Lockdown Measures Research Articles

Virtual Socialisation among Malaysian Animal Crossing Players During Movement Control Order

During the COVID-19 lockdown of Movement Control Order (MCO), many Malaysians reportedly turned to video games for socialisation purposes. Drawing upon the sociocultural framework of media ecology, this study aims to explore in-depth how players engage in such virtual socialisation. Against the backdrop of the MCO, this study argues that Malaysians could perform socially meaningful actions through video games, just like they were in the real world, to address their social deprivation. The method employed is a qualitative textual analysis of paratexts published in a local gaming Facebook group, focusing on Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020). The findings indicated that Malaysian players sought companionships through reciprocal gaming interactions during the lockdown measures by playing as a single player, multiplayer, and community. In the gaming community, they built networks, interpersonal connections, and resources of mutual social support to enrich their gameplay. The findings highlighted the significance of virtual socialisation through the interactive medium – an effective approach to cushion the isolating effects of the MCO period. The study is relevant in showcasing the role played by virtual socialisation and gaming communities for the Sustainable Development Goals of SDG3 Good Health and Well-being and SDG16 of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Resilience-oriented passenger subsidy design for taxi travel under pandemic control

Summarizing historical pandemic control experience can help the government better cope with the impact of uncertain public health events on taxi industry. This paper presents a summary of the relationship between various pandemic control measures and taxi system from the perspective of travel resilience. Additionally, we investigate the effectiveness of passenger subsidy schemes in improving the taxi travel resilience. To achieve these objectives, our research follows these steps: Firstly, we analyze the impact of different pandemic control measures on the performance variation curves of the taxi travel system. Secondly, using the travel resilience calculation formula, we evaluate the taxi travel resilience levels under different pandemic control measures and analyze other factors (such as virus characteristics) on taxi travel resilience through regression models. Finally, we construct a taxi travel resilience improvement model. Aiming at maximizing the social benefits which consider taxi travel resilience, we search for the optimal passenger subsidy result. And then make a comparison for two distinct subsidy types: fixed-amount and fare subsidy rate. Taking Ningbo city, China as a case study, the research findings demonstrate: (1) The ranking order of each pandemic control measure based on taxi travel resilience performance from low to high are as follows: city-wide lockdown control measure, district-wide lockdown control measure, targeted epidemic control measure, and fully lifted control measure. These findings suggest that a reduction in the scope and duration of pandemic control measures can maintain a high level of taxi travel resilience. (2) In addition to pandemic control measures, the virus’s incubation period and infectivity have a significant impact on travel resilience. (3) Model results show that increasing passenger subsidies can quickly improve taxi travel resilience, but it cannot guarantee a consistent increase in social benefits. When the weight of travel resilience in the objective function is small, social benefits will initially increase and then decrease with higher passenger subsidy amounts. In such cases, the extreme value method can help determine the optimal passenger subsidy amount. (4) When decision-makers focus on improving taxi travel resilience, they can adopt the fixed amount subsidy scheme. When the focus is on maximizing social benefits, the fare subsidy rate scheme should be chosen.

Assessing the COVID-19 Lockdown Impact on Global Air Quality: A Transportation Perspective

To address the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide implemented mandatory restrictions. As an unintended consequence of these responses, significant air pollution reductions have been recorded across the world. We provide cross-national evidence on the causal impact of pandemic-induced lockdowns on air quality. Using daily air pollution data between 1 January and 31 December 2020, covering 596 major cities in 77 countries, we analyzed the data with a generalized difference-in-differences approach. The results show that lockdown restrictions reduced global concentrations of NO2 by 21~35%, PM10 by 14~26%, PM2.5 by 9~18%, CO by 6~16%, and SO2 by 5~16%, while the O3 concentrations increased by 15~29% under eight specific lockdown measures. Furthermore, a simultaneous equations model suggests that reductions in public and private mobility, measured by changes in public transportation and car ridership, partly explain the observed decreases in air pollution. These findings have significant implications for ongoing global efforts to mitigate air pollution and underscore the pivotal role of public transit in achieving this goal.

The impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment in Arab economies

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Arab economies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the pooled ordinary least squares estimator, alongside panel static techniques, two-stage least squares estimation and the system generalized method of moments estimator, to ensure robust results. The analysis is based on a panel data set from 18 Arab countries over the period 2017–2022. Findings The study reveals a significant negative relationship between COVID-19 and FDI inflows and outflows. Higher infection rates lead to substantial reductions in FDI activity, highlighting the pandemic’s disruptive effect on the region’s investment landscape. Government responses, including lockdown measures and fiscal stimulus, are crucial in shaping FDI dynamics, with varying impacts across different sectors and economic contexts. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for effective pandemic preparedness, strategic economic growth initiatives, exchange rate management and labor market reforms. These measures are essential to foster FDI and ensure economic stability in Arab economies. Originality/value This study is the first to examine the impact of COVID-19 on FDI in Arab economies, addressing a significant research gap. It contributes to the broader discourse on the pandemic’s economic effects by offering comprehensive insights into how the crisis has affected FDI flows. By incorporating a range of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, analyzing government response impacts and exploring sectoral and economic heterogeneity, this research enriches our understanding of the multifaceted financial implications of the pandemic.

Experiences of Intimate-Partner Violence and Violence from a Family Member During COVID-19 Among LGBTQ Adults in Australia

Abstract Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges and concerns regarding the potential exacerbation of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse and queer people from intimate partners and family members. The impacts of the pandemic may have been disproportionately felt by LGBTQ communities who already experienced high rates of intimate-partner violence and violence from family members entering the pandemic. Method Data from 3,135 LGBTQ adults who completed an online survey of their experiences in Australia during the pandemic were analysed. Logistic regressions analyses were used to explore sociodemographic characteristics associated with rates of violence from an intimate partner or family member during the pandemic as well as the impact of government-ordered lockdowns on experience of these types of violence by comparing the states that experienced more extensive lockdowns (Victoria and New South Wales) to the rest of Australia. Results The study revealed high rates of violence from an intimate partner (16.9%) or family member (29.1%) during the pandemic, with many indicating that this violence was new or worsening during the pandemic. Experiences of IPV and violence from a family member were found to vary across gender, sexual orientation, multicultural background and residential location. However, no evidence suggested that lockdowns specifically had impacted the prevalence of IPV or violence from a family member within the LGBTQ community with rates not differing across states. Conclusions The risks of violence from an intimate partner or family member among LGBTQ individuals were high during the pandemic in Australia, regardless of lockdown measures. The findings underscore the importance of efforts to understand the systemic factors influencing IPV and violence from a family member within the LGBTQ community and address the enduring impacts of the pandemic.

Analysis of COVID-19 Lockdown to Understand Air Pollution Processes and Their Impacts on Health: A Case Study in the Western Balkans

The effect of COVID-19 lockdown (LD) on many ambient air pollutants (NO, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, O3 and SO2) was assessed for the first time in the Western Balkans with an innovative approach that evaluates a variety of factors including the stringency of the LD measures, the type of location, the pollution sources, the correlation with traffic fluxes and the meteorology. To that end, observations from 10 urban sites were compared with historical time series. The time window 1 February–30 May 2020 was classified in sub-periods on the basis of the stringency of the circulation restrictions. NO2 and O3 are the pollutants most affected by restrictions to population circulation due to lockdown during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are well correlated with traffic fluxes. A reduction in fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations is observed in all sites only during the full LD periods, while the relation between SO2 average and maximum hourly concentrations and LD periods in industrial and traffic sites vary from site to site. The reduction in NO2 concentrations during the LD resulted in a reduction in mortality associated with air pollution in the largest cities, while the interpretation of the changes in O3 and particulate matter is less clear.

Impact of COVID-19 Public Health Measures on Antiretroviral Therapy Use Among Ugandans Living with HIV in Sero-Different Couples.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and HIV suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are critical for HIV control and prevention. Extreme restrictions on movement early during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda may have impeded the ability to initiate and sustain access to and use of ART. From our stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial of an integrated PrEP and ART intervention for HIV-serodifferent couples at 12 ART clinics in Uganda, we identified participants who enrolled and had a 6-month post-ART initiation viral load measured before the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown (Period 1), participants whose enrollment and 6-month viral load measurement straddled pre-COVID and COVID lockdown times (Period 2), and participants whose enrollment and 6-month viral load were quantified entirely during COVID-19 (Period 3). ART and viral load data were abstracted from standard-of-care HIV clinic records. We used adjusted generalized estimating equation models to compare viral suppression between the different periods. We enrolled 1,381 PLHIV, including 896 (64.9%) in Period 1, 260 (18.8%) in Period 2, and 225 (16.3%) in Period 3. Almost all (1371, 99.3%) initiated ART within 90days of enrollment and 59.2% had baseline CD4 > 350 cells/mm3. Among those enrolled, 88.8% of participants in Period 1 were virally suppressed (< 1000 copies/mL) within six months of ART initiation, 80.5% in Period 2, and 88.2% in Period 3. All pairwise comparisons demonstrated statistically similar levels of viral suppression. Despite COVID-19 lockdown measures, PLHIV in serodifferent partnerships successfully initiated ART and attained and maintained viral suppression.

