scholarly journals Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Key Mutations in Vienna Detected by Large Scale Screening Program

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2014
Author(s):  
Jakob Thannesberger ◽  
Anna Edermayr ◽  
Alireza Karimi ◽  
Mathias Mueller ◽  
Ursula Karnthaler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Unbiased Manner ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
The Government

Currently countries across the globe are preparing for the fourth wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, which is mainly driven by the rapid spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Austria and, in particular, the capital city of Vienna, witnessed a disproportionally steep rise in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates during the last wave of infections. By the end of January 2021, the government of Vienna launched an innovative, state-wide SARS-CoV-2 screening program based on PCR analysis of self-collected mouthwash samples. More than 400,000 mouthwash samples were collected in Vienna during the third wave of infection from January to March 2021. All preanalytical and analytical steps were carried out in a highly standardized manner at a single certified testing center. SARS-CoV-2 specific PCR analysis revealed in these samples a positivity rate of 0.43%. The relative proportion of N501Y positive virus samples increased continually to 68% of weekly samples. Mutation K417N was detected only in three samples. With this study, we were able to map the temporal occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in a highly unbiased manner. Positivity rates and variant prevalence rates in this study were lower than in other nationwide programs. The results presented in this study indicate that actual virus prevalence tends to be overestimated by surveillance programs such as results of cluster analysis or contact tracing programs.

Cross-contamination in molecular laboratories: A challenge to COVID-19 testing in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Jahidur Rahman Khan ◽  
◽  
Selim Reza ◽  
Farzana Mim ◽  
Md Abdullah Rumman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Diagnostic Errors ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
The Government

Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the management of COVID-19 patients and control of the spread of the virus. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had only one government molecular laboratory where real-time RT-PCR will be performed to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection. With the increasing number of suspected cases requiring confirmation diagnostic testing, there was a requirement to quickly expand capacity for large-scale testing. The government of Bangladesh established over 100 molecular laboratories within one year to test COVID-19. To fulfil the requirement for expanded testing, the government was compelled to recruit laboratory employees with inadequate experience, technical knowledge, and skills in molecular assays, particularly in processing specimens, interpreting results, recognizing errors, and troubleshooting. As a result, the risk of diagnostic errors, such as cross-contamination, is increased, as is that the risk of false-positive results, which might risk the patient’s health and undermine the efficacy of public health policies, public health response, surveillance programs, and restrictive measures aimed toward containing the outbreak. This review article aims to explain different sources of crosscontamination in the COVID-19 RT-PCR laboratories and the way to forestall them in efficient and practical ways.

scholarly journals Confronting the Moscow Healthcare System with the Shocks of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Aleksandr N. Tsibin ◽  
Munira F. Latypova ◽  
Olga I. Ivanushkina
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
The Government ◽  
Challenging Situation

Introduction. Transmissible coronavirus SARS-CoV-2I is the seventh known coronavirus that causes an acute infectious disease predominantly affecting the lungs (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious gaps in health systems preparedness. The epidemic urgently required priority organizational measures to contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Public health authorities had to make decisions in a challenging situation where there was a lack of knowledge, experience, and great confidence, and the number of infected was steadily increasing. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to present the unique experience of Moscow in organizing a large-scale laboratory examination of the population of a metropolis with about 12.6 million inhabitants to meet the needs of the capital in testing for SARS-CoV-2 virus and combating its circulation in conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. The decisions made and the measures taken by the Government of Moscow, the Moscow Operational Staff, the DZM and the DZM Laboratory Service to slow the growth of the COVID-19 epidemic among the population of the capital are listed step-by-step. Results. In the course of organizational activities, sufficient capacity to maintain the public health infrastructure in terms of laboratory diagnosis of the new coronavirus infection was ensured by the joint efforts. Safe laboratory diagnostics for detecting, treating, and isolating COVID-19 cases and contacts have been established in the capital city. Thanks to the successful implementation of timely decisions, the spread of infection in the city of Moscow has been slowed. The Moscow government has reported a steady decline in cases of the new coronavirus disease and most hospitals have switched to a safe treatment regimen for patients requiring hospitalization. Centralized laboratories with readiness to perform screening and referral studies for COVID-19 outbreaks have been established within the structure of the DZM.

