Housing inequalities and resilience: the lived experience of COVID-19

COVID-19 policy responses have intensified the use of housing as a spatial and material defence against community spread of infection. In so doing, they have focussed attention upon pre-existing inequalities and the effects of socio-economic management of COVID-19. This paper draws upon individual households' accounts to explore these effects on housing inequalities, and then adapts a critical resilience framework from disaster response in order to examine the implications for policymaking. The empirical work centres upon a case study of lived experiences of COVID-19-constrained conditions, based on a longitudinal-style study combining semi-structured interviews with 40 households, photographs and household tours at two datapoints (before/during COVID-19) in Victoria, Australia. The study reveals how these households were impacted across four domains: (1) employment, finances, services, and mobilities;(2) homemaking including comfort and energy bills, food and provisioning, and home-schooling/working from home;(3) relationships, care and privacy, and;(4) social, physical and mental health. The interviews also indicate how households coped and experienced relief payments and other related support policies during COVID-19. Drawing upon literature on disaster response, we highlight the centrality of vulnerability and resilience in recognising household exposure and sensitivity to COVID-19, and capabilities in coping. From this analysis, gaps in COVID-19 housing and welfare policy are exposed and guide a discussion for future housing policy interventions and pandemic planning.

Efficacy of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in The Management of COVID-19 Fever: A SystematicReview

The Global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic affected almost all countries and territories worldwide. The outbreak was first identified from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Virus incubation time is usually 7 days and initial symptoms includes fever, cough, flu, muscle fatigue and difficulty in breathing. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are the two most commonly used over the counter (OTC) drugs to treat fever due to COVID-19. Some researchers discouraged the use of ibuprofen initially due to possible adverse effects related with longevity of infection, increased morbidity, and mortality rate. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen as anti-pyretic drugs to treat fever caused in COVID-19 infection. A systematic review of major databases i.e., PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Google scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed, to screen the studies conducted on managing fever using paracetamol and ibuprofen. Review of the selected articles based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria was performed by two independent researchers. The titles of selected publications were screened for relevance to the preset criteria followed by review of the s. Finally, the full-length articles were evaluated for the final selection of studies to be included. Outcomes of use of ibuprofen and paracetamol were estimated by analyzing selected case control and cohort studies. Overall, eleven observational studies were selected for the compilation of systematic review, based upon the preset inclusion/exclusion criteria. All studies included adult COVID-19 patients both male and female from different age groups. Paracetamol users were compared with ibuprofen users and no adverse effects of ibuprofen were found related to longevity of infection, complications, increased mortality rate and ventilation support requirement, when treating fever or pain caused by COVID-19. However, further studies and randomized control trials need to be conducted to assess and compare the effectiveness of these drugs to manage fever caused by coronavirus disease. © The Author(s) 2023.

An automated guide to COVID-19 and future pandemic prevention and management

In this paper, we present CoFighter, a mobile application for prevention and management of COVID-19 and other related pandemics in the globalized world. We took advantage of the proliferation of mobile smart devices in every home to design and implement an Android application for COVID-19 and similar pandemics. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, there has been even more serious pressures on governments and health institutions on the best way to provide appropriate and reliable guide to individuals on how to contain the virus and similar pandemics in the future. Citizens have not been adequately informed of the various provisions and guides by their governments and the wide usage of social media had led to the spread of fake news, misinformation and conspiracy theories. It therefore becomes very necessary to develop a dynamic information repository in the form of a mobile application to help combat the spread of any pandemic whenever the need arises. The application provides information on COVID-19, vaccine challenges, prevention guides and cases management and timely updates to keep citizens properly and adequately informed. It makes provision for future similar pandemics that could throw the world into chaos as the CORONA virus did in 2019. The weaknesses and challenges observed in most popularly existing COVID-19 applications were highlighted and implemented in CoFighter. CoFighter provides users, governments and health workers with a platform not only to manage COVID-19 and other similar pandemics in the future, but also helps frontline health workers to better manage the pandemics. The developed application runs on an Android device with Android version 4.2 or higher and can be used not only to manage COVID-19 pandemic, but also to manage economic crisis and similar future pandemics. CoFighter is available via the Repository: https://github.com/OkeyIsOkay/CoFighter-Project.

