Children's lives in an era of school closures: Exploring the implications of COVID-19 for child labour in Ghana.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Subsequently, governments worldwide implemented strict regimes of lockdowns and school closures to contain the transmission of the virus. Ghana's government on 15 March 2020 also announced a lockdown and closure of schools, lasting up till January 2021. Against this backdrop, the paper examined the implications of school closures on child labour in Ghana. Qualitative data for the study were collected between October 2020 to February 2021 in a small rural community in northern Ghana. Findings from 16 semi-structured interviews with schoolchildren aged 8-13 years show how school closures have meant that children from contexts of poverty: (a) are driven into child labour as they are either forced to accompany their parents to work on farms or sell foodstuff by the roadside; and thus, ultimately (b) engage in no learning during the lockdown period.

Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake among Health Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana.

COV-2 SARs has disproportionately affected low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana, where the healthcare system was not prepared enough to provide care, drugs, and equipment. This study was carried out to assess predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among health professionals in the Bono region of Ghana. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 health professionals recruited through simple random sampling. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to identify the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance presented as an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). All respondents had heard about the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common source of information was the media (45.8%). The proportion of health professionals who accepted the COVID-19 vaccine was 73.6%. Among those who did not take the vaccine, 64.3% were willing to take it in the future. The key predictors of taking the COVID-19 vaccine included: age 25 to 45 years (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.14-3.35), age older than 45 years (AOR = 5.30, 95% CI: 2.59-10.87), males (AOR = 4.09, 95% CI: 2.34-7.15), Christians (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.44-7.72), and at least three years of experience (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.033-2.93). Reasons for not taking vaccines included: vaccines were rapidly developed and approved (41.0%), immediate side effects (39.2%), and unforeseen future effects (37.5%). This study showed that most participants had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination, and most of those hesitant about the vaccine were willing to receive it in the future. This is a positive finding for policy makers since it reflects that fewer resources will be needed for behavioural change initiatives. In addition, it would present a chance to focus on minority individuals who are unwilling to take the vaccine and offer targeted community mobilisation.

Upper Gastrointestinal Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the United States: A Population-Based Study

Introduction: Extrapulmonary manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection are frequently reported and correlate with disease severity and mortality. In the last two years, we identified patients with a Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) diagnosis of “COVID-19”. A comparison of the baseline characteristics and upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms of patients with and without COVID-19 infection COVID-19 patients (n, %) Non-COVID-19 patients (n, %) OR CI p-value Demographics Age: 18-65 23,030 (66%) 47,926,050 (68%) 0.92 0.90 to 0.94 < 0.0001 Age: >65 11,730 (34%) 21,254,620 (30%) 1.18 1.15 to 1.21 < 0.0001 Male 15,620 (45%) 31,412,530 (45%) 1.01 0.99 to 1.04 0.1954 Female 19,060 (55%) 38,452,220 (55%) 1.01 0.99 to 1.03 0.3521 Caucasian 16,680 (48%) 37,840,470 (54%) 0.79 0.78 to 0.81 < 0.0001 African American 8,440 (24%) 7,023,300 (10%) 2.9 2.83 to 2.97 < 0.0001 Upper GI Conditions and Symptoms Gastritis 800 (2%) 376,990 (0.5%) 4.38 4.08-4.70 < 0.0001 GERD 3,140 (9%) 1,142,660 (1.6%) 6.02 5.81-6.25 < 0.0001 Esophagitis 250 (0.7%) 132,790 (0.2%) 3.84 3.39-.35 < 0.0001 Duodenitis 110 (0.3%) 45,130 (0.01%) 4.95 4.11-5.97 < 0.0001 Upper GI bleed 160 (0.5%) 66,230 (0.1%) 4.91 4.21-.74 < 0.0001 Nausea and vomiting 740 (3%) 370,390 (0.5%) 4.12 3.83-4.43 < 0.0001 Abdominal pain 2,240 (7%) 1,286,290 (1.8%) 3.70 3.55-3.87 < 0.0001 Loss appetite 230 (0.7%) 143,250 (0.2%) 3.27 2.87-3.72 < 0.0001 Weight loss 350 (1%) 239,400 (0.3%) 2.98 2.69-3.31 < 0.0001 Dysphagia 760 (2%) 132,790 (0.2%) 11.84 11.01-12.72 < 0.0001 Univariate analysis used to calculate OR.

