The danger of inappropriate use of personal protective equipment

The coronavirus pandemic is a global health emergency which has had widespread unforeseen mental health consequences. Those with borderline personality disorder are predisposed to poor coping strategies to manage such stress and require intense psychological input which was not widely available during the peak of the pandemic. It is likely that the coronavirus outbreak has had a significant impact on the mental stability of such patients aggravating deliberate self-harm behaviours. A 20-year old psychiatric in-patient with borderline personality disorder, held under Section III of the mental health act, presented to the adult plastic surgery team in Bristol with localised infection of her right forearm. Foreign bodies were easily palpable and imaging revealed linear metal objects. The patient reported that she had removed metal strips from her collection of face masks and inserted them into her forearm as an act of deliberate self-harm. The patient was taken to operating theatre for removal of these foreign bodies under general anaesthetic. After twenty-four hours of antibiotics she was discharged safely back to the psychiatric ward. Despite the epilogue of the COVID-19 pandemic facemasks are still mandatory within the hospital setting. Clinicians need to be aware of these unusual circumstances where a form of protective equipment was deconstructed to cause actual bodily harm. The purpose of this report is to promote awareness of this type of injury especially in those suffering from mental illness. The authors would suggest an alternative mask without any form of metal.

What is a digital nomad? Definition and taxonomy in the era of mainstream remote work. (Special Issue: Leisure, knowledge work and the digital nomadism.)

Digital nomadism gradually expanded during the 2010s. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work (a prerequisite to digital nomadism), suddenly became mainstream. In this new context the term digital nomadism is increasingly used in ways that are broader or different to its original conception. This paper reviews scientific literature and draws on the author's ethnographic fieldwork to create an updated classification of contemporary digital nomadism that acknowledges the broad spectrum of individuals, groups, communities, identities, and imaginaries labelled with the term digital nomad. The paper updates the definition of digital nomadism and provides a new taxonomy which subdivides the digital nomad model into five distinct types: freelance digital nomads;digital nomad business owners;salaried digital nomads;experimental digital nomads and armchair digital nomads. It also proposes that six key variable themes should be applied to these classifications. These are: autonomy over mobility;homebase practices;domestic vs. transnational travel;legal legitimacy;work-life balance and coworking space usage. The taxonomy and the variable themes are proposed as a roadmap for future research and as a tool so researchers and policymakers can more accurately evaluate real-world examples of digital nomad context, motivation, practice, and impact.

Emerging venue considerations for event management: the case of Ireland

Event venues represent a focal point for infectious disease transmission among attendees and event stakeholders, creating lasting uncertainty within the industry post-COVID-19. There is now a need to investigate emerging venue considerations for the event industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Ireland as a case, a quantitative questionnaire was used on a sample of event managers. Event venue monitoring for COVID-19 is lacking, while risk mitigation procedures focus more on attendees already at the venue rather than avoiding infected persons entering the venue. Risk assessments now comprise COVID-19 risk;however, a lack of resources means regular health and safety has shown signs of weakening. Government and local authority resources and financial support are required. Pre-venue procedures of symptom screening and proof of vaccination, combined with venue procedures for disinfection of venue spaces, table service, and appropriate ventilation have proven to be effective COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures. Additionally, ICT (information and communications technology) could disseminate up-to-date health guidelines through customer-centric digital environments representing enhanced information sharing to avoid uncertainty and support pro-social intentions of event attendees and compliance with event venue COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures.

The role of physical activity in modulating COVID-19 neuropsychological complications: a narrative review

