Social Distancing Restrictions Research Articles

The social and healthcare professional support drawn upon by women antenatally during the COVID-19 pandemic: A recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis

ObjectiveTo explore antenatal experiences of social and healthcare professional support during different phases of social distancing restriction implementation in the UK. DesignSemi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone or video-conferencing software between 13 July 2020 – 2 September 2020. Interviews were transcribed and a recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis was conducted. ParticipantsTwelve antenatal women were interviewed during UK social distancing restrictions (Timepoint 1; T1) and a separate sample of twelve women were interviewed in the initial easing of these restrictions (Timepoint 2; T2). FindingsT1 themes were: ‘Maternity care as non-essential’ and ‘Pregnancy is cancelled’. T2 themes were: ‘Technology is a polarised tool’ and ‘Clinically vulnerable, or not clinically vulnerable? That is the question’. Key conclusionsAt T1, anxieties were ascribed to the exclusion of partners from routine care, and to perceived insensitivity and aggression from the public. For T2, insufficient Governmental transparency led to disillusionment, confusion, and anger. Covert workplace discrimination also caused distress at T2. Across timepoints: deteriorated mental wellbeing was attributed to depleted opportunities to interact socially and scaled back maternity care. Implications for practiceRecommendations are made to: protect maternal autonomy; improve quality of mental health and routine care signposting; prioritise parental community support in the re-opening of ‘non-essential’ services; prioritise the option for face-to-face appointments when safe and legal; and protecting the rights of working mothers.

Changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors after the end of social distancing: the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing have been reported to negatively impact cardiovascular-related health behaviors. However, the effects of lifting social distancing restrictions on these health behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated public awareness and behavioral changes related to cardiovascular disease prevention after the end of social distancing.Methods: Between June 5 and June 12, 2023, 2,000 adults participated in the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey in Korea. The survey comprehensively addressed sociodemographic factors, cardiometabolic disease history, cardiovascular disease concern, prevention awareness, and behavioral changes after the end of social distancing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between behavioral changes and sociodemographic factors.Results: Cardiovascular disease ranked as the second most feared disease (most feared, 18.0%; second most feared, 26.3%) after cancer (most feared, 42.3%; second most feared, 21.7%). Among nine cardiovascular disease prevention recommendations, stress management, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet were perceived as the most challenging recommendations. After the end of social distancing, there were more positive changes than negative changes in smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, and healthcare service use, whereas stress management more frequently changed negatively (40.0%) than it changed positively (19.5%).Conclusions: Positive changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors, except for stress management, were observed after the end of social distancing. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of discontinuing social distancing practices.

Effectiveness of and preference for a picture-based home office ergonomics assessment compared to a traditional in-person office ergonomics assessment: A case study from a Canadian University during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telework best practices decreased in importance compared to the need for social distancing. It is important that ergonomics assessments for home office workstations are equally as effective as assessment for traditional offices to maintain teleworker wellbeing. The purpose of this case study is to compare a remote, picture-based, home office assessment to a traditional, in-person, office assessment for employees of one Canadian University. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman Analyses (BAAs) revealed that the two methods provide repeatable results, with good agreement. Feedback from the participants suggested that picture-based assessments were as effective as in-person assessments; but that picture-based assessments could be improved with video conferencing to discuss findings and ask follow-up questions. Participants found value in remote assessments and, while they preferred in-person assessments, picture-based assessments are suitable when needed as they allow for many assessments to be completed without violating social distancing restrictions.

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

Association between gut microbiota development and allergy in infants born during pandemic-related social distancing restrictions.

