Coping with Disruption using Social Media Marketing: A Full Throttle

This review expands our insights into how micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs cope with disruption in Metro Manila in the Philippines using social media marketing. COVID-19 accelerated certain processes forcing local businesses to embrace digital marketing transformation. Thus, it enables local businesses to intensify their social media marketing (SMM) efforts to remain relevant due to a series of lockdowns and government-initiated restrictions. Based on the systematic review, the researcher proposes a conceptual framework to answer the question: How can MSMEs cope with disruption through social media marketing to attain positive brand equity? The proposed conceptual framework looked into synonymous themes such as marketing competencies (MC), omnichannel strategies (OC), and brand equity (BE). Within the process, MSMEs can optimize their social media marketing strategies as a springboard to reimagine the new normal with significance on how the business would aggrandize its resources. Moreover, as of October 2021, the entire nation has entered the post-pandemic period, making this study pertinent for local enterprises. Indeed, MSMEs attempt to bounce back from a two-year incubus. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business & Education Research is the property of Future Science 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 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 . (Copyright applies to all s.)

COVID-19 vaccination for the prevention and treatment of long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Empirical evidence addressing the association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and long COVID would guide public health priorities and inform personal health decisions. Herein, the co-primary objectives are to determine the differential risk of long COVID in vaccinated versus unvaccinated patients, and the trajectory of long COVID following vaccination. Of 2775 articles identified via systematic search, 17 were included, and 6 were meta-analyzed. Meta-analytic results determined that at least one vaccine dose was associated with a protective effect against long COVID (OR 0.539, 95% CI 0.295-0.987, p = 0.045, N = 257 817). Qualitative analysis revealed that trajectories of pre-existing long COVID following vaccination were mixed, with most patients reporting no changes. The evidence herein supports SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for the prevention of long COVID, and recommends long COVID patients adhere to standard SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schedules.

African American Emerging Adults with Asthma: A Qualitative Study

Rationale: Asthma morbidity and mortality are disproportionately high in African Americans, especially in emerging adult (AAEA) population (age 18 to 30 years) who are between adolescence and adulthood. Few studies have been done to identify unique challenges to asthma care in African American emerging adults. Methods: We conducted virtual focus groups consisting of African American young adults (n = 16) with a physician diagnosis of asthma. Discussion questions regarding asthma triggers, management, and challenges were used. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were then coded by three coders using a thematic saturation approach. Results: Six major domains were identified: heightened awareness and anxiety around environment and triggers;increased autonomy from parents and resultant challenges;desire for technology to aide in asthma management;impact of asthma on social group settings;asthma interference with school and/or work;and concerns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants reported difficulty affording asthma medications, living in unsafe environments, trouble keeping up with their young children due to asthma, regular use of technology, and utilization of nonpharmacologic remedies. While wanting to take more responsibilities as grown-ups, many felt their asthma was better controlled when they were children because of their parents' involvement in asthma management. Conclusions: African American emerging adults with asthma have unique challenges due to age and race. To achieve optimal asthma control, physicians must address these challenges through innovative means such as using technology-based tools.

Caribbean Children and the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for data-driven planning

Objective: There are few published reports concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children in the Caribbean. The specific impacts of COVID-19 on Caribbean children aged 0-19 are examined. Method(s): Using standardized online questionnaire , primary data and published reports the burden of COVID-19 among children is evaluated. Result(s): Most islands have pediatric specialists, but few have designated pediatric hospitals. The higher number of cases among children is notable in islands with large populations such as Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The proportion of children among all cases in these islands range from 0.6%- 16.9% compared with a global case rate of 20.2%. As of August 2021, there were 33 cumulative deaths among children in Haiti, Jamaica, in Trinidad and Barbados. The case fatality rates (CFR) for 0-9-year-old and 10-19-year-old were 2.8 and 0.7 for Haiti, 0.1 and 0.2 for Jamaica, and 0 and 0.14 for Trinidad compared with and globally. Higher CFRs in Haiti may be related to the testing strategy, which may not identify all cases. However, low socioeconomic status and a poor healthcare system may have had an impact. Conclusion(s): Overall COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in children were consistent with global estimates. A standardized regional assessment and the multidimensional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among children warrants further examination in light of limited resources and the potential lifelong impact of secondary effects.