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by SARS-CoV-2, represents the major global issue affecting the lifestyle of people around the world. Wuhan, China was the first city to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but the virus soon spread around the world, forcing the World Health Organization to declare a global epidemic on March 11, 2020 (1). Previous pathological conditions or comorbidities such as old age are one of the main causes of premature death and increased morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 (4). Inactivity due to hospitalization and bed rest and reduced physical activity due to constant quarantine and social distancing can reduce the ability of organ systems to resist viral infection and the risk of damage to the immune, respiratory, and Increase cardiovascular systems, musculoskeletal and nervous system (4). On the other hand, the health benefits of physical activity, from cardiovascular health to mental health, have been well established (5). Decreased physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors were reported during quarantine in several populations, including children and patients with a variety of medical conditions (6). In general, COVID-19 lifestyle changes have led to a decrease in physical activity and consequently more inactivity in different parts of the community, which can pose a risk to general or mental health, especially for certain populations. In this study, we have tried to review the neurological and psychological effects of COVID-19 and the resulting lifestyle changes, and specifically the role of exercise in relation to these effects. Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) manifestations can occur during and after COVID-19, but the underlying mechanisms, symptomatology, and frequency of these complications are not well understood (7). Limited postmortem studies have shown signs of hypoxic brain damage and inflammatory neurological changes in the brainstem, while neuropathological data from the PNS are almost non-existent. Due to the cause, direct invasion of acute respiratory syndrome of COVID-19 virus to nerve tissue has been suggested in several cases, but autoimmune damage and neurological complications related to intensive care management can also be effective. The contribution of these mechanisms to the overall burden of CNS and PNS complications of COVID-19 is unknown (7). Follow-ups in Germany and the United Kingdom have shown that neuropsychological symptoms after COVID-19 in 20 to 70% of patients, even in young adults, last for months after the onset of respiratory symptoms, suggesting brain involvement persists (9). COVID-19, which enters through angiotensin-converting enzyme receptors, can damage endothelial cells, leading to inflammation, thrombosis, and brain damage. In addition, systemic inflammation leads to a decrease in monoamines and neurotrophic factors and activation of microglia, which leads to an increase in glutamate and N-methyl-d-aspartate-3 and excitatory toxicity, and these factors cause the onset or exacerbation of existing neuropsychiatric symptoms. They are already (9). However, the extent of damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic strain is still speculated;it has recently been suggested that irregular neuro-endocrine-immune interactions may be behind psychiatric manifestations observed in quarantined individuals (12, 13). Persistent and increased stressful events can direct immune, endocrine, and nervous system responses primarily through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) mediated dysfunction (12), and changes in the levels of systemic inflammatory mediators or the brain predispose individuals to pathological psychological conditions. It acts like anxiety and depression. In addition, stress can be a potential trigger for neuroinflammation, a term used to indicate an imbalance or intensification of immune signals in the brain that can lead to several disorders such as aggression, psychosis, depression, and anxiety disorders (12). Covid 19 has also been shown to alter nerve growth factors that may affect the neurop

Advancing patient safety governance in the COVID-19 response

In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of health care services remains a serious, ongoing challenge. This once-in-a-century global health crisis exposed the vulnerability of healthcare delivery systems and the subsequent risks of patient harm. Given the scale of the occurrence and costs of preventable patient safety events, intervention and investment are still relatively modest. Good patient safety governance focuses on what leaders and policy makers can do to improve system performance and reduce the financial burden of avoidable care. Moreover, it is essential in driving progress in improving safety outcomes. This report examines how patient safety governance mechanisms in OECD countries have withstood the test of COVID-19 and provides recommendations for countries in further improving patient safety governance and strengthening health system resilience.

Special Issue: Landscapes of support: farmer wellbeing and rural resilience through and beyond crises. (Special Issue: Landscapes of support: farmer wellbeing and rural resilience through and beyond crises.)

Consisting of seven articles, this special issue explores farmer wellbeing in the context of global agricultural transitions, which are demanding new ways of farming (e.g., digitalisation, net zero, economic restructuring), and in light of shock events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in four countries: Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. In exploring the impacts of future shock events and agricultural transitions on wellbeing, the issue concludes with a call to move beyond broad compilations of stressors and interventions and towards nuanced investigations of why and how poor farmer wellbeing occurs and how it can be best supported in specific contexts. The research from these four countries has wide relevance across European countries (similarity in farming systems, noting some differences), but a key message from the issue is that stressors on farmer wellbeing can be highly context-dependent according to place-based social, environmental, economic and political issues.

Trends in recreational walking trail usage in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for practice. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and outdoor recreation.)

