Prevention Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

Exercise behavior, practice, injury, and symptoms of respiratory tract infection of 502 Brazilian adults during lockdown oscillations in two years (2021–2022) of the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundIn the period between 2020 and 2023, during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, many countries released their restriction measures so that individuals were able to begin practicing physical exercises and outdoor sports again. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the physical exercise behavior, symptoms of respiratory tract infection, and training practice, as well as aspects of pain and injuries in the lower limbs of adults during periods of lockdown oscillations in the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.MethodsCross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 502 adults were evaluated during two consecutive years of the COVID-19 pandemic, corresponding to the years 2021 and 2022. A virtual questionnaire was applied using the Google Forms platform through a link, or a Quick Response Code available in social media environments. The variables collected were: anthropometric characteristics, presence of comorbidities, clinical history for the diagnosis of COVID-19, and behavior related to physical exercise practices, divided into five topics: (1) physical exercise habits; (2) symptoms and health care utilization; (3) habit of practicing physical exercise in relation to the prevention of COVID-19; (4) preventive measures for COVID-19; and (5) feelings and reasons for practicing exercises.ResultsA total 79.0% of the participants returned to the practice of physical exercise after a period of social isolation due to COVID-19, with running (30.0%) and muscle strength training (50.0%) being the most prevalent modalities, in which 62.0% of practitioners carried out the activity individually, without any professional or technical monitoring. With regard to physical preparation, 61.0% reported performing pre-training stretching, 64.0% associated with muscular resistance training. Of these, 89% did not report current injuries or pain symptoms when returning to exercise (69.0%). Total of 60.5% reported experiencing respiratory tract symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a consultation with a doctor, and 61.0% performed diagnostic test, with RT-PCR (Real time-polymerase chain reaction) being the most common test. Of those tested, 55.0% were positive for COVID-19, without the need for hospitalization (95.0%). The most commonly used measures for the prevention of COVID-19 were the fabric or surgical mask. The predominant feeling in the pandemic was anxiety (50.5%) and the reasons for practicing sports were: physical conditioning (30.9%), a feeling of pleasure (21.3%), and weight loss (20.3%).ConclusionAfter two years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2022), with periods of lockdown, there were low reports of injuries and pain symptoms after exercising on the return to physical exercise practices of running and strength training. However, the restrictions negatively affected the exercise behavior due to respiratory tract symptoms of COVID-19 and a reduction in training intensity, performed without any professional or technical supervision. The participants reported the use of a fabric or surgical mask for the prevention of COVID-19, and an increased feeling of anxiety. The reasons given for practicing physical exercise were physical conditioning, a feeling of pleasure, and weight loss.

Use of Hand Sanitizers in COVID-19 Prevention: A Comprehensive Overview

The pandemic outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has drastically changed the picture of global healthcare. With the rapid emergence of novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that rendered the currently available therapeutic and diagnostic approaches inefficient in containing the transmission of infection, it becomes important to focus on strategies to break the transmission chain. The major approach to contain the spread of infection is the promotion of adequate hand hygiene practices in public as hands are an important source of pathogenic microbes. Hand hygiene is an important part of everyday life for maintaining a healthy and disease-free lifestyle. With the outbreak of the pandemic, people are now understanding the importance of hand hygiene practices. The global market of hand sanitizers has experienced rapid growth and high demand. This review aims to discuss the use of sanitizers during the period of COVID-19 and their role in controlling the transmission of infection. It also focuses on global market trends, the advancements in the development of sanitizer formulations, and the limitations of commercial sanitizers. Therefore, the formulation of an effective hand disinfectant is crucial for preventing future pandemic outbreaks.

Impact of COVID-19 on Patients With Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis.

Given the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients with psoriatic disease (PsD), a session was devoted at the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 annual meeting to discussing the current understanding of the risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with PsD. The effects of PsD and its treatment on prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with vaccinations, antiviral drugs, and monoclonal antibodies were discussed. The session concluded with a presentation on the perspectives of patient research partners about their experiences with COVID-19.

Barriers and Intention to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19 and Associated Factors Among Adults in Southwest Ethiopia: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach.

