Need for Vision: A data-centric approach towards analysing impact of COVID-19

From the beginning of 2020, we saw a rise of a new virus called the Coronavirus and ultimately a pandemic that anyone reading this paper must have been through. With the rise of COVID,many vaccines were found, the global vaccination drive as a result of this naturally fueled a possibility of Pro-Vaxxers and Anti-Vaxxers strongly expressing their support and concerns regarding the vaccines on social media platforms and along with this came up the need of quick identification of people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. So in this paper, an effort has been made to facilitate the understanding of all these complications and help the concerned authorities. With the help of data in the form of Covid-19 tweets, a (machine-learning) classifier has been built which can classify users as per their vaccine related stance and also classify users who have reported their symptoms through tweets. © FIRE 2022: Forum for Information Retrieval Evaluation.

One-year temporal changes in long COVID prevalence and characteristics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the 1-year temporal change in prevalence, variety, and potential risk factors of long COVID symptoms, and to further predict the prognostic trends of long COVID. METHODS: We searched electronic databases for related studies published from January 2020 to February 2022, and conducted one group meta-analysis and locally weighted regression explore the monthly temporal change in the prevalence of each long COVID symptom in 1-year follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 137 studies were included in meta-analysis, including 134,093 participants. The temporal change of any long COVID symptom showed a steep decrease initially (from 92% at acute phase to 55% at 1-month follow-up), followed by stabilization at approximately 50% during 1-year follow-up. Six months or more after the acute phase, the odds ratio (OR) of population characteristic factors increased, such as female gender (from 1.62 to 1.82), while the OR value of acute phase-related factors (severe/critical and hospitalization) decreased. As for specific symptoms, about two-thirds of the symptoms did not significantly reduce during the 1-year follow-up, and the neuropsychiatric symptoms showed a higher long-term prevalence (approximately 25%) and longer persistence than physical-symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal changes in the prevalence and characteristics speculate that long COVID may persist longer than expected. In particular, we should pay more attention to neuropsychiatric symptoms and other symptoms for which there is no significant downward trend in prevalence. The influence of acute phase-related factors for long COVID gradually decreases over time, while the influence of population characteristic-related gradually increases.

Long-COVID Inducement Mechanism Based on the Path Module Correlation Coefficient

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases, the long-COVID symptoms become the focus of clinical attention. Based on the statistical analysis of long-COVID symptoms in European and Chinese populations, this study proposes the path module correlation coefficient, which can estimate the correlation between two modules in a network, to evaluate the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-COVID symptoms, providing a theoretical support for analyzing the frequency of long-COVID symptoms in European and Chinese populations. The path module correlation coefficients between specific COVID-19-related genes in the European and Chinese populations and genes that may induce long-COVID symptoms were calculated. The results showed that the path module correlation coefficients were completely consistent with the frequency of long-COVID symptoms in the Chinese population, but slightly different in the European population. Furthermore, the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene was found to be a potential COVID-19-related gene by a path module correlation coefficient correction rate. Our study can help to explore other long-COVID symptoms that have not yet been discovered and provide a new perspective to research this syndrome. Meanwhile, the path module correlation coefficient correction rate can help to find more species-specific genes related to COVID-19 in the future.

Long COVID symptoms among outpatients with COVID-19: a descriptive study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe long COVID-19 symptoms in patients receiving outpatient treatment.Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational, descriptive study was conducted in the COVID-19 clinic of a university hospital in February-May 2022. Patients who applied to the outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study. Patients were follow up for prolonged COVID-19 symptoms for a 12 -week period. It was investigated whether there was a relationship between long COVID-19 symptoms frequency and gender, age and blood type.Results: At least one long COVID symptom was observed in 23% of 7139 patients included in the study. Myalgia was the most common symptom detected in 4.33% of all patients. Cough and loss of taste/smell were the most common symptoms in women, and dizziness in men. The frequency of 26 of 29 symptoms varied with age. While the symptoms most affected by the Body Mass Index were peripheral neuropathy and tinnitus, the least affected symptoms were loss of taste/smell, anxiety and depression.Conclusion: Long COVID symptoms were widely detected in COVID-19 outpatients. Age, gender and BMI may be factors affecting long COVID symptoms.