Despite its potential utility for the outdoor recreation sector, there is no centralised surveillance system for recreational walking trails in Ireland and thus trail usage in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown. This paper aims to report trends in football count data on Irish trails during the COVID-19 period and to triangulate findings with openly available mobility data. This descriptive study analysed changes in footfall counts gathered from passive infrared sensors on 33 of Ireland's recreational walking trails between January 2019 and December 2020. The relationship between Google Community Mobility Report (GCMR) data and footfall counts was analysed to corroborate trends in footfall data. Total footfall increased by 6% between 2019 and 2020 on trails included in this analysis. Notably, mean trail usage was between 26% and 47% higher in October-December 2020 than during the same period in 2019. A strong correlation between GCMR data from 'parks' and footfall count data was found. The conclusions of this study are twofold. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic increased trail usage in Ireland, especially on trails closer to urban areas and there is potential for this to be a lasting legacy. Secondly, combining multiple data sources can provide trail managers with more detailed representations of trail usage and currently these are not harmonised. Future research should examine ways to encourage sustained recreational walking trail use in new users and implement novel ways to coordinate datasets across systems to monitor visitors on Irish recreational walking trails.

Improving the timeliness of health expenditure tracking in OECD and low-and middle-income countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that access to timely health spending data is crucial for informed policy-making. This Health Working Paper summarises and compares the methodologies applied in around half of OECD countries to estimate public and private health spending for the most recent year (i.e. t-1) as well as the approaches taken by the OECD Secretariat to fill existing data gaps for the remaining OECD countries. For the first time, the paper also explores the feasibility of nowcasting health spending for the current year (i.e. t) and examines data sources that could be potentially useful in such an exercise. While this review should help OECD countries that do not yet have experience in estimating health spending for year t-1 to improve the timeliness in their data reporting, a special focus in this paper lies on testing the applicability of the methods in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), using the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPRO) as an example. Generally, different data sources exist in many countries that would allow for a more timely estimation for health spending aggregates.

Comparative diagnostic performance of the new chromatographic AffimerR-based rapid antigen detection against SARS-CoV-2 and other standard antigen tests for COVID-19 in a clinical setting

The availability of accurate and rapid diagnostic tools for COVID-19 is essential for tackling the ongoing pandemic. In this context, researchers in the UK have started testing a new Lateral Flow Device (LFD) based on proprietary Biotinylated anti SARS-CoV-2 S1 AffimerR technology that binds to the SARS-CoV2-S1 protein in anterior nasal swab samples, generating an ultrasensitive method for detection. This international study aimed to compare its performance against other available Antigen-detecting Rapid Diagnostic Tests (Ag-RDTs) in a real-world clinical setting. The study was completed under the frame of Project SENSORNAS RTC-20176501 in collaboration with MiRNAX Biosens Ltd. and Hospital Carlos III, it was documented internally and deposited in agreement to the ISO 13485 norm. All the data obtained are currently under submission and review from the Ethics Committee of Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.

A bibliometric analysis of the global tourism industry in the wake of COVID-19

The pandemic has had unprecedented consequences for the worldwide tourism industry, prompting a downpour of academic research. The present endeavor provides comprehensive literature on the tourism industry in the wake of COVID-19. The review looks at the most prominent countries, institutions, authors, and journals, as well as the most often utilized keywords by authors, publishers, and editors. The Scopus database was used to retrieve related papers, and the bibliometric exploration was carried out to find collaborative relationships among countries, institutions, and authors as well as the co-occurrence of all keywords in the literature, utilizing Vosviewer, the far more commonly applied visualization software. Inclusion-exclusion criteria were met by 488 papers out of 1057. According to the study, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are the most productive countries, in line with research publications. The two most lucrative institutions have been recognized as Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Sejong University. The most active authors were reported to be Han, H., Law, R., and Nicolau, J.L.;the most prolific journal was Sustainability Switzerland. In addition to this, Wang Y. was found to be the most collaborative author, and China was the most cooperative country. Furthermore, the most common keywords reflecting the current leading research are COVID-19 and tourism. The study's findings provide significant insight into current developments in the tourism industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale.

