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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an additional set of challenges to theeconomiesoftheGulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Theregionhasbeen struggling to attract more and better FDI, constrained by investment climateweaknesses and regional geopolitical tensions. While the projected short-termdeclinesareexpectedtohittheGCC economieshard,thecrisiscouldalso bring new opportunities to benefit from global trends, such as reshoringand restructuring of global and regional value chains. The extent to whichthisispossiblewilldependonsustainingexistingreformsunderway,enactingtargetednew strategiesandmeasuresforthepost-COVID-19context,andreinforcingregionalcooperation.ThisbriefprovidesanoverviewoftheimpactoftheC OVID-19crisisoninvestmentintheregionandhighlights GCC government policy responses to catalyze investment andfoster an inclusive post-crisis recovery.Copyright © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.
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Business schools need to revisit, reflect and re-align to the new normal. The paper makes an attempt to identify the measures for institutional continuity taken by a leading private business school of India. A multi-stakeholder analysis was used to understand the intricacies of 'trilemma' (Admission-Teaching & Learning-Placement) of business education. An Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach was implemented in the study. A series of 'Brainstorming' sessions were held in the virtual mode involving participants from various stakeholder groups, woven around the 5D approach of Appreciative Inquiry. The study gives an insight to the apprehensions and concerns of the different stakeholders related to the 'trilemma'. The overarching schema for successful mitigation strategies implementation has been proposed. Research on micro-level measures to reposition management education in the new normal is scarce. The study uncovers the challenges and redundancies due to the abrupt shift and details synergetic and dynamic interventions for their mitigation. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
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Background: Community Medicine specialists play a crucial role in the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, monitoring and surveillance, healthcare planning and management and research but the awareness about the speciality even among the medical fraternity is limited. Aim: To determine the perceptions of Medical Professionals from Tertiary care teaching institutes towards the specialty of community medicine and its specialists. Materials and Methods: This was a web based cross-sectional survey conducted in October- November, 2021 among Medical professionals of Tertiary Care Teaching Institutes in the state of Uttar Pradesh, North India using a semi structured, pretested questionnaire circulated as google forms using WhatsApp and personal email ids.
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Objective: To estimate COVID-19 seropositivity among contacts of cases and to compare the seropositivity among different types of contact for assessing the differential risk & transmission dynamics. Material and Methods: A large-scale population-based serosurvey was carried out among the general population of Ahmedabad during the second half of October 2020. The contacts of cases were selected based on the population proportion and enrolled as an additional category. The seropositivity among the contacts was estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with different types of contact and available demographic factors. Results: As of October 2020, the seropositivity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) among contacts of cases in Ahmedabad was 26.0% [95% confidence interval 24.2–28.0]. The seropositivity among family contacts was significantly higher (28.8%) compared to other contacts (24.4%) (Z=2.19, p-value=0.028). This trend was seen across all age groups and both sexes. The seropositivity was higher among females (27.7%) compared to males (24.5%) but the difference was statistically not significant (Z=1.64, p-value=0.101). In terms of age groups, the positivity had an increasing trend up to 60 years but declined after that. Conclusion: A seropositivity of 26.0% among contacts indicates that a large proportion of contacts demonstrated Immunoglobulin-G antibodies. This highlights asymptomatic transmission and/or low sensitivity of the diagnostic tests. The current strategy for contact tracing and testing among contacts is justified based on the significantly higher seropositiviamong family contacts. © 2021 JHSMR.
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Background: Serosurveillance study focusing on antibodies against SARS-CoV2 among the Covid19 cases can add value in the scientific knowledge & help in formulating valid predictions regarding immunity status in the post-covid period. Objectives: To estimate seropositivity among covid19 cases and to identify various factors affecting seropositivity. Methods: During second half of October 2020, a population based serosurvey on Covid19 cases was carried out in Ahmedabad. Covid-Kavach test kits were used and estimated seroprevalence was compared with available demographic and covid19 case related parameters to identify factors affecting seropositivity in the post-covid period. Simple proportions and Z-test were used as appropriate. Results: As on October 2020, the sero-positivity among Covid19 cases in Ahmedabad was 54.51% [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 52.14-56.86%]. Females have higher positivity (54.78%) as compared to males (54.30%) but the difference was statistically not significant (Z=0.19, P=0.84). Among children and elderly, the positivity is high and from young adults to elderly the seropositivity has an increasing trend. Severity of clinical illness and longer duration of hospitalization are associated with higher seropositivity. Conclusion: With 54.51% seropositivity among covid19 cases, it is clear that all the covid19 cases may not have developed IgG antibodies, have undetectable level or might have disappeared during the post-covid period. Comparison of seropositivity with age group and clinical case details clearly suggest close correlation with the severity of clinical symptoms. The seronegative cases indicate the need for further in-depth scientific research to identify the factors affecting immunity and to uncover the reasons behind the same. © 2021, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Due to the pandemic all the institutes remain closed that led to significant physical and psychosocial problems among children and youths. Hence in our study we aim to compare the clinical features, differences in COVID 1st, 2nd and 3rd waves Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective institutional study from the records of 1st three waves. The study included children and youths aged 18 years or younger with COVID-19 confirmed by the positive detection of SARS-CoV-2. The collected data included sex, age at diagnosis, clinical symptoms, dates of admission and discharge, were noted and analyzed. Results: Among 397 children and youths confirmed with COVID-19 infections, the mean age was <10 years, almost equal sex distribution and one 3rd were asymptomatic. Majority were symptom free in 2nd and 3rd waves. Cough and fever were the presenting symptoms Among all individuals, 394 individuals (99.2%) had mild illness. One subject had chilblains, one developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and one developed post-COVID-19 autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In all 3 waves, 204 patients with COVID-19 (51.4%) had domestic infections. Among these individuals, 186 (91.2%) reported having a contact history with another individual with COVID-19, of which most (183 individuals [90.0%]) were family members. Conclusions: We conclude that all children and youths with COVID-19 in countries had mild illness. In this cross-sectional study, children and youths with COVID-19 had a wide range of clinical presentations, from no symptoms to post-infectious immune-mediated complications.