ABSTRACT
The spring of 2020 saw the spread of the virus COVID_19. The pandemic context experienced since demanded human physical distancing which results in the closure of universities and schools, ground flights, and closing spaces to stop all forms of gatherings. The forced lockdown to ensure the safety of people, and the government policies to close operations pressed and encouraged employers and employees to adopt telework notwithstanding the short time to prepare everyone for a new model of work. Before the pandemic, telework faced a slow acceptance and adoption in European countries. The pandemic was and still is a driving force for the adoption of telework, in this case considering the remote workplace employees’ domestic environs. A review of literature exposes plenty of information regarding telework benefits and drawbacks, but scarce information is available about the relationship between telework and Academia. This article aims to understand the academia’s experience of working from home, especially the features of home workplace and its impact on the health and wellbeing of the individuals. At the end, the main question is if academics want to stay with any form of telework. The responses obtained revealed that academics want to remain in telework several days a week and have working space conditions to do so. Literature review and online questionnaire performed the theoretical framework and contextual data to support the conclusions achieved. The answers ascertained the experience as a positive one, indicating that home workplaces have comfortable, technical and private conditions and there is a generic expectation to proceed with telework for several days a week. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this article is to raise the urgent discussion about home working environments and draw attention to the need of human factors ergonomics research applied to this reality. In response to this purpose, the Covid-19 pandemic was the context to enlighten the importance of home concept and how this handle with new functional demands imposed by informal home workspaces. The analysis of the context raised the need to approach issues such as home meaning and place attachment;proxemics, personal space, and the need of privacy;work environments requirements and the contribute of human factors and ergonomics to impact human productivity, safety, and wellbeing. Forasmuch as statistical data informs a standard desire of people to have flexible forms of work beyond pandemic contexts, is vital to draw the attention of creative professionals for the need to create flexible, functional, and valuable user-centric environments to respond to new dynamic challenges. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
The disruption caused by the pandemic situation of Covid-19 redefined the way we interact with each other and particularly with the built environment. In a time of confinement at home and in the neighbourhood environment, the performance of activities in urban and dwelling environments demands a user-centred interaction design as a crucial tool to respond to people requirements. The interaction between users and the experienced built environment is a valuable source of information to support the field of environmental design. The pandemic period must be faced as an opportunity to develop urban space environments that better respond to users’ needs and expectation in a dynamic functional context. The present time emerges as an opportunity to change the planning paradigm that we all, researchers, professionals, and users must take advantage of. The planet and the environment will appreciate it. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze self-reported sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among individuals aged 2 to 22 years and possible associations with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Espirito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: This was a serial cross-sectional population-based study carried out from May to June 2020. The COVID-19 positivity rate was assessed by serological testing, and associated factors were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test (5% significance level). RESULTS: Among 1,693 individuals aged 2 to 22 years, 6.1% tested positive for COVID-19 and, among these, 35.5% did not present any symptoms. Differences were identified between positive and negative cases regarding the number of symptoms (p-value=0.001). Coughing was reported by 40.4% of positive individuals. Only 14.3% sought health care, namely 29.8% among those who tested positive and 13.3% among those who tested negative (p-value=0.001). CONCLUSION: The percentage of asymptomatic patients can impact the COVID-19 transmission chain in schools and fuel outbreaks of the disease in schools.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to estimate the proportion of prison inmates in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, with SARS-CoV-2 infection and to present factors associated with positive test result. This was a serological survey conducted from August 31 to September 4, 2020, in the state's 34 prison units. An interview and serological tests were performed for detection of IgG and IgM in the group. A total of 844 prison inmates were assessed, 265 of whom tested positive for COVID-19, indicating 31.64% prevalence (95%CI: 28.44-34.83). Statistically significant associations were seen between positive test and location of the prison in the north of the state (p = 0.001), closed imprisonment (p = 0.002), and male gender (p = 0.005). All symptoms were observed less frequently in the group that tested positive, and there was a low prevalence of comorbidities (0 to 7.1%). The results revealed the characteristics of this vulnerable population and can help target health measures. © 2022 Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. All rights reserved.