“MATCH.COM” - HOW VIRTUAL APPLICATIONS IMPACT RESIDENCY MATCH GEOGRAPHY

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Design: Cross-sectional. Setting/ participants: US graduating medical students. Inclusion: US allopathic medical schools with publicly available match data of individual students, 2018-2021. Exclusions: Students matching into preliminary, transitional, combined, or non-residency positions. DESCRIPTION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2021 residency match with potential for significant geographic impact as students were unable to attend away rotations or in-person interviews. EVALUATION: Data sources: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC;2020), US News and World Report (USWNR) rankings (2020), and official university websites (2018-2021). The unit of analysis was each medical student. Analysis: We used the US Census Region and Division of medical schools and residency programs to calculate the match distance from medical school to residency. 'Match space' was defined by whether an applicant matched at their: home school, home state, adjacent state, same census division, adjacent census division, or skipped 1 or more census division. We defined competitive specialty with a composite variable comprising of US senior fill rate, number of positions, and salary. Ordinal logistic regression examined match distance (dependent outcome) with school, specialty characteristics, and pre/post COVID. Results: 34,672 students representing 66 medical schools from 28 states matched into 26 specialties in 50 states and Canada. 59% of students were from public institutions, and 27% of schools ranked in the top 40 for research. The mean percentage of in-state students by school was 60.3% (range 3- 100%). Match space was lower after the pandemic (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 - 0.98;p=0.006), from schools with higher percentage of in-state matriculants (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.72-0.76), from top NIH-funded institutions (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.85-0.92), from the Northeast (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67-0.75;Midwest reference), and the West (OR 0.67, 95% 0.60-0.74). Match space was higher for students graduating from private schools (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05- 1.19) or matching into more competitive specialties (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14). DISCUSSION / REFLECTION / LESSONS LEARNED: After the COVID-19 pandemic, students graduating from US allopathic schools matched closer to their home institution. Students attending public schools and schools with more in-state matriculants also matched closer. School reputation, with research rank as a surrogate, showed a higher match distance relative to those outside of the top 40 ranking. Our study adds insight into how geographic match patterns were influenced by school, specialty choice, and the pandemic.

Expectations Versus Reality: Understanding the Accuracy of Impressions Made During Virtual Interviews of Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship Programs

Rationale: As a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, all pediatric pulmonary fellowship programs for the first time conducted virtual interviews in the Fall of 2020. This study aimed to understand applicants' experiences with virtual interviews and whether this format allowed them to gain accurate impressions of their current training program. Methods: A group of pediatric pulmonary fellows and Program Directors designed a REDCap survey. The survey was emailed to all pediatric pulmonary Program Directors for distribution to first-year fellows 6 months into their training. Results: 23/49 (47%) of first-year pediatric pulmonary fellows completed the survey. Because of the virtual interview format, 43% [CI 26-63%] of respondents reported that they applied to more programs and 65% [CI 45-81%] attended more interviews. Applicants with in-person exposure to their future fellowship program (i.e. attended same institution for residency and fellowship or participated in an elective rotation at the fellowship institution) applied to fewer programs (30% CI 11-60% vs. 54% CI 29-77%) and attended fewer interviews (40% CI 17-69% vs. 85% CI 58-96%) than those applicants with virtual-only exposure. 96% of applicants were able to form general impressions about fellowship programs based on their virtual interview. 96% of applicants expressed agreement that their current experience in fellowship matched their virtual interview-derived impression. Further breakdown of applicant ability to form impressions and how those impressions matched current fellowship experience is represented in figure 1. There was congruency between the virtualinterview derived impressions and actual fellowship experience for 19 different factors applicants used to rank programs. Correcting for in-person exposure to their fellowship institution prior to a virtual interview, fewer applicants with in-person exposure experienced a meaningful change in impression 6 months after arrival to their fellowship program (27% vs. 73%). 83% of applicants preferred some form of virtual interview to be included or offered in the future. A tiered interview format (applicants are invited to a virtual interview day followed by an optional in-person second look) was the most popular preference for future interview cycles (48%). Conclusions: Virtual interviews may provide an accurate representation of pediatric pulmonary fellowship programs and should be offered in future application cycles.