scholarly journals “Scuola Sicura”: a school screening program to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students in Piedmont, Italy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Farina ◽  
Ilenia Eboli ◽  
Teresa Spadea ◽  
Carlo Saugo ◽  
Lorenzo Richiardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
School Screening

Abstract ObjectivesThe regional government of Piedmont approved an experimental screening testing program entitled “Scuola Sicura” with the aim to: rapidly contain thes spread of COVID-19 in the school population together with general mitigation strategies such as contact tracing, and case isolation, and to monitor the transmission rate in this population. In this paper we report the initial process and outcome evaluation results and the criticalities encountered during program rollout.DesignDescriptive study of the trend in the period Janaury-March 2021.The evaluation of the preventive capacity of the program is limited to the period of in-class learning. The data sources used are the COVID-19 platform Piedmont, the archives of the local health Departments and the CedAP-SDO archive. Setting and participantsThe screening program targeted second and third grade students in first level secondary schools throughout Piedmont. Each class was subdivided into four groups; one group each week underwent screening, yielding one test per student per month.Main outcome measuresThe following indices were calculated with a 95% confidence interval: 1. number of positive cases detected vs. total number of students tested in the “Scuola Sicura” program;2. number of positive cases detected outside the “Scuola Sicura” program vs total number of students enrolled in the 2nd and 3rd grades of first-level secondary schools in Piedmont.To evaluate the preventive capacity, quarantines were detected. In order to investigate the spread of COVID-19 in households, the mother-child pair was tracked and cases of positivity among mothers were identified. Results69% of schools in Piedmont participated in the program; the actual participation was 19.5% of the total number of students enrolled in second and third grades of first-level secondary schools. SS detected 114 positives cases for SARS-CoV-2, yielding a prevalence of 0.52% (95%CI 0.42-0.61) when calculated for the total number of students tested by the program. Starting from 08.03.2021, the target classes have started distance learning: 69 of the 114 positive students were identified before that date, leading to the activation of 67 quarantine measures. For 61 of the 69 cases (88%) identified by SS before 8 March, the mother-child couple was reconstruncted through record linkage between the CedAP and SDO archives. Forty-six mothers perfomed a swab test after that of the child with a positive result in 24% of cases (n=11). Asymptomatic cases identified at screening accounted for 26.5% of the total number of cases occurred in the participating classes.ConclusionsThis is one of the few studies (and the first in Italy) to describe the functioning and predictive capacity of school screening testing for COVID-19 in a real-world situation. Our findings provide data-driven suggestions for government agencies when planning large-scale school screening testing programs. When well organized and implemented jointly with other transmission prevention measures and contact tracing, school screening may be a viable strategy to keep schools open when high levels of the virus are circulating in the community.

scholarly journals A National Survey of attitudes to COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing in the Republic of Ireland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Edmund O'Callaghan ◽  
Jim Buckley ◽  
Brian Fitzgerald ◽  
Kevin Johnson ◽  
John Laffey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Survey ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background: Contact tracing remains a critical part of controlling the spread of COVID-19. Many countries have developed novel software applications (Apps) in an effort to augment traditional contact tracing methods. Aim: To conduct a national survey of the Irish population to examine barriers and levers to the use of a contact tracing App.Methods: Adult participants were invited to respond via an online survey weblink sent via email and messaging Apps and posted on our university website and on popular social media platforms. Results: A total of 8,088 responses were received, with all 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland represented. 54% of respondents said they would definitely download a contact tracing App, while 30% said they would probably download a contact tracing App. 95% of respondents identified at least one reason for them to download the App, with the most common reasons being the potential for the App to help family members and friends and a sense of responsibility to the wider community. 59% identified at least one reason not to download the App, with the most common reasons being fear that technology companies or the government might use the App technology for greater surveillance after the pandemic.Conclusion: Irish citizens surveyed express high levels of willingness to download a public health-backed App to augment contact tracing. Concerns raised regarding privacy and data security will be critical if the App is to achieve the large-scale adoption and ongoing use required for its effective operation.

