Incidence and prevalence of influenza like illness in the college campus in Guangzhou city, 2008-2020

Objective: To analyze the epidemiology of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center (Guangzhou HEMC) from 2008 to 2020. Method: Based on the monitoring and early warning system of public health emergencies in Guangzhou, the surveillance data of influenza-like illness from 2008 to 2020 in universities in the Guangzhou HEMC were derived and analyzed statistically.

Experiences of healthcare workers following occupational exposure to COVID-19 at the early stages of the pandemic: A phenomenological qualitative study.

AIM: To explore the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) following occupational exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early stage of the pandemic. DESIGN: A Husserl descriptive phenomenological study design was employed. METHODS: Convenient and snowball sampling was used. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from February to March 2020 with the frontline HCWs who were exposed to COVID-19 during work. Data analysis was conducted following the 7-step analysis method developed by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Fifteen HCWs participated in the study. Four themes were identified, including (1) traumatic experiences since the occupational exposure; (2) getting through the hard time; (3) struggling to return to work; (4) reflections on occupational exposures. CONCLUSION: The HCWs had traumatic and painful experiences after the occupational exposure. But they returned to work with strong resilience, professional obligation and social support. Training and supervision, and adequate supply of personal protective equipment are suggested to prevent professional exposure. Social and organizational support should be provided for the exposed HCWs.

Epidemiological investigation and analysis of an outbreak of human rhinovirus infection in a college in Guangzhou

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human rhinovirus outbreak in a college in Guangzhou, and provide a better evidence for the prevention and control of human rhinovirus outbreaks. Method: Epidemiological investigation was carded out for the influenza-like illness outbreak epidemic in the a college in Guangzhou city on 3rd November, 2020, and the progress of the cases were followed up, and samples were tested for SAILS-COV-2, influenza virus, and respiratory poly-pathogens.

Epidemiology of rhinovirus under the COVID‐19 pandemic in Guangzhou, China, 2020

Background To analyze the epidemic characteristics of the human rhinovirus (HRV) outbreaks in Guangzhou, China, in 2020. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the HRV‐related outbreaks in Guangzhou, 2020. Results Seventeen outbreaks were reported in 2020 during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in Guangzhou, a total of 465 patients (290 males and 175 females) were enrolled, with a median age of 10. A total of 223 (47.96%) had been tested for HRV, 89 (39.91%) of which were positive;344/465 (73.98%) had a fever, 138/465 (29.68%) had a runny nose, 139/465 (29.89%) had a sore throat, 86/465 (18.49%) had a cough, 41/465 (8.82%) had a headache, and 37/465 (7.96%) had a sneeze. Patients at age of 13–15 had the highest rate of sore throat and runny nose, patients aged 11–12 had the highest rate of sneezing, and patients at age of 12–14 had the highest rate of positive rate. Patients tested positive had a higher rate of fever (χ2 = 11.271, p = .001), cough (χ2 = 6.987, p = .008), runny nose (χ2 = 7.980, p = .005), and sneeze (χ2 = 4.676, p = .031). Conclusion The HRV was restored during the fighting of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The conventional COVID‐19 control measures were not effective enough in preventing rhinovirus. More appropriate control measures should be used to control HRV.

Epidemiology of rhinovirus under the COVID-19 pandemic in Guangzhou, China, 2020.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the epidemic characteristics of the human rhinovirus (HRV) outbreaks in Guangzhou, China, in 2020. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the HRV-related outbreaks in Guangzhou, 2020. RESULTS: Seventeen outbreaks were reported in 2020 during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Guangzhou, a total of 465 patients (290 males and 175 females) were enrolled, with a median age of 10. A total of 223 (47.96%) had been tested for HRV, 89 (39.91%) of which were positive; 344/465 (73.98%) had a fever, 138/465 (29.68%) had a runny nose, 139/465 (29.89%) had a sore throat, 86/465 (18.49%) had a cough, 41/465 (8.82%) had a headache, and 37/465 (7.96%) had a sneeze. Patients at age of 13-15 had the highest rate of sore throat and runny nose, patients aged 11-12 had the highest rate of sneezing, and patients at age of 12-14 had the highest rate of positive rate. Patients tested positive had a higher rate of fever (χ2 = 11.271, p = .001), cough (χ2 = 6.987, p = .008), runny nose (χ2 = 7.980, p = .005), and sneeze (χ2 = 4.676, p = .031). CONCLUSION: The HRV was restored during the fighting of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conventional COVID-19 control measures were not effective enough in preventing rhinovirus. More appropriate control measures should be used to control HRV.