Registered clinical trials investigating treatment of long COVID: a scoping review and recommendations for research.

BACKGROUND: A considerable proportion of individuals report persistent, debilitating and disparate symptoms despite resolution of acute COVID-19 infection (i.e. long COVID). Numerous registered clinical trials investigating treatment of long COVID are expected to be completed in 2021-2022. The aim of this review is to provide a scope of the candidate treatments for long COVID. A synthesis of ongoing long COVID clinical trials can inform methodologic approaches for future studies and identify key research vistas. METHODS: Scoping searches were conducted on multiple national and international clinical trial registries. Interventional trials testing treatments for long COVID were selected. The search timeline was from database inception to 28 July 2021. RESULTS: This scoping review included 59 clinical trial registration records from 22 countries with a total projected enrolment of 6718. Considerable heterogeneity was exhibited amongst component records with respect to the characterization of long COVID (i.e. name, symptoms- including frequency, intensity, trajectory and duration- mode of ascertainment, and definition of acute phase). In addition, the majority of proposed interventions were non-pharmacological and either targeted multiple long COVID symptoms simultaneously, or focussed on treatment of respiratory/pulmonary sequelae. Multiple interventions targeted inflammation, as well as tissue oxygenation and cellular recovery, and several interventions were repurposed from analogous conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this scoping review investigating ongoing clinical trials testing candidate treatments for long COVID suggest that a greater degree of definitional stringency and homogeneity is needed insofar as the characterization of long COVID and inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Fatigue and cognitive impairment in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE: COVID-19 is associated with clinically significant symptoms despite resolution of the acute infection (i.e., post-COVID-19 syndrome). Fatigue and cognitive impairment are amongst the most common and debilitating symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the proportion of individuals experiencing fatigue and cognitive impairment 12 or more weeks following COVID-19 diagnosis, and to characterize the inflammatory correlates and functional consequences of post-COVID-19 syndrome. DATA SOURCES: Systematic searches were conducted without language restrictions from database inception to June 8, 2021 on PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Embase, Web of Science, Google/Google Scholar, and select reference lists. STUDY SELECTION: Primary research articles which evaluated individuals at least 12 weeks after confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and specifically reported on fatigue, cognitive impairment, inflammatory parameters, and/or functional outcomes were selected. DATA EXTRACTION & SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently extracted published summary data and assessed methodological quality and risk of bias. A meta-analysis of proportions was conducted to pool Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformed proportions using the random-effects restricted maximum-likelihood model. MAIN OUTCOMES & MEASURES: The co-primary outcomes were the proportions of individuals reporting fatigue and cognitive impairment, respectively, 12 or more weeks following COVID-19 infection. The secondary outcomes were inflammatory correlates and functional consequences associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 10,979 studies, and 81 studies were selected for inclusion. The fatigue meta-analysis comprised 68 studies, the cognitive impairment meta-analysis comprised 43 studies, and 48 studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Meta-analysis revealed that the proportion of individuals experiencing fatigue 12 or more weeks following COVID-19 diagnosis was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.27, 0.37; p < 0.001; n = 25,268; I2 = 99.1%). The proportion of individuals exhibiting cognitive impairment was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.17, 0.28; p < 0.001; n = 13,232; I2 = 98.0). Moreover, narrative synthesis revealed elevations in proinflammatory markers and considerable functional impairment in a subset of individuals. CONCLUSIONS & RELEVANCE: A significant proportion of individuals experience persistent fatigue and/or cognitive impairment following resolution of acute COVID-19. The frequency and debilitating nature of the foregoing symptoms provides the impetus to characterize the underlying neurobiological substrates and how to best treat these phenomena. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42021256965).