Different vaccines have been approved for use against coronavirus disease and distributed globally in different regions. Efforts should be made on the vaccination to control the spread and impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the general population's attitudes and intention to uptake coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations were poor. This study aimed to assess the barriers to and intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the associated factors among adults in the Jimma zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study with multistage sampling was conducted with 621 participants from 16 April to 17 May 2022. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the outcome of interest. Statistical p-value ≤0.05 was set at p ≤ 0.05. Qualitative data were supplemented with quantitative results. The majority of the study participants (382 [61.5%]) intended to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. In this study, travel history (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.18, 95% CI 1.23-3.87), vaccination history (AOR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.69-4.12), perceptions of infection prevention for COVID-19 (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.28-3.03), subjective norm (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.52-3.39), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.55-3.41) were significantly associated with the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19. More than half of the adult participants intended to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The study participant's traveling history, vaccination history, perception of infection prevention for COVID-19, subjective norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control were significantly associated with the intention to be vaccinated.

Relationship between meteorological factors and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundRecent studies on COVID-19 have demonstrated that poverty, comorbidities, race/ethnicity, population density, mobility, hygiene and use of masks are some of the important correlates of COVID-19 outcomes. In fact, weather conditions also play an important role in enhancing or eradicating health issues. Based on Chinese experience, the development of SARS and COVID-19 is partially associated with alterations in climate that align with the seasonal shifts of the “24 solar terms.” However, the applicability of this pattern to other countries, particularly the United States, which has the highest global incidence and mortality rates, remains subject to ongoing investigation. We need to find more evidence to in the U.S. states verify the relationship between meteorological factors and COVID-19 outcomes to provide epidemiological and environmental support for the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and resource preservation. ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between meteorological factors and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality. MethodsWe conducted an ecological cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between meteorological factors (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation, atmospheric pressure) and COVID-19 mortality. This retrospective observational study examines mortality rates among COVID-19 patients in the three US states, California, Texas, and New York, with the highest fatality numbers, between March 7, 2020 and March 7, 2021. The study draws upon data sourced from the publicly accessible Dryad database. The daily corresponding meteorological conditions were retrieved from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Meteorological website (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/hourly/). This study employed multivariate linear regression analysis to assess the correlation between six meteorological factors and COVID-19 mortality. Gaussian distribution models were utilized to generate smooth curves for examining the linear association between maximum or minimum temperature and mortality. Additionally, breakpoint analysis was conducted to evaluate the threshold effect of temperature. ResultsWe found that the death toll of patients with COVID-19 decreased with an increase in the highest and lowest ambient temperatures (p < 0.001). In our study, we observed a seasonal difference in mortality rates, with a higher number of deaths occurring during winter months, particularly in January and February. However, mortality rates decreased significantly in March. Notably, we found no statistically significant correlation between relative humidity, average precipitation, and average wind speed with COVID-19 mortality (all p > 0.05). Daily COVID-19 death was negatively correlated with the maximum temperature (β = −22, 95% CI, −26.2 to −17.79 –, p < 0.01), while the maximum temperature was below 30 °C. Similarly, the number of deaths was negatively correlated with the minimum temperature (β = −27.46, 95% CI, −31.48 to −23.45, p < 0.01), when the minimum temperature was below 8 °C. Our study found a significant association between temperature and COVID-19 mortality, with every 1 °C increase in maximum or minimum temperature resulting in a decrease of 22 and 27 deceased cases, respectively. The relationship between atmospheric pressure and COVID-19 mortality was not fully elucidated due to its complex interaction with maximum temperature. ConclusionsThis empirical study adds to the existing body of research on the impact of climate factors on COVID-19 prevention and resource allocation. Policymakers and health scientists may find these findings useful in conjunction with other social factors when making decisions related to COVID-19 prevention and resource allocation.

Kukaa Salama (Staying Safe): a pre-post trial of an interactive informational mobile health intervention for increasing COVID-19 prevention practices with urban refugee youth in Uganda.

