Travel Restrictions Research Articles

Impact of the pandemic on traffic injuries in Macao: an analysis of interrupted time-series data.

With social restrictions serving as a mitigating factor against the severe consequences of public health emergencies, this study investigates the impact of episodic travel restrictions on road traffic injuries (TIs) in Macao during the pandemic, employing Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) models. We used ITSA models, including Bayesian Structured Time Series and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models, to assess traffic outcomes, particularly focusing on total road traffic crashes (RTCs) and TIs. Predictive models were developed for traffic fatalities, fatal RTCs, RTCs involving injuries and vehicles sustaining damage. From 2014 to 2020, Macao recorded a total of 99 541 RTCs. Over the study period, there were 32 562 reported injuries. After the outbreak of the epidemic, traffic volume decreased by 53.03%, leading to a 25.54% reduction in RTCs. The severity of crashes also declined, with TIs decreasing by 20.35% compared with the same period in 2019, and fatalities and damaged vehicles decreasing by 37.50% and 26.62%, respectively. Analysis of the interrupted time-series data revealed that the actual number of RTCs after COVID-19 in 2020 was 20% (95% CI: 14% to 26%) lower than expected, and TIs were reduced by 11% (95% CI: 3% to 19%). This study demonstrates that the implementation of episodic travel restrictions significantly reduced TIs and crashes in Macao, providing crucial insights for traffic management and resource allocation during pandemics. These findings contribute to understanding the dynamic relationship between travel restrictions and road traffic outcomes.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: Time Travellesque Trapped Kinetics of Refugee Surveillance towards Exit West

This paper demonstrates how Mohsin Hamid's Exit West deals with the pernicious consequences of war, and anarchy. The refugees Saeed and Nadia resorted to escape routes in search of an asylum, due to war. These were desperate times that called for desperate measures. When both protagonists escape using "black doors," what I call 'time- time-travellesque,' it transports them to an alternate reality that negates time and space. This research examines how spatiotemporal travel impacts these two characters who bypass the experience of "trapped kinetics". My argument is that refugee experience and incessant surveillance change people. Both protagonists go through similar experiences but come up with different ways to deal with life. This illuminates how these black doors transcend the restrictions imposed by time and space and how this change rebuts the travel restrictions imposed by visas and borders for the refugees.

Sikh Diaspora Transcends Borders: Bridging Gaps in Assisting Stranded Indians during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted lives, and led to intertwined catastrophes across health, environmental and economic sectors. Most governments enforced travel restrictions, and cancelled or suspended international flights. Millions were caught unawares, including many Indian tourists, international students and workers on short-term visas and families visiting relatives. The Indian government organised flights to repatriate some, but many were left stranded without official assistance or means of support. Global civil society scholarship has remained anchored in Euro-American experiences, even as migrant civic societies are undergoing dynamic shifts, and empirical and theoretical knowledge of cross-border civic activities during crises remains incomplete. Using secondary data and 10 semi-structured interviews, this study explores one case of a civil society organisation that coordinated their efforts to meet the needs of stranded South Asians. It explores the initiative of a not-for-profit network, run by Indian diaspora members, to assist those in need. It reveals how Indian migrants embraced calls for civic social consciousness: they maximised their social capital and connectedness, transcending borders to bridge gaps and make crucial contributions to their co-ethnics and the community. Their initiatives challenge literature on transnational civic society that downplays the complex, dynamic geographies of Asian diaspora network linkages and novel initiatives.

Income-Based Disparities in Perceived Benefits and Challenges of Virtual Global Health Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Analysis.