Anti-fibrotic agents could be the game-changer for post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis treatment

More than 220 countries and territories are globally affected by the recent pandemic COVID-19 which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is possibility of third wave of this pandemic as per epidemiological and public health experts. Besides that post-COVID-19 complications are alarming matter to look upon. Post-COVID-19 complications include several symptoms like as persistent fever;cough;fatigue;headache;attention disorder;dyspnea;anosmia;ageusia;chest pain discomfort;various respiratory illness;acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) etc., and here the things to worry about is the development of pulmonary fibrosis after COVID-19. In some COVID-19 patients, hyper-inflammation in the form of 'cytokine storm' along with dysregulated immune response, alveolar epithelial tissue injury and wound repair collectively cause this secondary pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, using anti-fibrotic agents e.g. pirfenidone, nintedanib and other natural compounds could be meaningful in these circumstances although their efficacy in treating COVID-19 is subject to more detailed laboratory research works. In this review article, we have discussed the progression of pulmonary fibrosis development which is triggered by COVID-19;probable solutions with anti-fibrotic agents including anti-fibrotic drugs, some well-known natural compounds, combined anti-fibrotic therapies;and the current challenges of this field.

Continuity, change and new ways of being: an exploratory assessment of farmer's experiences and responses to public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Irish community. (Special Issue: Landscapes of support: farmer wellbeing and rural resilience through and beyond crises.)

Farming occupations are, in the Global North, generally solitary, and a growing body of research identifies this as one of the factors that underpins low levels of wellbeing and poor mental health amongst farmers. The primary public health response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic focused on reducing transmission of the virus by limiting interactions of people. This article seeks to assess the impact of these restrictions on farmer's experience of isolation and how it shaped their wellbeing. Applying a broad socio-ecological framework, we analyse change, continuity and shifts in social and economic relations and their spatial reconfiguration during the COVID-19 pandemic as recounted in semi-structured, qualitative interviews. We found that while COVID-19 has disrupted socio-spatial relations, including key sites of socialisation for farmers and rural communities, occupational isolation was viewed as a positive feature of farming as was working in nature. Familial and informal networks of support were important throughout the pandemic, while novel engagements with communication technologies facilitated both change and continuity of social and economic interaction. Whilst these findings are broadly positive, the reconfiguration of, particularly, economic relations is viewed as accelerating the turn towards service delivery using technology and, consequently, further reducing opportunities for social interaction.

The trend of COVID-19 pandemic in India: a methodical comparison with Italy, UK, and the US

Introduction: To statistically compare the trends of epidemiological indicators of COVID-19 in India with Italy, the UK, and the US. Methodology: In this descriptive analysis, epidemiological indicators were calculated and their trends were plotted and compared statistically. Regression analysis was done to predict the fatalities. Results: The trends of total and active cases per million populations are rising in India and US, while Italy has achieved the plateau in the total cases per million populations, and active cases have been sharply declining with time. The UK is about to achieve the same. India has remained far behind the other three countries in the number of tests per million populations (p < 0.05). In the initial phase, the test positivity rate of India was quite lower but has overtaken Italy and UK. India has always reported a higher recovery rate than US and lower than Italy. CFRs have achieved a plateau in Italy and UK, in US it is declining, while it remained almost constant in India throughout the pandemic. Testing was a significant covariate in predicting the fatalities. Conclusions: India was able to manage the initial phase of this pandemic due to early and strict government interventions and strong public health responses.

Differences in COVID-19 vaccination coverage by occupation in England: a national linked data study