scholarly journals Psychological factors shaping public responses to COVID-19 digital contact tracing technologies in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Kozyreva ◽  
Philipp Lorenz-Spreen ◽  
Stephan Lewandowsky ◽  
Paul M. Garrett ◽  
Stefan M. Herzog ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Government ◽  
A Chain

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has seen one of the first large-scale uses of digital contact tracing to track a chain of infection and contain the spread of a virus. The new technology has posed challenges both for governments aiming at high and effective uptake and for citizens weighing its benefits (e.g., protecting others’ health) against the potential risks (e.g., loss of data privacy). Our cross-sectional survey with repeated measures across four samples in Germany ($$N = 4357$$ N = 4357 ) focused on psychological factors contributing to the public adoption of digital contact tracing. We found that public acceptance of privacy-encroaching measures (e.g., granting the government emergency access to people’s medical records or location tracking data) decreased over the course of the pandemic. Intentions to use contact tracing apps—hypothetical ones or the Corona-Warn-App launched in Germany in June 2020—were high. Users and non-users of the Corona-Warn-App differed in their assessment of its risks and benefits, in their knowledge of the underlying technology, and in their reasons to download or not to download the app. Trust in the app’s perceived security and belief in its effectiveness emerged as psychological factors playing a key role in its adoption. We incorporate our findings into a behavioral framework for digital contact tracing and provide policy recommendations.

scholarly journals Efektifitas Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB) di Kota Bekasi Dalam Mengatasi COVID-19 dengan Model Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
Rahmadya Trias Handayanto ◽  
Herlawati Herlawati
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Sir Model ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Spread Rate ◽  
The Government ◽  
The City

Abstract   To overcome the COVID-19 outbreak, the government did not carry out the lockdown policy (regional quarantine policy) but implemented the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy. Starting from the capital city of Jakarta, this policy was followed by other regions. Bekasi City as a buffer zone of Jakarta immediately implemented the PSBB policy since this area is close to Jakarta and is feared to be affected by the Jakarta region which is a red zone with almost half of Indonesian COVID-19 cases are in the Jakarta area. Many people do not agree with the PSBB, but in order to keep the economic growth as well as to overcome the outbreak, the government does not adopt a regional quarantine policy. To determine the effectiveness of PSBB in the city of Bekasi, this study tried to use the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model to measure the spread rate of COVID-19. The results showed a decrease in the number of infected cases with beta and gamma were 0.071 and 0.05, respectively, and the epidemic was predicted to end in June 2020.   Keywords: coronavirus, epidemic, pandemic, regional quarantine policy, Bekasi City   Abstrak   Dalam mengatasi wabah COVID-19, pemerintah tidak melakukan karantina wilayah (lock down) tetap menggunakan kebijakan Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB). Dimulai dari ibukota Jakarta, kebijakan ini diikuti oleh wilayah lainnya. Kota Bekasi sebagai wilayah penyangga Jakarta segera menerapkan kebijakan PSBB mengingat wilayah ini berdekatan dengan Jakarta dan dikhawatirkan terpengaruh dengan kota Jakarta yang merupakan zona merah dengan hamper separuh kasus COVID-19 ada di wilayah Jakarta. Banyak pihak yang mendukung dan juga kurang setuju dengan PSBB, namun agar perekonomian tetap berjalan dan wabah dapat diatasi, pemerintah tidak mengambil kebijakan karantina wilayah. Untuk mengetahui efektifitas PSBB di kota Bekasi, penelitian ini mencoba menggunakan model Susceptible-Infected-Recoverd (SIR) untuk mengukur laju penyebaran COVID-19. Hasilnya menunjukan adanya laju penurunan kasus terinfeksi dengan beta dan gamma beruturut-turut sebesar 0,071 dan 0,05 dan diprediksi akan berakhir di bulan Juni 2020.   Kata kunci: virus corona, epidemik, pandemik, karantina wilayah, Bekasi City