Social Isolation, Loneliness and Generalized Anxiety: Implications and Associations during the COVID-19 Quarantine.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a predominantly global quarantine response that has been associated with social isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. The foregoing experiences have been amply documented to have profound impacts on health, morbidity, and mortality. This narrative review uses the extant neurobiological and theoretical literature to explore the association between social isolation, loneliness, and anxiety in the context of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging evidence suggests that distinct health issues (e.g., a sedentary lifestyle, a diminished overall sense of well-being) are associated with social isolation and loneliness. The health implications of social isolation and loneliness during quarantine have a heterogenous and comorbid nature and, as a result, form a link to anxiety. The limbic system plays a role in fear and anxiety response; the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, amygdala, HPA axis, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, insula, and locus coeruleus have an impact in a prolonged anxious state. In the conclusion, possible solutions are considered and remarks are made on future areas of exploration.

Real-world effectiveness of repeated ketamine infusions for treatment resistant depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Herein we evaluate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on antidepressant effectiveness of intravenous (IV) ketamine in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We conducted a case series analysis of adults with TRD (n = 267) who received four ketamine infusions at an outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada, during COVID-19 restrictions (from March 2020 - February 2021; n = 107), compared to patients who received treatment in the previous year (March 2019 - February 2020; n = 160). Both groups experienced significant and comparable improvements in depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and anxiety with repeated ketamine infusions. Effectiveness of IV ketamine was not attenuated during the COVID-19 period.

Government response moderates the mental health impact of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of depression outcomes across countries.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a public health, economic and mental health crisis. We hypothesized that timely government implementation of stringent measures to reduce viral transmission would benefit mental health, as evidenced by reduced rates of depressive symptoms (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-9≥10, PHQ-2≥3). METHODS: The systematic review herein (PROSPERO CRD42020200647) evaluated to what extent differences in government-imposed stringency and timeliness of response to COVID-19 moderate the prevalence of depressive symptoms across 33 countries (k=114, N=640,037). We included data from six lower-middle-income countries, nine upper-middle-income countries, and 18 higher-income countries. Government-imposed stringency and timeliness in response were operationalized using the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response ("Stringency") Index. RESULTS: The overall proportion of study participants with clinically significant depressive symptoms was 21.39% (95% CI 19.37-23.47). The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was significantly lower in countries wherein governments implemented stringent policies promptly. The moderating effect of government response remained significant after including the national frequency of COVID cases at the time of study commencement, Healthcare Access and Quality index, and the inclusion of COVID patients in the study. LIMITATIONS: Factors that may have confounded our results include, for example, differences in lockdown duration, lack of study participant and outcome assessor blinding, and retrospective assessment of depressive symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS: Governments that enacted stringent measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 benefited not only the physical, but also the mental health of their population.

Abstract No. 138 Going virtual has become a reality: interventional radiology programs adapt to COVID-19 times

