Distancing Measures Research Articles

The algerian state’s health policy, the Corona pandemic as an example

After the transmission of the Corona virus from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the first case in Algeria, the country's higher authorities took responsibility for managing the Corona 19 pandemic; A special budget was allocated to manage this crisis and confront this virus, and a set of measures were taken and a number of decisions were issued coinciding with the changes in the epidemiological situation. Efforts were focused on getting out of this pandemic with the least damage and the fewest deaths, as it was decided to impose compulsory quarantine on travelers coming from abroad. Suspension of studies, a complete closure of the country, and quarantine and social distancing measures were imposed to control the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health has played a key role in supervising the implementation and control of health policies in coordination with various other sectors, and a green number has been launched around the clock and an application for smart phones to enable people to access information and resources related to the Corona virus, and all material and human capabilities have been exploited to prevent the virus. or treat the injured. And with the increasing number of infections, the matter prompted more measures to be taken, represented in imposing partial and total quarantine in the states and cities that witness a daily increase in the number of infections, and commercial activities were suspended, the suspension of studies extended, and other decisions aimed at limiting the spread of the Corona virus and taking care of the injured.

Social worlds of Appalachian women caregivers of older relatives living with dementia

RationaleOver 11 million people in the United States provide care for an older family member with dementia, with this responsibility primarily falling on daughters and wives. In Appalachia, a mountainous region in the U.S characterized by close families, family members were crucial to ensuring that care needs were met for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know little about the well-being of family caregivers during the public health crisis. Guided by a Limited Future Time Perspective postulate, which posits that as people age they begin to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships over instrumental goals, we asked how dementia caregiving changes the social lives of family caregivers situated within kin networks; and how a public health crisis (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic) affects caregivers who are already at risk for social isolation and feelings of loneliness.MethodsParticipants were recruited from a regional health care system and four Area Agencies on Aging. In our longitudinal study we invited family caregivers to be interviewed at multiple time points over a 4-year period. The sample for this study was women caregivers interviewed (N = 27; age range 32–81, m = 63). Interviewers followed a semi-structured protocol with questions designed to elicit descriptions about (a) changes in formal and informal support over time, (b) the person living with dementia's symptoms and disease progression, and (c) how the pandemic affected caregivers’ and persons living with dementia's social worlds.FindingsWe found three types of caregivers: (1) caregivers who had social lives interdependent with their relative with dementia, (2) caregivers and persons living with dementia whose social lives were restricted due to dementia symptoms and caregiving demands, and (3) caregivers and their relative living with dementia who maintained separate social lives. Dementia symptoms more than social distancing measures contributed to caregivers’ shrinking social worlds particularly for those with interdependent social lives despite living amongst kin.ConclusionsThis study is important in understanding how women in Appalachia fared during a pandemic in the context of dementia caregiving. This research supports the need for respite services and dementia care training for respite workers.

The impact of COVID-19-induced distance learning on physical activity and dietary habits of female students in the Qassim Region

ABSTRACT Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the physical activity (PA) levels and dietary habits of individuals, particularly children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia, owing to widespread closures and social distancing measures, including school closures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the impact of distance learning (DL) on PA and dietary habits among public middle school girls during the pandemic. The Arab Teens Lifestyle Questionnaire (ATLS) was used to assess habitual PA, sedentary behavior, and dietary habits. Results: A total of 300 middle school female students, with an average age of 14 years, participated in the study. The results indicated a generally low level of PA among students during DL and after school reopening, with a significant decrease in specific types of PA, such as walking and stair climbing during DL. However, after schools reopened, there was a significant increase in students’ participation in activities such as swimming, dancing, and housework (P < 0.05). Moreover, sleep hours and TV-watching time increased compared to the DL period. Despite the prevalence of students frequently consuming soft drinks, sugary treats, fried and fast foods, as well as sweets and chocolates during the lockdown, middle school girls also consumed a lot of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: Assessing students’ habitual PA and dietary habits during the lockdown may provide insights into their future health and well-being post-pandemic. This assessment can help in identifying strategies to redirect current PA levels to maintain health and prevent potential long-term health implications.

DIGITAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC POLICIES: EVOLUTION AND CHALLENGES FOR BRAZIL

Digital health is a field that involves the use of information and communication technologies to improve the quality, efficiency, and equity of health services. In Brazil, digital health has gained prominence especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which required the adoption of social distancing measures and the expansion of access to telemedicine, telehealth, and electronic medical records. However, the country faces several challenges in creating public policies that can guide and regulate the creation, implementation, and use of the benefits of digital health. Among these challenges, we can highlight the territorial dimension and regional inequalities, which hinder the universalization and integration of health information systems and the availability of adequate technological infrastructure in all areas of the country. This paper presents a review of public initiatives and policies in Brazil, analyzing scientific publications, standards, resolutions, and laws that address this topic and proposes, as a result, the challenges that need to be overcome in the development or improvement of existing policies in the field of digital health. The challenges facing the development of these policies include the large population and socioeconomic diversity, which require personalized solutions adapted to the different realities and needs of users, as well as ensuring digital inclusion and health literacy; the unequal distribution of medical professionals and other health professionals, which imposes limits on the supply and quality of health services, especially in the most remote and vulnerable areas, and which requires ongoing training of digital health workers; the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) and the adoption of new technologies, which bring new ethical, legal and technical challenges for the protection of the privacy and security of personal health data, as well as for the evaluation of the efficacy, effectiveness and security of digital health solutions. In view of these challenges, it is essential that Brazil develop a national digital health strategy that can define the objectives, guidelines, responsibilities and actions to promote the appropriate and sustainable use of information and communication technologies in health, for the benefit of the Brazilian population.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fisheries and livelihoods of fishermen in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on various sectors globally, including fisheries in Africa. This review examines the effect of the pandemic on fisheries and the livelihoods of fishermen in Africa, analyzing the specific challenges faced by fishermen in Africa due to the COVID-19 and exploring the implications for their livelihoods. It seeks to identify potential solutions and recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders in the fisheries sector. A review of existing literature involved academic papers, reports, and articles on fisheries and the livelihoods of fishermen in Africa. Relevant studies were identified through searches of academic databases and websites. The pandemic has disrupted global supply chains, restricted movement, and imposed social distancing measures, all of which have significantly affected the fishing industry in Africa. COVID-19 has led to a decline in fish production, reduced market access, and increased operational costs for fishermen. The findings call for the urgent need for targeted interventions to support fishermen and mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on fisheries in Africa. Policy measures should focus on enhancing market access, providing financial assistance, and promoting alternative livelihood strategies for affected communities; develop and implement targeted support programs for fishermen to address the specific challenges faced by fishermen during the pandemic; and prioritize measures to safeguard their livelihoods while ensuring sustainable fisheries management.

Assessing and implementing a test, trace, isolate and face mask-wearing programme to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Queretaro, Mexico: a mathematical modelling approach

Abstract Non-pharmacological interventions stood as the only severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) morbidity and mortality mitigation tools before vaccines were made available. Some, such as strict “stay-at-home” strategies, posed significant adherence, compliance and sustainability challenges because of social, economic, and psychological factors. Following relaxation of strict social distancing measures, Test, trace and isolate (TTI) strategies sought to mitigate viral spread via self-isolation and quarantine through early detection of infectious people. Mathematical modelling can contribute insight into emergency responses by examining possible scenarios and their impact on morbidity, mortality and public health system capacity. This paper describes the use of mathematical modelling to assess the impact of a test, trace, isolate and face mask-wearing programme to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Queretaro. This model was developed by Oxford University and implemented during the COVID-19 emergency to inform the Health Security Committee in Queretaro. Describing the implementation of mathematical modelling in the field may be valuable to strengthen preparedness and response plans for other potential future pandemics.

Examining the Effectiveness and Feasibility of Lockdown and Social Distancing Measures in Mitigating COVID-19 Transmission: Insights from Windhoek, Namibia

The study explored the impacts and feasibility of lockdown, social distancing, and personal protection measures in Windhoek, Namibia, focusing on informal settlements. We used a nested mixed-method research design to capture people’s perceptions of the impacts and adherence to lockdown, social distancing, and personal protection, as well as document the challenges experienced during lockdown. Social distancing and personal protection were challenging to many in informal settlements due to overcrowding and the use of communal facilities. Some could not afford masks and sanitizers; they had to choose between buying a mask or bread. The study found significant economic disproportions; informal settlement residents faced severe food shortages and job losses during the pandemic. Those living in affluent communities mentioned various benefits of the lockdown, such as reduced crime and enhanced family time. Government support, including a once-off stipend and free water, was welcomed but did not benefit all and was not sustainable. Children’s education was adversely affected, especially for those without access to technology. The research highlights the need for holistic and sustained support measures to tackle the multidimensional impacts of pandemics. The findings underscore the vulnerabilities exacerbated by the pandemic and the critical need for targeted interventions to support vulnerable communities in future crises. We recommend developing location-specific, need-based solutions unique for each community in future pandemics.