Third wave in India and an update on vaccination: A short communication.

The first case of COVID-19 was identified in December 2019. In just two years, the pandemic has wreaked a lot of havoc across the globe. Various determining factors will decide the fate of a looming third wave in India. Although there is no direct evidence of a third wave, many metro cities in India have reported a surge of new cases despite mass vaccination. The rapid development of vaccines and mass vaccination programmes has helped contain the crisis in the past. An updated and robust vaccination campaign along with public measures like the avoidance of large gatherings will help counter the third wave. Over 50% of the eligible population in India has been fully vaccinated to date. The emergence of new strains like the Alpha, Beta, Kappa, and Delta variants of concern, which may exhibit vaccine resistance, may complicate matters. Significant challenges include inadequate data collection, public unawareness, fake news, irregular vaccine supply, and the presence of mutant variants. Comorbidities like dengue complicate disease course. Travel restrictions, personal protective equipment shortages, and barriers to healthcare access are important obstacles to overcome. An increased focus on pandemic preparedness is needed. Targeted vaccination campaigns can help build a favorable public perspective. Data gathering and research need to be promoted. The nation's healthcare policy can benefit from relevant updates based on science and socio-cultural awareness. The fight against the pandemic needs to be cooperative at an international level, with adequate support meted out to resource-poor countries. Long-term structural changes to the healthcare system coupled with strategies for immediate relief will pave the way forward to a stronger system with better contingency planning.

A Vaccine Construction against COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis Contrived with Immunoinformatics-Based Scavenging of Potential Mucoralean Epitopes.

Mucormycosis is a group of infections, caused by multiple fungal species, which affect many human organs and is lethal in immunocompromised patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the current wave of mucormycosis is a challenge to medical professionals as its effects are multiplied because of the severity of COVID-19 infection. The variant of concern, Omicron, has been linked to fatal mucormycosis infections in the US and Asia. Consequently, current postdiagnostic treatments of mucormycosis have been rendered unsatisfactory. In this hour of need, a preinfection cure is needed that may prevent lethal infections in immunocompromised individuals. This study proposes a potential vaccine construct targeting mucor and rhizopus species responsible for mucormycosis infections, providing immunoprotection to immunocompromised patients. The vaccine construct, with an antigenicity score of 0.75 covering, on average, 92-98% of the world population, was designed using an immunoinformatics approach. Molecular interactions with major histocompatibility complex-1 (MHC-I), Toll-like receptors-2 (TLR2), and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), with scores of -896.0, -948.4, and -925.0, respectively, demonstrated its potential to bind with the human immune receptors. It elicited a strong predicted innate and adaptive immune response in the form of helper T (Th) cells, cytotoxic T (TC) cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. The vaccine cloned in the pBR322 vector showed positive amplification, further solidifying its stability and potential. The proposed construct holds a promising approach as the first step towards an antimucormycosis vaccine and may contribute to minimizing postdiagnostic burdens and failures.

