Evolution and consequences of individual responses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a long-lasting major disease outbreak such as that of COVID-19, the challenge for public health authorities is to keep people motivated and keen on following safety guidelines. In this study, a compartmental model with a heterogeneous transmission rate (based on awareness) is utilized to hypothesize about the public adoption of preventive guidelines. Three subsequent outbreaks in South Korea, Pakistan, and Japan were analyzed as case studies. The transmission, behavior change, and behavioral change ease rates of the disease were measured in these countries. The parameters were estimated using the maximum likelihood method with an additional identifiability analysis performed to determine the uniqueness of the estimated parameters for quantitatively comparing them during the first three waves of COVID-19. The mathematical analysis and simulation results show that individual responses had a significant effect on the outbreak. Individuals declining to follow the public health guidelines in Korea and Japan between the second and third waves contributed to making the third peak the highest of the three peaks. In Pakistan, however, individual responses to following public health guidelines were maintained between the second and third waves, resulting in the third peak being lower than the first, rather than being associated with the highest transmission rate. Thus, maintaining a high level of awareness is critical for containing the spread. Improvised public health campaigns are recommended to sustain individual attention and maintain a high level of awareness.

Setbacks, Uncertainties, And Stresses Due To Covid-19 Pandemic – Resiliency Of Pakistani Nation

Humans have been facing pandemics since their existence but survived because of their resiliency. However, presently the world is under the dark shadows of Covid-19, which has setbacks the businesses and created uncertainties and stress in the people around the world. The purpose of this research was to highlight the setbacks, explore tensions, and discover the insightfulness and plans of the Pakistani nation in such deteriorating conditions. For this purpose, relevant literature was reviewed, and data were collected from one hundred and sixty-five people from different walks of life but having their businesses or doing private jobs where they are paid when they attend the appointment. The respondents indicated that they had setbacks but were found using substitute ways for survival because of their resiliency.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING PANDEMIC;AN EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARDIAC CARE SET UP

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the frequency of mental health problems among healthcare workers related to COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers in a tertiary cardiac care center. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD) Rawalpindi (Pakistan) from Apr 2020 to Jun 2020. Methodology: This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study consisted of 100 healthcare workers including 50 nurses and 50 doctors who volunteered to enroll in our study were included. Approval from the clinical research ethics committee of cardiac care hospital was received before the initiation of this study. Verbal informed consent was provided by all study participants prior to their enrollment. Exclusion criteria comprised of the healthcare workers who refused to participate in it. This study followed the COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire (CoPaQ) 14. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the percentages and frequencies. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the percentages and frequencies were calculated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0. Results: A total of 100 healthcare workers completed the survey. Mean age of the healthcare workers was 36.5 ± 27.0 years (median=36.00), and 75 (75%) were women and men comprised 25 (25%). Of all participants, 50 (50.0%) were nurses, and 50 (50%) were doctors. A considerable proportion of participants reported symptoms of COVID-19, 6 (6.0%), tested positive 14 (14%), currently quarantine 24 (24.0%). While 12 healthcare workers experienced 14 day quarantine time period. 16 healthcare workers reported COVID test positive of their closed one. The fear of infecting others with COVID-19 was found to be 30 (30%). The mental stress that that COVID-19 will personally affect us was found in 28 (28%) of healthcare workers. The fear that consequences of the COVID-19 will be severe health disasters was found in 40 (40%) of the individuals. Conclusion: In this study of physicians and nurses in hospitals with wards for patients with COVID-19, health care workers responding to the spread of COVID-19 reported high rates of symptoms of anxiety, fear, and distress.