Development of an Android Application for Tracking Post COVID Symptoms

Patients with COVID-19 generally recover within a fortnight or a month. However, some patients, even those with milder types of the disease, experience symptoms after they have recovered. Symptoms of COVID-19 might continue for months at a time. The virus affects the heart, brain, and lungs, perhaps leading to long-term health-related problems. Thus, it is critical to keep track of any post-COVID symptoms to prevent further complications. Keeping that in focus, two apps are created to monitor these symptoms in people who have recovered from COVID 19 with comorbidities includes Diabetes, coronary artery diseases and hypertension. In this project, the patient's data was obtained from selected hospitals in Pune, and stored in Google Firebase. This data was used while making the backend algorithms for the apps. Android Studio and Figma were used to design and develop these apps. One app will be used by the patients, which allows them to post their health conditions if they are suffering with symptoms of post COVID complications and another App will be used by the investigators to monitor these symptoms and provides an access to post the advises pertaining to the patient's health condition. The biggest challenge is with patients suffering from conditions like hypertension, diabetes and other chronic illness which can be fatal if not monitored and addressed, specially for the elderly to frequently visit the hospital just for monitoring. The prime objective of the app developed in this work is to provide monitoring and to prevent post COVID complications and save the life of patients who have recovered from COVID and already have underlying issues. These apps allow researchers/Doctors to contact the patients personally to counsel them against the symptoms they are experiencing. Both these apps were tested in Android 8 Oreo and are functional in Android 8 Oreo, Android 9 Pie, Android 10, and Android 11 supported devices. These applications will soon be deployed in the Play Store. © 2023 IEEE.

Outcome of COVID-19 in children: results of a 12-month follow-up.

At present, there are isolated data on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in children, especially those who have experienced asymptomatic and mild forms of infection. Purpose(s): to analyze the nature and frequency of post-COVID symptoms in children during 12 months. after recovery. Materials and methods. The influence of demographic indicators, premorbid background, severity of infection and therapy in the acute period of the disease on the nature and frequency of symptoms in 1079 children who underwent laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was studied. The results are presented with proportions (%) and calculation of 95% confidence interval according to Klopper-Pearson. Differences between groups were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Differences in the groups were considered statistically significant at p < 0,05. Results. Health disorders in the post-COVID period were observed in 8,5% of children, more often in schoolchildren aged 7-17 years (68.4%). Concomitant conditions were found in 38,0%. In most cases, the consequences were noted after a mild form of COVID-19 (77.2%), however, 13,0% of patients experienced an asymptomatic form of infection. Among convalescents, changes in the emotional sphere (2,1%), headache (1,8%), symptoms of asthenia (1,6%), cardiovascular (1,5%), dyspeptic (1,3%) were more often observed, cognitive (1,3%) disorders, neurotic disorders (1,0%), less often respiratory (0.8%), endocrine (0,4%) and visual (0,4%) systems, musculoskeletal system were involved (0.2%). Girls were significantly more likely to have vegetative disorders, while boys were significantly more likely to suffer from cognitive functions. Various antiviral therapy options (interferon-alpha, an oral antiviral drug, or a combination thereof) in the acute period of COVID-19 did not affect the possibility of post-COVID disorders, but there was a tendency to increase the frequency in children who did not receive etiotropic treatment (control group). In 14.1% of cases, post-COVID symptoms appeared late - after 5-10 months. after recovery. The course of rehabilitation therapy, including drug treatment and non-drug methods, made it possible to quickly restore the state of health of the observed children. Conclusion. In most cases, the violations were of a functional nature, due to a disorder of autonomic regulation. Rehabilitation and dispensary observation programs will allow timely restoration of the quality of life of children who have had COVID-19, including in a mild and asymptomatic form.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Outcome of COVID-19 in children: results of a 12-month follow-up