Purpose: To describe the reaction of interventional radiology (IR) residency programs to COVID-19 by way of social media, virtual sub-internship and virtual open house opportunities for applicants Materials and Methods: A list of integrated IR residencies was obtained from ERAS, identifying 89 programs. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook presence of each program was reviewed between September 9 and 13, 2020. Social media accounts were assigned to programs only if “interventional” or “IR” was included in the account username or description. Shared diagnostic radiology/IR accounts were included only if the above criteria were met. Date of creation of social media accounts and virtual sub-internship and open house opportunities offered to students were recorded. VSAS was reviewed for virtual opportunities. Each program’s date of initial accreditation was obtained from ACGME. Results: Of the 89 programs, 61 (68%) had a social media presence and 107 total social media accounts were identified. All programs with social media presence had been accredited for at least two years. Social media characteristics of programs are profiled in the Table. Three programs (3%) offered virtual sub-internships on VSAS, and no sub-internship opportunities were identified on any social media accounts. Twelve programs had updated their websites to reflect changes in protocol due to COVID-19. Conclusions: COVID-19 has altered the way we conduct business within graduate medical education. Given the ubiquitous restrictions in place pertaining to sub-internships and visitations, social media has become a cornerstone of recruitment and knowledge for residency programs and prospective applicants alike. Individuals and institutions have potential to engage with those outside their normal scope owing to increased social media outreach and efforts. Perhaps this shift toward digital engagement will persist and have lasting impact. [Formula presented]

Cluster of carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales secondary infections during the COVID-19 crisis at a New York City Hospital

Background: Patients with COVID-19 may be at increased risk for secondary bacterial infections. At our quaternary care hospital in New York City, the rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases was accompanied by a massive surge in the need for hospital and critical care capacity. During this time, we noted a increase in infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). Methods: We retrospectively assessed microbiology data to identify patients with positive testing for SARS-CoV-2 who had clinical cultures with meropenem-resistant and/or carbapenemase gene-positive Enterobacterales. We obtained microbiological and clinical data by manual chart review. Available clinical isolates underwent long-range genomic sequencing using the MinION (Oxford) for rapid genotyping, resistance gene detection, and phylogenetic analysis. Results: From March 1 to May 18, we identified 33 CPE isolates from 13 patients, including 29 Klebsiella pneumonia and four Enterobacter cloacae. Most patients (11/13) had a positive respiratory culture, and 7/13 developed bacteremia. All patients had prolonged, complex hospitalizations with extensive antibiotic exposure. We performed long-range sequencing on 19 isolates from 12 patients. 15/16 K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to sequence type (ST) 258 encoding KPC (14 KPC-2;1 KPC-3);one ST70 isolate encoded KPC-2. All four E. cloacae isolates belonged to ST270 and encoded NDM-1. Phylogenetic analysis of ST258 isolates including historical isolates from our hospital revealed a distinct lineage of isolates from COVID-19 patients (72% bootstrap support), with expected clustering of isolates from the same patient and patients that were cohorted together. Conclusion: While CPE have declined substantially in New York City in recent years, increased detection in patients with COVID-19 may signal a reemergence of these highly resistant pathogens in the wake of the global pandemic. System-level factors, such as the rapid scale-up of critical care capacity, while clearly needed to address the unprecedented reach of COVID-19, may have contributed to isolate clustering in these patients. Increased surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship efforts will be needed to mitigate the impact of CPE in the future.

Pronóstico del número de casos confirmados y muertes por COVID-19 mediante el modelo de crecimiento logístico en los países sudamericanos

Abstract: The objective of this study is to present long-term forecasts of the accumulated number of confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 per million inhabitants from the first confirmed case to day 350 in each South American country, using the logistic growth model with three parameters. Comparing the forecasts of the number of confirmed cases and deaths, it was observed that Paraguay, Peru and Argentina will take longer to significantly reduce the number of confirmed cases and Argentina in the number of deaths. [...]Venezuela and Uruguay present the number of confirmed cases and deaths accumulated almost constantly, that is, there will be no significant increases during the following months. Keywords: logistic growth model;COVID-19 SARS-COV2, Nonlinear Mixed Effects Models. 1.