Assessing vulnerability of informal floating workers in Bangladesh before and during COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-method analysis

Purpose>Globally, a myriad of floating workers is in grave jeopardy due to the ceasing of employment opportunities that resulted from the mobility restriction during the Covid-19. Despite the global concern, developing countries have been suffering disproportionately due to the dominance of informal workers in their labour market, posing the necessity to campaign for the immediate protection of this vulnerable population. This paper analyses various dimensions of the vulnerability of urban floating workers in the context of Covid-19 in Bangladesh. In reference to International Labour Organization's (ILO) “Decent Work” concept, this paper endeavours to examine floating workers' vulnerability using the insider-outsider framework in context to Covid-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approach>The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, data were collected before the pandemic to assess the vulnerability of the informal floating workers. Later, we extended the study to the second phase during the Covid-19 pandemic to understand how pandemic affects the lives and livelihood of floating workers. In phase one, data were collected from a sample of 342 floating workers and analysed based on job security, wages, working environment, psychological wellbeing and education to understand the vulnerability of floating workers. In phase two, 20 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, followed by thematic analysis to explore how the pandemic affects the existing vulnerability of floating workers.Findings>Various social protection schemes were analysed to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing the vulnerability of floating workers facing socio-economic crises. The study has found that the pandemic has multiplied the existing vulnerability of the floating workers on many fronts that include job losses, food crisis, shelter insecurity, education, social, physical and mental wellbeing. In response to the pandemic, the Government stimulus packages and Non-government Covid-19 initiatives lack the appropriate system, magnitude, and focus on protecting the floating workers in Bangladesh.Practical implications>This paper outlines various short-term interventions and long-term policy prescriptions to safeguard floating workers' lives and livelihood from the ongoing Corona pandemic and unforeseen uncertainties.Originality/value>This paper is the first of its kind that aims at understanding the vulnerability of this significant workforce in Bangladesh, taking the whole picture of Government and Non-government initiatives during Covid-19.

An overview on the various pricing policies of health-related products and incentivizing the innovation during the health emergency situations

Patents are often seen as legal monopolies that impose exorbitant pricing, particularly for innovations in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors where the inventions are usually protected through the patents. Many have argued that patent protection should not be extended to sectors where the public interest in obtaining those products or services is important, such as health-related products, which also includes the medications. This paper provides an overview of different policy choices that national governments might employ to both promote innovation in health-related goods and ensure low consumer prices for the basic medicines. Special consideration is given to the current COVID-19 health emergency and highlights the solutions through the published reviews to make the basic medications freely accessible to all countries.

Hand hygiene and face mask wearing practices for COVID-19 prevention: a non-intrusive observation of patrons of community convenience shops in Accra, Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: in the absence of a vaccine and definitive treatment, non-pharmacological measures of physical distancing, regular hand hygiene and wearing of face covering remain the mainstays of mitigating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In Ghana, these measures are mandatory in public places and underpin COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC). We assessed adherence and appropriate performance of these measures among patrons of community convenience shops in selected hotspots. METHODS: we conducted a non-intrusive observation of patrons of convenience shops in COVID-19 burden hotspots. We observed patrons as they entered and exited the shops and collected data on their gender, adherence and appropriate use of face covering and hand hygiene facilities. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially to determine factors associated with adherence to IPC guidelines. RESULTS: of 800 patrons observed from eight community shops, 481 (60.1%) were males. Of these, 653 (81.6%) wore face covering and 98 (12.3%) performed hand hygiene; with 92 (11.5%) adhering to both measures. Patrons who wore face mask appropriately were 578; comprising 299 (92.3%) of patrons who wore face mask before entering the shops. Of 89 patrons who washed their hands, appropriate handwashing was recorded among nine (10.1%). Compared to inappropriate handwashing, appropriate handwashing was negatively associated with adherence to IPC guidelines [aOR=0.1 (95% CI=0.01-0.59)]. CONCLUSION: adherence to and appropriate performance of IPC measures of handwashing and use of face covering in the selected shops was low. There is the need to complement availability of IPC measures with intensification of risk communication messaging targeted at ensuring their appropriate use.

Age and clinical signs as predictors of COVID-19 symptoms and cycle threshold value.