Global health activities (GHAs) can potentially reduce health disparities by facilitating resource sharing, promoting medical education and professional development worldwide, and enhancing collaboration among high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person GHAs due to strict infection control and travel restrictions. To ensure the continuity of GHAs and further address health inequity, virtual GHAs (VGHAs) are gaining traction. Our research aimed to understand how people perceive the benefits and challenges of VGHAs, analyze and compare whether HIC and LMIC respondents have different perceptions of virtual and in-person GHAs, and summarize suggestions for improvement to inform the future development of VGHAs. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2022. Eligible participants were adult students, trainees, or professionals who participated in, created, taught, or facilitated GHAs. We thematically analyzed participants' free-text responses regarding their perceptions of the benefits and challenges of virtual and in-person GHAs. The patterns differed depending on whether respondents were from HICs or LMICs; thus, we compared frequencies of each theme between the 2 groups. A total of 154 respondents from 34 countries were included in the analysis. Key benefits of VGHAs were improved access to global health resources or content, reduced cost, easier scheduling and planning, expanded remote participation, and wider participation and reach. The themes that emerged as challenges of VGHAs included a lack of infrastructure to engage virtually, being less motivated and engaged, a lack of in-person and hands-on experience, and challenges with virtual communication and collaboration. LMIC respondents, compared to HIC counterparts, were more likely to identify reduced cost (26/67, 39% LMIC compared to 20/87, 23% HIC; χ21=4.5; P=.03) and expanding knowledge, experience, or skills (15/67, 22% LMIC compared to 8/87, 9% HIC; χ21=5.2; P=.02) as benefits of VGHAs, lack of infrastructure to engage virtually as a challenge of VGHAs (38/67, 57% LMIC compared to 31/87, 36% HIC; χ21=6.8; P=.009), and to suggest improving the content to be more interesting and relevant (6/67, 9% LMIC compared to 1/87, 1% HIC; χ21=5.3, P=.02). In contrast, HIC respondents were more likely to identify fostering continuity of relationship or activities (28/87, 32% HIC compared to 6/67, 9% LMIC; χ21=11.9; P<.001) as a benefit of VGHAs and being less engaged and motivated to participate virtually (43/87, 49% HIC compared to 19/67, 28% LMIC; χ21=7.0; P=.008) as a challenge of VGHAs. Our findings add to the existing literature by understanding how GHA participants from HICs and LMICs perceive the benefits and challenges of VGHAs differently. These data help elucidate what makes VGHAs acceptable to global health partners and suggest improvements to ensure partner needs are served equitably within the partnership.

Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services engagement: a qualitative study of experiences of people living with HIV and hypertension and their providers at two peri-urban HIV clinics in Uganda

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented complexity for health care seeking globally. Little is known on how people living with HIV (PLHIV) and other co-morbidities including hypertension accessed healthcare services in resource limited settings like Uganda. Therefore, we explored qualitatively how the COVID-19 pandemic which was characterized by travel restrictions, social distancing requirements, and a heightened COVID-19 response impacted health care seeking for PLHIV and health care provision by providers in this context. We explored experiences of both PLHIV with hypertension who sought care and healthcare providers who offered HIV and hypertension services at two peri-urban HIV clinics; Kira Health center and Kisubi Hospital, in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted 32 in-depth interviews at two peri-urban HIV clinics in Uganda with PLHIV and hypertension and their health care providers. We sought to understand PLHIV’s experiences seeking health care services and health care providers’ experiences delivering chronic care. We used an inductive thematic analysis drawing on the socio-ecological framework to explore this research question.ResultsOur findings reveal that that the COVID-19 pandemic presented an extraordinary set of challenges for individuals with chronic conditions who required routine healthcare services. The Uganda government’s stringent public health measures apparently made it difficult for patients to access health care, impacted jobs, resulted in job losses, reduced income, and food scarcity. Additionally, healthcare providers prioritized COVID-19 related health services, diverting both material and human resources away from PLHIV with co-morbidities, which impacted continuity of care.ConclusionThese findings highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated PLHIV’s fragility suggesting that health systems may need support to cope with the demands of chronic care management especially during health emergencies such as pandemics. There is an urgent need to strengthen the health system in Uganda enabling resilience to deal with shocks resulting from major health outbreaks.

