scholarly journals Breathing, virus transmission, and social distancing—An experimental visualization study

AIP Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 045205
Author(s):  
Venugopal Arumuru ◽  
Jangyadatta Pasa ◽  
Sidhartha Sankar Samantaray ◽  
Vaibhavsingh Surendrasingh Varma
Keyword(s):  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Social Distancing

scholarly journals Examining the interplay between face mask usage, asymptomatic transmission, and social distancing on the spread of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Catching ◽  
Sara Capponi ◽  
Ming Te Yeh ◽  
Simone Bianco ◽  
Raul Andino
Keyword(s):  
Social Distance ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
The Face ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
High Virus

AbstractCOVID-19’s high virus transmission rates have caused a pandemic that is exacerbated by the high rates of asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections. These factors suggest that face masks and social distance could be paramount in containing the pandemic. We examined the efficacy of each measure and the combination of both measures using an agent-based model within a closed space that approximated real-life interactions. By explicitly considering different fractions of asymptomatic individuals, as well as a realistic hypothesis of face masks protection during inhaling and exhaling, our simulations demonstrate that a synergistic use of face masks and social distancing is the most effective intervention to curb the infection spread. To control the pandemic, our models suggest that high adherence to social distance is necessary to curb the spread of the disease, and that wearing face masks provides optimal protection even if only a small portion of the population comply with social distance. Finally, the face mask effectiveness in curbing the viral spread is not reduced if a large fraction of population is asymptomatic. Our findings have important implications for policies that dictate the reopening of social gatherings.

scholarly journals A roadmap: Social distancing physical activity data collection to protect those with intellectual disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 174462952110096
Author(s):  
Whitley J Stone ◽  
Kayla M Baker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Physical Activity Data ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus may impact exercise habits of those with intellectual disabilities. Due to the mandated discontinuation of face-to-face research, investigators must adapt projects to protect all involved while collecting objective physical activity metrics. This brief report outlines a modification process of research methods to adhere to social distancing mandates present during COVID-19. Actions taken included electronic consent and assent forms, an electronic survey, and mailing an accelerometer with included instructions. The amended research methods were implemented without risk for virus transmission or undue burden on the research team, participant, or caregiver. Recruitment was likely impacted by the coronavirus-mediated quarantine, plausibly resulting in bias. Objective physical activity data collection can be sufficiently modified to protect those with intellectual disabilities and investigators. Future research designs may require greater participant incentives and the creation of in-home participation.

scholarly journals Simple mathematical models for controlling COVID-19 transmission through social distancing and community awareness

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed S. Elgazzar
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Small World ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Community Awareness ◽  
Sufficient Degree ◽  
And Control

Abstract The novel COVID-19 pandemic is a current, major global health threat. Up till now, there is no fully approved pharmacological treatment or a vaccine. Also, its origin is still mysterious. In this study, simple mathematical models were employed to examine the dynamics of transmission and control of COVID-19 taking into consideration social distancing and community awareness. Both situations of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous population were considered. Based on the calculations, a sufficient degree of social distancing based on its reproductive ratio is found to be effective in controlling COVID-19, even in the absence of a vaccine. With a vaccine, social distancing minimizes the sufficient vaccination rate to control the disease. Community awareness also has a great impact in eradicating the virus transmission. The model is simulated on small-world networks and the role of social distancing in controlling the infection is explained.

scholarly journals Face coverings and respiratory tract droplet dispersion

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 201663
Author(s):  
Lucia Bandiera ◽  
Geethanjali Pavar ◽  
Gabriele Pisetta ◽  
Shuji Otomo ◽  
Enzo Mangano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Laser Sheet ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Respiratory Droplets ◽  
Primary Transmission ◽  
Robust Evidence

