COVID-19 vaccination coverage and associated factors in seasonal fruit workers in Lleida

Objectives: Seasonal fruit workers are a high-risk group for SARS-COV-2 infection. We aimed to estimate vaccination coverage and factors associated with vaccination in seasonal fruit workers. Methods: We carried out an anonymous survey of seasonal fruit workers in the 2021 campaign in Baix Segria region and Lleida city (Spain) on vaccination, knowledge and attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analyses were performed comparing vaccinated versus non-vaccinated. Multivariate analysis was performed using to assess factors associated to vaccination uptake. Results: We included 286 seasonal workers. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 background was 39.5% and overall vaccination coverage was 78.7%. Factors associated with vaccination were age (aOR = 0.96;95% CI: 0.94–0.99), good knowledge of disease (aOR = 1.87;95% CI : 1.01–3.47) and having a high-perceived vaccine effectiveness (aOR = 2.94;95% CI : 1.50–5.73). High vaccination coverage in workers was associated to knowledge (OR = 3.69;95% CI: 1.61–8.48), safe transport (OR = 2.84;95% CI: 1.40–5.76) and appropriate housing (OR = 2.62;95% CI: 1.25–5.46) as important non-pharmacological measures to reduced transmission. Conclusion: The study confirms the high prevalence of COVID-19 history and moderate vaccination coverage in seasonal fruit workers. Health education programs to improve knowledge about COVID-19 and its vaccination can help improve vaccination uptake.

Spatial Analysis of the effect of the pandemic due to COVID-19 on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile

This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile from a spatial and temporal perspective. Spatial autocorrelation analysis using Global and Local Morans I indicators were used to identify statistically significant spatial clusters at the global and local level, respectively. The results indicate that there is a global spatial clustering of the traffic crashes in the studied area in the years 2019 and 2020. Although there is a reduction in the number of traffic crashes in 2020, at the local level, these crashes tend to cluster spatially in the downtown areas of both districts with a larger number of spatial clusters with high values in Viña del Mar. Additionally, Differential Moran's I statistic was employed to analyze the spatio-temporal variation of traffic accidents in both districts before and during the pandemic. The results show that there is a significant increase of spatial clusters in Valparaíso and a significant decrease in these clusters in Viña del Mar. The findings of this study may help support authorities decisions to improve traffic safety in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. © 2022 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.

Severity of COVID-19 cases in the months of predominance of the Alpha and Delta variants.

New SARS-CoV-2 may pose problems in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic for public health. We aimed to assess and compare the symptoms and severity of cases due to the Alpha and Delta variant dominance periods, taking into account the effect of COVID-19 vaccination. A prospective epidemiological study of SARS-CoV-2 in Lleida was made to determine differences between Alpha and Delta variants periods. We assessed symptoms, specific comorbidities, sociodemographic information and vaccination status. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to investigate the relationship between symptoms and severity and the variants. Alpha variant period compared to the Delta showed an increased risk of ICU admission (aOR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-2.3) and death (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.8-3.9) and cases were associated with people aged > 85 years (aOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.6) and partially vaccinated (aOR 5.6; 95% CI 3.2-9.9) and unvaccinated people (aOR 27.8; 95% CI 19.7-40.5). Fever, cough and vomiting were significantly associated with the Alpha variant compared to the Delta (aOR 1.6 (95% CI 1.5-1.7), 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.2) and 2.5 (95% CI 2.2-2.9, respectively). Our results show that the severity and profile of clinical symptoms varied according to the variant. The risk of ICU admission and death was higher in the Alpha period compared to the Delta as it affected the elderly and cases were less vaccinated.

