it highlights which challenges hold legitimacy in their target audiences' eyes and which do not. Policymakers may use these results to help formulate more nuanced, consumer-tailored—and hence likely more acceptable, trusted, and impactful—communication strategies as part of future public health emergencies.

Herbal and Ayurvedic Plants as Remedial Approach for Viral Diseases with Focus on COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Background: Infectious diseases have posed a major threat to human survival for centuries and can devastate entire populations. Recently, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has increased exponentially, affecting more than 200 countries and millions of lives since the fall of 2019, largely due to the ineffectiveness of existing antiviral therapies. WHO announced it a public health emergency of international concern. A significant waiting period in antiviral therapy hindered by the rapid evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 aggravated the situation ensuing imposition of strict laws (e.g., communal dissociation, international travel restrictions, and maintenance of hygiene) that would help in inhibiting further outspread of COVID-19. Ayurveda system of medicine offers a holistic approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This review aims to highlight the potential of medicinal herbs and Ayurvedic drugs as the remedial approach for viral diseases, such as COVID- 19. Methods: We reviewed the literature from journal publication websites and electronic databases, such as Bentham, Science Direct, Pub Med, Scopus, USFDA, etc. Results: The drugs used in the traditional system of medicine have the potential to prevent and cure the infected patient. Ayurvedic therapies are known for regulating immunity and rejuvenation properties that behold much promise in the management of COVID-19 disease. Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH recommends some precautionary fitness measures and an increase in immunity with special reference to respiratory health. Conclusion: While there is no medication for COVID-19 as of now, taking preventive measures and boosting body immunity is highly recommended. A number of medicinal plants that play an important role in revitalizing the immune system are easily accessible in home remedies.

COVID‐19 emergency policies, financial security, and social equity: Worldwide evidence

AbstractUsing worldwide country‐level panel data of COVID‐19 emergency policies and aggregated survey responses of 46 million randomly sampled Facebook users, we study the impact of public health and economic measures on household financial worries among various demographic groups. The analysis reveals that public health interventions with stringent mobility restrictions—domestic lockdowns and international travel restrictions—increase the proportion of households with financial stress within countries. However, economic policies with immediate disposability, like wage support and in‐kind transfers, counteract the negative impacts. Notably, younger working‐age groups are particularly sensitive to such public health and economic emergency policies in their assessment of financial security. Our results also show that a country's social safety net coverage and poverty rate moderate the financial impact. As governments face challenges in containing the pandemic, this study highlights the need to create policy packages balancing differential tradeoffs between health and economic interventions while enhancing equity objectives.

Preface

Proceedings of the joint 13th and 14th International Conferences on Polarized Neutrons for Condensed-Matter Investigations The international Conference on Polarized Neutrons for Condensed-Matter Investigations (PNCMI) started its long journey in Dubna, Russia in 1996 and has taken place biennially since then. The present volume of proceedings represents the 13th and 14th editions of this series. The 13th PNCMI was originally suggested by the International Advisory Committee (IAC) of PNCMI to be held in Maryland, USA in 2020, and was postponed due to the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic. The IAC later suggested, due to the still evolving pandemic, to replace PNCMI 2020 with a virtual PNCMI in 2021 and an in-person PNCMI in 2022.The 13th PNCMI, organized by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was held online from July 27-30, 2021. One of the main objectives was to keep up the frequency of PNCMI conferences for the community, staying up to date on emerging topics using polarized neutrons and on related instrumentation development. 110 participants from 40 institutions and 15 countries crossing Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America attended the virtual conference. The conference was limited to invited speaker and poster sessions since it was run two- and one-half hours daily to accommodate different time zones for the international attendees.The 14th PNCMI was held in-person from July 25-29, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland, USA and jointly organized by the University of Maryland and NIST. The number of conference participants was affected by international travel restrictions due to the pandemic. The conference attendees included 62 participants from 30 institutions and 10 countries crossing Europe, Asia, and North America. The scientific program featured a Keynote lunch presentation, titled “Polarization can be good”, given by Dr. Charles Majkrzak (NCNR), invited, and contributed oral talks, and poster presentations.The PNCMI conference covers the latest condensed-matter investigations using polarized neutrons and state-of-the-art methodologies and techniques of polarized-neutron production and utilization for novel instrumentation and experiments. The 13th and 14th editions covered the following traditional topics: multiferroics and chirality, strongly correlated electron systems, frustrated and disordered systems, magnetic nanomaterials, thin films and multilayers, imaging, polarized neutron instrumentation and polarized neutron techniques and methods. Quantum materials as an emerging topic was included in the 13th PNCMI as well. A new session, -- polarized quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) driven by recently growing interest and benefitting from modernized polarized neutron spectroscopies, was also included for the first time in the 14th PNCMI.A two-day Polarized Neutron School, for 12 graduate students and young postdoctoral researchers familiar with scattering techniques, was held at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) preceding the 2022 in-person conference.We would like to take this opportunity again to thank all participants for their attendance, and the International Advisory Committee for guidance in developing an excellent scientific program. We’d like to extend a special thank you to the University of Maryland and the NIST conference services for all their hard work and planning to help organize and ensure it ran smoothly. The 14th PNCMI was made possible with the generous support of Cryogenic Limited, HTS-110, Mirrotron, ORNL, and SwissNeutronics.List of International Advisory Committee, Local Organizing Committee are available in this Pdf.

Dynamics of factors associated with rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths in African countries

BackgroundAfrican countries have not had the high case and death rates from COVID-19 as was predicted early in the pandemic. It is not well understood what factors modulated the rate of COVID-19 cases and death on the continent.MethodsWe collated data from the World Bank data site, Our World in Data and Freedom House for African for 54 African countries who are members of the African Union. We used them as explanatory variables in two general linear model regression analyses. COVID cases and deaths per 100,000 obtained from WHO COVID-19 dashboard on August 12, 2021, as outcome variables in two prediction models.ResultsGDP, percentage of population under 14 years of age, Maternal Mortality Ratio, number of international tourists visiting per year and public transportation closures were not significant in predicting COVID-19 cases. Higher percentage of unemployed adults in the population, lower percentage of the population over 25 years of age with secondary education, internal travel restrictions increased spread of COVID-19 while international travel restrictions were associated with lower COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population. Higher levels of democratization results in higher cases of COVID-19. Unemployment, education and democratization were still significant for COVID-19 death in the same direction as they were for COVID-19 cases. Number of tourism visitors per year was also associated with higher COVID-19 death rates but not with case rates.ConclusionIn African countries, internal movement restrictions enacted to inhibit COVID-19, had the opposite effect and enabled COVID-19 spread. Low Education levels and high unemployment were associated with having higher death rates from COVID-19. More studies are needed to understand the impact of tourism on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases arising from other regions on African countries, in order to put in place adequate control protocols.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in passengers arriving from China and their implications on air travel and public health in Italy

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in passengers arriving from China and their implications on air travel and public health in Italy