Several hypotheses link reduced microbial exposure to increased prevalence of allergies. Here we capitalize on the opportunity to study a cohort of infants (CORAL), raised during COVID-19 associated social distancing measures, to identify the environmental exposures and dietary factors that contribute to early life microbiota development and to examine their associations with allergic outcomes. Fecal samples were sequenced from infants at 6 (n = 351) and repeated at 12 (n = 343) months, using 16S sequencing. Published 16S data from pre-pandemic cohorts were included for microbiota comparisons. Online questionnaires collected epidemiological information on home environment, healthcare utilization, infant health, allergic diseases, and diet. Skin prick testing (SPT) was performed at 12 (n = 343) and 24 (n = 320) months of age, accompanied by atopic dermatitis and food allergy assessments. The relative abundance of bifidobacteria was higher, while environmentally transmitted bacteria such as Clostridia was lower in CORAL infants compared to previous cohorts. The abundance of multiple Clostridia taxa correlated with a microbial exposure index. Plant based foods during weaning positively impacted microbiota development. Bifidobacteria levels at 6 months of age, and relative abundance of butyrate producers at 12 months of age, were negatively associated with AD and SPT positivity. The prevalence of allergen sensitization, food allergy, and AD did not increase over pre-pandemic levels. Environmental exposures and dietary components significantly impact microbiota community assembly. Our results also suggest that vertically transmitted bacteria and appropriate dietary supports may be more important than exposure to environmental microbes alone for protection against allergic diseases in infancy.

Starting an undergraduate degree amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method egocentric network study on student loneliness.

Students who began their undergraduate university studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic (the 'COVID cohort'), may have been particularly at risk for experiencing increased loneliness. This study employed an exploratory egocentric network and mixed-methods approach to investigate the links between social networks and loneliness in the COVID cohort. Of sixty-one respondents meeting inclusion criteria for the study, fifty-eight first-year undergraduate students from the September 2020 intake at a large Scottish University provided egocentric network data via an online survey, as well as responses to three open-ended questions which were aimed at generating qualitative data about participants' experiences of starting university in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate analyses suggest that having a larger social network, and higher satisfaction with that network, was associated with reduced loneliness. We additionally explored these associations in subsamples of students living on-campus and living off-campus. Our qualitative data adds valuable insight into the impact that pandemic-related social-distancing restrictions had on limiting students' opportunities for meeting their peers and forging meaningful social connections at university. Limitations of this study include a small sample size and an exploratory approach requiring further investigation and replication. However, in the context of universities continuing to use hybrid teaching models, this study provides useful initial insights, highlighting potential avenues for institutions to support students in developing social connections in the transition to higher education.

Patients' Use of Telemedicine Mobile Application During COVID-19 Restrictions.

Telemedicine is being used in an increasing number of countries as an alternative to face-to-face traditional healthcare, to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19. Although the use and benefits of telemedicine have been increasingly demonstrated for a long time, we do not know much about its adoption and use during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the community is confined by the social distancing restrictions. The main aim of this research is to study the factors affecting the adoption and use of telemedicine in patients during the period of COVID-19 restrictions. We also want to investigate the benefits of telemedicine for patients. We used a qualitative approach in this study. We interviewed six patients who used telemedicine during the COVID-19 restrictions. We find that telemedicine applications offered an overall positive experience for patients as a viable alternative way of medical care when physical attendance was restricted.

Virtualizacija performativne umjetnosti u doba socijalnog distanciranja / Virtualisation of Performative Arts During the Times of Social Distancing

The times of social distancing and movement restrictions caused by Covid-19 have been marked by significant changes in all aspects of life. Due to preventive pandemic measures direct access of audiences to cultural institutions was unabled and performative arts moved to an online, virtual environment physicaly distancing performers from the audience. In this paper, we discuss adaptations that took place in the domain of culture and arts offering a virtual, technologically mediated experience, deprived from some dimensions of senses, emotional engagement, interaction and communication in vivo. Our research, therefore aims to inform on audiances’ aesthetic experience which was on the one hand devoided of bodily, situated performances, or on the other hand taking place with reduced number of spectators in an open space sites during the social distancing times. Key issues we focus on are transformations of performing arts in terms of audience participation and similar kinds of modifications that were not merely an answer to a current crisis, but a shift towards the new hybrid models of digital culture overcoming classic conceptual oppositions such as real-virtual, individual-collective and mass-elite. Our insights on performative arts and new media spheres hybridisation process as well as audiences’ altered position during social distancing times are based on literature in the field of sociology of culture and arts, esthetics and mediology.