At present, there are isolated data on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in children, especially those who have experienced asymptomatic and mild forms of infection. Purpose: to analyze the nature and frequency of post-COVID symptoms in children during 12 months. after recovery. Materials and methods. The influence of demographic indicators, premorbid background, severity of infection and therapy in the acute period of the disease on the nature and frequency of symptoms in 1079 children who underwent laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was studied. The results are presented with proportions (%) and calculation of 95% confidence interval according to Klopper-Pearson. Differences between groups were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Differences in the groups were considered statistically significant at p < 0,05. Results. Health disorders in the post-COVID period were observed in 8,5% of children, more often in schoolchildren aged 7–17 years (68.4%). Concomitant conditions were found in 38,0%. In most cases, the consequences were noted after a mild form of COVID-19 (77.2%), however, 13,0% of patients experienced an asymptomatic form of infection. Among convalescents, changes in the emotional sphere (2,1%), headache (1,8%), symptoms of asthenia (1,6%), cardiovascular (1,5%), dyspeptic (1,3%) were more often observed, cognitive (1,3%) disorders, neurotic disorders (1,0%), less often respiratory (0.8%), endocrine (0,4%) and visual (0,4%) systems, musculoskeletal system were involved (0.2%). Girls were significantly more likely to have vegetative disorders, while boys were significantly more likely to suffer from cognitive functions. Various antiviral therapy options (interferon-alpha, an oral antiviral drug, or a combination thereof) in the acute period of COVID-19 did not affect the possibility of post-COVID disorders, but there was a tendency to increase the frequency in children who did not receive etiotropic treatment (control group). In 14.1% of cases, post-COVID symptoms appeared late – after 5–10 months. after recovery. The course of rehabilitation therapy, including drug treatment and non-drug methods, made it possible to quickly restore the state of health of the observed children. Conclusion. In most cases, the violations were of a functional nature, due to a disorder of autonomic regulation. Rehabilitation and dispensary observation programs will allow timely restoration of the quality of life of children who have had COVID-19, including in a mild and asymptomatic form. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Outcome of COVID-19 in children: results of a 12-month follow-up.

At present, there are isolated data on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in children, especially those who have experienced asymptomatic and mild forms of infection. Purpose(s): to analyze the nature and frequency of post-COVID symptoms in children during 12 months. after recovery. Materials and methods. The influence of demographic indicators, premorbid background, severity of infection and therapy in the acute period of the disease on the nature and frequency of symptoms in 1079 children who underwent laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was studied. The results are presented with proportions (%) and calculation of 95% confidence interval according to Klopper-Pearson. Differences between groups were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Differences in the groups were considered statistically significant at p < 0,05. Results. Health disorders in the post-COVID period were observed in 8,5% of children, more often in schoolchildren aged 7-17 years (68.4%). Concomitant conditions were found in 38,0%. In most cases, the consequences were noted after a mild form of COVID-19 (77.2%), however, 13,0% of patients experienced an asymptomatic form of infection. Among convalescents, changes in the emotional sphere (2,1%), headache (1,8%), symptoms of asthenia (1,6%), cardiovascular (1,5%), dyspeptic (1,3%) were more often observed, cognitive (1,3%) disorders, neurotic disorders (1,0%), less often respiratory (0.8%), endocrine (0,4%) and visual (0,4%) systems, musculoskeletal system were involved (0.2%). Girls were significantly more likely to have vegetative disorders, while boys were significantly more likely to suffer from cognitive functions. Various antiviral therapy options (interferon-alpha, an oral antiviral drug, or a combination thereof) in the acute period of COVID-19 did not affect the possibility of post-COVID disorders, but there was a tendency to increase the frequency in children who did not receive etiotropic treatment (control group). In 14.1% of cases, post-COVID symptoms appeared late - after 5-10 months. after recovery. The course of rehabilitation therapy, including drug treatment and non-drug methods, made it possible to quickly restore the state of health of the observed children. Conclusion. In most cases, the violations were of a functional nature, due to a disorder of autonomic regulation. Rehabilitation and dispensary observation programs will allow timely restoration of the quality of life of children who have had COVID-19, including in a mild and asymptomatic form.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Unexplained symptoms: Medicine's blind spot

Long COVID was called the first illness created through patients connecting with each other. Physicians have suggested that these symptoms are "medicine's blind spot". This chapter focuses on the common long COVID symptoms that defy current explanations. Fatigue is one of the most common and poorly understood symptoms that plagues humans. Chronic fatigue is strongly associated with mood disturbances, particularly depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive disturbances. Cognitive disturbances are common in the general population, increase with aging, and are present in many chronic medical disorders. Unexplained dyspnea is not uncommon in younger individuals and is most often attributed to deconditioning or hyper-ventilation. Chronic pain is the leading cause of work loss in the world. Headaches are the most common chronic pain disorder. Sleep disturbances in the general population are strongly associated with mood disturbances and chronic pain. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long-COVID disease or long-COVID syndrome?