Acute and Post-Acute COVID-19 Severity and Mortality in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Population-Based Registry Study

Introduction: The severity of acute clinical outcomes and mortality in hematologic malignancy (HM) patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 was exhaustively documented in the first weeks of the pandemic. A consistent increased mortality compared to non-cancer patients was observed across studies. In this study we aimed to estimate survival in COVID-19 HM patients by type of malignancy, to describe acute and post-acute clinical outcomes, and to compare outcomes in early and later pandemic periods. Methods: In this population-based registry study sponsored by the Madrid Society of Hematology (Asociación Madrileña de Hematología y Hemoterapia), we collected de-identified data on clinical characteristics, treatment and acute and post-acute outcomes in adult patients with hematologic malignancies and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the Madrid region of Spain. Our case series included all eligible patients admitted to 26 regional health service hospitals and 5 private healthcare centers between February 28, 2020 and February 18, 2021 with a coverage of 98% on a population of 6.6 million inhabitants. The study outcomes were all-cause mortality, severity of disease (WHO), oxygen support, ICU admission, and follow-up symptoms and signs and complications. Survival probabilities were estimated with the actuarial method and reported overall and stratified by type of malignancy and for two study periods (early cohort,-COVID-19 diagnosis from February 28 to 31 May, 2020, and later cohort, up to February 18, 2021). Results: Of the 1408 patients reported to the HEMATO-MADRID COVID-19 registry, 1166 were included in the present analyses;839 (72%) had a lymphoid malignancy, including 325 (28%) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 50 (4%) with Hodgkin lymphoma and 263 (23%) with multiple myeloma;and 327 (28%) had a myeloid malignancy, including 115 (10%) with myelodysplastic syndrome, 92 (8%) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 87 (7%) with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. Overall COVID-19 clinical severity was classified as critical in 19% of patients, severe in 36%, moderate in 22%, and mild in 22%;10% were admitted to an ICU;8% were on mechanical ventilation and 19% on noninvasive ventilation. Mild disease increased between early and later period from 15% to 38% of patients;severe disease decreased from 42% to 24%, p<0.001. COVID-19 treatment with steroids increased from 38% to 59%, p<0.001. At follow-up, 22% reported persistent symptoms related to COVID-19 at 2 months, 16% at 4 months and 14% at 6 months. 381 of 1166 (33%) patients died. Overall 30-day survival was 68%;2 and 3-month overall survival probabilities were 56% and 53%, respectively. Survival was more favorable for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (82%, 69% and 65% at 30-days, 2 and 3 months, respectively) than for those with lymphoid malignancies (68%, 56% and 54%) or myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (61%, 51%, 46%), p=001. 285 (37%) patients died in the early period vs 96 (24%) in the later, p<0.001, but median (interquartile range) follow-up time was much higher in the early vs later, 45 (20-116) days vs. 26 (11-86), respectively. Overall survival was not different between periods, p=0.5 (hazard ratio [95%C], 0.93 [0.73-1.17]). In the later cohort, 30 and 60-day survival probabilities were 71% and 56% vs. 67% and 56% in the early cohort Conclusions. A population-based registry in Spain provided strong evidence that although COVID-19 severity decreased over year 1 of the pandemic, mortality remained high, and survival was stable over time in the group of patients with hematological malignancy infected by SARS-Coc-2. A relevant proportion of the infected patients (1 in 6) referred persistent symptoms attributable to COVID-19. The improved clinical management of severe COVID-19 in non-cancer patients that followed the dissemination of evidence-based recommendations did not translate in more favorable survival in patients with hematological malignancies. Research is needed to address the specific characteristics nd improve the clinical management of this vulnerable population. Disclosures: Martinez-Lopez: Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Jiménez-Yuste: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Grifols: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;CSL Behring: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;BioMarin: Consultancy;Sobi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Octapharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kwon: Gilead: Honoraria.

POINT CLOUD BASED 3D MODELS FOR AGENT BASED SIMULATIONS IN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EVACUATION

Point clouds serve as the raw material for various models, such as Building Information Models (BIM). In this work, we investigate the reconstruction steps needed to create models that can be utilized directly for agent-based simulations. The input data for the reconstruction is captured with an indoor mobile mapping system. To show the prominence of this idea, we run social distancing and evacuation simulations on the reconstructed models. The simulations are run with multiple agents using a vision-based pedestrian model and A*-based path finding algorithm. The limitations of this approach are discussed. The video of the simulation is shared with the audience.Link to the video: https://youtu.be/r2D3IxXt7Ls