Navigating the virtual landscape: A systematic review of approaches to cultivating a sense of community among distance learners in health and allied health disciplines

Recent years have seen an increase of distance learning in higher education, particularly accelerated due the COVID-19 pandemic with necessary social distancing measures. The present study concerns a systematic review focused on how educators foster and maintain a sense of community among distance learners in health and allied health disciplines. It uses a theoretical framework of communities of practice, groups united by shared interests, learning, and pursuit enhancement. Allied health students need a supportive environment that fosters resilience and camaraderie, preparing them for the collaborative nature of their profession. For the analysis, thematic content analysis was used on the content of nine relevant studies. This stepwise procedure of content analysis revealed three interconnected themes: instructor presence, collaborative interactions, and the learning environment's impact on students' sense of community. The results highlight the need for community-building in distance learning education and emphasize the importance of collaborative learning in virtual learning platforms to foster allied health student engagement and persistence. This research provides valuable insights for allied health educators seeking to enhance distance learning practices and create a more connected and inclusive learning environment for their students.

Sexual behaviours and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among MSM during the first COVID-19 lockdown

BackgroundThe social distancing measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic had far reaching effects on sexual behavior worldwide. However, it remains unclear whether sexual contact with non-steady partners was a contributor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to (i) describe risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity after the first pandemic wave among people using HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Zurich, Switzerland, including sexual contact with non-steady partners, and (ii) assess whether the SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among PrEP users in this time period differed from that of a demographic matched population level comparison group.MethodsThe study was conducted between July 2020 and October 2020 as a nested cross-sectional study within two ongoing cohort studies, SwissPrEPared (all eligible PrEP users in Switzerland ≥ 18 years old) and Corona Immunitas (a series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies measuring the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence across Switzerland, beginning in April 2020). All SwissPrEPared participants were recruited from Checkpoint Zurich (the main PrEP clinic in Zurich) and were men having sex with men or transgender women. Data were collected on participants’ SARS-CoV-2 antibody status, social characteristics and behavioral data after the first wave of the pandemic in Switzerland, and seroprevalence was compared with a propensity score-matched sample from the general Zurich population.ResultsOf the 218 participants enrolled, 8.7% (n = 19, 95% CI: 5.5–13.5%) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first pandemic wave, higher than that of the general male population in Zurich aged 20–65 (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.8–8.2%). Participants on average reduced their social outings, but the seronegative were more socially active before, during, and after the first lockdown period. In a logistic model, increasing mean sexual partner count was not associated with seropositivity (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.07). The estimated risk ratio for seropositivity for the participants compared to the general Zurich population after propensity score matching was 1.46 (95% CI: 0.53, 3.99).ConclusionsOur study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was slightly elevated among people taking PrEP in Zurich during the first wave of the pandemic, but that socializing and sexual activity were less important than other factors in contributing to risk.

Challenges and guidance for implementing social distancing for COVID-19 in care homes: a mixed methods rapid review.