Tailored coronavirusdisease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention strategies are needed for urban refugee youth in resource-constrained contexts. We developed an 8-wk interactive informational mobile health intervention focused on COVID-19 prevention practices informed by the Risk, Attitude, Norms, Ability, Self-regulation-or RANAS-approach. We conducted a pre-post trial with a community-recruited sample of refugee youth aged 16-24 y in Kampala, Uganda. Data were collected before (T1) and immediately following (T2) the intervention, and at the 16-wk follow up (T3), to examine changes in primary (COVID-19 prevention self-efficacy) and secondary outcomes (COVID-19 risk awareness, attitudes, norms and self-regulation practices; depression; sexual and reproductive health [SRH] access; food/water security; COVID-19 vaccine acceptability). Participants (n=346; mean age: 21.2 [SD 2.6] y; cisgender women: 50.3%; cisgender men: 48.0%; transgender persons: 1.7%) were largely retained (T2: n=316, 91.3%; T3: n=302, 87.3%). In adjusted analyses, COVID-19 prevention self-efficacy, risk awareness, attitudes and vaccine acceptance increased significantly from T1 to T2, but were not sustained at T3. Between T1 and T3, COVID-19 norms and self-regulation significantly increased, while community violence, water insecurity and community SRH access decreased. Digital approaches for behaviour change hold promise with urban refugee youth but may need booster messaging and complementary programming for sustained effects.

The practice of using repurposed medications as chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19 by healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved drugs to possibly prevent the disease. This study evaluated the frequency and pattern of drug use for COVID-19 prevention. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of HCW conducted in Southern Nigeria. Data was obtained from the participants using a questionnaire and blood sample was obtained for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. One hundred and sixty-six participants were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two (19.3%) of them had taken a repurposed medication as prophylaxis for COVID-19. The most used drugs were Vitamin C (9%), Azithromycin (8.4%) and Zinc (6.6%). History of contact with patient with confirmed COVID-19 and being a pharmacist were independent factors associated with the use of COVID-19 prophylaxis. Several HCW in Nigeria take drugs to possibly prevent COVID-19. These medications may not offer significant protection against COVID-19. There is an urgent need to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in HCW in Nigeria.

Association of Self-Reported COVID-19 Vaccination Status with COVID-19 Infection among Adult Long-Term Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients experience significant morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection. Data are limited regarding long-term HCT survivors' uptake of and experiences with COVID-19 vaccination and infection. This study aimed to characterize COVID-19 vaccination uptake, use of other prevention measures, and COVID-19 infection outcomes in adult HCT recipients at our institution. Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, long-term adult HCT survivors were surveyed regarding overall health, chronic graft-versus-host (cGVHD) status, and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations, prevention measures, and infections. Patients reported COVID-19 vaccination status, vaccine-related adverse effects, use of nonpharmaceutical prevention measures, and infections. Comparisons by response and vaccination status were performed using the chi-square test and Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. Of 4758 adult HCT survivors who underwent HCT between 1971 and 2021 and consented to participate in annual surveys, 1719 (36%) completed the COVID-19 module, and 1598 of 1705 (94%) reported receiving ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Severe vaccine-related adverse effects were infrequent (5%). Among respondents receiving an mRNA vaccine, completion of doses according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine recommendations at the time of survey return was 2 doses in 675 of 759 (89%), 3 doses in 610 of 778 (78%), and 4 doses in 26 of 55 (47%). Two hundred fifty respondents (15%) reported COVID-19 infection; 25 (10%) required hospitalization. Vaccinated respondents reported significantly higher uptake of household vaccination (1284 of 1404 [91%] versus 18 of 88 [20%]; P < .001) and the use of nonpharmaceutical interventions (P < .001). Vaccinated respondents were significantly less likely to have contracted COVID-19 (85 of 1480 [6%] versus 130 of 190 [68%]; P < .001), as were their household members (149 of 1451 [10%] versus 85 of 185 [46%]; P < .001). Receipt of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses beyond the first dose was associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 infection (odds ratio, .63; 95% confidence interval, .47 to .85; P=.002). Vaccination was well tolerated and associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 infection among HCT survivors and their household contacts. Vaccination and booster doses should be encouraged as part of a multifaceted approach in this high-risk population.

