Epidemiological progression of COVID-19 positive cases among transnational truck drivers in the East African Region

COVID-19 triggered a range of border controls to curb the spread of the disease. Containment measures and restrictions were put in place to mitigate cross border transmission while maintaining the flow of essential goods and services in the East and Horn of Africa Region. The first cases of COVID-19 detection among truck drivers, triggered and strengthened cross-border collaboration for detecting and responding to COVID-19 pandemic. Infection was significantly common among truck drivers in the region. As at 13 January 2021, there were 3,457 reported cumulative cases among truck drivers in the EHoA region. About 2,879 (83.3%) of the cases were reported in Uganda, 374 (10.8%) cases reported in Kenya, 190 (5.5%) cases reported in Rwanda and 14 (0.4%) cases reported in South Sudan. The reduction in the number of documented new COVID-19 cases among truck drivers declined with collaborative, timely and cooperative border point screening, and so preventing COVID-19 spread in the region. With most East African countries setting the stage for reopening borders and air spaces, sustained comprehensive surveillance is crucial for maintaining the gains from the collaborative response.

Utilização de máscara facial cirúrgica descartável no ambiente cirúrgico / Use of disposable surgical face masks at the surgical environment / Utilización de la máscara facial quirúrgica desechables en lo ambiente quirúrgico

As máscaras faciais cirúrgicas são essenciais tanto para a proteção individual dos membros da equipe da Unidade de Centro Cirúrgico (UCC), quanto para a proteção do paciente durante o procedimento. Esse estudo teve como objetivo analisar a utilização da máscara facial cirúrgica pelos acadêmicos e profissionais de saúde na UCC quanto ao tempo, local e forma de utilização. Foram observados 33 acadêmicos e profissionais de um Hospital de Clínicas, no período de janeiro a fevereiro de 2008. Para a coleta dos dados foi utilizado um instrumento específico do tipo checklist e a análise feita segundo estatística descritiva, em freqüência absoluta, relativa e média. Os principais resultados encontrados foram: 81,8% acadêmicos e profissionais utilizaram a máscara cirúrgica cobrindo boca e nariz, 72,7% acadêmicos e profissionais colocaram a máscara no início do procedimento cirúrgico, e 60,6% acadêmicos e profissionais retiraram a máscara pelas tiras. Assim, observou-se que a máscara cirúrgica foi, no geral, utilizada de maneira adequada conforme preconizado por órgãos nacionais e internacionais, fato provavelmente relacionado ao ambiente acadêmico do Hospital analisado, onde há divulgação constante de normas e padrões recomendados.

Surgical masks are essential as for the individual protection of Surgical Center team members as for the patient's protection during the procedure. The present study objective was to assess the wearing of surgical masks by surgical site students and professionals according to time, local and way of use. Thirty-three students and professionals were observed in a Clinic Hospital, from January to February 2008. For data collection, a specific instrument of checklist kind was used, and the evaluation was made based on descriptive statistics and absolute, relative and medium frequency. The main results obtained were: 81,8% of the students and professionals wear the surgical mask covering mouth and nose, 72,7% of the students and professionals wear the mask in the beginning of the procedure, and 60,6% of the students and professionals discarded the mask from the strips. So, the surgical mask was, in general, used in a correct way according to what is advocated by national and international organizations, fact probably connected to the academic environment of the analyzed hospital, where recommended guidelines and patterns divulgation is constant.

Máscaras faciales quirúrgicas son esenciales tanto para la protección individual de los miembros del equipo del Centro Quirúrgico, cuanto para la protección del paciente durante el procedimiento. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la utilización de la máscara quirúrgica por los acadêmicos y profesionales de salud en la Unidad del Sitio Quirúrgico con relación al tiempo, localidad y forma de utilización. Fueron observados 33 académicos y profesionales de Hospital de Clínicas, en el periodo de Enero a Febrero de 2008. Para la coleta de los datos, fue utilizado un instrumento especifico del tipo checklist, y su análisis hecha según estadística descriptiva, en frecuencia absoluta, relativa y media. Los principales resultados encontrados fueron: 81,8% de los acadêmicos y profesionales utilizaran la máscara quirúrgica cubriendo la boca y nariz, 72,7% de los acadêmicos y profesionales punieron la máscara en el inicio de lo procedimiento quirúrgico, y 60,6% de los acadêmicos y profesionales retiraran la máscara por las tiras. Así, fue observado que la máscara quirúrgica fue, en general, utilizada de manera adecuada conforme preconizado por órganos nacionales y internacionales, facto probablemente relacionado al ambiente académico del Hospital analizado, donde hay divulgación constante de normas y padrones recomendados.