ABSTRACT
Several peer-reviewed papers and reviews have examined the relationship between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 spread and severity. However, many of the existing reviews on this topic do not extensively present the statistical challenges associated with this field, do not provide comprehensive guidelines for future researchers, and review only the results of a relatively small number of papers. We reviewed 139 papers, 127 of which reported a statistically significant positive association between air pollution and adverse COVID-19 health outcomes. Here, we summarize the evidence, describe the statistical challenges, and make recommendations for future research. To summarize the 139 papers with data from geographical locations around the world, we also present anopen-source data visualization tool that summarizes these studies and allows the research community to contribute evidence as new research papers are published.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution , COVID-19 , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Data Visualization , Particulate Matter/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Air Pollution/adverse effects , Outcome Assessment, Health CareABSTRACT
Background: The routine vaccinations and acquired immunity by other viral infections were believed to be acting as a protective factor against severe COVID-19 outbreaks in some countries. Objective: This study is overviewing the relationship of routine BCG, MMR vaccinations and reported MMR disease outbreak with reported COVID-19 infection across the Indian states. Methods: The data on vaccination coverage and respiratory disease infection was obtained from Universal immunization program and Integrated disease surveillance project reports. Spearman rank correlation has been used to assess the relationship of routine vaccination and COVID-19 infection. Results: The result did not find any relationship of routine vaccination with BCG and MMR or exposure to MMR infection on COVID-19 infections in India. Conclusion: The exposure to BCG or MMR vaccination did not have a non-specific protection against COVID-19 infection. The results imply that a larger proportion of the Indian population is still vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. © The Authors retain the copyrights of this article, with first publication rights granted to Medsci Publications.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Understanding the virus transmission patterns and routes of transmission among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) is limiting the amplification events in health care facilities. Aim: To estimate the secondary infection rate and to describe the clinical presentation of infection and the risk factors for infection among healthcare worker contacts of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2020 to July 2021, at a tertiary care centre, in central Kerala, India, among all the healthcare workers with exposure to a COVID-19 confirmed cases within the institution, between 15 July 2020 to 15 August 2020. Data including demographic details, information on contact and possible exposure with the COVID-19 infected patient was obtained using a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organisation (WHO) questionnaire. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: A total of 433 healthcare workers (382 females and 51 males, mean age: 34.33±10.79 years) were found to be exposed to COVID-19 confirmed cases in the institution. The 21.1% of the healthcare worker contacts were exposed while working in non-COVID Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting. Out of the 433 HCWs who were exposed to COVID-19 patients, 9 tested positive for COVID-19 (secondary infection rate was 2.07% with a Confidence Interval (CI) of 0.7-3.4%). All 9 of the positive HCWs were females, of which 88.89% were symptomatic. Conclusion: Healthcare workers are at risk of transmission of COVID-19 while providing care, hence further explorative studies, including serologic studies are recommended to further understand the epidemiology.
ABSTRACT
As we reckon with the effect of COVID-19 on the research enterprise in hydrologic science, it is important to acknowledge that disruptions will be persistent and that institutional-level adjustments, while helpful, are not sufficient to mitigate all impacts on hydrologic scientists. Here, we describe the breadth of research contributions in the hydrologic sciences, consider how the pandemic has impacted this portfolio of contributions, document one impact that is already being realized in publication of research, and suggest guidance to the hydrologic science community, institutions, review panels, and funding organizations in considering these impacts at various stages of hiring and promotion in our community. Acknowledging the diversity of contributions to research is particularly valuable because it provides a more objective, transparent, and holistic basis for evaluating individuals within the context of norms of the hydrologic science community. With clearly established values, it is easier to identify impacts of life events, such as those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are manifested in individuals under a diversity of circumstances.