Long COVID is a new term, introduced by patients, to account for multiple symptoms that last months and interfere with daily life, yet have no clear medical explanation. Disease is defined by organ damage, such as when a biopsy reveals cancer. A disease is characterized by its symptoms, such as pain or exhaustion, as well as physical signs, such as fever or swelling. Well-controlled studies have demonstrated that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have much greater, persistent health problems than uninfected subjects. Women had more long-COVID symptoms than men, including greater fatigue, anxiety, or depression, and greater dyspnea, which was documented with abnormal pulmonary function testing. In controlled reports comparing hospitalized COVID-19 patients to noninfected community controls, about 10% of patients meet criteria for long COVID at three to six months after hospital discharge. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, including cognitive disturbances, particularly confusion, and mood disturbances were much more common in the non-hospitalized patients. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification of spectrum of persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms and their duration in Central India: A pilot study.

Objectives: To uncover numerous post-COVID symptoms in individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection and to raise concerns about the consequences for health care planning. Methodology: Patients declared negative with RTPCR and discharged from the hospital were followed up for three months. Results: The majority of patients who suffered from weakness since discharge are 63 (25.40%), body aches 40 (16.12%), loss of taste 26 (10.48%), and loss of smell 18 (7.25%). The total of reinfected patients in the 4th week was 9 (3.62%), in the 6th week 10 (4.03%), in the 8th week 7 (2.82%), and in the 12th week 11 (4.43%). A total of 54.7% of individuals still have the persistence of symptoms at the end of the 12th week. Conclusions: A significant number of participants developed long-term health issues as a result of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Our findings highlight the importance of initial preventive measures and patient-centered benefit programs in reducing post-COVID-19 complications.

SMART Pharmacists Serving the New Needs of the Post-COVID Patients, Leaving No-One Behind.

This study aims to demonstrate the improvements in clinical symptoms in patients with post-COVID syndrome after a community pharmacy-based intervention in Serbia. The Pharmaceutical Chamber of Serbia ("Chamber") invited pharmacists to deliver post-COVID patient care counselling, supported by the SMART Pharmacist Program, offering education and guidance. Present symptoms, duration and patient self-reported severity of symptoms on a scale of 1-5 on the first visit were recorded. After the counselling and proposed self-medication treatment, the time of the follow-up visit and the severity of the recorded symptoms were also recorded. The prospective data collection lasted from December 2021 to September 2022. In total, 871 patients with post-COVID symptoms were included in the study, served by 53 pharmacists. The most frequently reported post-COVID symptoms coincided with the literature, mostly related to the respiratory system (51.2%), immunity status (32.2%), fatigue and exhaustion (30.7%), skin, hair and nails (27.4%) and cognitive functions (27.9%). A total of 26.5% of patients were referred to their family physician (general practitioner), and 69.5% returned to the pharmacist for a follow-up visit. On the first visit, the median severity of patients' symptoms was three, while on the second visit it dropped to one. The pharmacists' intervention led to a significant improvement in the post-COVID patients' condition.