Effectiveness of containment strategies in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

BACKGROUND: Despite substantial resources deployed to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge. New variants of the virus are frequently emerging leading to new waves of infection and re-introduction of control measures. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of containment strategies implemented in the early phase of the pandemic. METHODS: Real-world data for COVID-19 cases was retrieved for the period Jan 1 to May 1, 2020 from a number of different sources, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Facebook, Epidemic Forecasting and Google Mobility Reports. We analyzed data for 18 countries/regions that deployed containment strategies such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, stay-at-home requests, school/public events closure, social distancing, and exposure history information management (digital contact tracing, DCT). Primary outcome measure was the change in the number of new cases over 30 days before and after deployment of a control measure. We also compared the effectiveness of centralized versus decentralized DCT. Time series data for COVID-19 were analyzed using Mann-Kendall (M-K) trend tests to investigate the impact of these measures on changes in the number of new cases. The rate of change in the number of new cases was compared using M-K z-values and Sen's slope. RESULTS: In spite of the widespread implementation of conventional strategies such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, social distancing, school closures, and stay-at-home requests, analysis revealed that these measures could not prevent the spread of the virus. However, countries which adopted DCT with centralized data storage were more likely to contain the spread. CONCLUSIONS: Centralized DCT was more effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. Early implementation of centralized DCT should be considered in future outbreaks. However, challenges such as public acceptance, data security and privacy concerns will need to be addressed.

Associated factors of professional identity among nursing undergraduates during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Professional identity plays an important role in the long-term development of nurses, and it will change when public health emergency occurs. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors associated with the professional identity of nursing undergraduates in the epidemic of COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design with convenience sampling was used. A total of 3,875 nursing undergraduates were recruited from seven universities across China from March to April 2020. A general information questionnaire was used to collect students' information, and the Professional Identity Questionnaire for Nurse Students was used to survey their professional identity during the early and later stages of the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. RESULTS: The score of professional identity in the later stage (59.49 ± 12.41) was higher than that in the early stage (56.96 ± 12.61). The stepwise regression indicated that several factors were associated with professional identity, including gender, residential area, major, impact of the epidemic on intention to work after graduation, reasons for choosing nursing major and students' scores of professional identity in early stage. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing educators can utilize the positive impact of responding to public health emergencies to increase the professional identity of students. Meanwhile, educators should give those students with lower professional identity more targeted education to cultivate their professional identity after the occurrence of public health emergencies.

Positive effects of COVID-19 control measures on influenza prevention

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now become a pandemic threat to the whole world. At the same time, influenza virus has been active, with influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 sharing the same transmission routes. This article aims to alert clinicians of the presence of co-infection with these two viruses and to describe the effect of the measures taken to fight COVID-19 on influenza prevention and control.

Anxiety and depression levels of the general population during the rapid progressing stage in the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak: a cross-sectional online investigation in China.

OBJECTIVE: The outbreak of COVID-19 has major impacts on the psychological health of the public. This study aimed to investigate the anxiety and depression levels of the general population during the rapid progressing stage of COVID-19 pandemic in China and to explore the associated factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional online survey. PARTICIPANTS: 2651 Chinese people. MEASURES: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure their psychological health. A structured questionnaire collected possible associated factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, health information, contact history-related information, experience and perceptions, knowledge and education and adopted precautions. Multiple linear regression was conducted to explore the factors associated with anxiety and depression. RESULTS: The mean score of anxiety and depression was 4.35 and 4.38, respectively. The rates of people with anxiety and depressive symptoms (with >7 score in the subscale) were 14.15% and 17.35%, respectively. Participants without political party membership, with contact history of COVID-19, going out or gathering, taking Chinese medicine herbs, being unsatisfied with current precautions, perceiving higher risks of infection, lower knowledge and poorer health presented higher anxiety and depression levels. Moreover, those who were females, married, lived alone and wore mask were more anxious; whereas people who were younger, experienced public health crisis, did not take precautions (regular work-rest, exercise) had higher depression level. CONCLUSIONS: During the rapid progressing stage of COVID-19 pandemic in China, one-seventh and one-sixth respondents presented anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The risk factors for anxiety and depression included the following: without political party membership, with contact history of COVID-19, going out or gathering, wearing masks, taking Chinese medicine herbs, being unsatisfied with current precautions, perceiving higher susceptibility, lower knowledge and poorer health status. Extensive information and psychological support should be provided to improve the mental health of the general population.