Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexander Bruckhaus, Aubrey Martinez, Rachael Garner, Marianna La Rocca, Dominique Duncan
Summary: On average, infection rates increased significantly as businesses reopened. The average 14-day change in infection rate was higher for fully reopened businesses compared to partially reopened businesses. This research provides insights into COVID-19 transmission and supports evidence-driven policymaking for disease prevention and community health.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ashley O'Donoghue, Tenzin Dechen, Whitney Pavlova, Michael Boals, Garba Moussa, Manvi Madan, Aalok Thakkar, Frank J. DeFalco, Jennifer P. Stevens
Summary: This study used anonymized cell-phone data to create a Business Risk Index to quantify the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in businesses. It found that potentially risky traffic behaviors at businesses decreased by 30% in April but has been increasing since the end of April as states reopen. There are notable differences in trends across states and industries.
NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Serina Chang, Emma Pierson, Pang Wei Koh, Jaline Gerardin, Beth Redbird, David Grusky, Jure Leskovec
Summary: The study introduces a SEIR model that integrates fine-grained, dynamic mobility networks to simulate the spread of COVID-19 in the ten largest US metropolitan areas. By accurately fitting the real case trajectory, the model identifies the effectiveness of restricting maximum occupancy at locations for curbing infections and reveals the contributions of mobility-related mechanisms to higher infection rates among disadvantaged socioeconomic and racial groups.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Misganu Endriyas, Belete Woldemariam, Endashaw Shibru, Mamush Hussen, Bersabeh Bedru, Mathewos Moges, Mintesinot Melka, Fiseha Lemango, Male Mate, Tesfaye Lejiso, Biruk Gebremedhin, Alemu Tolcha, Biniam Shiferaw, Girma Wondimu, Tesfatsion Terefe, Sinafikish Ayele, Tebeje Misganaw, Teka Samuel, Temesgen Kelaye, Agegnehu Gebru, Amare Assefa, Wogene Getachew, Bereket Yalew, Dereje Geleta
Summary: School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had a negative impact on children's education, protection, and wellbeing. This study conducted in Southern Ethiopia aimed to investigate the status of schools in the region. The findings revealed that the general infection prevention and water, sanitation and hygiene (IPC-WASH) status of schools were poor, and the COVID-19 specific preparations were inadequate to meet national reopening conditions.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jinghui Yang, Guobin Yang, Runze Jin, Guangtai Song, Guohua Yuan
Summary: This study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric dental services. The study found that there were no COVID-19 infections among medical staff or patients during dental services. Compared to 2019, there was a decrease in the number of visits and changes in age distribution, as well as significant changes in certain diagnostic categories.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ka-Ming Tam, Nicholas Walker, Juana Moreno
Summary: In the US, different states have adopted different policies and timing for easing COVID-19 mitigation measures, resulting in significant differences between actual death counts and projected figures. The study finds that mandating face masks shows the strongest correlation with the number of deaths.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lingyao Li, Abdolmajid Erfani, Yu Wang, Qingbin Cui
Summary: The debate over reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic on social media is rooted in concerns about the economy and social inequality. Analysis of over 1.5 million Twitter postings reveals that temporal and spatial factors play a role in shaping public perception toward reopening policies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Frazier, J. Massey Cashore, Ning Duan, Shane G. Henderson, Alyf Janmohamed, Brian Liu, David B. Shmoys, Jiayue Wan, Yujia Zhang
Summary: This study discusses the design of COVID-19 interventions in university populations and presents a case study of Cornell University's decision to reopen for in-person instruction based on an epidemiological model. It demonstrates how risk can be minimized despite parameter uncertainty and provides insights for other university settings.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Sophia Schiza, Anita Simonds, Winfried Randerath, Francesco Fanfulla, Dries Testelmans, Ludger Grote, Joseph M. Montserrat, Jean-Louis Pepin, Johan Verbraecken, Refika Ersu, Maria R. Bonsignore
Summary: Clinical activities related to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in Europe were disrupted during the initial phase of the COVID-19 epidemic, but have gradually restarted based on epidemiological phases and national recommendations. The recent rise in cases in Europe has prompted a reconsideration of SDB management strategies. Diagnosing and treating SDB pose specific challenges that need to be addressed for patient and healthcare personnel safety. The use of telemedicine is expected to grow in sleep medicine to minimize risks and provide optimal care, highlighting the need for a consensus document to harmonize SDB management across Europe.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Tian Liang, Haamid S. Chamdawala, Ee Tein Tay, Jennifer Chao, Muhammad Waseem, Horton Lee, David Mortel, Konstantinos Agoritsas, Hugo O. Teo, James A. Meltzer
Summary: Pediatric emergency department visits at NYC public hospitals experienced a significant decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the severity of patient cases increased. After the reopening, there was an increase in visits, but it did not reach pre-pandemic levels. Understanding these changes is crucial for optimizing resource allocation and preparing for future surge events.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jakub Svoboda, Josef Tkadlec, Andreas Pavlogiannis, Krishnendu Chatterjee, Martin A. Nowak
Summary: Motivated by COVID-19, a study develops and analyzes a simple stochastic model to study the spread of disease in a population. The research finds that strict lockdown or swift reaction is necessary to control the demand on hospital system. Additionally, patience in reopening and coordination between neighboring countries are important.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan Seamus McGee, Julian R. Homburger, Hannah E. Williams, Carl T. Bergstrom, Alicia Y. Zhou
Summary: Research indicates that measures such as student cohorting, proactive testing of teachers and staff, and weekly testing of students can effectively reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. Controlling outbreaks in secondary schools, where students are more susceptible to infection and have different social interaction patterns, poses greater challenges. Additionally, other mitigation strategies like mask wearing, social distancing, and improved ventilation remain crucial components of any reopening plan.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ling Zhong
Summary: Simulating COVID-19 scenarios reveals that external policies vary in effectiveness for reopening, as they can either substitute each other or complement internal policies. Relaxing both channels simultaneously could trigger a new wave of COVID-19 and result in significant economic costs. This emphasizes the importance of quantitative assessment prior to implementing reopening strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pedro Nascimento de Lima, Robert Lempert, Raffaele Vardavas, Lawrence Baker, Jeanne Ringel, Carolyn M. Rutter, Jonathan Ozik, Nicholson Collier
Summary: This study uses the Robust Decision Making approach to test 78 alternative reopening strategies, revealing that seemingly sensible plans can lead to unnecessary COVID-19 deaths and intervention days under uncertainty. Strategies with time-varying reopening thresholds might be more effective than those with fixed case thresholds. This approach is particularly relevant for areas with slower vaccination roll-out and can be applied to other public health policy problems requiring robust decisions in the face of uncertainty.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Di Domenico, Giulia Pullano, Chiara E. Sabbatini, Pierre-Yves Boelle, Vittoria Colizza
Summary: The study finds that reopening schools after lockdown may increase COVID-19 cases, but protocols and preventive measures can help control the epidemic. It is recommended to prioritize the reopening of preschools and primary schools, while full attendance in middle and high schools is not advised. Large-scale testing and tracing are necessary to keep the epidemic under control.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