Ethical challenges and dilemmas in the rationing of health commodities and provision of high-risk clinical services during COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: the experiences of frontline health workers

BackgroundEthical reasoning and sensitivity are always important in public health, but it is especially important in the sensitive and complex area of public health emergency preparedness. Here, we explored the ethical challenges, and dilemmas encountered by frontline health workers amid the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic in Ethiopia.MethodsA nationwide survey was conducted amongst the frontline health workers from nineteen public hospitals. Health workers were invited to respond to a self-administered questionnaire. Data were weighted and analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsOf the 285 frontline health workers to whom questionnaires were distributed, 217 of them gave their responses (response rate 76.1%). Respondents frequently reported encountering rationing dilemmas on health commodities directly used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Most (83.9%) of the health workers agreed that they encountered ethical challenges very frequently or frequently. Almost all [215(99.1%)] claimed that the limitation of resources was directly used for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The frequency of difficulty in the provision of essential clinical services varied between 77% and 98.7% for different services. More than half of the study participants reported that they had encountered difficulty in the provision of clinical care on a daily or weekly basis. Regarding rationing strategies, isolating COVID-19 treatment units and limiting admission were the most frequent rationing strategies used by two-thirds of health workers on a daily or weekly basis.ConclusionFront-line health workers encountered numerous ethically challenging situations during COVID-19. More than half of health workers reported that they encountered ethical challenges in rationing the resources and delivery of different clinical services such as family planning services, maternal and childcare, immunization, and chronic care. With limited resources such as ventilators and hospital beds, healthcare providers have been faced with the difficult task of deciding who gets access to these resources and who doesn't. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous ethical challenges for healthcare providers, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations in healthcare delivery. By being aware of these dilemmas and having policies in place to address them, healthcare providers can ensure that they are providing the best possible care to their patients while upholding ethical standards.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 and mental health status among college students in China: a cross-sectional study.

During the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), little was known about the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) about COVID-19 and psychological status of college students in minority areas. This study aimed to evaluate the KAP of college students in minority areas of China toward COVID-19 and to provide a scientific basis for health education and policy formulation. From October 28th to November 6th, 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 5,272 college students to examine KAP and its effects on mental health. Regarding COVID-19 knowledge, the overall awareness rate was 24.11% (1,271). Regarding health attitudes, most students had positive attitudes about COVID-19 prevention and control (94.95%), and females had higher positive attitudes than males (OR: 1.920; CI: 1.494-2.469). Regarding preventive behaviors, more than half of the students took preventive measures (53.48%), and freshmen had the highest health behavior scores. In terms of psychological status, there were fewer females with depression and stress than males. College students in minority areas have positive health attitudes; however, their knowledge of COVID-19 prevention and control is low. Moreover, their precautionary behaviors are insufficient, and they have many negative emotions.

Stability analysis and optimal control of a fractional-order generalized SEIR model for the COVID-19 pandemic

In view of the spread of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this paper proposes a fractional-order generalized SEIR model. The non-negativity of the solution of the model is discussed. Based on the established threshold R0, the existence of the disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium is analyzed. Then, sufficient conditions are established to ensure the local asymptotic stability of the equilibria. The parameters of the model are identified based on the statistical data of COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the validity of the model for describing the COVID-19 outbreak is verified. Meanwhile, the accuracy of the relevant theoretical results are also verified. Considering the relevant strategies of COVID-19 prevention and control, the fractional optimal control problem (FOCP) is proposed. Numerical schemes for Riemann–Liouville (R–L) fractional-order adjoint system with transversal conditions is presented. Based on the relevant statistical data, the corresponding FOCP is numerically solved, and the control effect of the COVID-19 outbreak under the optimal control strategy is discussed.

