ABSTRACT
Mass testing for COVID-19 infection is one of the core measures in tackling the global spread of the disease. Testing is vital to diagnose and estimate cases, attack rates and case fatality rates- critical data for policy-making. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, the demand for more extensive laboratory testing and innovative technology increases. However, countries around the world have been struggling to keep up pace with the worldwide demand to expand testing strategy. The pandemic evolves, so does our knowledge and understanding of diagnostic tests of COVID-19. Here we aim to review major challenges related to COVID-19 diagnostic tests and future development. So, the ongoing urgency and demand for tests would certainly steer the rapid uptake of novel techniques, which in turn would boost our understanding of diagnostic tests for COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19 Testing , Humans , PandemicsABSTRACT
Introduction: This trial aimed to test the efficacy of an integrated microfinance/livelihood and community-based rehabilitation (CBR) (IMCBR) program in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from ultra-poor families and social capital gain to those families from such intervention in rural Bangladesh. Patients and Methods: This was an open-label cluster randomized controlled trial among children with CP aged ≤5 years randomly allocated in three arms;Arm-A: livelihood support and CBR (IMCBR), Arm-B: CBR only and Arm-C: care-as- usual. The CBR was stopped 2.5 months post-enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was replaced with phone follow-up followed by home-based CBR. The primary outcome was HRQoL of children while Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level of children and social capital of their families were the secondary outcomes. Intention-to- treat analysis was performed. Results: Twenty-four clusters including 251 children-primary caregivers' dyads were assigned to three arms;Arm-A = 80, Arm-B = 82 and Arm-C = 89. Between baseline and endline, the percentage change in mean HRQoL was highest in Arm-A (30.0%) with significant mean differences between Arm-A and Arm-B (p = 0.015). The GMFCS level significantly changed both in Arm-A (p = 0.007) and Arm-C (p = 0.011). Also, the improvement in mean total social capital score was significantly higher in Arm-A compared to Arm-B (p <0.001) and Arm-C (p <0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that IMCBR could improve HRQoL and motor functions of children with CP and social capital of their ultra-poor families. Long-term follow- up of the trial participants and/or future exploration of such interventions are essential.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first reported in Wuhan, China is now a major global health threat - a pandemic. Public health control measures are the cornerstones in the fight against COVID-19 in the absence of an effective vaccine or proven treatment. The aim of this review was to explore the historical use case of various public health measures adopted today to tackle COVID-19 spread. Although our knowledge about this novel coronavirus transmission is evolving over time, the fundamental non-pharmaceutical interventions e.g., handwashing, wearing a mask, physical distancing, isolation, quarantine and border control which are adopted globally at present are not new. This review highlighted that historically and religiously similar approaches were practised in the medieval past for controlling disease outbreaks. The successful implementation of the public health control measures largely depends on health systems resilience, community engagement and changes in population behaviour. Combined global efforts are essential to strengthen health systems, improve the capability of research and transparent information sharing with both public and international bodies to combat the pandemic.