Many COVID-19 infected people remain asymptomatic, and hence the diagnosis at first presentation remains a challenge. Assessment at a presentation in primary care settings is usually done by visual triaging and basic clinical examination. This retrospective study involved investigating the medical e-records of COVID-19 positive patients who presented to a COVID-19 centre in Qatar for July 2020. The presence (symptomatic group) or the absence (asymptomatic group) of symptoms along with objective vital examination (ie; heart-rate (HR), temperature, haemoglobin saturation (SpO2)) were analysed and linked to the viral load (ie; cycle threshold (Ct)) of COVID-19 positive patients. Four hundred eighty-one symptomatic (230 males) and 216 asymptomatic (101 males) patients were included. Compared to the asymptomatic male group, the symptomatic male group was older, had lower Ct value and SpO2, and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the females asymptomatic group, the symptomatic females group had lower Ct value, and higher temperature. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct value and SpO2, and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct values (age groups [21-30], [31-40], [41-50] and [51-60]), higher temperature (age groups [21-30] and [31-40], Ct ranges [20.01-25.00] and [25.01-30.00]), higher HR (age groups [21-30] and [31-40], Ct range [15.01-20.00]); and lower SpO2 (age groups [41-50] and [51-60], Ct ranges [15.01-20.00] and [35.01-40.00]). Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients with COVID-19 are most likely to be febrile, tachycardic, hypoxic and having higher viral load. Higher viral load was associated with higher HR, higher temperature, lower SpO2, but there was no relation between viral load and age.

Experience Sharing on Virtual COOP Training to Mechanical Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in December 2019, brought about a paradigm shift in the lifestyles of people worldwide due to the imposed constraints and lockdowns aimed at containing the spread of the infection. Each and every aspect of our lifestyle such as eating, travelling, socializing and learning was affected by this pandemic. Even the education sector was not untouched due to this pandemic, which caught the various stakeholders of this industry, such as the students, faculty and the administration, unaware. The education of a complete generation of kids and adults all over the world required some drastic adjustments so that their learning process would continue unaffected. Even though distance learning and online teaching have been around for a long time in the education sector, its importance was felt during this last year because of the role it played in the transfer of knowledge to students during the lockdowns wherein the students did not have access to physical classrooms and schools. Faculty, students and the administration developed new innovative ideas to adjust to this new change in teaching/learning styles and made the transition for all stakeholders a smooth and an enlightening experience. One such change had to be made in the delivery style of the cooperative program (COOP) for Mechanical engineering students at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). COOP is a 9-credit hour course that a student with a junior standing in the Applied Mechanical Engineering program (AME) has to take and pass. It requires the student to spend about seven months in the industry to learn applications in a practical environment and solve practical problems with the aid of the theoretical knowledge gained by him in the courses. However, due to the sudden lockdown in March 2020, most of the industries downed their shutters, which left these poor students halfway stranded through their COOP course. Hence, in order to cater to these students, the administration came up with the idea of substituting physical training with virtual training without compromising on the quality of the education. Comprehensive procedures on the various modules designed and delivered under this new virtual training program, the mode of instruction used, the assessment methods implemented and the experiences of the students are presented in this paper, which can be of tremendous help to various stakeholders.

Covid-19 and diabetes in primary care - How do hematological parameters present in this cohort?

Objectives: Changes in hematological parameters are becoming evident as important early markers of COVID-19. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been shown to be associated with increased severity of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to explore the various hematological variables in COVID-19 positive patients with T2DM, so as to act early and improve patient outcomes.Methods: Medical e-records of seventy adult patients with T2DM who were COVID-19 positive have been analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters for these patients were examined.Results: Of the seventy patients with T2DM, 48.88% had poorly controlled diabetes. 70.69% were pyrexial, 56.25% were tachycardic and 38.58% were asymptomatic on presentation. Amongst the hematological parameters, anemia was seen in 10% of males and 15.38% of females. 20% had a high red-blood-cell-distribution-width (RDW). 7.27% had thrombocytosis and 3.64% had thrombocytopenia. 73.3% had a high platelet-distribution-width (PDW) and 44.44% had an increased mean-platelet-volume (MPV). 16.36% were neutropenic and 16.67% had lymphocytopenia.Conclusion: Diabetic COVID-19 positive patients have been shown to have prominent manifestations of the hemopoietic-system with varied hematological profiles. Recognizing the implications of these variables early in primary-care, can help clinicians aid management decisions and dictate early referral to secondary-care services, to help improve prognosis.