Respiratory Manifestations, Radiologic Findings and Respiratory Management of Hospitalized Children with COVID-19 among Different Age Groups: A Systematic Review

Objective. This paper aims to determine the respiratory manifestations, radiologic findings, and management of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) among the hospitalized children of different age groups based on a systematic review of literature. Methodology. We searched the MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and MedRvrix databases for relevant studies on pediatric COVID-19 done between January 1 to May 25, 2020. Data on demographic features, pulmonary symptoms, chest imaging findings, and oxygen support were extracted in a data ion form and analyzed among the different pediatric age groups. Results. Sixteen studies were included in this systematic review, with a total of 61 patients. Thirty-nine patients (64%) belong to the 2 to 12 year age group. Cough was the most commonly reported respiratory symptoms among children older than one month. Most of the patients, particularly adolescents, had asymptomatic or mild infection. On chest imaging, infiltrates and ground-glass opacities were the most common abnormalities. Oxygen supplementation via nasal cannula, non-invasive ventilation, and mechanical ventilation was noted in three cases. Conclusion. Our systematic review shows that COVID-19 can present with a spectrum of respiratory manifestations and disease severity as well as a variety of radiologic abnormalities across different pediatric age groups. While most children do not develop hypoxemia warranting oxygen supplementation, a severe respiratory infection can still manifest in children. Asymptomatic and milder infections are common and highlight the need for appropriate respiratory precautions. More pediatric studies on the pulmonary manifestations and management of children with COVID-19 can aid in a better understanding of this novel disease. © 2022 University of the Philippines Manila. All rights reserved.

Willingness and preparedness to work during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey among registered nurses in a Danish university hospital

Nurses are imperative for healthcare systems' ability to effectively function during pandemics, yet multiple factors may affect their willingness and preparedness to work. The aim of the present cross-sectional survey was to identify factors associated with registered nurses' (RN) willingness and preparedness to work during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines. A total of 358 nurses completed a self-administered online questionnaire. The participants were a part of a COVID-19 task force at a Danish university hospital during spring 2020. The results showed that the majority of RNs felt a professional obligation to engage in clinical work during the pandemic;however, their willingness and preparedness to work were affected by multiple factors, such as being relocated voluntarily, being prepared for the task and feeling safe. This study highlights that these factors are essential for the hospital management and nurse leaders to take responsibility for. © The Author(s) 2023.

SARS-CoV-2: Origin, Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Interventions

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coron-avirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly infected a large population in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Since then, it has been spread all over the world, causing a pandemic termed as Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19. It has infected over 32 million people and caused more than nine lakhs ca-sualties worldwide to date. Till now, no specific drug or vaccine has been developed to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. WHO has announced that maintaining personal hygiene and social distancing are the best available options against COVID-19. Various experimental and re-purposed drugs are being used as preventive and supportive therapy in different parts of the world. Comprehensive information about SARS-CoV-2 is required to develop therapeutic approaches for the prevention of COVID-19. In this article, we have comprehensively reviewed the origin, structure, and infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. We have also discussed the pathology of COVID-19, and various therapeutic interventions that are being used for drug development against COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.

Understanding the Capacities of Mid-Level Supervisors in Addressing Burnout Resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

The purpose of this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study was to understand how mid-level professionals in student affairs experience their own capacity for and training experiences in minimizing burnout from stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic at colleges and universities in New England. Herzberg's two factor theory of motivation served as the theoretical framework for this research study, as it described the how supervision can impact job satisfaction. Seven mid-level supervisors from New England colleges and universities participated in two semi-structured interviews. Findings from data analysis included: (a) mid-level supervisors are challenged with guiding staff through change where institutions of higher education struggle with adaptability;(b) supervisors understand empathy and constructive relationships as important supervisory capacities to minimize burnout;(c) while supervision can aid in minimizing burnout among direct reports, it may not individually address the pervasive and complex issue;and (d) supervisory capacity development in student affairs is experiential and lacking robust, formal training practices. This study illustrated how mid-level supervisors understood their abilities and limitations of reducing burnout within complex college and university environments. Recommendations from this study included implications for senior student affairs officers and human resources management including offering institutional specific, cohort-based supervisor training and development initiatives and improved supervisor onboarding processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Hospitality managers in turbulent times: The COVID-19 crisis