Analysis between ABO blood group and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients and the potential mediating role of ACE2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become the most common coronavirus that causes large-scale infections worldwide. Currently, several studies have shown that the ABO blood group is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and some studies have also suggested that the infection of COVID-19 may be closely related to the interaction between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and blood group antigens. However, the relationship between blood type to clinical outcome in critically ill patients and the mechanism of action is still unclear. The current study aimed to examine the correlation between blood type distribution and SARS-CoV-2 infection, progression, and prognosis in patients with COVID-19 and the potential mediating role of ACE2. With 234 patients from 5 medical centers and two established cohorts, 137 for the mild cohort and 97 for the critically ill cohort, we found that the blood type A population was more sensitive to SARS-CoV-2, while the blood type distribution was not relevant to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI), and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Further study showed that the serum ACE2 protein level of healthy people with type A was significantly higher than that of other blood groups, and type O was the lowest. The experimental results of spike protein binding to red blood cells also showed that the binding rate of people with type A was the highest, and that of people with type O was the lowest. Our finding indicated that blood type A may be the biological marker for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and may be associated with potential mediating of ACE2, but irrelevant to the clinical outcomes including ARDS, AKI, and death. These findings can provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19.

SOSIALISASI UPAYA PREVENTIF PENYEBARAN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) di SMAN 15 MUARO JAMBI

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still a global public health problem. However, Indonesia has decided to conduct Face-to-face Learning in the learning process. Schools need to implement strict health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the school. Schools (teachers and education personnel) have an essential role in monitoring and ensuring the implementation of health protocols. Therefore, socialization about preventing the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) must be done at SMAN 15 Muaro Jambi Regency. The target of the socialization was teachers and education staff at SMAN 15 Muaro Jambi Regency. The Pondok Meja Health Center and the community service team delivered the socialization material using lecture and discussion methods. This activity also measures knowledge before and after socialization. Data were analyzed univariate and bivariate using the Wilcoxon test. Seventeen teachers and education staff attended the socialization activity. The results showed that respondents' average level of knowledge before socialization was 7.94, with a standard deviation of 0.899, and after socialization was 8.35, with a standard deviation of 1.455. The Wilcoxon test showed no difference in the respondents' knowledge before and after socialization. However, there was an increase in the average level of knowledge before and after, from 7.94 to 8.35. Through this socialization, it is hoped that schools can improve the implementation of COVID-19 prevention efforts in schools during face-to-face learning.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in East China.

Hand hygiene is a cost-effective measure to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities. The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on hand hygiene performance (HHP) provided evidence for targeted hand hygiene intervention measures. This study evaluated the HHP rate in a tertiary hospital before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. HHP was checked by infection control doctors or nurses every day, and they inputted the HHP rate to the full-time infection control staff every week. A random examination of HHP was conducted by a confidential worker every month. The HHP of healthcare workers (HCWs) was monitored in the outpatient department, inpatient ward, and operating room from January 2017 to October 2022. The influence of COVID-19 prevention and control strategies on HHP was elucidated by analyzing the results of HHP during the study period. The average HHP rate of HCWs was 86.11% from January 2017 to October 2022. The HHP rate of HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic was statistically significantly higher than that before the pandemic (P < 0.001). The HHP rate was the highest (93.01%) in September 2022 when the local epidemic occurred. Among the different occupation categories, medical technicians showed the highest HHP rate (89.10%). The HHP rate was the highest after contact with body fluids or blood of patients (94.47%). The HHP rate of HCWs in our hospital showed an increasing trend in the recent 6 years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase was most obvious during the local epidemic.

Barriers to and facilitators of populational adherence to prevention and control measures of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

To summarise the evidence on barriers to and facilitators of population adherence to prevention and control measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other respiratory infectious diseases. A qualitative synthesis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis and the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care: Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. We performed an electronic search on MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO from their inception to March 2023. We included 71 studies regarding COVID-19, pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza, pertussis and H1N1, representing 5966 participants. The measures reported were vaccinations, physical distancing, stay-at-home policy, quarantine, self-isolation, facemasks, hand hygiene, contact investigation, lockdown, infection prevention and control guidelines, and treatment. Tuberculosis-related measures were access to care, diagnosis and treatment completion. Analysis of the included studies yielded 37 barriers and 23 facilitators. This review suggests that financial and social support, assertive communication, trust in political authorities and greater regulation of social media enhance adherence to prevention and control measures for COVID-19 and infectious respiratory diseases. Designing and implementing effective educational public health interventions targeting the findings of barriers and facilitators highlighted in this review are key to reducing the impact of infectious respiratory diseases at the population level.