The Specificity of Execution in Personal Status Matters: A Study on the Enforcement of National and Foreign Judgments before the Execution Judge

Background: The enforcement of personal status judgments poses unique legal and procedural challenges, particularly in jurisdictions where family law is deeply intertwined with religious and cultural principles. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a specialised execution judge for personal status matters to enhance procedural efficiency and safeguard family stability. This reform represents a significant departure from traditional execution mechanisms, granting the judge discretionary powers to modify enforcement conditions while addressing the sensitivities of family-related disputes. However, questions arise regarding the scope of judicial intervention, the adequacy of procedural safeguards, and the compatibility of this system with established legal principles, particularly in cases involving foreign judgments. This study critically evaluates these aspects and conducts a comparative analysis of the French legal system to explore best practices. Methods: This research employs a doctrinal legal methodology, analysing statutory frameworks, judicial precedents, and legislative intent behind introducing the personal status execution judge in the UAE. A comparative legal analysis is conducted with the French legal system to examine procedural safeguards, jurisdictional limitations, and the role of judicial discretion in enforcing family law judgments. Special focus is given to the legal implications of modifying visitation rights, travel restrictions, and enforcement conditions, particularly in cross-border cases. Results and Conclusions: The findings reveal that the appointment of a specialised execution judge for personal status matters offers notable advantages, including expedited enforcement, enhanced confidentiality, and tailored procedural mechanisms aligned with the unique nature of family disputes. However, the discretionary authority granted to the execution judge—particularly in modifying visitation schedules and prohibiting travel—raises concerns regarding the stability of judicial decisions and acquired rights. Additionally, the research highlights challenges in enforcing foreign personal status judgments, emphasising the need for clearer legislative provisions to address conflicts of laws. The comparative analysis with the French legal system underscores the importance of judicial expertise in family affairs and the necessity of integrating procedural safeguards to uphold fairness and legal certainty. The study recommends refining the scope of the execution judge’s powers, strengthening procedural protections, and reconsidering specific legislative terminologies to ensure a balanced approach between judicial efficiency and fundamental legal principles.

United Kingdom-European Union policing and law enforcement cooperation in the post-Brexit era

ABSTRACT Cooperation between European law enforcement agencies has grown reflecting deepening social and economic cooperation between European states. The formal withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) (‘Brexit’) generated concerns that the ever-developing structures and processes of cooperation would become fragmented with implications for security. However, few studies have empirically documented the impact of Brexit in its immediate aftermath on policing cooperation. This article starts to fill this empirical gap. Between 2021 and 2023, we drew on a substantial number of interviews with senior, active stakeholders from both police and judicial cooperation in UK and EU areas, in order to critically assess how UK and EU law enforcement personnel have understood the changes brought about by Brexit and worked together in the immediate post-Brexit environment. We find a perception amongst stakeholders that the UK’s departure from the EU was muted over the immediate Brexit period. This was the result of formal contingency planning pre-Brexit, enduring informal relationships between practitioners, and a ‘cushioning’ effect provided by the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. However, we also find complexity. Stakeholders reporting that the implications of Brexit may not be revealed for some time; a perception that the UK had lost influence in decision-making at both the policy and operational level; and that some areas of UK-EU cooperation have been more affected than others (notably in the fields of information exchange and extradition). We consider the implications of these findings.

Epidemiological characteristics and trends of notified enteric fevers in Germany, 2001 to 2023.

