scholarly journals The SARS-CoV-2 ‘perfect storm’: from humble betacoronavirus to global pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Annaleise R Howard-Jones ◽  
Jen Kok
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Perfect Storm

The novel betacoronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global pandemic unprecedented in modern times. Understanding the key features that have enabled this virus to propagate so widely in the global community is critical to current and future clinical and public health efforts. High proportions of mild disease and peak viral loads at, and likely prior to, symptom onset have hindered efforts to identify and isolate infected persons effectively, facilitating undetected spread of the virus. In countries with limited diagnostic and/or contact tracing capabilities, population-wide transmission escalated beyond a critical threshold, challenging even well-developed healthcare systems. This ‘perfect storm’ for transmissibility has led to widespread outbreaks and deaths in many regions around the world. Extensive testing and contact tracing, together with Australia’s geographic advantage, tightening of international travel restrictions, physical distancing and public health messaging measures, have contributed to limiting the extent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread in the country, but recent case escalation in Victoria highlights the country’s vulnerability to future outbreaks due to low population immunity.

scholarly journals Molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Greece reveals low rates of onward virus transmission after lifting of travel restrictions based on risk assessment during summer 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Georgia Kostaki ◽  
Georgios A. Pavlopoulos ◽  
Kleio-Maria Verrou ◽  
Giannis Ampatziadis-Michailidis ◽  
Vaggelis Harokopos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Molecular Epidemiology ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
The Impact

AbstractMolecular epidemiology has provided an additive value to traditional public health tools by identifying SARS-CoV-2 clusters, or providing evidence that clusters based on virus sequences and contact tracing are highly concordant. Our aim was to infer the levels of virus importation and to estimate the impact of public health measures related to travel restrictions to local transmission in Greece. Our phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses included 389 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected during the first 7 months of the pandemic in Greece and a random collection in 5 replicates of 3,000 sequences sampled globally, as well as the best hits to our dataset identified by BLAST. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of 70 genetically distinct viruses identified as independent introductions into Greece. The proportion of imported strains was 41%, 11.5%, and 8.8% during the three periods of sampling, namely, March (no travel restrictions), April to June (strict travel restrictions), and July to September (lifting of travel restrictions based on a thorough risk assessment), respectively. These findings reveal low levels of onward transmission from imported cases during summer and underscore the importance of targeted public health measures that can increase the safety of international travel during a pandemic.

scholarly journals The first 100 days of SARS-CoV-2 control in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thai Quang Pham ◽  
Maia Rabaa ◽  
Luong Huy Duong ◽  
Tan Quang Dang ◽  
Quang Dai Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Steering Committee ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Travel Restrictions

Background: One hundred days after SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in Vietnam on January 23rd, 270 cases have been confirmed, with no deaths. We describe the control measures used and their relationship with imported and domestically-acquired case numbers. Methods: Data on the first 270 SARS-CoV-2 infected cases and the timing and nature of control measures were captured by Vietnam's National Steering Committee for COVID-19 response. Apple and Google mobility data provided population movement proxies. Serial intervals were calculated from 33 infector-infectee pairs and used to estimate the proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission events and time-varying reproduction numbers. Results: After the first confirmed case on January 23rd, the Vietnamese Government initiated mass communications measures, contact tracing, mandatory 14-day quarantine, school and university closures, and progressive flight restrictions. A national lockdown was implemented between April 1st and 22nd. Around 200,000 people were quarantined and 266,122 RT-PCR tests conducted. Population mobility decreased progressively before lockdown. 60% (163/270) of cases were imported; 43% (89/208) of resolved infections were asymptomatic. 21 developed severe disease, with no deaths. The serial interval was 3.24 days, and 27.5% (95% confidence interval, 15.7%-40.0%) of transmissions occurred pre-symptomatically. Limited transmission amounted to a maximum reproduction number of 1.15 (95% confidence interval, 0.37-2.36). No community transmission has been detected since April 15th. Conclusions: Vietnam has controlled SARS-CoV-2 spread through the early introduction of communication, contact-tracing, quarantine, and international travel restrictions. The value of these interventions is supported by the high proportion of asymptomatic cases and imported cases, and evidence for substantial pre-symptomatic transmission.

scholarly journals Taiwan’s Successful COVID-19 Mitigation and Containment Strategy: Achieving Quasi Population Immunity

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Chien Chien ◽  
Christian K. Beÿ ◽  
Kristi L. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Containment Strategy ◽  
Local Transmission ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

ABSTRACT The authors describe Taiwan’s successful strategy in achieving control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) without economic shutdown, despite the prediction that millions of infections would be imported from travelers returning from Chinese New Year celebrations in Mainland China in early 2020. As of September 2, 2020, Taiwan reports 489 cases, 7 deaths, and no locally acquired COVID-19 cases for the last 135 days (greater than 4 months) in its population of over 23.8 million people. Taiwan created quasi population immunity through the application of established public health principles. These non-pharmaceutical interventions, including public masking and social distancing, coupled with early and aggressive identification, isolation, and contact tracing to inhibit local transmission, represent a model for optimal public health management of COVID-19 and future emerging infectious diseases.