scholarly journals Detection of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections among healthcare workers: results from a large-scale screening program based on rapid serological testing.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Maria Carozzi ◽  
Maria Grazia Cusi ◽  
Mauro Pistello ◽  
Luisa Galli ◽  
Alessandro Bartoloni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Diagnostic Pcr ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the performance of two available rapid immunological tests for identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies and their subsequent application to a regional screening of health care workers (HCW) in Tuscany (Italy). Design: measures of accuracy and HCW serological surveillance Setting: 6 major health facilities in Tuscany, Italy. Participants: 17,098 HCW of the Tuscany Region. Measures of accuracy were estimated to assess sensitivity in 176 hospitalized Covid-19 clinical subjects at least 14 days after a diagnostic PCR-positive assay result. Specificity was assessed in 295 sera biobanked in the pre-Covid-19 era in winter or summer 2013-14 Main outcome measures: Sensitivity and specificity, and 95% confidence intervals, were measured using two serological tests, named T-1 and T-2. Positive and Negative predictive values were estimated at different levels of prevalence. HCW of the health centers were tested using the serological tests, with a follow- up nasopharyngeal PCR-test swab in positive tested cases. Results: Sensitivity was estimated as 99% (95%CI: 95%-100%) and 97% (95% CI: 90%-100%), whereas specificity was the 95% and 92%, for Test T-1 and T-2 respectively. In the historical samples IgM cross-reactions were detected in sera collected during the winter period, probably linked to other human coronaviruses. Out of the 17,098 tested, 3.1% have shown the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, among them 6.8% were positive at PCR follow-up test on nasopharyngeal swabs. Conclusion Based on the low prevalence estimate observed in this survey, the use of serological test as a stand-alone test is not justified to assess the individual immunity status. Serological tests showed good performance and might be useful in an integrated surveillance, for identification of infected subjects and their contacts as required by the policy of contact tracing, with the aim to reduce the risk of dissemination, especially in health service facilities.

scholarly journals Field evaluation of Rapid SARS-Cov2 Antigen screening test on self-collected deep throat saliva samples in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noorliza Mohamad Noordin ◽  
Chee Loon Lim ◽  
Zhuo-zhi Lim ◽  
Teck Onn Lim
Keyword(s):  
Screening Program ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
User Training ◽  
The Government ◽  
Antigen Tests ◽  
Low Sensitivity

Low cost Rapid Antigen Tests are widely used in Malaysia and the government has also mandated worksite screening as a condition for reopening. Numerous RAT kits have been approved by the Malaysian Medical Device Authority. However, it remains uncertain how these kits would perform in the field. We enrolled workers between June and September 2021 from 23 worksites. They were trained and experienced in performing RAT selftest by virtue of their worksite participation in routine screening program. These workers also had reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests in the course of mass screening or contact tracing. We also enrolled patients with PCR confirmed Covid19 from a quarantine centre. These patients were instructed on selftesting and then immediately perform RAT under supervision. Two manufacturers donated RAT for this study. A total of 340 participants were enrolled, 130 were from quarantine centre and 210 from worksites. The overall sensitivity of RAT compared to PCR was 70 percent. The specificity was 91 percent. Sensitivity decreased with increasing PCR cycle threshold values. Sensitivity is also lower among untrained subjects at each level of Ct. Logistic regression analysis confirmed false negative result is associated with Ct and participants prior training and experience. This study shows that in the real world, RAT performance were markedly lower than that reported by the manufacturers. The test sensitivity is dependent on the operator training and experience, as well as on viral load as measured by Ct. User training and repeated testing for screening purpose is necessary to mitigate the low sensitivity of RAT.