Purpose: This study aims to explore the role General Managers (GMs) play in mitigating the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative structured interviews conducted online with 50 hospitality GMs from 45 countries are used to explore the impact of the pandemic on the industry's operational norms and the role of managers in both managing the crisis and planning contingencies for recovery. Findings: The findings enhance the conceptual capital in this emerging field and provide insights on how GMs behave during crises. Four related sub-themes emerged from the data analysis, namely, contingency planning and crisis management, resilience and impact on GM roles, the impact on hotels' key functional areas and some GMs' suggestions for the future of luxury hospitality. Research limitations/implications: This study generates empirical data that inform contemporary debates about crisis management and resilience in hospitality organizations at a micro-level operational perspective. Practical implications: Findings suggest that, in times of uncertainty and crisis, luxury hotel GMs are vital in coping with changes and leading their organizations to recovery. GMs' resilience and renewed role and abilities enable them to adapt rapidly to external changes on their business environment. Originality/value: This study is unique in terms of scale and depth, as it provides useful insights regarding the GM's role during an unprecedented crisis such as COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

"Carriers of hope." Creating organizational spaces of hope during COVID-19

In this empirical study, we aim to explore how organizations can be targets of hope during COVID-19. More specifically, we ask: how do managers create spaces of hope, and what are the underlying mechanisms facilitating these processes of hope in a crisis situation? Based on an investigation of essays written by managers prior to and during the COVID- 19 pandemic and drawing on analyses from a focus group interview with managers, this article shows how creating organizational spaces of hope is part of a dynamic, relational and spiritual process. The managers are working on recognizing and affirming the organizational members' situation, helping them envision hope through a process of noticing despair, searching for meaning, and creating actions of hope to establish a horizon of possibilities. This hope process is facilitated through group reflection in safe spaces as well as times of slow-thinking, enabling hope practices in organizations to be part of viewing future horizons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19: An Opinion of Prevention and Dietary Based Management Hypothesis

Mentions the pandemic as starting in China, with a subsequent worldwide spread. The viral infection can seriously affect multiple organs, mainly lungs, kidneys, heart, liver, and brain, and may lead to respiratory, renal, cardiac, or hepatic failure. Vascular thrombosis of unexplained mechanism may lead to widespread blood clots in multiple organs and cytokine storms that are a result of over-stimulation of the immune system subsequent to lung damage, may lead to sudden decompensation due to hypotension and cause more damage to liver, kidney, brain or lungs. Until now, no drug has proved to be efficient in getting rid of the problem and controlling the pandemic mainly depends on preventive measures. Many measures can be considered to prevent the worldwide spread of the viral transmission. Polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids (PUFAs), medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCSFAs), and their corresponding monoglycerides have high antiviral activities against the enveloped viruses, which reached more than 10,000-fold reduction in the viral titers in vitro and in vivo after testing for gastric aspirate, and can contribute to the systemic immunity against the enveloped viruses.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.

How crisis reveals the structures of practices

The speed, scope and scale of changes wreaked by the Covid-19 crisis of 2020 onwards raise challenging questions for practice theorists. After all, practice theory has generally emphasized continuity. According to Reckwitz, practices are 'routinized types of behaviour'. For Nicolini practices are 'very resilient and often difficult to change because, qua practices, they are taken for granted and often considered as part of the natural order of things'. Where practice theorists have explored change, they have often focused on slow-cooked transformations, for instance the spread of showering from the 1870s onwards, the emergence of the Kentucky bourbon industry in the mid-19th Century, or the decades-long shifts in the practices of strategy in modern Western businesses. The Covid-19 changes have an intensity that is quite other to these leisurely evolutions. Our argument here is that the Covid-19 crisis, challenging as it is, in fact provides an opportunity for practice theorists. As a set of extreme events, it exposes for further investigation structural features of practices along two dimensions, external and internal. These structural features help us address two particularly tough questions raised by initial observations of the crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Shifting team research after COVID-19: Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change