The rise of robots in surgical environments during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world and impacted multiple layers of our society. All frontline workers and in particular those in direct contact with patients have been exposed to major risk. To mitigate pathogen spread and protect healthcare workers and patients, medical services have been largely restricted, including cancellation of elective surgeries, which has posed a substantial burden for patients and immense economic loss for various hospitals. The integration of a robot as a shielding layer, physically separating the healthcare worker and patient, is a powerful tool to combat the omnipresent fear of pathogen contamination and maintain surgical volumes. In this Perspective, we outline detailed scenarios in the pre-, intra- and postoperative care, in which the use of robots and artificial intelligence can mitigate infectious contamination and aid patient management in the surgical environment during times of immense patient influx. We also discuss cost-effectiveness and benefits of surgical robotic systems beyond their use in pandemics. The current pandemic creates unprecedented demands for hospitals. Digitization and machine intelligence are gaining significance in healthcare to combat the virus. Their legacy may well outlast the pandemic and revolutionize surgical performance and management. © 2020, Springer Nature Limited.

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 variation in savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.): Potential risk for zoonotic/anthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and a potential model for functional studies.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has devastated health infrastructure around the world. Both ACE2 (an entry receptor) and TMPRSS2 (used by the virus for spike protein priming) are key proteins to SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, enabling progression to COVID-19 in humans. Comparative genomic research into critical ACE2 binding sites, associated with the spike receptor binding domain, has suggested that African and Asian primates may also be susceptible to disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.) are a widespread non-human primate with well-established potential as a bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic agent due to high levels of human interaction throughout their range in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. To characterize potential functional variation in savanna monkey ACE2 and TMPRSS2, we inspected recently published genomic data from 245 savanna monkeys, including 163 wild monkeys from Africa and the Caribbean and 82 captive monkeys from the Vervet Research Colony (VRC). We found several missense variants. One missense variant in ACE2 (X:14,077,550; Asp30Gly), common in Ch. sabaeus, causes a change in amino acid residue that has been inferred to reduce binding efficiency of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting potentially reduced susceptibility. The remaining populations appear as susceptible as humans, based on these criteria for receptor usage. All missense variants observed in wild Ch. sabaeus populations are also present in the VRC, along with two splice acceptor variants (at X:14,065,076) not observed in the wild sample that are potentially disruptive to ACE2 function. The presence of these variants in the VRC suggests a promising model for SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine and therapy development. In keeping with a One Health approach, characterizing actual susceptibility and potential for bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic transfer in savanna monkey populations may be an important consideration for controlling COVID-19 epidemics in communities with frequent human/non-human primate interactions that, in many cases, may have limited health infrastructure.

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 variation in savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.): Potential risk for zoonotic/anthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and a potential model for functional studies (preprint)

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has devastated health infrastructure around the world. Both ACE2 (an entry receptor) and TMPRSS2 (used by the virus for spike protein priming) are key proteins to SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, enabling progression to COVID-19 in humans. Comparative genomic research into critical ACE2 binding sites, associated with the spike receptor binding domain, has suggested that Old World primates may also be susceptible to disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.) are a widespread non-human primate with well-established potential as a bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic agent due to high levels of human interaction throughout their range in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. To characterize potential functional variation in savanna monkey ACE2 and TMPRSS2, we inspected recently published genomic data from 245 savanna monkeys, including 163 wild monkeys from Africa and the Caribbean and 82 captive monkeys from the Vervet Research Colony (VRC). We found several missense variants. One missense variant in ACE2 (X:14,077,550; Asp30Gly), common in Ch. sabaeus, causes a change in amino acid residue that has been inferred to reduce binding efficiency of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting potentially reduced susceptibility. The remaining populations appear as susceptible as humans, based on these criteria for receptor usage. All missense variants observed in wild Ch. sabaeus populations are also present in the VRC, along with two splice acceptor variants (at X:14,065,076) not observed in the wild sample that are potentially disruptive to ACE2 function. The presence of these variants in the VRC suggests a promising model for SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine and therapy development. In keeping with a One Health approach, characterizing actual susceptibility and potential for bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic transfer in savanna monkey populations may be an important consideration for controlling COVID-19 epidemics in communities with frequent human/non-human primate interactions that, in many cases, may have limited health infrastructure.