Drama of the Arab East

2014 ◽  
pp. 77-87
Author(s):  
G. Mirskii
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Word Meaning ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Al Qaeda ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Independent State ◽  
Military Aid ◽  
Deep Trouble ◽  
The Government ◽  
The U.S

New upheavals have shaken the Middle East this summer. A small but determined army of Sunni jihadists that had operated in the war-torn Syria suddenly crossed the border into Iraq and launched a large-scale military campaign. In a matter of days the invaders captured the second largest city of Iraq, Mosul, and although heavily outnumbered by the Iraqi army, put it to flight. The militants, known as ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham, the latter word meaning Syria and Lebanon) and led by an exceedingly tough and ruthless commander Abubaqr al-Baghdadi, are descendants of the infamous terrorist international network Al-Qaeda. Actually, the ISIS members represent the third generation of Al-Qaeda militants who waged the war against the Soviet Army in Afghanistan back in 1989-s and later fought the Americans in Iraq in the wake of the U.S. invasion. Lately they joined the Syrian armed opposition that has been trying to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad for about three years. Now that the military situation in Syria appears to favor the embattled president, ISIS has probably come to the conclusion that its priority is not necessarily the ousting of Assad; rather it is the creation of an Islamic state according to the name of their organization. Exactly this seems to be the rationale for their comeback into Iraq. The Sunni jihadists whose ultimate aim is to resurrect the medieval Islamic Caliphate have to confront both the Iraqi Kurds who live in a virtually semi-independent state formation and the Shia Arabs who mostly inhabit the southern part of Iraq. Yet, both communities, although probably capable of protecting North, South and the capital city, are hardly likely to reassert the government authority in the central part of the country. What is necessary is the assistance from abroad. The Shia-dominated Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki, in deep trouble, is looking to both Iran and the U.S. for military aid. Both Washington and Tehran, however, appear reluctant to be seen as wholeheartedly backing the Shia side if only for fear of alienating the mainstream Arab States who are of course Sunni. This is a pretty delicate situation indeed.

scholarly journals A Comparative Retrospective Study of COVID-19 Responses in Four Countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohan Wang ◽  
Leiyu Shi ◽  
Yuyao Zhang ◽  
Haiqian Chen ◽  
Jun Jiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
The Government ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

Abstract Objective This study compared the government policies and non-pharmaceutical interventions adopted by South Korea, Japan, India, and China in response to COVID-19 during 2020-2021. We hope that our study would propose policies for future COVID-19 waves and provide lessons for future responses to similar infectious diseases.Methods We made a retrospective study by analyzing the government policies and non-pharmaceutical interventions in these four countries. Results From January 2020 to May 18, 2021, South Korea and Japan experienced three waves of COVID-19 epidemic, but the number of daily new confirmed cases per million people was relatively small in both countries, and South Korea had fewer daily new confirmed cases per million than Japan. Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019, China successfully contained the first wave of the outbreak and is not currently experiencing a large-scale resurgence of the epidemic. India is experiencing a grim second wave of the epidemic, with far more daily new confirmed cases per million people than South Korea and Japan. Throughout 2020, the number of COVID-19 deaths per million population remains low in South Korea, Japan, and China, while India has seen an upward trend in deaths per million population since July. As of May 18, 2021, the number of total tests per thousand people in South Korea, India, and Japan was 230.65, 181.23, and 99.59, respectively. South Korea and India both have more than twice as total tests per thousand people as Japan.Conclusion Successful practices in China and South Korea show that--case identification and management, coupled with close contact tracing and isolation, is a powerful strategy. The lessons of Japan and India show that social distancing is an effective measure, but only if it is rigor and persistent. Finally, in both developed and developing countries, the development of health care systems and coordinated government leadership play a key role in overcoming epidemics.

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