Vulnerable or resilient? The response of informal settlements to COVID-19: The case of urban village communities in Beijing

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought topics of the impact, response and adaptation of cities in emergencies to the forefront. When compared with formal settlements, the problems faced by informal settlements are more prominent. We propose the framework of an actor-network theory, substantiated by an empirical study of three typical informal settlements in Haidian District, Beijing, in which the process, characteristics and internal mechanism of the spatial reconstruction of the informal settlements in response to COVID-19 are closely scrutinised. Human actors such as local governments, community volunteers, landlords, tenants and non-human actors all participated in the response to COVID-19 according to their goal vision and political logic, with the local government as the core driving force, forming an integrated actor network. Rooted in the special locality of informal settlements, the actor network was both hierarchical and flexible, and its inherent dynamism has proven to be efficient during COVID-19, resulting in social adaptation and spatial reconstruction. This study contributes to the cautiously optimistic estimate of similar urban community resilience in terms of global epidemics and enriches the understanding of their interlacing dynamics from the perspective of spatial reconstruction.

Clinical significance of T-lymphocyte subsets in the treatment of COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is widely spread due to its strong infectivity by close contact via droplets or skin touch. With fever or cough as the first symptom, some patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quickly progressed to serious condition, which severely threatened the health of patients. As immunodeficiency is a significant factor of the poor condition, the relationship between COVID-19 and T-lymphocyte subsets will be summarized. The paper is written to indicate the clinical significance of T-lymphocyte subsets in the monitoring and treatment of COVID-19. It is suggested that the subgroup levels of T-lymphocyte subsets should be dynamically monitored during the course of disease for better understanding the condition and taking positive intervention, which will provide guidance to control immune inflammatory cascade and hold back the development of critical situation.

Workplace Violence Among Frontline Clinicians in Emergency Departments Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic (preprint)

Background: Frontline clinicians working in the emergency department (ED) were at disportionate risk of workplace violence (WPV). This study investigated the prevalence of WPV and its association on quality of life (QOL) among this population in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: The overall prevalence of WPV was 29.2% (95%CI: 26.5%-31.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that having family/friends/colleagues infected with COVID-19 (OR=1.81, P=0.01), current smoking status (OR=3.24, P<0.01) and severity of anxiety symptoms (OR=1.13, P<0.01) were positively associated with WPV.  Working in inpatient ED units (OR=0.45, P<0.01) was negatively associated with WPV. After controlling for covariates, clinicians experiencing WPV had a lower overall QOL compared to those without (F (1, 1103) =14.2, P<0.01).Conclusions: Prevalence of workplace violence was common among ED clinicians in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the negative impact of WPV on QOL and care quality, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for ED clinicians.