The accuracy of forecasted hospital admission for respiratory tract infections in children aged 0-5 years for 2017/2023.

Healthcare services are in need of tools that can help to ensure a sufficient capacity in periods with high prevalence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, we forecasted the number of hospital admissions for RTIs among children aged 0-5 years. Now, in 2024, we aim to examine the accuracy and usefulness of our forecast models. We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from 753,070 children aged 0-5 years, plotting the observed monthly number of RTI admissions, including influenza coded RTI, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) coded RTI, COVID-19 coded RTI, and other upper and lower RTI, from January 1st, 2017, until May 31st, 2023. We determined the accuracy of four different forecast models, all based on monthly hospital admissions and different assumptions regarding the pattern of virus transmission, computed with ordinary least squares regression adjusting for seasonal trends. We compared the observed vs. forecasted numbers of RTIs between October 31st, 2021, and May 31st, 2023, using metrics such as mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and dynamic time warping (DTW). In our most accurate prediction, we assumed that the proportion of children who remained uninfected and non-hospitalized during the lockdown would be prone to hospitalization in the subsequent season, resulting in increased numbers when lockdown measures were eased. In this prediction, the difference between observed and forecasted numbers at the peak of hospitalizations requiring vs. not requiring respiratory support in November 2021 to January 2022 was 26 (394 vs. 420) vs. 48 (1810 vs. 1762). In scenarios similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the transmission of respiratory viruses is suppressed for an extended period, a simple regression model, assuming that non-hospitalized children would be hospitalized the following season, most accurately forecasted hospital admission numbers. These simple forecasts may be useful for capacity planning activities in hospitals.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on dietary habits and weight among Tunisian adults.

COVID-19 lockdown measures have profoundly altered lifestyle habits, exposing individuals to significant health risks Aim: This study aims to assess the impact of quarantine measures in Tunisia, with a focus on examining changes in dietary habits, levels of physical activity, psychological patterns, and factors contributing to weight gain. This is a cross-sectional study involving 1,016 participants and employed a mixed-methods approach to gather data on dietary habits, physical activity levels, and psychological indicators. Statistical analyses, including binary logistic regression, were conducted to identify independent risk factors associated with weight gain during the quarantine period. Approximately 36.4% of participants reported experiencing weight gain, with a notable prevalence among younger age groups. Increased consumption of sweets, pasta, and fried foods, coupled with reduced intake of water, vegetables, and fruits, were associated with weight gain. Furthermore, a decline in physical activity levels and elevated scores of anxiety and depression were observed among individuals who reported weight gain. Binary logistic regression highlighted snack frequency, fried food consumption, and pasta intake as significant independent risk factors for weight gain. The results underscore the importance of understanding the complex impacts of lockdowns on lifestyle habits and mental health to guide future interventions, which are necessary to mitigate adverse health consequences and promote healthy lifestyles in the post-pandemic period.

A repercussion of COVID-19 lockdown on water quality along the east coast of India.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures significantly impacted various sectors, including coastal environments. While restrictions led to temporary improvements in air quality, their effects on coastal waters remained understudy. This research conducted four cruises along the east coast of India during pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown to assess the water quality changes. Results show a significant increase in Chl-a (31.8%), DO (28.1%), and SDD (7.7%), while reductions in NO3 (34.7%), PO4 (51.7%), SiO4 (16.2%), TSM (25.4%), TC (72.3%), and FC (83.3%) were observed. Multivariate analysis identified land-based pollution as the primary source of pollution in coastal waters. Overall, the findings suggest improved coastal water quality during the lockdown. However, for the sustainability of coastal waters, it is proposed that raw sewage, wastewater, and atmospheric fluxes affecting coastal water quality must be regulated.

The Intersectional Vulnerabilities of Migrant Women in Disaster Contexts: A Scoping Review of Mental Health Impacts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Disasters disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, particularly migrant women, who face unique challenges exacerbated by their intersectional identities. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a critical case study to explore these vulnerabilities, highlighting the heightened mental health risks and socio-economic adversities they encounter.This scoping review synthesized qualitative literature published between 2020 and 2023, focusing on the experiences of migrant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding fourteen studies that examined themes such as mental health, gender-based violence, and access to healthcare services.The analysis revealed that legal status and economic instability emerged as primary vulnerability factors, significantly impacting the mental health of migrant women. Key themes included the exacerbation of gender-based violence, barriers to accessing healthcare, and the detrimental effects of social isolation and lockdown measures. The intersectionality framework elucidated how these women’s unique challenges are compounded by societal inequalities.The findings underscore the necessity for tailored disaster response strategies that address the specific needs of migrant women. Inclusive policies must consider the social determinants of health to enhance resilience and improve mental health outcomes in disaster scenarios. The study identifies critical gaps in existing literature, advocating for further research into the intersectional vulnerabilities faced by migrant women during various disaster contexts.