Clinical Outcomes After Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids or Oral Steroids in a COVID-19 Telemedicine Clinic Cohort: Retrospective Chart Review.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 concerns remain among health care providers, as there are few outpatient treatment options. In the early days of the pandemic, treatment options for nonhospitalized patients were limited, and symptomatic treatment and home-grown guidelines that used recommendations from the Global Initiative for Asthma Management and Treatment were used. OBJECTIVE: The possibility that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) might reduce the risk of respiratory symptoms and promote recovery was the impetus for this review, as it has already been shown that in the nonhospitalized patient population, oral corticosteroids (OCS) in the acute phase could have an adverse effect on recovery. We investigated if (1) patients treated with ICS were less likely to require referral to a post-COVID-19 clinic or pulmonary specialist than patients without ICS treatment or with OCS therapy, and (2) if OCS use was associated with worse health outcomes. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, we identified all patients with acute illness due to COVID-19 that were followed and managed by a telemedicine clinic team between June and December 2020. The data were electronically pulled from electronic medical records through April 2021 and reviewed to determine which patients eventually required referral to a post-COVID-19 clinic or pulmonary specialist due to persistent respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. The data were then analyzed to compare outcomes between patients prescribed OCS and those prescribed ICS. We specifically looked at patients treated acutely with ICS or OCS that then required referral to a pulmonary specialist or post-COVID-19 clinic. We excluded any patients with a history of chronic OCS or ICS use for any reason. RESULTS: Prescribing ICS during the acute phase did not reduce the possibility of developing persistent symptoms. There was no difference in the referral rate to a pulmonary specialist or post-COVID-19 clinic between patients treated with OCS versus ICS. However, our data may not be generalizable to other populations, as it represents a patient population enrolled in a telemedicine program at a single center. CONCLUSIONS: We found that ICS, as compared to OCS, did not reduce the risk of developing persistent respiratory symptoms. This finding adds to the body of knowledge that ICS and OCS medications remain potent treatments in patients with acute and postacute COVID-19 seen in an outpatient setting.

COVID-19 Patients in the COVID-19 Recovery and Engagement (CORE) Clinics in the Bronx.

Background: Early in the pandemic, we established COVID-19 Recovery and Engagement (CORE) Clinics in the Bronx and implemented a detailed evaluation protocol to assess physical, emotional, and cognitive function, pulmonary function tests, and imaging for COVID-19 survivors. Here, we report our findings up to five months post-acute COVID-19. Methods: Main outcomes and measures included pulmonary function tests, imaging tests, and a battery of symptom, physical, emotional, and cognitive assessments 5 months post-acute COVID-19. Findings: Dyspnea, fatigue, decreased exercise tolerance, brain fog, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms but there were generally no significant differences between hospitalized and non-hospitalized cohorts (p > 0.05). Many patients had abnormal physical, emotional, and cognitive scores, but most functioned independently; there were no significant differences between hospitalized and non-hospitalized cohorts (p > 0.05). Six-minute walk tests, lung ultrasound, and diaphragm excursion were abnormal but only in the hospitalized cohort. Pulmonary function tests showed moderately restrictive pulmonary function only in the hospitalized cohort but no obstructive pulmonary function. Newly detected major neurological events, microvascular disease, atrophy, and white-matter changes were rare, but lung opacity and fibrosis-like findings were common after acute COVID-19. Interpretation: Many COVID-19 survivors experienced moderately restrictive pulmonary function, and significant symptoms across the physical, emotional, and cognitive health domains. Newly detected brain imaging abnormalities were rare, but lung imaging abnormalities were common. This study provides insights into post-acute sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection in neurological and pulmonary systems which may be used to support at-risk patients and develop effective screening methods and interventions.

A large cohort study of the effects of Lewis, ABO, 13 other blood groups, and secretor status on COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and long COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported Blood type O to confer a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while secretor status and other blood groups have been suspected to have a similar effect as well. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To determine whether any other blood groups influence testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 severity, or prolonged COVID-19, we used a large cohort of 650,156 Danish blood donors with varying available data for secretor status and blood groups ABO, Rh, Colton, Duffy, Diego, Dombrock, Kell, Kidd, Knops, Lewis, Lutheran, MNS, P1PK, Vel, and Yt. Of these, 36,068 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 whereas 614,088 tested negative between 2020-02-17 and 2021-08-04. Associations between infection and blood groups were assessed using logistic regression models with sex and age as covariates. RESULTS: The Lewis blood group antigen Lea displayed strongly reduced SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility OR 0.85 CI[0.79-0.93] p < .001. Compared to blood type O, the blood types B, A, and AB were found more susceptible toward infection with ORs 1.1 CI[1.06-1.14] p < .001, 1.17 CI[1.14-1.2] p < .001, and 1.2 CI[1.14-1.26] p < .001, respectively. No susceptibility associations were found for the other 13 blood groups investigated. There was no association between any blood groups and COVID-19 hospitalization or long COVID-19. No secretor status associations were found. DISCUSSION: This study uncovers a new association to reduced SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility for Lewis type Lea and confirms the previous link to blood group O. The new association to Lea could be explained by a link between mucosal microbiome and SARS-CoV-2.