Even before COVID-19 we saw an evolution in team discourse that will continue long after the disease is gone. That said, COVID-19 has been a disruptor that has shifted the trajectory of that evolution, accelerating some trends and introducing others. This is not a story of moving from one state to another, but rather shifting the ongoing arc of change. In this brief we examine the shifts before the pandemic, where COVID-19 has taken us, and implications for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Quality Improvement Project for Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care

Overprescribing antibiotics is currently a major issue in the outpatient setting. Inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions are leading to costly adverse effects, including antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic stewardship interventions are adaptable tools that are readily available to prescribers to reduce the overuse of antibiotic prescriptions. The purpose of this project was to implement an Antibiotic Stewardship Bundle in an urgent care clinic. The overall aims of this project were to decrease the amount of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed and increase best prescribing practice. The results of the quality improvement project showed inappropriate antibiotic prescription rates decreased from 54.7% to 35.4% (P = 0.0006).

Empowerment and intrinsic motivation of employees: A case study of virtual team leaders

The existing literature on intrinsic motivation and empowerment predates the increased organizational adoption of virtual work arrangements for employees in the United States of America. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift toward dispersed teams, highlighting the interest to understand whether existing literature on empowerment and intrinsic motivation still applies in virtual work settings. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the ways that virtual team leaders use empowerment to influence the intrinsic motivation of their direct-line virtual employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 U.S.-based virtual team leaders in mid and large-sized software organizations with at least two U.S.-based direct-line virtual employees. The study findings indicated that virtual team leaders use empowerment with their direct-line virtual employees to set expectations, provide autonomy, and encourage risk-taking. The findings also revealed that virtual team leaders believe their employees are motivated by opportunities that provide growth and learning, promote problem-solving and achievement, offer a connection to department or organizational purpose, and appeal to employees' interests. Conclusions drawn from the study underscore the need to continue research on empowerment and intrinsic motivation in various virtual contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Critical Medical Resource Allocation during COVID-19 Pandemic

In this paper, an optimal resource allocation framework is proposed for the allocation of critical medical resources among different units during a pandemic. The framework is developed by considering the dynamics of Pandemic, hierarchical government structure, and non-uniformity of unit resource requirement among different units. The cost function is designed to minimize the difference between the demand, actual allocation, and ideal allo cation, where ideal allocation for a region is considered based on the predicted active cases in a fraction of predicted total active cases of all regions. Different cost functions are used at a different level of organization based on the available information. The model can also accommodate severity of disaster in a region in this framework. A sample allocation case study is presented for the allocation of oxygen for different states of India. © 2023 DMICS.

Myocarditis and Pericarditis

Myocarditis and pericarditis are defined as inflammation of the myocardium and pericardium, respectively, according to the current WHO classification. These diseases are usually self-limiting but may present with impaired cardiac function, arrhythmias or cardiogenic shock. This review discusses the management of myocarditis and pericarditis based on the current guidelines of the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology. Treatment consists of specific therapy aimed at the cause (i.e., viral, fulminant, autoimmune) and nonspecific therapy aimed at the clinical manifestations such as heart failure or arrhythmias. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Herbal Remedies, Nutraceuticals, and Dietary Supplements for COVID-19 Management: An Update.