Older people living in care homes are at high risk of poor health outcomes and mortality if they contract coronavirus disease 2019. Protective measures include social distancing and isolation, although implementation is challenging. To explore the real-life experiences of social distancing and isolation in care homes for older people, and to develop a toolkit of guidance and resources. A mixed-methods, phased design. Six care homes in England caring for older adults. Care home staff (n = 31), residents (n = 17), family members (n = 17), senior health and care leaders (n = 13). A rapid review to assess the social distancing and isolation measures used by care homes to control the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 and other infectious diseases (phase 1), in-depth case studies of six care homes, involving remote individual interviews with staff, residents and families, collection of policies, protocols and routinely collected care home data, remote focus groups with senior health and care leaders (phase 2) and stakeholder workshops to co-design the toolkit (phase 3). Interview and focus group data and care home documents were analysed using thematic analysis and care home data using descriptive statistics. The rapid review of 103 records demonstrated limited empirical evidence and the limited nature of policy documentation around social distancing and isolation measures in care homes. The case studies found that social distancing and isolation measures presented moral dilemmas for staff and often were difficult, and sometimes impossible to implement. Social distancing and isolation measures made care homes feel like an institution and denied residents, staff and families of physical touch and other forms of non-verbal communication. This was particularly important for residents with cognitive impairment. Care homes developed new visiting modalities to work around social distancing measures. Residents and families valued the work of care homes to keep residents safe and support remote communication. Social distancing, isolation and related restrictions negatively impacted on residents' physical, psychological, social and cognitive well-being. There were feelings of powerlessness for families whose loved ones had moved into the care home during the pandemic. It was challenging for care homes to capture frequent updates in policy and guidance. Senior health and care leaders shared that the care home sector felt isolated from the National Health Service, communication from government was described as chaotic, and trauma was inflicted on care home staff, residents, families and friends. These multiple data sources have informed the co-design of a toolkit to care for residents, families, friends and care home staff. The review included papers published in English language only. The six care homes had a Care Quality Commission rating of either 'good' or 'outstanding'. There was a lack of ethnic diversity in resident and family participants. Care homes implemented innovative approaches to social distancing and isolation with varying degrees of success. A legacy of learning can help rebuild trust at multiple levels and address trauma-informed care for residents, families, friends and staff. Future work can include evaluation of the toolkit, research to develop a trauma-informed approach to caring for the care home sector and co-designing and evaluating an intervention to enable residents with different needs to transition to living well in a care home. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR132541) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 45. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Foodservice strategies for reducing athlete illness at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2021, infection control guidelines, including those specific to feeding environments, were introduced by the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees to reduce virus transmission at the Tokyo 2020 Summer and Beijing 2022 Winter games. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to investigate caterers' compliance to these guidelines which included measures for personal hygiene, sanitisation, and physical distancing at these events. Expert sport dietitians attending Tokyo (n = 15) and Beijing (n = 7) games were surveyed to rate 11 COVID-19 countermeasures as fully (100%), partially or non-compliant at nine dining locations across both events. Descriptive analysis of each countermeasure based on observed compliance and location was conducted and reported as a proportion of the total responses. To better understand participant perspectives of the factors influencing compliance, open responses were systematically coded into themes and sub-themes by researchers through content analysis. Themes generated from participant comments were categorised based on their relevance to specific countermeasures and locations to identify commonalities and disparities in participant experiences, perceptions, and observations. All main dining halls at both events were observed as 100% compliant to countermeasures on more occasions compared with Tokyo's venues and satellite villages. However, Beijing's three main dining halls, showed a greater compliance compared with Tokyo's main dining hall, likely due to overcrowding in Tokyo. Comments suggested that smaller dining spaces, with overcrowding, may have contributed to reduced compliance to physical distancing measures. Food safety concerns were raised about gastrointestinal distress in Beijing due to food cross-contamination. Findings suggest that the food service environment may influence caterers' abilities to comply with foodservice safety and infection control guidelines. In the post-pandemic era, enhanced quality control and standardised risk mitigation strategies are needed to improve athletes' health at international sporting events.

Evaluating the Transformative Impact of Online Education on Medical Student Learning Outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions worldwide to shift to online learning as a means to continue education during lockdowns and social distancing measures. This study investigates the effectiveness of online learning in comparison to traditional on-campus learning, specifically within the context of medical education. Two hundred and three first- and second-year medical students at King Saud University participated in this randomized experimental study. The research employed written exams to evaluate learning outcomes, with a focus on the understanding of lecture content. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS 22). The findings reveal that while online learning attained similar learning outcomes to on-campus learning for content related to the early parts of the lecture, significantly lower outcomes were achieved by the online learners as the lecture progressed. Moreover, a smaller percentage of online students demonstrated a full understanding of the lecture material compared to on-campus students. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing the effectiveness of online learning methods, particularly in medical education, to address students' needs better and improve the quality of online learning systems.

Government justification of police actions against protesters: biopolitics in Poland during the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT How did the government justify aggressive, and, at times, violent police actions against demonstrators during the pandemic? We use a biopolitical framework to empirically explore how leading members of Poland’s government justified protest policing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Poland’s PiS-led government, like others across Europe, implemented social distancing measures that curtailed the right to peaceful assembly. The government justified aggressive crowd control tactics such as kettling to ‘protect’ society from what they perceived as illegal and unruly protestors who seek to cause indirect mass harm, e.g. spread the virus via street protesting, or cause direct harm to police officers through physical acts of protester aggression. The government argued that protesters, instead of being whom the state must keep safe from biological harm, actually threaten a vulnerable police force and other institutions. The government projected their own vulnerability to cast protesters as biological threats to the nation and, thus, as dangerously norm-breaking ‘others,’ in order to justify surveillance of demonstrators and aggressive police tactics.

