ABSTRACT
Background Effective contact tracing, vaccination, and isolation of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and their high-risk contacts constituted measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. In Portugal, in October 2021, low-risk cohabitants were lifted the obligation to isolate. The aim of this study was to estimate the relative risk of infection for close contacts, regarding the type of close contact and being cohabitants. Methods A descriptive longitudinal study, with an analytical component was performed. Sociodemographic and epidemiologic data from close contacts and confirmed cases in Loures and Odivelas, between October and November 2021, was collected from a regional database and from Trace COVID-19 platform. We performed a descriptive analysis and estimated the relative risk of SARS-CoV-2 positive test, stratified by type of contact and cohabitation, with 95% confidence level. Results We identified 200 confirmed cases and 428 people who were close contacts, corresponding to 502 different close contacts (59 people had contact with more than a case). From 502 close contacts, 268 were classified as low-risk and 230 as high-risk. Full time cohabitation was present in 310 of close contacts. Between contact tracing day and the next 4 weeks, 58 (10.9%) of close contacts tested positive. Risk of high-risk contacts testing positive was 2.7 [1.5-4.6], compared with low-risk contacts. Risk of cohabitants testing positive was 3.5 [1.6-7.7], compared with non-cohabitants. Risk of a high-risk cohabitant testing positive was 2.2 [1.1-4.4], compared with low-risk cohabitants. There was no higher risk of high-risk cohabitants testing positive compared with high-risk non-cohabitants. Same was true for low-risk cohabitants and non-cohabitants. Conclusions These results allow us to understand how to better stratify close contacts and apply isolation measures, according to the risk of testing positive. Further studies should be developed to assess the impact of other variables. Key messages • We identified an increased risk of testing positive in high-risk contacts, and in cohabitants. • Cohabitants could be stratified regarding being high or low-risk, with different measures being applied.
ABSTRACT
During the Covid-19 pandemics, many companies had to cease their activities due to the scarcity of raw material supply or availability of goods' transportation modes. Simulataneously, vehicles from different enterprises were still performing similar routes, delivering goods to the same clients or nearby locations, with a small percentage of their capacity filled. The ability to optimize resource usage, re-adjust, and search for alternatives should depend on an integrated real-time decision. Open collaboration between stakeholders in terms of human resources, assets, and data sharing is vital. Industry 4.0 and mostly additive manufacturing can leverage the production closer to the client, eliminating logistic intermediaries' steps, cutting warehouse expenses and delivery costs, and promoting sustainability. Therefore, this paper proposes an adapted framework from the 5W1H (Who, Why, What, Where, When, and How) quality management methodology to organize the supply chain based on the client's personalized inputs and stakeholders' integration. © 2021 IEEE.