BackgroundEnteric fevers (EF) are caused by infections with Salmonella Typhi (STY) or Salmonella Paratyphi (SP) A-C (except the SPB enteric pathovar) and exhibit increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Notification is mandatory in Germany.AimTo describe characteristics and trends of notified EF cases in Germany.MethodsWe analysed German EF notifications 2001-2023 fulfilling the case definition. We calculated numbers of imported EF cases per 100,000 air travellers by country of exposure 2012-2023.ResultsIn 2001-2023, 2,670 confirmed EF cases were notified: 56% (1,498/2,670) STY, 44% (1,172/2,670) SP, with seasonal peaks in April-May and August-September. Aside from years with COVID-19-related travel restrictions, STY notifications were stable, while SP notifications decreased. Median age of EF cases was 26 years (range: 0-93) and 55% (1,458/2,663) were male. Of cases with information, 93% (2,491/2,670) had fever, 71% (1,906/2,670) diarrhoea, 78% (2,033/2,607) were hospitalised (STY: 85% (1,234/1,459) vs SP: 70% (799/1,148), p < 0.001) and four died (two STY, one SPA, one SPB). Of STY cases, 7% (88/1,221) reported vaccination. Overall, 86% (2,251/2,613) of cases acquired EF abroad, most commonly in India, Pakistan and Türkiye. Ciprofloxacin resistance was reported for 50/59 STY and 16/18 SPA cases and cefotaxime resistance for 10/57 STY cases (exposure: Pakistan (9/10), India (1/10)) with information since 2017. We also report outbreaks and incidence among travellers.ConclusionsMost cases were imported and had high hospitalisation rates and AMR. Typhoid vaccination was underutilised, highlighting that additional ways to reach at-risk travellers with information and vaccination offers are needed.

The Impact of Perception of Risk at International Airports and Carriers on Travel Decision at the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic - An Investigation From QAIA

Purpose: This study aimed to control the spread of infectious diseases and offer safe flights. The government of Jordan has implemented various measures at its international airport during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Such measures had a significant impact on travel behavior. While many travelers’ decisions were affected by the pandemic, it became a priority to assess their experiences at international airports and onboard during the health crisis to predict their future decisions. Methods: The cross-sectional questionnaire was created through Google Forms and distributed to travelers through emails, social media channels, and official websites during the spread of COVID- 19. Questionnaires were distributed through a purposive sampling technique to flight travelers who departed from Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) to different destinations. Finally, 61 responses were collected and analyzed through SPSS 23. Results: This study revealed that most respondents agreed it was easy to get information about available flights, fares, and new travel regulations and restrictions, with an arithmetic mean of 4.02. In addition, results showed that airport staff were wearing face masks all the time, with an arithmetic mean of 4.39. However, the waiting time at the airport was incredibly long. In addition, responses illustrated that the airplane cabin was thoroughly cleaned and sterilized with an arithmetic mean of 4.05, but the meals were neither wholesome nor properly packaged. Conclusion: The results of this study may help plan air travel based on the various experiences and levels of satisfaction of passengers. With this knowledge, stakeholders, health agencies, international airports, and airlines might make better plans for their safety management during pandemics.

Assessing Tourism Classifications in Biyahe ni Drew Documentary

Assessing Tourism Classifications in Biyahe ni Drew Documentary shows increased its popularity during the pandemic when people spent most of their time in the comfort of their homes because of limited outside activities and travel restrictions. The Tourism Industry which has been greatly affected by the pandemic is slowly getting back in operation. The researchers came up with the study entitled, “Assessing Tourism Classifications in Biyahe ni Drew Documentary Show in the Travel Interest of Tertiary Students of a Private University in Cavite.STI College Global City Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic.” The researchers want to determine if the travel documentary show, “Biyahe ni Drew,” has significance, affecting the students’ interest to travel. In this study, we used the quasi-experimental research method as it is the best method to use to determine the relationship of the variables. In gathering the data, we used a 4-point Likert scale: level of agreement to determine the effectiveness of the show. A video compilation of “Biyahe ni Drew” featuring travel classifications used in this research study has also been given to the respondents for them to watch and to serve as their source and guide to respond. Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that “Biyahe ni Drew” is effective in boosting the students’ interest in travel and the highest interest in travel is ecotourism. The researchers also conclude that the preference to travel falls with gastronomy, adventure, and man-made attractions. This study is recommended as a future reference to future researchers, producers of travel documentary shows, and the tourism industry. This study may be critiqued and replicated in future studies of a similar nature.