Impact of the Agricultural Sector on Unemployment, Inequality and Rural Poverty: A Panel Regression Analysis in Indonesian Provinces

This study examined how the agricultural sector impacted unemployment, income inequality, and rural poverty across Indonesia’s provinces from 2015 to 2021. Using data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and a panel regression model, the research analyzed the relationships between these factors. It also explored the structural changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. The findings showed that the agricultural sector’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), farmer exchange rates, and informal labor significantly influenced unemployment and income inequality in rural areas. However, the pandemic did not have a major effect on income inequality or poverty levels in these areas. The GRDP and value-added in agriculture played a crucial role in reducing rural poverty. The findings also showed that the COVID-19 pandemic did not directly increase or decrease the number of poor people, but it affected informal agricultural workers due to physical distancing measures. The research highlighted the agricultural sector’s importance in addressing unemployment and inequality during the pandemic in Indonesia.

Health and well-being during the pandemic: views and support needs of older adults who lived alone

Abstract Background Physical and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to jeopardize health and well-being of older adults. Especially older adults who lived alone faced challenges due to restrictive COVID-19 measures. In this study, we explored views and support needs to maintain health and well-being of older adults living in a single household during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis, including twenty semi-structured interviews with older adults (≥65 years old) living in single households during the pandemic. Interviews were conducted between June and September 2021, audio-recorded and lasted approximately one hour. Data analysis was guided by the heuristic framework of Smith et al. Trustworthiness of the study was enhanced through bracketing and multiple interdisciplinary moments of revision of the data analysis. Results The views and support needs of participants to maintain health and well-being during the pandemic were captured in three overarching themes: ‘A lingering search for connectedness’, ‘Dealing with a discouraging situation to stay well’, and ‘Leaning on lessons learned during life’. Important resources that enabled participants to maintain health and well-being were: experiences of social connectedness, acceptance of the situation, and (re)gaining a sense of control. Participants described how they leaned on lessons learned from life-experiences when facing situations that challenged their health and well-being. Conclusions Our study points out that views and support needs of older adults to maintain health and well-being during the pandemic were diverse and rooted in various coping mechanisms. During future situations similar to the pandemic, public health policies should include strategies to promote social connectedness among older adults who live alone, to prevent adverse health outcomes. Key messages • Experiences of social connectedness, acceptance, and (re)gaining a sense of control were coping mechanisms that enabled older adults to maintain health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Public health policies should include strategies to promote social connectedness among older adults who live alone, to prevent adverse health outcomes during future pandemics.

Covid-19, working from home and work–life boundaries: the role of personality in work–life boundary management

Working from home (WFH) has accelerated in occurrence following social distancing measures directed at stemming the spread of Covid-19 globally. Using a sample of 41 in-depth qualitative interviews and measurement of the personality scores of the 41 interviewees, who are UK academics, using the IPIP test questionnaire, we explored how mandatory WFH impacts the boundary management of different academics based on their personality and the role of personality in their boundary-management approach to enhance work-life balance (WLB) during Covid-19. Our results suggest that mandatory WFH impacts academics differently depending on their personality, with academics high in conscientiousness and introversion (compared to their neurotic and extroverted colleagues) more suited to managing work and life domains to maintain a WLB while working from home. Building on boundary theory, we uncovered that while conscientious and introverted academics preferred and used integration as their boundary-management style, extroverted academics preferred segmentation in favor of family, but used volleying as a boundary-management style. Neurotic academics leaned toward our newly uncovered boundary-management style – quitter. Our findings suggest that the family circumstances of academics play an important role in their boundary-management styles. Overall, our study suggests relationships between personality and boundary-management styles and characteristics.