Respiratory droplets are the primary transmission route for SARS-CoV-2, a principle which drives social distancing guidelines. Evidence suggests that virus transmission can be reduced by face coverings, but robust evidence for how mask usage might affect safe distancing parameters is lacking. Accordingly, we set out to quantify the effects of face coverings on respiratory tract droplet deposition. We tested an anatomically realistic manikin head which ejected fluorescent droplets of water and human volunteers, in speaking and coughing conditions without a face covering, or with a surgical mask or a single-layer cotton face covering. We quantified the number of droplets in flight using laser sheet illumination and UV-light for those that had landed at table height at up to 2 m. For human volunteers, expiratory droplets were caught on a microscope slide 5 cm from the mouth. Whether manikin or human, wearing a face covering decreased the number of projected droplets by less than 1000-fold. We estimated that a person standing 2 m from someone coughing without a mask is exposed to over 10 000 times more respiratory droplets than from someone standing 0.5 m away wearing a basic single-layer mask. Our results indicate that face coverings show consistent efficacy at blocking respiratory droplets and thus provide an opportunity to moderate social distancing policies. However, the methodologies we employed mostly detect larger (non-aerosol) sized droplets. If the aerosol transmission is later determined to be a significant driver of infection, then our findings may overestimate the effectiveness of face coverings.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Technology-Supported Distance Measuring to Ensure Safe Aircraft Boarding during COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8724
Author(s):  
Paul Schwarzbach ◽  
Julia Engelbrecht ◽  
Albrecht Michler ◽  
Michael Schultz ◽  
Oliver Michler
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Distance Estimation ◽  
Signal Strength ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Aircraft Cabins ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Cabin Environment

With the rise of COVID-19, the sustainability of air transport is a major challenge, as there is limited space in aircraft cabins, resulting in a higher risk of virus transmission. In order to detect possible chains of infection, technology-supported apps are used for social distancing. These COVID-19 applications are based on the display of the received signal strength for distance estimation, which is strongly influenced by the spreading environment due to the signal multipath reception. Therefore, we evaluate the applicability of technology-based social distancing methods in an aircraft cabin environment using a radio propagation simulation based on a three-dimensional aircraft model. We demonstrate the susceptibility to errors of the conventional COVID-19 distance estimation, which can lead to large errors in the determination of distances and to the impracticability of traditional tracing approaches during passenger boarding/deboarding. In the context of the future connected cabin, a robust distance measurement must be implemented to ensure safe travel. Finally, our results can be transferred to similar fields of application, e.g., trains or public transport.

scholarly journals Examining the Interplay between Face Mask Usage, Asymptomatic Transmission, and Social Distancing on the Spread of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Catching ◽  
Sara Capponi ◽  
Ming Te Yeh ◽  
Simone Bianco ◽  
Raul Andino
Keyword(s):  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Worldwide Population ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
High Virus

AbstractThe COVID-19 global crisis is facilitated by high virus transmission rates and high percentages of asymptomatic and presymptomatic infected individuals. Containing the pandemic hinged on combinations of social distancing and face mask use. Here we examine the efficacy of these measures, using an agent-based modeling approach that evaluates face masks and social distancing in realistic confined spaces scenarios. By explicitly considering different fractions of asymptomatic individuals, as well as a realistic hypothesis of face mask protection during inhaling and exhaling, we find that face masks are more effective than social distancing in curbing the infection. Importantly, combining face masks with even moderate social distancing provides optimal protection. The finding that widespread usage of face masks limits COVID-19 outbreaks can inform policies to reopening of social functions.Author summaryThe COVID-19 outbreak has created an enormous burden on the worldwide population. Among the various ways of preventing the spread of the virus, face masks have been proposed as a main way of reducing transmission. Yet, the interplay between the usage of face mask and other forms of Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention is still not completely clear. In this paper we introduce a stochastic individual-based model which aims at producing realistic scenarios of disease spread when mask wearing with different inward and outward efficacy and social distancing are enforced. The model elucidates the conditions which make the two forms of intervention synergistic in preventing the spread of the disease.

scholarly journals COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR TOWARDS SOCIAL DISTANCING POLICY AS PREVENTION TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 IN INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Budi Yanti ◽  
Eko Wahyudi ◽  
Wahiduddin Wahiduddin ◽  
Revi Gama Hatta Novika ◽  
Yuliana Mahdiyah Da’at Arina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Social Media Networks ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV2 recently became a pandemic worldwide, such as in Indonesia. Social distancing is one of the recommended mitigations to reduce the risk of disasters, such as morbidity and mortality caused by COVID-19. Community compliance with social distancing is a part of the pandemic control.Aims: This study identified knowledge, attitudes, and behavior towards the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic among Indonesian community.Methods: This descriptive study applied a cross-sectional design and distributed closed questions with online  questionnaire randomly to 34 provinces in Indonesia on social media networks and e-mail. This study successfully collected 1,102 respondents from 29 provinces in Indonesia. The data were analyzed descriptively by calculating frequency, percentage, and cross-tabulation.Results: This study had successfully identified  99%, 59%, and 93% of respondents with good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good behavior respectively towards  social distancing..Among the respondents who had good knowledge showed positive attitudes (58.85%) and good behavior (93.3%). The respondents who had positive attitudes showed good behavior (96.7%).behaviorConclusion: Indonesian community had good knowledge, attitude and behavior towards social distancing as a way to prevent the virus transmission. This strongly supports disaster mitigation in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Keywords: attitudes, behavior, COVID-19, knowledge, social distancing.