Background: Monitoring differences in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in different groups is crucial to help inform the policy response to the pandemic. A key data gap is the absence of data on uptake by occupation. This study investigates differences in vaccination rates by occupation in England, using nationwide population-level data. Methods: We calculated the proportion of people who had received three COVID-19 vaccinations (assessed on 28 February 2022) by detailed occupational categories in adults aged 18-64 and estimated adjusted ORs to examine whether these differences were driven by occupation or other factors, such as education. We also examined whether vaccination rates differed by ability to work from home. Results: Our study population included 15 456 651 adults aged 18-64 years. Vaccination rates differed markedly by occupation, being higher in health professionals (84.7%) and teaching and other educational professionals (83.6%) and lowest in people working in elementary trades and related occupations (57.6%). We found substantial differences in vaccination rates looking at finer occupational groups. Adjusting for other factors likely to be linked to occupation and vaccination, such as education, did not substantially alter the results. Vaccination rates were associated with ability to work from home, the rate being higher in occupations which can be done from home. Many occupations with low vaccination rates also involved contact with the public or with vulnerable people Conclusions: Increasing vaccination coverage in occupations with low vaccination rates is crucial to help protecting the public and control infection. Efforts should be made to increase vaccination rates in occupations that cannot be done from home and involve contact with the public.

The effect of COVID-19 on 30-day mortality rates amongst fragility hip fracture patients

Aim: Fragility hip fracture patients have always been vulnerable to high rates of short term mortality, an issue that may have been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To date, published data regarding Irish hip fracture patients in the era of COVID-19 is limited. This study aims to assess the effect of COVID-19 on 30-day mortality rates amongst a group of Irish hip fracture patients. Additionally, patient demographics, length of stay, admission haematological parameters, fracture type and surgical procedure will be assessed. Methods: A multicentre, observational, retrospective study of hip fracture patients (n = 1,017) admitted to six Dublin teaching hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (4th February to 9th July 2020) was performed. For comparative purposes, equivalent data was retrospectively collected relating to hip fracture patients admitted to the same six teaching hospitals during the same time period in 2019. Results: 481 patients were admitted during the specified timeframe in 2020, compared with 536 in 2019. The mean patient age was 77.6 years and 65.9% of patients were female. There was no statistically significant overall difference in 30-day mortality rates between the study and control groups, at 5.4% in 2020 and 4.3% in 2019 (p=0.338). There was an insignificant decrease in mean length of stay (17.85 days in 2020 vs. 18.82 days in 2019;p=0.106). Advancing age (p=0.021), male gender (p=0.019), low admission haemoglobin (p=0.024) and high admission white cell count (p=0.019) were all associated with increased 30-day mortality. Conclusion: We found no significant difference in 30-day mortality rates amongst our cohort of hip fracture patients at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Advancing age, male gender, anaemia at admission and leucocytosis at admission were associated with increased 30-day mortality. The continuation of COVID-19 related safety protocols in the treatment of hip fracture patients is essential in maintaining a safe hip fracture service.

Operational crisis communication management: a content analysis of FIFA's communication during Covid-19

Despite the high number of crises encountered within sport, crisis communication management in sport remains understudied. Operational crisis communication in particular can be considered an uncharted territory, regardless of its potential significant effects on sport organisations' reputation. In this study we explore the themes used in FIFA's communication during the Covid-19 pandemic, to understand how operational organisational crisis communication was managed by football's leading sport organisation in this unprecedented climate. Content analysis is conducted in all FIFA's press releases and Twitter messages related to Covid-19 from March 5th to July 3rd 2020, in order for insights to be offered to the content and meaning of FIFA's operational crisis communication, their attempts to emphasise the organisation's positive traits and actions, and the links built with managing and improving the organisation's reputation. The analysis of the themes used indicates that proactive planning of crisis communication management had been conducted, while lessons from previous handling of crises appear to have been learned. By outlining the crisis communication strategy adopted by FIFA, we offer insights to the unexplored area of operational crisis communication in sports, while presenting a roadmap for operational crisis communication management for other sport organisations and future studies exploring the topic. HIGHLIGHTS The study highlights the main themes used by FIFA, focusing on positive traits of the organisation. FIFA's crisis communication management deviates from pre-prescribed recommendations.A roadmap for operational crisis communication management for sport organisations is offered.