Prevention of COVID-19 Following a Single Intramuscular Administration of Adintrevimab: Results From a Phase 2/3 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (EVADE).

The prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in vulnerable populations is a global health priority. EVADE was a phase 2/3 multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adintrevimab, an extended-half-life monoclonal antibody, for postexposure (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of symptomatic COVID-19. Eligible participants (vaccine-naive, aged ≥12 years) were randomized 1:1 to receive a single 300-mg intramuscular injection of adintrevimab or placebo. Primary efficacy end points were reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 through day 28 in the PEP cohort (RT-PCR-negative at baseline) and through month 3 in the PrEP cohort (RT-PCR-negative and seronegative at baseline) among participants randomized before emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant (November 30, 2021). Safety was assessed through 6 months. Between April 27, 2021, and January 11, 2022, 2582 participants were randomized. In the primary efficacy analysis, RT-PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 occurred in 3/175 (1.7%) vs 12/176 (6.8%) adintrevimab- and placebo-treated PEP participants, respectively (74.9% relative risk reduction [RRR]; standardized risk difference, -5.0%; 95% CI, -8.87% to -1.08%; P = .0123) and in 12/752 (1.6%) vs 40/728 (5.5%) adintrevimab- and placebo-treated PrEP participants, respectively (71.0% RRR; standardized risk difference, -3.9%; 95% CI, -5.75% to -2.01%; P < .0001). In a prespecified exploratory analysis of 428 PrEP participants randomized after the emergence of Omicron, adintrevimab reduced RT-PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 by 40.6% (standardized risk difference -8.4%; 95% CI, -15.35% to -1.46%; nominal P = .0177) vs placebo. Adintrevimab was well tolerated, with no serious drug-related adverse events reported. A single intramuscular injection of adintrevimab provided prophylactic efficacy against COVID-19 due to susceptible variants without safety concerns. Clinical trial registration. NCT04859517.

Assessing knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among traders and sanitary workers in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

Background Since its emergence, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected over half a billion people, killed over 6 million others, and ravaged the global economy on a scale that is unprecedented in recent history. In response, a global health emergency was launched that led to further disruptions in the ordinary way of life of people. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of people towards COVID-19 are central to infection control policies and the future course of the pandemic. Methods We employed an interviewer-administered, cross-sectional survey to examine the KAP of salespersons in a local market and sanitation workers of a public institution within the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Results were analysed by frequencies of responses for each KAP item on the questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables that predicted good knowledge of COVID-19 or preventive practices were determined using adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results Out of the 206 participants, 123 (59.7%) obtained a knowledge score ≥16.75 out of a total of 21, which was the threshold for good knowledge, while 41.3% were classified as possessing poor knowledge. On good attitudes towards COVID-19 prevention, 141 participants (68.4%) scored ≥10.69 out of 12 to pass the threshold, while 31.6% had poor attitudes. Being female (aOR=6.19, P&lt;0.001) or possessing a high school education (aOR=0.25, P=0.009) significantly predicted high knowledge scores. Being in the 15-30 age group (aOR=6.91, P=0.003) significantly predicted poor attitudes, while possessing a high school education (aOR=0.11, P&lt;0.001) significantly predicted good attitudes. Conclusions The findings of this study underscore the need for intensified, targeted educational campaign on COVID-19 as the world prepares to live with the disease for the long while.