scholarly journals A Modelling Analysis of Strategies for Relaxing COVID-19 Social Distancing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J Milne ◽  
Simon Xie ◽  
Dana Poklepovich
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Optimal Strategies ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Modelling Analysis ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Individual Based Simulation ◽  
Robust Measures ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackgroundThe ability of countries to contain and control COVID-19 virus transmission via social distancing is critical in the absence of a vaccine. Early activation of robust measures has been shown to control the daily infection rate, and consequential pressure on the health care system. As countries begin to control COVID-19 spread an understanding of how to ease social distancing measures to prevent a rebound in cases and deaths is required.MethodsUsing COVID-19 transmission data from the outbreak source in Hubei Province, China prior to activation of containment measures, we adapted an established individual-based simulation model of the city of Newcastle, Australia. Simulation of virus transmission in this model, with and without, social distancing measures activated permitted us to quantify social distancing effectiveness. Optimal strategies for relaxing social distancing were determined under two settings: with high numbers of daily cases, as in New York; and where early social distancing activation resulted in limited ongoing transmission, as in Perth, Australia.FindingsIn countries where strong social distancing measures were activated after the COVID-19 virus had spread widely, our study found these measures are required to be maintained for significant periods before being eased, to return to a situation where daily case numbers become low. In countries where early responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been highly successful, as in Australia, we show that a staged relaxation of social distancing prevents a rebound in cases.InterpretationModelling studies and direct observation have shown that robust and timely social distancing have the most effect in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Questions arise as to the duration of strong social distancing measures, given they are highly disruptive to society and economic activity. This study demonstrates the necessity of holding robust social distancing in place until COVID-19 virus transmission has significantly decreased, and how they may then be safely eased.

scholarly journals Trait Mindful Nonreactivity and Nonjudgment Prospectively Predict of COVID-19 Health Protective Behaviors Across a Two-Month Interval in a USA Sample

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H OBrien ◽  
Shan Wang ◽  
Aniko Viktoria Varga ◽  
Chung Xiann Lim ◽  
Huanzhen Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Social Distancing

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a growing recommendation for social distancing and using personal protective equipment (PPE) to help mitigate the virus transmission. Previous studies have shown promising relationships between perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, mindfulness-related variables, and COVID-19 health protective behaviors (social distancing and PPE use). In this longitudinal study, the variables were measured across a two-month interval during the earlier phase of the pandemic in June (Time 1) and August (Time 2), 2020. The results from 151 matched USA MTurk participants indicated that the perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 did not significantly predict the health protective behaviors. For mindfulness, nonreactivity was positively related to PPE use while nonjudgement was negatively related to PPE use. Accordingly, mindfulness promotion messages could be a way to increase the likelihood of people performing health protective behaviors to better constrain the COVID-19 outbreak.

scholarly journals Viral dispersion in open air

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella Trombini Machado ◽  
Claudia Ramos de Carvalho Pinto ◽  
Luisa Andrea Villanueva da Fonseca ◽  
Taissa Cristina dos Santos Ramos ◽  
Tuanny Fernanda Pereira Paggi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Viral Transmission ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Petri Dishes

ABSTRACTThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has revived the debate about the routes of virus transmission and their likelihoods. It is of utmost importance to assess the risks of contamination of susceptible people by infectious individuals and to evaluate the level of viral transmission in the community. Most countries have imposed non-pharmaceutical measures to contain SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including social distancing and mask wearing. Here we evaluated the spreading of viruses in open air using harmless Escherichia coli bacteriophages as a surrogate. Phages were sprayed towards Petri dishes seeded with bacteria at different lengths and angles. Median droplets size was 127 µm, similar to those produced by sneeze. Our results showed that the transmission rate decreased exponentially with distance. The highest recorded transmission rate was 9 × 10−6 PFU/plate when phages were sprayed from a 1 m distance, suggesting that the probability of transmission of a single virus at a 1 m distance is 1:100,000. These results agree with the WHO recommendation that face mask protection in an uncrowded well-ventilated space is not required.

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