From Pandemic to COVID-19 Endemic: Mental Health Impact, Psychological and Social Well-Being Among Social Work Students-Implications for the Healthcare System.

Background/Objectives: Our research paper aims to analyse the relationship between the perceived impact on mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social well-being, and psychological well-being among social work students. As we transition from the pandemic phase to an endemic phase of COVID-19, it is necessary to examine these aspects, recognizing the interdependence and complementarity of social and medical care within the healthcare system. Methods: The research was conducted nearly three years after the lockdown measures imposed by the spread of COVID-19, during a period when onsite academic activities had resumed, as they were prior to the pandemic. The sample consisted of 235 social work students from both bachelor's and master's programmes studying at a large university in Romania. Data was collected between December 2022 and January 2023, during a time when onsite educational activities were once again taking place. Results: Our results show that, despite the significant amount of time that had passed since the pandemic began, its negative effects were still strongly felt on a psychosocial level. Conclusions: This finding leads us to conclude that there is a long-term COVID-19 impact on mental health. Most study participants reported experiencing high (42.10%) or moderate (23%) levels of being mentally affected, which also affected their psychological and social well-being, key factors in preparing future social-medical care professionals to provide adequate integrated healthcare services.

Outbreak Transmission of Coronavirus- A Case Study

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, originating in Wuhan, China, swiftly spread globally, wreaking havoc on both personal lives and economic stability. Method: Its highly contagious nature, transmitted through human contact, necessitated urgent government interventions worldwide. Measures such as quarantine, social distancing, and lockdowns, alongside medical awareness campaigns, were earnestly adopted to mitigate its impact. Results: While the development of a cure remains a time- consuming endeavor, the focus has shifted towards prevention through diverse strategies, explored in this study. Conclusion: Presenting a stochastic model, this paper aims to analyze the percentage of affected individuals across various factors, highlighting the efficacy of lockdown measures at different intervals.

Search for meaning alleviated individual depressive symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of optimism.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures have disrupted people's normal pace of life and created excessive pressure. The current study examined the mitigating effect of search for meaning in life on individual depressive symptoms and the mediating role of optimism during COVID-19 lockdown period. A total of 462 participants (Mage = 37.42 years, SD = 13.15, 166 males) residing in Wuhan, China were recruited online at the beginning of April 2020 when the city was still under lockdown measures. Data were collected four times spanning from April to May 2020, with an interval of roughly 2 weeks in between. The results indicated that search for meaning and optimism was positively correlated with each other concurrently, and both of them were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Specifically, search for meaning at T1 could positively predict optimism at T2, which in turn negatively predicted depressive symptoms at T3, suggesting that optimism acted as the mediator for the buffering effects of search for meaning on one's depressive symptoms. Results highlighted the protective role of search for meaning for individual psychological adjustment under such adverse situation as COVID-19 epidemic, and provided practical implications for people to deal with stressful period like quarantine.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam: insights from the SEANUTS II study.

To describe the economic, lifestyle and nutritional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents, guardians and children in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Data from the SEANUTS II cohort were used. Questionnaires, including a COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to study the impact of the pandemic on parents/guardians and their children with respect to work status, household expenditures and children's dietary intake and lifestyle behaviours. Data were collected in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam between May 2019 and April 2021. In total, 9203 children, aged 0·5-12·9 years, including their parents/guardians. Children and their families were significantly affected by the pandemic. Although the impact of lockdown measures on children's food intake has been relatively mild in all countries, food security was negatively impacted, especially in Indonesia. Surprisingly, in Malaysia, lockdown resulted in overall healthier dietary patterns with more basic food groups and less discretionary foods. Consumption of milk/dairy products, however, decreased. In the other countries, intake of most food groups did not change much during lockdown for households based on self-reporting. Only in rural Thailand, some marginal decreases in food intakes during lockdown persisted after lockdown. Physical activity of children, monthly household income and job security of the parents/guardians were negatively affected in all countries due to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted societies in South-East Asia. To counteract negative effects, economic measures should be combined with strategies to promote physical activity and eating nutrient-adequate diets to increase resilience of the population.