Transformation of informal elder care practices and mobilities during the pandemic

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that when formal care services closed down, informal care burden was unequally transferred to women. Women across the world became part of “caregiver pools”. Using textual archive material collected by the Finnish Literature Society, we analyse the transformation of informal elder care practices in Finland. We adopt a care mobility and care process perspective to analyse how informal elder care was transformed due to social distancing measures that restricted ageing individuals and their family members’ local and translocal mobilities. We find that over 70-year-olds had to adapt their daily mobilities according to risk assessment. Caregiving provided by mostly female family members was replaced by digital care at a distance, which reinforced existing inequalities in care. We argue that the pandemic simultaneously brought about both a time–space compression and what we call a time–space expansion that affected the everyday practices and mobilities of care.

Effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on hospitalizations for non-Covid-19-pneumonia and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in Switzerland: comparison of national data between 2020/2021 and 2015–2019

BackgroundProtective measures applied during the Covid-19 pandemic had a marked impact on the incidence of pneumonia. However, systematic data are lacking for hospitalizations for pneumonia and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive lung diseases (AECOPD) not caused by SARS-CoV-2 in Switzerland. We aimed to compare the incidences of hospitalization for these entities between 2020/2021 and prepandemic years.MethodsThis retrospective study examined all nationwide hospitalizations for non-Covid-19-pneumonia and AECOPD listed as primary diagnoses based on ICD-10 codes between 2015 and 2021 in a publicly available hospitalization database of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Hospitalizations for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke were used as controls. Changes of monthly incidences of hospitalizations, length of stay (LOS) and mortality were compared between 2020/2021 and the average of 2015–2019.ResultsThe incidences of hospitalizations for AECOPD and for pneumonia showed seasonal variations from 2015 to 2019 followed by significant and almost identical decreases in 2020/2021 (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45–0.77, p < 0.001, and IRR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.52–0.74, p < 0.001, respectively). Hospital-mortality was slightly higher in 2020/2021 for AECOPD (2015–2019: 3.8%; 2020/2021: 4.2%, odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07–1.44, p = 0.004) and for pneumonia (2015–2019: 4.5%, 2020/2021: 4.6%, odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07–1.28, p < 0.001). Median LOS slightly decreased for AECOPD (2015–2019: 8 [IQR: 5–14] days; 2020/2021: 7 [IQR: 4–13] days, Wilcoxon test: p < 0.001) but slightly increased for pneumonia (2015–2019: 7 [IQR: 4–11] days; 2020/2021: 7 [IQR: 4–13] days, Wilcoxon test: p < 0.001). Throughout 2020/2021, there were no significant fluctuations observed in the incidences of ACS and stroke. (IRR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.83–1.16, p = 0.810, IRR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.81–1.14, p = 0.636, respectively).ConclusionThe first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic showed a marked decrease in incidences in AECOPD and non-Covid-19 pneumonia hospitalizations in Switzerland. It is likely that this effect is associated with the society-based, at first vigorous, social distancing measures.

Studies of physical activity and COVID-19 during the pandemic: an updated scoping review.

This review is an update of the previous study aiming to identify the available evidence related to physical activity (PA) in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We searched 6 databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) in April 2024. Medical subject headings and keywords related to PA and COVID-19 were combined to conduct the online search, which covered the period from July 2020 to April 2024. Overall, 49,579 articles were retrieved. After duplicate removal and title, abstract, and full-text screening, 1,976 articles were included in this update. Most of the studies were observational with a cross-sectional design (68.0%). Most of COVID-19 and PA studies came from high-income countries. Most studies explored the changes in PA levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on mental health outcomes. Research on PA and COVID-19 prioritized online approach and cross-sectional designs. Most of the evidence identified a decrease in PA levels due to social distancing measures.

Changes in Travel Activities and Preferences in Gangwon Province, South Korea, Due to Social Distancing Measures during COVID-19

Social media data are increasingly used to assess public opinion dynamics and develop sustainable regional tourism policies. This study explored the changes in travel patterns and preferences in Gangwon Province before, during, and after the implementation of social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five hundred and twenty-six YouTube videos related to travel in Gangwon Province were collected using NodeXL, and content and statistical analyses were conducted on travel regions, main activities, and viewers’ reactions. The main findings indicated that as the intensity of social distancing measures increased, the activity of YouTube video creators also increased, particularly in the East Coast region, compared with other locations such as mountains, rivers, and traditional markets. Viewer engagement was the highest during the implementation of social distancing, showing a considerable interest in beach travel. These results have significant implications for planning safe travel during crises such as COVID-19 and for local governments to promote a responsible travel environment.