Epidemiological Characteristics of Sporadic Nosocomial COVID-19 Infections From June 2020 to June 2021 in China: An Overview of Vaccine Breakthrough Infection Events.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has wreaked havoc on millions of people around the world. Although China quickly brought the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) under control, there have been several sporadic outbreaks in different regions of China since June 2020. This article described the chronological nosocomial COVID-19 infection events related to several sporadic outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in different regions of China. We have reported epidemiological characteristics and management measures of sporadic nosocomial COVID-19 infections from June 2020 to June 2021 and specially focused on the domestic COVID-19 breakthrough infection in China, such as domestic COVID-19 breakthrough infection-a vaccinated healthcare professional working in the isolation ward of a designated COVID-19 hospital.

Geographical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Sporadic Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreaks From June to December 2020 in China: An Overview of Environment-To-Human Transmission Events.

China quickly brought the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 under control during the early stage of 2020; thus, this generated sufficient confidence among the public, which enabled them to respond to several sporadic coronavirus disease 2019 outbreaks. This article presents geographical and epidemiological characteristics of several sporadic coronavirus disease 2019 outbreaks from June to December 2020 in China. The data show that the coronavirus disease may be transmitted by imported cold-chain food and international exchange, and this viewpoint deserves our great attention.

Occupational Characteristics and Management Measures of Sporadic COVID-19 Outbreaks From June 2020 to January 2021 in China: The Importance of Tracking Down "Patient Zero".

There are occupational disparities in the risk of contracting COVID-19. Occupational characteristics and work addresses play key roles in tracking down "patient zero." The present descriptive analysis for occupational characteristics and management measures of sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks from June to December 2020 in China offers important new information to the international community at this stage of the pandemic. These data suggest that Chinese measures including tracking down "patient zero," launching mass COVID-19 testing in the SARS-CoV-2-positive areas, designating a new high- or medium-risk area, locking down the corresponding community or neighborhood in response to new COVID-19 cases, and basing individual methods of protection on science are effective in reducing the transmission of the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 across China.

Antiviral biomaterials

Summary Viral infections remain one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, responsible for millions of deaths every year. The application of antiviral drugs, along with symptomatic treatment, is the primary modality of clinical antiviral therapy. Nevertheless, the severe side effects of antiviral drugs, such as gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, and/or hematopoietic damages, can affect compliance and may even interrupt treatment. Moreover, drug resistance due to frequent viral mutations and single antiviral mechanisms often leads to therapeutic failure. The introduction of biomaterials into antiviral therapy provides distinct advantages and unique mechanisms. Antiviral biomaterials work in various ways, such as physical adsorption of viruses, binding to viruses as entry inhibitors, induction of irreversible viral deformation, interference with viral nucleic acid replication, and blockage of viral release from infected cells, among others. This review offers an overview of state-of-the-art advances in antiviral biomaterials featuring different mechanisms and discusses their challenges and opportunities in clinical translations.

Geographical and Epidemiological Characteristics of 3,487 Confirmed Cases With COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in China.

As the first area to report the outbreak, China used to be the front line of the battle against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The present descriptive analysis of 3,487 COVID-19-confirmed cases with health workers reported through April 30, 2020 offers important new information to the international community on the epidemic in China. These data showed that Chinese measures including the high-grade protective gear used, mask wearing, and social distancing, are effective in reducing transmission in hospitals.

Effects of Internet Hospital Consultations on Psychological Burdens and Disease Knowledge During the Early Outbreak of COVID-19 in China: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global threat to human health. Internet hospitals have emerged as a critical technology to bring epidemic-related web-based services and medical support to the public. However, only a few very recent scientific literature reports have explored the effects of internet hospitals on psychological burden and disease knowledge in major public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the role of internet hospitals in relieving psychological burden and increasing disease knowledge during the early outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This survey was conducted from January 26 to February 1, 2020, during the early outbreak of COVID-19 in China. The platform used for the consultation was the WeChat public account of our hospital. To participate in the study, the patient was required to answer a list of questions to exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection and confirm their willingness to participate voluntarily. Next, the participant was directed to complete the self-report questionnaire. After the internet consultation, the participant was directed to complete the self-report questionnaire again. The questionnaire included sections on general information, the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and the participant's worries, disease knowledge, and need for hospital treatment. RESULTS: The total number of internet consultations was 4120. The consultation topics mainly included respiratory symptoms such as cough, expectoration, and fever (2489/4120, 60.4%) and disease knowledge, anxiety, and fear (1023/4120, 24.8%). A total of 1530 people filled out the questionnaires before and after the internet consultation. Of these people, 1398/1530 (91.4%) experienced psychological stress before the internet consultation, which significantly decreased after consultation (260/1530, 17.0%) (χ21=1704.8, P<.001). There was no significant difference in the number of people who expressed concern about the COVID-19 pandemic before and after the internet consultation (χ21=0.7, P=.43). However, the degree of concern after the internet consultation was significantly alleviated (t2699=90.638, P<.001). The main worries before and after consultation were the dangers posed by the disease and the risk of infection of family members. The scores of the self-assessment risk after the internet consultation were significantly lower than those before consultation (t3058=95.694, P<.001). After the consultation, the participants' knowledge of the symptoms, transmission routes, and preventive measures of COVID-19 was significantly higher than before the consultation (t3058=-106.105, -80.456, and -152.605, respectively; all P<.001). The hospital treatment need score after the internet consultation decreased from 3.3 (SD 1.2) to 1.6 (SD 0.8), and the difference was statistically significant (t3058=45.765, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the early outbreak of COVID-19, internet hospitals could help relieve psychological burdens and increase disease awareness through timely and rapid spread of knowledge regarding COVID-19 prevention and control. Internet hospitals should be an important aspect of a new medical model in public health emergency systems.