COVID-19 in Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplantation: A Clinical Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought challenges to clinicians caring for patients with chronic liver disease. In the past 6 months, COVID-19 has led to over 150,000 deaths in the United States and over 660,000 deaths around the world. Mounting evidence suggests that chronic liver diseases can have an adverse effect on the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. We present a comprehensive review of the latest literature on preexisting liver diseases and its interrelationship with COVID-19 infection in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and viral hepatitis B. As social distancing and telemedicine gain new footing, we synthesize recommendations from 3 major hepatology societies [American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL), and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver (APASL)] to present the best approaches for caring for patients with liver diseases as well as those requiring liver transplantation.

Challenges faced by physicians and patients to provide adequate healthcare to patients, particularly the migrant population

Most of the countries we live in today have transformed into multicultural and multilingual societies due to economic needs and the forced mass migration from wars. 2.4 million immigrants entered the EU-27 from non-EU-27 countries in 2018. 21.8 million people (4.9 %) of the 446.8 million people living in the EU-27 on 1 January 2019 were non-EU-27 citizens. Migrants and refugees often face difficulty in accessing healthcare, housing, and education or employment. Communication barriers compound these problems and provide real challenges not only for the migrants to establish themselves, but also for the healthcare professionals to address the health needs of this population group. Large number of doctors currently working in hospitals and primary care in the Middle East have migrated from Asian and European countries and may not be adept at speaking the native Arabic language. Similarly, a significant number of doctors working in Europe were born outside Europe and in the first few years of life in Europe, might findght communication with the native population challenging [1]. Migrant and refugee populations are more likely to have untreated chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and asthma due to them not being able to access effective healthcare prior and after migration [2]. They also have higher incidence of mental health problems like depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Due to communication barriers and unfamiliarity with healthcare systems, they are less likely to seek help and access healthcare [3]. During the current Covid 19 pandemic, a lot of health care providers throughout the world have resorted to virtual consultations to minimise the risk of spreading Covid 19 infection [4]. Most of the virtual consultations conducted are telephonic consultations with some of the centres now being able to provide video consultations to patients. Virtual consultations throw up challenges of their own and a lot of health care providers have had to learn and adapt themselves to the changed landscape due to the Covid 19 pandemic [5]. For the migrant population, the lack of access to direct healthcare and having to rely on virtual consultation has made it even more difficult to seek medical treatment. Even if these patients get access to telephonic consultation, it would be very challenging for the clinicians to address their health needs. The migrant population would not be able to express their health needs due to language barrier and even if they spoke English, the clinician would have to rely on verbal communication and miss out on the nonverbal component of the basic communication. It is anticipated that going forward, a lot of healthcare providers would continue to provide virtual consultations to patients even after the Covid 19 pandemic is hopefully resolved. Hence there should be discussion about how virtual consultations can be made robust and safe for healthcare seekers. In Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar, doctors and patients face similar communication difficulties particularly in the first few years of their arrival to Qatar. We would like to discuss the strategy PHCC employs to overcome this problem and how other nations need to develop their own strategies as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Middle East Journal of Family Medicine is the property of Medi+WORLD International Pty. Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Challenges of Virtual Consultations in Diagnosing Acute Medical Conditions in Primary Care