SENSE OF PURPOSE AMONG OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract The psychological benefits of volunteering among older adults are well established, but little is known about the influence of the pandemic on this relationship. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic led to social distancing, closures, and other restrictions that hampered the volunteer efforts of many older adults. Utilizing data from a survey of older adult volunteers participating in Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs in a metropolitan area of Nebraska, this study investigates sense of purpose during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analytic sample was comprised of 65 adults ages 57 to 89 years. Linear regression models adjusting for demographic characteristics were used to examine the association between the perceived impact of the pandemic and disruptions to volunteering, and whether disruptions to volunteering were subsequently linked to a reduced sense of purpose. The results reveal that 1 in 4 respondents somewhat or strongly agreed that their sense of purpose had declined during the pandemic. Compared to older adults who perceived that the pandemic had little effect on them, those who perceived that the pandemic had been either difficult or a hardship more strongly agreed that it had been challenging to visit with their clients (both ps < 0.05). Older adults who agreed that there were new challenges in their volunteer role, in turn, more strongly agreed that their sense of purpose had declined (p < 0.01). These findings highlight the importance of volunteering for sense of purpose during the pandemic and suggest a possible pathway through which the pandemic may influence future health.

Primary care provider perspectives on virtual and in-person depression management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care providers (PCPs), nurses, and integrated mental health specialists continued to collaboratively manage depression among patients using both in-person and virtual (i.e., hybrid) modalities. Few studies have characterized how hybrid services are currently delivered within interdisciplinary primary care teams. This study aimed to understand frontline PCPs' perspectives on providing hybrid virtual and in-person depression care during the pandemic. From September to November 2020, 12 semistructured individual interviews focused on depression management were conducted with PCPs in two Veterans Health Administration (VA) clinics in Los Angeles, which resumed in-person services while balancing rising COVID-19 cases. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for depression management patterns. Themes were derived using a team-based constant comparative analytic approach. The pandemic and subsequent expanded use of virtual care necessitated clinic adaptations to depression assessments and procedures. PCPs perceived increased depression and anxiety among patients with existing psychiatric conditions, attributed to social distancing and isolation restrictions. They expressed acceptance of virtual care modalities for patients' depression management. PCPs did not perceive a delay in mental health care delivery in the shift to virtual care but noted the possibility of patients being lost to follow-up. During the pandemic, there has been heightened PCP concern for patients' emotional well-being and adaptations of clinic processes to meet needs for depression care. While PCPs were optimistic about new virtual care options for depression management, virtual care transfers remained poorly defined and the extent to which patient care experiences and health outcomes have been disrupted remains unknown. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Implementation of Home Infusions in a Multinational Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Study

AbstractBackgroundThe A4 Study is a Phase 3 clinical trial investigating solanezumab in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. The COVID‐19 pandemic impacted the delivery of elective health services worldwide and social distancing restrictions created challenges for clinical trial participants to continue monthly infusions. In an effort to retain A4 participants, decentralized clinical trial methods were implemented, including deployment of mobile research nurses to conduct home visits.MethodThe A4 Study is a 4.5 year double‐blind trial, followed by an optional 4 year open‐label treatment period. The study launched in 2014 and 1163 males and females between the ages of 65 and 85 years old have been dosed. Home visits were not originally included in the study protocol, but were implemented in 2020 to mitigate the COVID‐19 pandemic impact on study conduct. PCM Trials offered home visits as an option to allow participants to continue to receive investigational product. Mobile research nurses traveled to participant homes and administered the 30‐ to 60‐minute intravenous infusions every 4 weeks.ResultTo date, more than 1,400 home infusions visits have been conducted in the A4 Study. 124 participants were enrolled in home infusions (99 in the United States; 1 in Canada and 24 in Australia) from 18 sites.ConclusionImplementation of home visits led to several positive outcomes, including reduced participant burden (particularly for participants living in rural/remote locations), study continuity and maintenance of treatment regimen, and retention of participants. Considering the length of the study, the infusion frequency, and the age of the participants, home visits have been a valuable option to help study completion and compliance. Data integrity and participant safety were ensured and maintained with the use of home visits in the A4 study.