COVID-19 crisis risks deeper European rifts on privacy

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Digital Strategy ◽  
Mass Surveillance ◽  
The Eu

Subject New privacy guidelines. Significance The EU wants contact tracing apps for tackling COVID-19 to be effective, secure and privacy-compliant. Its efforts have exposed how its existing rules on data are adapting (or not) to the extraordinary public health crisis. Impacts Fear of mass surveillance and data breaches will reduce public participation in tracer apps, casting doubts over their effectiveness. The EU’s digital strategy, notably in terms of reviewing the effectiveness of GDPR, may be rethought in response to the COVID-19 crisis. If tracer apps are not inter-operable across national borders, lifting intra-EU travel restrictions will become harder.

scholarly journals Virtual Capacity Building for International Research Collaborations in Times of COVID-19 and #Flygskam

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Richter ◽  
Elizabeth Gabe-Thomas ◽  
Carya Maharja ◽  
Thu Ha Nguyen ◽  
Quyen Van Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Collaborations ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Collaboration And Communication ◽  
New Situation

In the wake of the current global pandemic, international travel is restricted. This poses substantial challenges for research relationships aiming to build capacity and foster co-creation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, where global collaboration and communication is paramount. This is especially challenging when it comes to interactive dialogues that go beyond the typical one-way structure of online learning. Considerations on structural, technical and behavioral levels are needed to not only deal with these challenges but rather to take advantage of the new situation. This commentary outlines the lessons learned from an internationally operating project, co-developed to cope with travel restrictions. We discuss implications for future reduction of international travel to reduce carbon in the context of climate change.

scholarly journals An integrated analysis of contact tracing and genomics to assess the efficacy of travel restrictions on SARS-CoV-2 introduction and transmission in England from June to September, 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Aggarwal ◽  
Andrew J Page ◽  
Ulf Schaefer ◽  
George M Savva ◽  
Richard Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Median Number ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Travel Restriction

Background: Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from international travel is a priority. Travellers from countries with travel restrictions (closed travel-corridors) were required to quarantine for 14 days over Summer 2020 in England. We describe the genomic epidemiology of travel-related cases in England and evaluate the effectiveness of this travel policy. Methods: Between 27/05/2020 and 13/09/2020, probable travel-related SARS-CoV-2 cases and their contacts were identified and combined with UK SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data. The epidemiology and demographics of cases was identified, and the number of contacts per case modelled using negative binomial regression to estimate the effect of travel restriction, and any variation by age, sex and calendar date. Unique travel-related SARS-CoV-2 genomes in the COG-UK dataset were identified to estimate the effect travel restrictions on cluster size generated from these. The Polecat Clustering Tool was used to identify a travel-related SARS-CoV-2 cluster of infection. Findings: 4,207 travel-related SARS-CoV-2 cases are identified. 51.2% (2155/4207) of cases reported travel to one of three countries; 21.0% (882) Greece, 16.3% (685) Croatia and 14.0% (589) Spain. Median number of contacts per case was 3 (IQR 1-5), and greatest for the 16-20 age-group (9.0, 95% C.I.=5.6-14.5), which saw the largest attenuation by travel restriction. Travel restriction was associated with a 40% (rate ratio=0.60, 95% C.I.=0.37-0.95) lower rate of contacts. 827/4207 (19.7%) of cases had high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes available. Fewer genomically-linked cases were observed for index cases related to countries with travel restrictions compared to cases from non-travel restriction countries (rate ratio=0.17, 95% C.I.=0.05-0.52). A large travel-related cluster dispersed across England is identified through genomics, confirmed with contact-tracing data. Interpretation: This study demonstrates the efficacy of travel restriction policy in reducing the onward transmission of imported cases. Funding: Wellcome Trust, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK Research & Innovation, National Institute of Health Research, Wellcome Sanger Institute.

scholarly journals Global lessons and Potential strategies in combating COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yimam Getaneh ◽  
Ajanaw Yizengaw ◽  
Sisasy Adane ◽  
Kidist Zealiyas ◽  
Zelalem Abate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Case Definitions

