ABSTRACT
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved in different waves and is currently in its third wave for the majority of countries around the world. Each wave emanated with its own set of challenges. Lower- and middle-income countries such as most African countries have faced additional challenges compared to high-income countries. This paper highlights the challenges faced by Africa during the third wave of COVID-19 and proposes recommendations and strategies to contain the spread. We conducted a mini-review for the newly released articles and researches about the challenges faced by Africa during COVID-19. Fragmented healthcare sectors, limited healthcare resources and emergence of co-infections in COVID-19 patients, inadequate vaccination rollout and political conflicts are the major challenges faced by the African countries. Our recommendations to defeat this outbreak and subsequent pandemics is to raise the public's awareness about vaccines through campaigns and social media in order to lessen vaccine hesitancy. Governments as well should focus on under-served and vulnerable populations, patients with comorbidities, and communities living in endemic-striking settings as these people are more prone to the severe form of the disease. Moreover, by adopting socio-ecological perspectives, one can implement multi-level integrated interventions to help control COVID-19 more effectively.
ABSTRACT
Background: Since December 2019, an outbreak of severe respiratory infection (COVID-19) emerged in the city of Wuhan in China. The knowledge, awareness and practice of medical students toward COVID-19 pandemic is of most importance as it demonstrates their preparedness to deal with this pandemic. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice of medical students in Sudan universities about COVID 19. Methodogy: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 19 universities that have medical schools in Sudan. Data from at least 100 medical students from each university were included in the study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire in April 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science software, version 25. Results: About 2603 medical students from 19 universities were included. Overall good knowledge and practice were demonstrated by the medical students (88.9%) and (78.6%), respectively. Respondents who answered that the most common clinical symptoms of COVID-19 were the main combination of dry cough, fatigue and fever were (27.7%), and the first initial symptom was headache were (48.3%.). (60.2%) Wear medical masks, (95%) said that avoiding crowded places protects against the spread of COVID-19, and (50.7%) have confidence that Sudan can win the battle against the COVID-19. Finally, (68.8%) agreed that COVID-19 will finally be successfully controlled. Conclusion: This study has found that medical students in Sudan demonstrated good knowledge and good practice toward Covid19.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As a result of the high contagiousness and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, studying the location of the case clusters that will follow, will help understand the risk factors related to the disease transmission. In this study, we aim to identify the transmission cluster category and settings that can guide decision-makers which areas to be opened again. METHODS: A thorough review of the literature and the media articles were performed. After data verification, we included cluster data from eight countries as of 16th May 2020. Clusters were further categorized into 10 categories and analysis was performed. The data was organized and presented in an easily accessible online sheet. RESULTS: Among the eight included countries, we have found 3905 clusters and a total number of 1,907,944 patients. Indoor settings (mass accommodation and residential facilities) comprised the highest number of both number of clusters (3315/3905) and infected patients (1,837,019/1,907,944), while the outdoor ones comprised 590 clusters and 70,925 patients. Mass accommodation was associated with the highest number of cases in 5 of the 7 countries with data available. Social events and residential settings were responsible for the highest number of cases in the two remaining countries. In the USA, workplace facilities have reported 165 clusters of infection including 122 food production facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Lockdown could truly be a huge burden on a country's economy. However, with the proper knowledge concerning the transmissibility and the behaviour of the disease, better decisions could be made to guide the appropriate removal of lockdown across the different fields and regions.