Currently, the world is facing a Coronavirus pandemic with a grave deficiency of specific therapy for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Moreover, scientists attempt to discover the most refined approach to prevent this condition. Regarding COVID-19 infection, herbal medicines with immunomodulatory effects may offer patients a promising preventive treatment option. Several ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are effective during this worrisome Coronavirus pandemic i.e. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Curcuma longa L. etc. TCM was shown to be utilized with over 90% efficacy when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020. In addition to herbal treatments and nutraceutical drugs, dietary supplements such as vitamins and amino acid derivatives also play a significant part in COVID-19 management. Diet can assist in regulating inflammation, while nutraceuticals can aid in the prevention of viral invasion. Functional amino acids (e.g., arginine, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, taurine, and tryptophan) and glutathione, which are all abundant in animal-sourced foodstuffs, are crucial for optimum immunity and health in humans and animals. The goal of this article is to thoroughly evaluate recent statistics on the effectiveness of herbal medicines in COVID-19, the antiviral activity of nutraceuticals, and the significance of these results in creating dietary supplements that would enhance innate immunity and contribute as preventive measures against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The Rationale for Using Corticosteroids in COVID-19 Encephalopathy: Lessons From a Case Report With Evidence From Literature.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus primarily affects the pulmonary system, but neurological manifestations and complication of COVID-19 has been reported in abundance in the literature. We present a case of a middle-aged Caucasian male who was brought to the emergency department for altered mental status. His chief complaints were neurological rather than respiratory. A positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasal swab confirmed the diagnosis. Brain imaging showed mildly dilated ventricles with no other acute findings. As the patient did not require oxygen, he was treated with remdesivir alone without corticosteroids, which is also a precipitating factor of psychosis but, unfortunately, thickly used in practice. That led to remarkable results in full recovery without exposing the patient to steroid therapy. We strongly believe that remdesivir alone is sufficient in treating COVID-19-induced encephalopathy in a patient who does not require oxygen, and evidence supports this practice.

Reflections on the Involvement of Managers in Supporting Romanian Companies during the Pandemic COVID -19

The wide spread of COVID -19 in Europe, which also affects Romania, and the increasingly stringent measures taken by experts to prevent negative consequences for citizens and the economy, raise a number of questions about the activities that need to be undertaken by companies to ensure compliance and those who are in a position to take these measures. Many businesses in Romania have already made a conscious effort to guard against the threat of COVID -19, whether by stopping movement altogether for an indefinite period of time, changing the way in which activities are carried out (e.g. only online now), or by working with notable safeguards to mitigate the threats.

Applications of Digital Mobile Technologies in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Evidence from Frontline Healthcare Workers in Three Tertiary Hospitals in Ghana

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic a public health disaster of global concern on the 30th January 2020. With the highly infectious COVID-19 virus inevitably spreading across nations and causing significant health and economic impacts, leveraging Digital Mobile Technologies (DMTs) by frontline healthcare practitioners has been touted as a lifeline. Since January 2020, various frontline health workers, health experts, and health institutions across the globe have progressively embraced the use of numerous DMTs as an essential means of restraining the highly infectious disease spread. DMTs such as smart mobile phones and other digital mobile technologies are the reliable means of sharing pertinent health information, awareness, and surveillance as well as facilitating access to crucial healthcare services, especially in designated COVID-19 health facilities. Therefore, this study employed, an online survey using an exploratory-based research design to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the usage of DMTs among (n=1,126) frontline healthcare practitioners in three leading tertiary hospitals in Ghana. We adopted technology acceptance model (TAM) to study the adoption and utilization of DMTs and their limitations by frontline healthcare workers in COVID-19 management. We found that 75.1% (n=846 out of 1,126) of frontline healthcare workers, comprising nurses, medical doctors, physician assistants, and COVID-19 contact tracers were aware of DMTs, adopted and used DMTs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its management. However, 93.0% (n=784 out of 846) of those who were aware of the DMTs employed them in their daily operations beyond the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analyses also indicate that increased usage of these DMTs has significantly enhanced public healthcare campaigns and education on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. These mobile applications have also improved and boosted healthcare communications among practitioners on measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of originality, this study expands our understanding of digital technology in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in less studied regions such as Africa, West Africa, and Ghana to be specific. Secondly, the study contributes to filling a gap in our understanding of how theories such as TAM function in crisis communication management. Finally, the study recommends health authorities and governments in developing countries incorporate DMTs in their current health care systems, especially in public health emergencies like COVID-19 preparedness. © 2022 by authors.