Covid-19 and its relation to the human eye: transmission, infection, and ocular manifestations.

BACKGROUND: The world is suffering from a new strain of the coronavirus family-Covid-19. This virus strain affected different organs in the human body with a wide range of mild symptoms and moderate signs to severe and deadly ones. Multiple organs can be infected, and one of these organs is the eye. The eye is a vital organ that consists of vascular tissues and is connected to the respiratory tract through the tears and the nasolacrimal duct. METHODS: Recent papers and research from PubMed, Researchgate, and Google Scholar were cited and thoroughly discussed. These papers were chosen based on their relevancy, reliability, publication year, published journal, and ease of accessibility to the paper itself. RESULTS: The theory concluded that the ocular surface might consider a pathway for the virus attack and infection causation through the tears and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 located in the eye. This article thoroughly reviewed the history, the existing aspects of Covid-19, the ocular system features, and the claims about the possible involvement of the eye in the virus transmission along with the eye infection. There was no consensus on the eye's involvement theory. CONCLUSION: The authors highlighted the extra work and research needed to be conducted to prove or deny these claims to provide a better understanding of the immune response of the eye to Covid-19 infection.

Clinical Profile, Maternal and Perinatal Outcome in Sars-Cov2 Infection in Pregnancy

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Maternal physiological adaptations in pregnancy, and the physiological state of relative immune suppression, place pregnant women at increased risk of infection [1,2]. The present study is important due to the tremendous impact Covid 19 has on people at large, especially expectant mothers. In our study, we collected information on pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim and Objective: 1) To estimate clinical features, maternal and perinatal outcome of Covid 19, during first, second and third wave of covid pandemic 2) To compare the Obstetric outcome in first and second wave with third wave. 3) To estimate vertical transmission to new born child in this institution as evidenced by test positivity. Method(s): Retrospective observational study was designed to examine the clinical characteristics and outcome of covid positive pregnancies admitted in our institution. Result(s): In our study of 266 pregnant women with covid, it was noticed that the mean age of the patients was found to be 27.55 years with a standard deviation of +/-4.99 years. 55.64% of cases belonged to category B1, 33.08% in B2 and 11.28% in C. 2nd wave had more patients in category C. Gestational diabetes complicated 28.95% and hypertension in 17.29% of study population. Inflammatory markers were more elevated in 2nd and 3rd wave. There was a total maternal death of 11 patients. Out of this, 10 was (91%) due to covid pneumonia and ARDS. Breast feeding was given for 88.7% of the babies and for 88% of the babies rooming in was practiced. Only 2.6% of the babies turned positive within a week. Conclusion(s): Our study shows that expectant mothers were more severely affected in the second wave. Maternal mortality was associated with increased maternal age (> 35 years), raised CRP levels (> 75mg/L) and higher D dimer levels (> 3000 ng/ml) and is found to be statistically significant. There is no evidence to show any vertical transmission of the disease as only 2.1% of the neonates (7nos) were affected within a week. Copyright © 2022, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Importance of Social and Spiritual Bridging in Relation to Post-Covid Society Polarization in Slovakia

Background: The situation with the third wave of the pandemic revealed the problem of frontal atomization of Slovak society, which is considered to be one of the main reasons why Slovakia currently achieves significantly negative quantification parameters in vaccination and overall pandemic management. Here, we are of the opinion that activities that create social bridges between entities in an antagonistic environment contribute to the healing of the social atmosphere. Therefore, the call for coherence in social policy, economics and ethics presupposes, on the one hand, the weakening of the fragmentation of society and the strengthening of functional communication and cooperation schemes in which the human factor precedes the technological and organizational factor. The need for such bridging in the Slovak context brings challenges in terms of values, ethics and soft skills not only on the part of professionals in the field of social work, but also on the basis of civic responsibility, to which the authors point their arguments. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic affected society as a whole. We note that some of the negative trends present before the pandemic intensified and required that they be properly understood and adequately addressed quickly and competently. The results of our study are a contribution to the interdisciplinary discourse on the causes of the growing social atomization and value fragmentation of society.