Therapeutic strategies encompassing monoclonal antibodies and vaccines to tackle the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant amongst European children

Omicron is a notable B.1.1.529 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) comprising 50 gene mutations in total, within which 32 gene mutations were recorded on spike 1 (S1) protein. Omicron beholding higher gene mutations than other prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Delta-SARS-CoV-2 variant, exhibited the highest transmission efficacy. About 2152 individuals from 57 countries contracted Omicron in the shortest interval of two weeks proclaiming the variant to be the most contagious SARS-CoV-2 variant amongst all other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. The first Omicron contracted patient was diagnosed on 24 November 2021 in South Africa, and the South African population was infected presenting these health ailments: sore throat, headache, body pain, and mild to severe fatigue commonly witnessed among children and adults. In Germany, together with aged people with co-morbidities and young adults, children of 0-4 yrs and 5-14 yrs were profusely affected by Omicron. Omicron contracted Swedish children showed moderate to severe convulsions as adverse symptoms. In the UK, Omicron positive children in higher numbers were examined and treated under hospital care with ventilators and oxygen cylinders. This narrative insight review illustrates the distinct virulence characteristics of Omicron in evading the human-host neutralizing antibodies action in both SARS-CoV-2 convalescent individuals and immunized population in the context of its outbreak in European children. Moreover, the effect of monoclonal antibodies and the appropriate therapeutic dosage of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and the common pediatric vaccines that finds promising to tackle Omicron outbreaks in children across Europe have been unveiled in the review.

Are mRNA COVID 19 vaccines safe in long COVID patients? A health care workers perspective

Introduction: Long Covid patients may have concerns about the impact of mRNA vaccines on their symptoms. Method: A short questionnaire was sent to users of a long covid service supporting an NHS Trust staff in Wigan 2 weeks following the conclusion of a mRNA vaccine first dose roll out. The questionnaire explored acceptance and compliance with the vaccine and any change in the symptoms at least 2 weeks following the vaccination. Results: 77 HCW were offered the vaccine. 10 respondents declined mainly because of concerns regarding worsening long covid symptoms. 67% of respondents did not experience any change in symptoms whilst 21% experienced improvement of symptoms. 12% experienced worsening of symptoms. Conclusion: mRNA vaccines can influence long covid symptoms. However, patients seemed to be twice more likely to experience improvement than worsening of symptoms.

Upgrading of hospital discharge summary software to optimise COVID-19 documentation and safeguard infection prevention in the community

Aims: Early review of 50 discharge summaries at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (SATH) in April 2020 revealed only 27% documented the patient's in-hospital COVID-19 test result and 2% outlined any recommended self-isolation advice following hospital discharge. This had potential adverse implications for community infection control as well as medico-legal sequalae for the Trust were the discharged patient to spread COVID-19 to other cohabitants. The urology team worked with SATH IT to amend the existing discharge summary software, to add two tabs to make COVID-19 test result and self-isolation documentation mandatory for successful sign-off. The aim of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of updating the discharge summary software on documentation accuracy related to COVID-19 on discharge paperwork. Method: Following the implementation of the modified software, 50 consecutive discharge summaries for patients admitted under the urology team starting 1st October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed for documentation of COVID-19 result and self-isolation advice. Results: 90% of discharge summaries included COVID-19 test result and 100% included self-isolation advice for the patient, or alternatively confirmed that no self-isolation was required. Conclusions: This simple modification of an existing IT system greatly improved compliance with COVID-19 discharge summary documentation. We propose all hospitals consider adopting similar measures in the interest of infection prevention, public safety and potential medicolegal sequalae.

An effective distraction? Fantasy football during the times of COVID-19

The popularity of fantasy sports has increased exponentially over the last few decades. The existing literature has predominantly focused on the negative effects of fantasy football (or, fantasy sports in general) on mental health because of its association with gambling and internet addictions. Using primary data collected through online surveys, this study attempts to examine the role of fantasy football within a completely new context by asking whether it acted as an effective distraction for the fantasy football managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 70% of the participants consider fantasy football to be an effective escape from day-to-day activities. Approximately two-thirds of the managers in our sample report that they were negatively affected by the suspension of fantasy football at the advent of COVID-19. Once resumed, fantasy football helped mitigate some of the negative emotions caused by COVID-19 and it worked as a distraction for 78.5% of the managers during the pandemic. The statistical analysis indicates that though the role of fantasy football as a distraction was evident across all age groups the effect was more acute in case of the highly involved managers (defined by, level of competitiveness and time invested in the game during weekends).