COVID-19, food insecurity and panic buying behavior: Evidence from rural Bangladesh

AbstractThe uncertainties, such as the pandemic (COVID-19), natural calamities, and war, disrupt agricultural production and supply chains, leading to concerns about food access in developing countries. Therefore, this study uses panel data collected through three survey rounds in June and September 2020 and January 2021 to analyze changes in household food expenditure and consumption behaviors and to investigate the association between household characteristics and food insecurity. The results show that households with diverse income sources, including multiple farm products, non-farm businesses, and remittances from absent members, are less likely to reduce food consumption quality and quantity, and be in the lower tail of food expenditure distribution. -However, households in the upper tail of the food expenditure distribution aggressively stock up on food in the second quarter of the year, fearing that lockdown measures would interrupt the food supply. These households tend to have an urban way of living characterized by salaried jobs, small family size, high educational attainment, and proximity to the capital city. The levels of food expenditure remain high even after the lifting of lockdown and movement restrictions, and the reason might be possible uncertainty about crop harvests, despite the eventual good harvests in the year. Overall, these findings suggest that diversification of income sources for rural households in developing countries can help households cope with disruptions to food production and supply chains. The findings also suggest that policies to ensure food access during the pandemic should target households with limited income sources and those in the lower tail of the food expenditure distribution.

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Parents' Mental Health

The COVID-19 outbreak led to a fresh and urgent interest in how to manage the effect of extraordinary public health actions on the mental health of individuals. In this study, we focused on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mental well-being of parents. We adopted a broad perspective, considering, among others, parents' risk of developing common mental disorders and their propensity to take steps to manage their mental health. Our results supported the findings that modification in lifestyle can lead to improvement in mental health. In light of the renewal of lockdown measures, there is a need for more studies to address the confusion and concern facing families. (Morelli et al.2020) Rapid large-scale public health interventions intended to limit the spread of the coronavirus not only led to concern about the potentially less severe complications but also garnered a fresh and urgent interest in how to manage the effect of extraordinary public health actions on the mental health of individuals. In this study, we attempted to shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mental well-being of parents. The focus was on parents as they are more likely to have experienced significant emotional and practical pressure as a result of lockdown. Keywords: Statistics, Analytics, Covid-19, Mental health

Coping Strategies and Inequalities during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Evidence from Kenya

Abstract Governments worldwide have implemented stringent lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which had an adverse impact on employment, affecting people's public life, health and well-being. People have witnessed job losses, cuts in wages and a decline in their living standards. This study aims to estimate the inequalities and well-being costs, demonstrating the living standards necessary to make up for people's wage reduction or job losses. In particular, we aim to explore the coping strategies used to enhance their well-being compared to those of households without a coping strategy. We use food insecurity as a measure of well-being outcome. The empirical analysis relies on detailed household surveys from the World Bank Microdata Library. We use seven waves of the Panel COVID-19 Rapid Response Phone Survey with Households in 2020–2022 in Kenya. Also, the results highlight the potential inequalities of the COVID-19 pandemic across gender and types of workers, such as those employed in the informal sector and on temporary contracts. The findings show that specific coping strategies, such as delayed payment obligations, credit purchases and reduced non-food consumption, are associated with larger inequalities. Regarding the gender of the head of the household, the results suggest that the disparities between female-headed households that had to cope with income and employment loss and female-headed households that did not require to follow any strategy are significantly higher compared to their male counterparts. We derive similar concluding remarks when we consider households with social security coverage and the type of employment contract.

Modelling the leadership role of police in controlling COVID-19

Abstract During the recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, different parts of the globe faced indefinite lockdowns. To maintain the lockdown measures, government authorities deployed security forces and police. The primary role of the police is to monitor the movement of the people and advise/guide them to follow the lockdown. In the current work, we propose a nonlinear mathematical model to study the role of police and security personnel in controlling COVID-19. It is observed that the proposed model possesses two equilibria, namely, trivial and non-trivial. We performed the stability analysis of the non-trivial equilibrium point by using the compound matrix technique. Finally, we perform a detailed numerical simulation to investigate the feasibility of the theoretical results. The current study demonstrates that police forces played a significant role in controlling the pandemic.

Increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections after ending COVID-19 lockdown measures in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

ObjectiveVarious European countries noted increasing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) positivity among cis-gender women and heterosexual men. We assessed changes over time in Ng among men who exclusively have sex with men...