Lessons from Covid‐19: A narrative and reflective practice review of non‐pharmacological treatments for agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia, in a time of social distancing

AbstractBackgroundAgitation as a behavioural and psychological symptom of dementia is common and distressing for patients and their carers. There are several non‐pharmacological approaches to managing agitation in Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). Many of these require close interactions with the patient. However, social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic has made many of these interventions impractical. As busy clinicians working on a psychiatric unit managing AD patients with agitation, we wished to explore what we could offer in a time of social distancing. Our study sought to review the literature looking at the non‐pharmacological management of agitation in dementia and reflect on this as clinicians working amid a pandemic. While the pandemic recedes, this review and reflection still offers guidance for the management of agitation in AD whilst reducing the risk of disease transmission. The review would help to keep our most vulnerable safe during future outbreaks of infectious disease.MethodWe conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify non‐pharmacological treatments for the management of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease related dementia. Specifically, we sought evidence related to treatment in inpatient and care facilities. We appraised the evidence about these treatments. We then went on to use practitioner reflection on this evidence to consider the practicalities of implementation during the social distancing restrictions of the Covid‐19 pandemic.ResultMyriad non‐pharmacological therapies exist to help treat agitation in individuals with AD. Of these the evidence suggests music therapies and caregiver education interventions reduced agitation most significantly. We found that the most effective methods tailor treatment to the individual’s preferences and needs and use active engagement in therapies. Non‐group activities and those which do not involve shared equipment are most easily implementable during Covid‐19.ConclusionInterventions which are individually tailored to the patient and involve an active element to them are most effective, however those with an active element are less easily used during a pandemic. Given the evidence base and practicalities of implementation, our review suggests music therapy for those with agitation in AD.

Embracing virtual support: A phenomenological study on the lived experiences of Filipino guidance counselees during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic profoundly impacted student and faculty well-being, necessitating a closer examination of guidance counselee experiences in virtual counseling. This research aims to address the unique challenges and benefits of virtual counseling during crises and improve guidance counseling delivery. This qualitative research explored the experiences and challenges of Filipino guidance counselees during virtual counseling amid the pandemic using phenomenological inquiry. Ten purposively selected participants underwent in-depth interviews, then the information was transcribed and analyzed thematically. Analysis revealed three major themes: Psychological struggles, challenges of virtual counseling, and the importance of virtual counseling. Participants discussed psychological struggles, pre-existing mental health conditions, and challenges like poor Internet connectivity. They emphasized the significance of virtual counseling for well-being. The findings underscore recognizing and addressing counselees' psychological struggles during the pandemic. Effective support must mitigate challenges like technological literacy and resource constraints. Virtual counseling maintains connections despite social distancing restrictions. This research provides valuable insights into guidance counselee experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines. It emphasizes embracing virtual counseling advantages while addressing specific challenges. Policymakers and school leaders should recognize counselor expertise and provide comprehensive support. Further research is recommended to develop interventions for different age groups and educational levels. Understanding and supporting guidance counselees to promote mental health and overall development.

Adapting co-design methodology to a virtual environment: co-designing a communication intervention for adult patients in critical care.

Research co-design is recommended to reduce misalignment between researcher and end-user needs and priorities for healthcare innovation. Engagement of intensive care unit patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders in co-design has historically relied upon face-to-face meetings. Here, we report on our co-design processes for the development of a bundled intensive care unit patient communication intervention that used exclusively virtual meeting methods in response to COVID-19 pandemic social distancing restrictions. We conducted a series of virtual co-design sessions with a committee of stakeholder participants recruited from a medical-surgical intensive care unit of a community teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Published recommendations for co-design methods were used with exclusively virtual adaptations to improve ease of stakeholder participation as well as the quality and consistency of co-design project set-up, facilitation, and evaluation. Virtual adaptations included the use of email for distributing information, videos, and electronic evaluations as well as the use of a videoconferencing platform for synchronous meetings. We used a flexible meeting plan including asynchronous virtual methods to reduce attendance barriers for time-constrained participants. Co-design participants included a patient and a family member (n = 2) and professionally diverse healthcare providers (n = 9), plus a facilitator. Overall, participants were engaged and reported a positive experience with the virtually adapted co-design process. Reported benefits included incorporation of diverse viewpoints in the communication intervention design and implementation plan. Challenges related to lack of hands-on time during development of the co-designed intervention and participant availability to meet regularly albeit virtually. This report describes the methods, benefits, and challenges of adapting in-person co-design methods to a virtual environment to produce a bundled communication intervention for use in the adult intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adapting recommended co-design methods to a virtual environment can provide further opportunities for stakeholder participation in intervention design.