Global Tourism &amp; Food Supply crisis: a study on Ukraine and Russia from the perspective of Indian citizens

Background: The broad view of citizens of India on the tourism and food supply crisis in Ukraine and Russia, and also it examines the impact of food supply during the war in Ukraine and Russia as Both are in front of war. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the perception of Indian citizens to assess the effects of war on the education and food supply of Ukraine and Russia. Methodology: The research was conducted based on a survey, and the total sample comprised 164 males and females. The data were collected based on education and age using a questionnaire. Results: The results show that Russia has very little impact on global tourism and food supply, but has experienced global disturbance around the globe due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. The global tourism and food supply crisis is not much affected by the war as neighbouring countries are the option for tourism activities and imports. Conclusion: Indians’ perceptions of the Ukraine-Russia war severely disrupted global food supply chains, driving up prices and causing shortages, especially in vulnerable regions. Tourism also suffered, particularly in Eastern Europe, due to instability, travel restrictions, and security concerns.

Epidemiological surveillance and incidence of respiratory viruses in Chile: Before and after COVID 19

Objective: During the COVID 19 pandemic, various measures, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, were implemented to curb the spread of SARS CoV 2, significantly impacting case numbers. These interventions also influenced the incidence of other respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A (InfA). Materials and methods: This study examines the effect of SARS CoV 2 on the circulation of major respiratory viruses by analyzing epidemiological data from Chile between 2015 and 2023. Results: Data analysis revealed that during the pandemic, RSV, InfA, adenoviruses (ADV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) reached historically low levels. However, the relaxation of restrictions in 2021 led to a surge in respiratory virus infections, with RSV cases approaching pre-pandemic levels by 2022. Notably, in 2022 and 2023, infections caused by these viruses exceeded pre pandemic numbers. Conclusions: These findings align with epidemiological predictions regarding shifts in infection patterns due to preventive measures. Understanding these trends, particularly during lockdowns, is crucial for planning future outbreak response strategies. The insights gained from this analysis have recently informed proactive measures for Chile’s upcoming winter season, helping mitigate an anticipated rise in respiratory emergencies, especially among children in regions with high humidity and low temperatures.

Non-healthcare system interventions and COVID-19 daily cases: a multilevel time series analysis

BackgroundThe global COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted public health and socio-economic development worldwide. This study aims to investigate the effects of non-healthcare system interventions on the daily new cases of COVID-19 from January 2020 to October 2022.MethodsWith the aid of multilevel approach, we identified income group, region and country as stratification factors that affect the number of COVID-19 daily new cases. Data on COVID-19 cases collected by Johns Hopkins University were used, and policy implementation details were recorded through the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker dataset. To analyze the effects of national, regional, and income group factors on the number of daily new COVID-19 cases, we implemented three multilevel sequential mixed-effects models and applied restricted maximum likelihood to estimate the variance of random effects.ResultsOur results indicate a correlation between income group and the rise in intercepts of random effects in the multilevel sequential mixed-effects models. High-income countries recorded the highest intercept at 713.26, while low-income countries showed the lowest at -313.79. Under the influence of policies, the implementation of "Canceling public events" and "International travel restrictions" has been shown to significantly reduce the daily number of new COVID-19 cases. In contrast, "Restrictions on gatherings" appear to have the opposite effect, potentially leading to an increase in daily new COVID-19 cases.ConclusionsIn designing epidemic control policies, due consideration should be given to factors such as income group, as well as medical, demographic, and social differences among nations influenced by economic factors. In policy-making, policymakers should pay greater attention to policy implementation and people's responses, in order to maximize the effectiveness and adherence of such policies.

Lifting of travel restrictions brings additional noise in COVID-19 surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology in post-pandemic period.