Since the start of the global Covid-19 Pandemic many health providers have resorted to virtual telephone consultations replacing the traditional face-to-face encounters [1]. The aim of virtual consultations is to protect both the patient and the clinician from the potential spread of the coronavirus. It also became mandatory in many areas where there are strict lockdowns in place, preventing people from leaving their homes, unless they have a pressing reason to do so [2]. It seemed reasonable that a lot of the routine health needs of patients such as medication refills, referrals and ordering blood tests could be conducted over the phone without the need to see the patient in person. There are still instances though when a patient needs to be seen in person depending on the severity or type of their complaint. This case study looks at a specific case where the telephone consultation model had limitations in reaching a diagnosis and commencing appropriate timely treatment. It also highlights the pitfalls we as clinicians can face when solely relying on virtual consults to manage some of our high-risk patients [3]. It looks at how important it is to take a detailed history over the phone and what safety net measures need to be put in place to prevent missing a life-threatening medical emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Middle East Journal of Family Medicine is the property of Medi+WORLD International Pty. Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-2019 - A comprehensive pathology insight.

Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS CoV-2), a highly contagious single stranded RNA virus genetically related to SARS CoV. The lungs are the main organs affected leading to pneumonia and respiratory failure in severe cases that may need mechanical ventilation. Occasionally patient may present with gastro-intestinal, cardiac and neurologic symptoms with or without lung involvement. Pathologically, the lungs show either mild congestion and alveolar exudation or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with hyaline membrane or histopathology of acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia (AFOP) that parallels disease severity. Other organs like liver and kidneys may be involved secondarily. Currently the treatment is principally symptomatic and prevention by proper use of personal protective equipment and other measures is crucial to limit the spread. In the midst of pandemic there is paucity of literature on pathological features including pathogenesis, hence in this review we provide the current pathology centered understanding of COVID-19. Furthermore, the pathogenetic pathway is pivotal in the development of therapeutic targets.

Disinfection Methods and Survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the Environment and Contaminated Materials: A Bibliometric Analysis

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage and water resources has been used as an indication for the possible occurrence of the virus among communities and for its potential of transmission among humans through the surrounding environment or water resources. In order to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, contaminated surfaces should be disinfected frequently by using an effective disinfectant. The present review discusses a bibliometric analysis of the global SARS-CoV-2 research and focuses mainly on reviewing the efficiency of the most traditional disinfection technologies. The disinfection methods reviewed include those for hospitals"or medical facilities"wastewater, contaminated surfaces, and contaminated masks. The elimination of the virus based on the concept of sterility assurance level (SAL) is also discussed. In addition, the chemical disinfectants that are currently used, as well as their temporary efficiency, are also reviewed. The different technologies that are globally used for disinfection processes during the COVID-19 pandemic are shown. However, more advanced technologies, such as nanotechnology, might have more potential for higher inactivation effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2.

A cross sectional study reveals severe disruption in glycemic control in people with diabetes during and after lockdown in India.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Uncontrolled diabetes has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes in COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate and assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on management of diabetes and challenges faced by people with diabetes in India during and after the lockdown phase. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on an online questionnaire survey was designed. The questions collected socio-demographic details, medical and social history, and impact of the pandemic on medical and social life from 1582 participants. Linear regression was employed to evaluate association of different parameters with the change in glycemic levels. RESULTS: The frequency of clinical visits during the COVID-19 pandemic were reduced in 87.28% of participants. 92.45% of participants were able to monitor their blood glucose levels (BGLs) in which 78.42% (49.35%, 20.91%, and 8.16%) participants experienced an increase in BGL (mild, moderate, and severe respectively). Only 47.41% of participants possessed the digital glucometer at home. 69.07% of participants reported a decrease in physical activity while 46.88% reported an increase in food intake. 80.06% of participants were able to buy all medicines and 29.80% were gone for virtual consultations while 87.81% reported that they didn't have access to healthcare services. Overall, 89.47% participants experienced disruption in therapy. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.89, p = 0.0145) was found between increasing age and reporting of higher BGLs. CONCLUSION: This study provides a firsthand evidence of major disruption in diabetes care activities during and after the lockdown phase in India and increased risk of poorer clinical outcomes, if infected by SARS-CoV-2.