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly emerging disease that has been classified a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the absence of treatment for this virus, there is an urgent need to find alternative public health strategies to control the spread. Here, we have conducted an online search for all relevant public health interventions for COVID-19. We then characterize and summarize the global COVID-19 pandemic situation and recommend potential mitigation strategies in the context of Ethiopia.MethodsInitial search of Pub Med central and Google scholar was undertaken followed by analysis of the text words; COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2, Global lessons and Pandemic; A second search using all identified keywords including COVID-19, Epidemiology, Sociocultural, Ethiopia; thirdly, the reference list of all identified reports and articles were searched. Accordingly, of the 1,402 articles, 39 were included in the analysis for this review.ResultCountries COVID-19 mitigation strategies widely varied. The most common global COVID-19 mitigation strategies include; whole of government approach including individual, community and environmental measures, detecting and isolating cases, contact tracing and quarantine, social and physical distancing measures including for mass gatherings and international travel measures. Models revealed that, social and physical distancing alone could prevent the pandemic from 60-95%, if timely and effectively implemented. Moreover, detecting and isolation of cases were found to be crucial while access to testing was found to the global challenge. Individual measures including proper hand washing were also reported to be effective measures in preventing the pandemic. Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 ranged from 25% to 80% and as a result, countries are revising the case definition for early detection of mild symptomatic cases of COVID-19 with inclusion of Chills, Muscle pain and new loss of taste or smell in addition to Cough, Shortness of breath, Fever and Sore throat. Global reports also revealed that the incubation period of COVID-19 could go to 24 days. Ethiopia is also unique in the aspects of sociocultural prospects while more than 99.3% of the population has a religion. Moreover, 69% of the population is under the age of 29 years old and the health policy in the country focused on prevention and primary health care. All these could be potential entries and opportunities to combat COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Ethiopia.ConclusionWhile recommendations may change depending on the level of outbreak, we conclude that in Most countries have benefited from early interventions and in setups like Africa including Ethiopia where health system capability is limited, community engagement supported by local evidence with strict implementation of social and physical distancing measures is mandatory. Active involvement of religious Institutions and mobilizing youth could be entry to increase public awareness in mitigating COVID-19. Community level case detection could enhance early identification of cases which could be implemented through the health extension program. Isolation and quarantine beyond 14 days could help identify long term carriers of COVID-19. Validation and use of rapid test kits could be vital to increase access for testing. Revision of case definitions for COVID-19 could be important for early detection and identification of mild symptomatic cases.

scholarly journals Containing SARS-CoV-2 in Belize

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Habet ◽  
Diomne Habet ◽  
Gliselle Marin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Central America ◽  
National Level ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Caribbean Country ◽  
Community Transmission

Belize is a small Caribbean country in Central America with limited resources in public health. Amidst a global pandemic, urgent attention was given to mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in order to prevent a public health catastrophe. Early intervention on a national level was key to preventing the importation of cases and subsequent community transmission. Limiting the conglomeration of people, implementation of curfews, closures of school and universities, government-mandated social distancing, and extensive contact tracing may have mitigated the exponential spread of COVID-19. Mandatory mask-wearing in public may have helped to prevent spread between asymptomatic carriers to susceptible individuals. A low population density may have also contributed to containing the virus.

scholarly journals Identifying Synergistic Interventions to Address COVID-19 Using a Large Scale Agent-Based Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjiang Li ◽  
Philippe J. Giabbanelli
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Factorial Design Of Experiments ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThere is a range of public health tools and interventions to address the global pandemic of COVID-19. Although it is essential for public health efforts to comprehensively identify which interventions have the largest impact on preventing new cases, most of the modeling studies that support such decision-making efforts have only considered a very small set of interventions. In addition, previous studies predominantly considered interventions as independent or examined a single scenario in which every possible intervention was applied. Reality has been more nuanced, as a subset of all possible interventions may be in effect for a given time period, in a given place. In this paper, we use cloud-based simulations and a previously published Agent-Based Model of COVID-19 (Covasim) to measure the individual and interacting contribution of interventions on reducing new infections in the US over 6 months. Simulated interventions include face masks, working remotely, stay-at-home orders, testing, contact tracing, and quarantining. Through a factorial design of experiments, we find that mask wearing together with transitioning to remote work/schooling has the largest impact. Having sufficient capacity to immediately and effectively perform contact tracing has a smaller contribution, primarily via interacting effects.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps: A Technologic Tower of Babel and the Gap for International Pandemic Control

10.2196/23194 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e23194
Author(s):  
Li Du ◽  
Vera Lúcia Raposo ◽  
Meng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Tower Of Babel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Legal Barriers ◽  
National Borders

As the world struggles with the new COVID-19 pandemic, contact tracing apps of various types have been adopted in many jurisdictions for combating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, even if they are successful in containing the virus within national borders, these apps are becoming ineffective as international travel is gradually resumed. The problem rests in the plurality of apps and their inability to operate in a synchronized manner, as well as the absence of an international entity with the power to coordinate and analyze the information collected by the disparate apps. The risk of creating a useless Tower of Babel of COVID-19 contact tracing apps is very real, endangering global health. This paper analyzes legal barriers for realizing the interoperability of contact tracing apps and emphasizes the need for developing coordinated solutions to promote safe international travel and global pandemic control.

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