Lifting of travel restrictions brings additional noise in COVID-19 surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology in post-pandemic period.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on microfinance industry

The COVID-19 pandemic is the world’s deadliest health pandemic since the 1918 flu pandemic and caused one of the deepest economic crises since the Great Depression of the 1930s. As COVID-19 spread with alarming speed, every area of global business was impacted. One of the most severely impacted businesses was microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their borrowers. Despite the rapid growth of digital financial services, the microfinance industry still relies heavily on in-person, face-to-face transactions. Government imposed lockdowns and travel restrictions significantly reduced MFIs’ ability to conduct normal business. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the microfinance industry. We employed three widely used risk-adjusted measures, modified Sharpe ratio, maximum drawdown, and Calmar ratio, to evaluate the performance of MFIs’ equity prices as well as benchmark portfolios during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 to December 2020, microfinance institutions’ risk-adjusted performances were lower than the risk-adjusted performances of their respective country benchmark portfolios. These, in turn, were lower than the risk-adjusted performances of global benchmark portfolios. MFIs’ performances were not unique but reflected the severe impact experienced by the rest of the financial industry. But as a group, MFIs were more severely impacted by the pandemic than other financial institutions.

Personal preventive protocols and travel patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background — Travel restrictions and adhering to health protocols while traveling was among the key strategies to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Objective — The present study aims to measure and evaluate travel patterns and compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols during traveling. Methods — In this cross-sectional study, 589 individuals from the capitals of six provinces of Iran were included in the study using the cluster sampling method. There were 40 clusters. For data analysis, the mean value of responses in each individual was calculated for each section of the questionnaire. Results — The response rate was 92% (589/640). Of all participants, 309 (52.5%) were women. The mean age of study participants was 42.84 years (SD=16.59). Among participants, 355 (60.3%) had a travel history during the COVID-19 pandemic. We revealed statistically significant relationships of the travel history with age (P&lt;0.001), education level (P&lt;0.001), and province (P&lt;0.001). No statistically significant relationships of the travel history with socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and occupation subgroup were detected (P&gt;0.05). The majority of study participants (38.5%) traveled for recreational purposes. Conclusion: According to our findings, unnecessary travel was not avoided in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the participants who traveled during the COVID-19 pandemic did not follow safety precautions. Thus, some of the most important issues such as cultural influences, different risk tolerance levels among people, law enforcement, and stricter oversight by decision makers need to be taken into account.

Observing Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Chikungunya Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: An Epidemiological and Climate Change Perspective

Introduction. Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Chikungunya persist as alarming global health threats. This paper aims to examines Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Chikungunya before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia for understanding epidemiological trends and developing evidence-based strategies of climate change impact. Materials and methods. Data were collected since 2017-2022 from various sources, including national health surveys and meteorological agencies in Indonesia. Statistical analyses and correlations were conducted to understand the relationships between disease incidence, temperature, rainfall, and pandemic-related measures Results. In Indonesia, Dengue fever incidence rose significantly from 26.1% in 2017 before the COVID-19 pandemic to 52.1% in 2022, malaria’s annual parasite incidence (API) increase by 0.6, from 1.0 per 1,000 population in 2017 to 1.6 in 2022 during the pandemic. Chikungunya cases surged by 23,6 times, increasing from 126 cases in 2017 to 2974 cases in 2022 From 2017 to 2019, temperature and rainfall showed a decreasing trend. However, between 2020 and 2022, both indicators fluctuated, with a notable spike in 2022 where rainfall reached 550 mm and temperatures increased by 1°C compared to previous years. An anomaly occurred in 2019 when both temperature and rainfall decreased, yet Dengue Fever Malaria, and Chikungunya cases increased. Limitations. One limitation of this study is the potential for incomplete or inconsistent data reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic due to total lockdowns in Indonesia, which may affect the accuracy of the observed epidemiological trends. Conclusion. Dengue Fever cases rose, possibly due to increased exposure at home. Malaria displayed a fluctuating trend, initially decreasing due to travel restrictions and possibly reduced testing coverage, then experiencing a rebound post-pandemic. Chikungunya’s surge during the pandemic and subsequent fluctuations underlines the need for ongoing disease surveillance. The correlation with environmental factors like temperature and rainfall underscores climate’s role in disease prevalence.