Resilience as Mediator Between Two Restriction Stages of COVID-19 and Mental Distress

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted worldwide policies ranging from social distancing to total lockdown. This study aims to assess mental distress and resilience as stress mediators during these two periods. The cross-sectional research followed 636 adults in March–April 2020, from social-distancing restrictions through the transition to general lockdown. Participants completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM-R). Higher DASS scores were associated with female gender, younger age, being single and childless, no graduate degree, being employed during the pandemic and lower socioeconomic status. After controlling for age, DASS scores were significantly higher during total lockdown vs. social distancing. Full mediation of the ARM-R measure was revealed in the association between DASS score and restriction stage (social distancing vs. lockdown). Tightening restrictive policies is associated with higher distress in the general population, with specific groups at risk. Intervention programs are necessary to increase resilience from an eco-contextual perspective.

Impact of social distancing on disease transmission risk in the context of a pandemic.

Changes in pedestrian dynamics caused by social distancing policies place new demands on pedestrian motion modeling during the pandemic. This study summarizes pedestrian movement characteristics during the pandemic, based on which, the traditional floor-field cellular automata model was improved by introducing two floor fields related to pedestrian density to simulate social distancing in crowded places. Especially, the cumulative density field guides pedestrians in route selection, thereby compensating for the limitation of the previous models in which only local repulsion was considered. By selecting an appropriate combination of parameters, the desired social distancing behavior can be observed. Then, the rationality of our model is verified by the fundamental diagram. Moreover, to assess the influences of social distancing on the risk of disease transmission, we considered both person-person transmission and environment-person transmission. The simulation results show that although social distancing is effective in preventing interpersonal transmission, an increase in environmental transmission may somewhat offset this effect. We also examined the influence of individual motion heterogeneity on infection spread and found that the containment was the best when only patients complied with the social distancing restriction. The trade-off between safety and efficiency associated with social distancing was also initially explored in this study.

Experiences and Priorities in Youth and Family Mental Health: Protocol for an Arts-Based Priority-Setting Focus Group Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, eHealth services enabled providers to reach families despite widespread social distancing restrictions. However, their rapid adoption often occurred without community partners' involvement and without an understanding of how they prioritize aspects of their mental health and associated service provision, both of which promote family and community-centered health care delivery. Establishing priorities in health care is essential for developing meaningful and reliable health services. As such, there is an urgent need to understand how eHealth service users, especially families who may have historically faced oppression and systemic barriers to service access, can best benefit from them. Arts-based approaches can elicit an understanding of priorities by providing an engaging and expressive means of moving beyond readily expressible discursive language and stimulating meaningful dialogue reflective of participants' lived experiences. The purpose of this research is to determine the priorities and preferences of youth; parents or caregivers; newcomers and immigrants; and Indigenous community members regarding the use of eHealth in supporting their mental health using an innovative arts-based priority-setting method. This study uses a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative, quantitative, and arts-based research. It follows a survey used to identify key knowledge partners who are interested in improving eHealth services for mental health support in Manitoba, Canada. Knowledge partners interested in group-based priority setting will be contacted to participate. We will facilitate approximately two focus groups across each subgroup of youth, parents or caregivers, newcomers or immigrants, and Indigenous community members using an integrative, quantitatively anchored arts-based method termed the "Circle of Importance" to understand participants' mental health priorities and how eHealth or technology may support their mental well-being. The Circle of Importance involves placing small objects, whose meaning is determined by participants, on a visual board with concentric circles that correspond to a 5-point Likert scale of importance. Following each focus group, we will evaluate participants' and focus group facilitators' experiences of the Circle of Importance using a survey and follow-up structured in-person interviews to garner how we can improve the arts-based approach used in the focus groups. The PRIME (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence) theme received institutional ethics approval on August 23, 2023. Data collection is projected for August 2023, with follow-up focus groups occurring in early 2024 as required. Data analysis will occur immediately following data collection. Findings will directly inform a multiyear applied research agenda for PRIME aimed at improving mental health services through engaging key knowledge partners. The results may inform how arts-based methods in a priority setting can reflect aspects of experience beyond the capacities of qualitative or quantitative methods alone, and whether this approach aligns well with a positive experience of research participation. PRR1-10.2196/50208.