Interrupted time series analysis using the ARIMA model of the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence rate of notifiable communicable diseases in China

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China is ongoing. Some studies have shown that the incidence of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases in 2020 decreased significantly compared with previous years. Interrupted time series (ITS) is a time series analysis method that evaluates the impact of intervention measures on outcomes and can control the original regression trend of outcomes before and after the intervention. This study aimed to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence rate of notifiable communicable diseases using ITS in China.MethodsNational data on the incidence rate of communicable diseases in 2009–2021 were obtained from the National Health Commission website. Interrupted time series analysis using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models was used to analyse the changes in the incidence rate of infectious diseases before and after the COVID-19 epidemic.ResultsThere was a significant short-term decline in the incidence rates of respiratory infectious diseases and enteric infectious diseases (step values of -29.828 and − 8.237, respectively), which remained at a low level for a long time after the decline. There was a short-term decline in the incidence rates of blood-borne and sexually transmitted infectious diseases (step = -3.638), which tended to recover to previous levels in the long term (ramp = 0.172). There was no significant change in the incidence rate of natural focus diseases or arboviral diseases before and after the epidemic.ConclusionThe COVID-19 epidemic had strong short-term and long-term effects on respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases and short-term control effects on blood-borne and sexually transmitted infectious diseases. Our methods for the prevention and control of COVID-19 can be used for the prevention and control of other notifiable communicable diseases, especially respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases.

Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed Prevotella as a potential biomarker of oropharyngeal microbiomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Disease severity and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease with other viral infections can be affected by the oropharyngeal microbiome. However, limited research had been carried out to uncover how these diseases are differentially affected by the oropharyngeal microbiome of the patient. Here, we aimed to explore the characteristics of the oropharyngeal microbiota of COVID-19 patients and compare them with those of patients with similar symptoms. COVID-19 was diagnosed in patients through the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Characterization of the oropharyngeal microbiome was performed by metatranscriptomic sequencing analyses of oropharyngeal swab specimens from 144 COVID-19 patients, 100 patients infected with other viruses, and 40 healthy volunteers. The oropharyngeal microbiome diversity in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection was different from that of patients with other infections. Prevotella and Aspergillus could play a role in the differentiation between patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients with other infections. Prevotella could also influence the prognosis of COVID-19 through a mechanism that potentially involved the sphingolipid metabolism regulation pathway. The oropharyngeal microbiome characterization was different between SARS-CoV-2 infection and infections caused by other viruses. Prevotella could act as a biomarker for COVID-19 diagnosis and of host immune response evaluation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, the cross-talk among Prevotella, SARS-CoV-2, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways could provide a basis for the precise diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19.

Psychological problems and associated factors among high school students during COVID-19 pandemic in Sawla town, Gofa zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundDepression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) are common among high school students, and they have a negative impact on their academic performance and future lives. Pandemics, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), exacerbate these issues. Although psychological problems are studied in developed countries, they are overlooked in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological problems and associated factors among high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sawla town, Gofa zone, southern Ethiopia. MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 663 randomly selected high school students from March 1 to 31, 2021. The data was collected using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were computed to identify factors associated with DAS. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to see the strength of the association and statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. ResultsThe overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 52.1% [95% CI: 48.3, 55.98], 52.6% [95% CI: 48.8, 56.4], and 22.6% [95% CI: 19.4, 25], respectively. Being rural residence (AOR: 4.88, 95% CI: 3.02, 7.88), living in a prison house or with a husband (AOR: 5.94, 95% CI: 1.65, 21.3), having a lower academic level (AOR: 6.23, 95% CI: 3.42), having poor knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.53) and poor COVID-19 prevention practices (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.79) were associated with depression. Similarly, being a rural resident (AOR: 3.73, 95% CI: 2.38, 5.84), being a lower academic level (AOR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.50, 4.30), having poor knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.19), and poor COVID-19 prevention practices (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.32) were associated with anxiety. Furthermore, stress was associated with rural residence (AOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.53), lower academic level (AOR: 4.70, 95% CI: 2.12, 10.4), and poor knowledge of COVID-19 (AOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.58). ConclusionsDepression, anxiety, and stress were all prevalent among high school students in the area. Rural residence, lower academic level, and poor knowledge about COVID-19, as well as poor COVID-19 prevention practices, all increase the likelihood of DAS. As a result, school-based psychological counseling interventions, particularly during pandemics, are critical.