The impact of COVID-19 policy stringency on patient satisfaction with community pharmacies in China: A cross-sectional standardized patient study.

ObjectivesCommunity pharmacies play a crucial role in China's primary health care system. This study aimed to assess the impact of stringent COVID-19 policy responses - such as lockdowns, travel restrictions and operational closures - on unannounced standardized patients' (USPs) satisfaction with community pharmacy services.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2021 to September 2022, using an USPs approach in community pharmacies across China. USPs' satisfaction was measured using validated tools, with closure policies related to COVID-19 as the primary exposure variable.ResultsThe study included 1076 eligible USP visits to community pharmacies. Results indicated that stricter closure policies had a significant negative impact on USPs' satisfaction (β = -0.18, p = 0.019). This negative effect may be attributed to worsened capability of pharmaceutical service providers (β = -0.17, p = 0.002) and accessibility (β = -0.12, p = 0.019). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a negative correlation between stricter closure policies and lower satisfaction levels with regard to accessibility, capability, and communication.ConclusionsCOVID-19 closure policies in China had adverse consequences for the quality of pharmacy services. These findings highlight that governments must act with urgency when addressing abrupt infectious diseases or public health emergencies. Enhancing access to pharmacy services and capability of providers are critical strategies to ensure an effective response to sudden public health crises.

The Role of Facebook in Promoting Domestic Tourism during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Kenya: A Case Study of Wanderlust Diaries Facebook Page

This research explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kenya's tourism industry, with a specific focus on leveraging research, technology, and innovation in the new economy for sustainable development. It critically examined the role of social media, particularly Facebook, in promoting domestic tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study is centered on the Wanderlust Diaries Facebook page, which has actively encouraged domestic travel in Kenya since April 2020 by providing a platform for individuals to share their experiences and recommendations. By conducting interviews and analyzing posts from the page followers, travel bloggers, and influencers within the group, the research gathered qualitative data to understand Facebook's effectiveness in communicating and promoting domestic tourism amid the pandemic's restrictions. The study's primary objectives were to investigate the significance of Facebook posts in conveying vital domestic tourism information and to analyze how these posts served as a marketing tool during the of Covid 19 Pandemic period challenges in the tourism sector. Guided by Chaffey’s Theory of Social Media Marketing, the research employed a descriptive research design, allowing for the collection of in-depth data through interviews with 30 participants who are engaged followers and members of the Wanderlust Diaries Facebook page. The findings reveal that Facebook posts played a key role in creating awareness about domestic tourism, influencing interest in visiting local parks and attractions, and effectively marketing the tourism sector, even amid lockdowns and travel restrictions. This research underscores the immense potential of social media platforms, particularly Facebook, to promote tourism, providing valuable insights for businesses on how to utilize such platforms for effective marketing purposes. In conclusion, Facebook proved to be a vital tool in sustaining domestic tourism in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the significant value of social media as an effective and efficient marketing tool for the tourism industry in times of crisis.

Financial Resilience of Airlines During The Covid-19 Period

One of the sectors most adversely affected by the negative economic impacts of the pandemic has been airline transportation, primarily due to international travel restrictions. During this period, airline companies, facing significant revenue losses, also experienced substantial declines in their stock prices. This study focuses on the stock market performance related to the measurement of financial resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic exhibited by the top 10 airline companies in terms of market capitalization. The study aims to create a forecast for investors in similar adverse events that may occur in the future. In this context, firstly, a resistance index was created to measure companies' resistance score against the pandemic by comparing the average stock prices before and during the pandemic period with the benchmark indices they are included in. Additionally, a recovery index was created to measure the recovery scores of companies after the pandemic by measuring the change in average stock prices between the pandemic period and the post-pandemic period. The results have shown that the stocks of low-cost carriers exhibited a significantly better resistance to the adversities of the pandemic. Additionally, companies that were able to provide high supply to meet the revived demand post-pandemic and create operational differences demonstrated better recovery.