Public support for empowering police during the COVID-19 crisis: evidence from London

ABSTRACT In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, police services around the world were granted unprecedented new powers to enforce social distancing restrictions. In this paper, we present data from a rolling representative sample survey of Londoners (n = 3,201) fielded during the height of the first wave of the pandemic (April to June 2020). We examine the scale of public support for giving police additional powers to enforce the regulations, whether support for different powers ebbed and flowed over time, and which factors predicted support for police powers. First, we use interrupted time-series analysis to model change over time. Second, we pool the data to test the predictors of support for police powers. Aside from one lockdown-specific temporal factor (the easing of restrictions), we find that even in the midst of a pandemic, legitimacy, procedural justice and affective evaluations of pandemic powers are the most important factors explaining variation in public support for police empowerment.

E-commerce regulation in Albania

The Internet and digital technology are transforming our lives, every day with the paces in a dimension of a real revolution. These fast and deep transformations are now being considered worldwide, as the second most important revolution behind the industrial one. Regardless of these technological developments, the digital transformation of companies has had a slow but steady progress over the years. Business expectations and perception towards the need for digital transformation of services and the use of ecommerce are valued at high levels, receiving the main impetus during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, where online markets had an important role enabling the continuation of economic life despite social distancing restrictions. Referring the above, Albania has adhered to the European Union Directives related to electronic commerce, Directive 2000/31/EC on Electronic Commerce3 and Directive 1999/93/EC4 ,as well as other related directives, making possible the approximation of a high level of our legislation, in the light of these directives. In the present paper, through a legal assessment, special attention has been paid to the National Digital Agenda for the period 2022-2026 and legal rules on e-commerce in the Albanian legislation, aiming to analyze the legal provisions, which regulate it in this regard. Also, an important objective of this paper is also the fact that it may serve as an important basis for further studies in this field. The analysis of the e-commerce legal regulation in Albania is based on the qualitative method, which contains also the research, analytical, descriptive, interpretive methods. The results of this paper, which treats an innovative topic, will stimulates debate in the academic level and contribute to the legal doctrine in Albania that lacks such.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the psychosocial health of medical students.

The COVID-19 pandemic had many psychological adverse effects due to fear and panic of infection. However social distancing and lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of infection had an impact on the social life of people. The effects of this on the psychosocial health of the population were less explored area. To study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the psychosocial health of medical students. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on medical students with the help of an online Google Form administering a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic information; Coronavirus Social Distance Attitudes Scale and Attitude toward lockdown measure to assess favorable or opposing attitudes of participants toward social distancing and lockdown; Bergen Social Relationship Scale, Evaluation of Social System scale and Social Support Questionnaire to measure quality of social relations and social support satisfaction; and three item loneliness scale to evaluate feeling of loneliness. The loneliness levels in participants were high (mean = 6.74 ± 0.79). There was a gender difference in the variables measured. Male students showed a favorable attitude toward social distancing (Positive social distance attitude scale P < 0.001, negative social distance attitude scale P < 0.001) and a better quality of social relations (Bergen Social relationship P < 0.001, evaluation of social system P < 0.001, SSQN P < 0.001, SSQS P < 0.001). However, male students scored more for loneliness as compared to females during the lockdown period (P < 0.001). The loneliness levels were high in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown and even higher in males who were considered a non-vulnerable group. So the balanced approach between preventive restriction measures and the social connectedness of the population is advised for making social distancing policies in the future.