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Background: With the outbreak of COVID-19, government measures including social distancing and restrictions of social contacts were imposed to slow the spread of the virus. Since older adults are at increased risk of severe disease, they were particularly affected by these restrictions. These may negatively affect mental health by loneliness and social isolation, which constitute risk factors for depressiveness. We aimed to analyse the impact of perceived restriction due to government measures on depressive symptoms and investigated stress as mediator in an at-risk-population in Germany. Methods: Data were collected in April 2020 from the population of the AgeWell.de-study, including individuals with a Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score ≥9, using the depression subscale of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Feeling restricted due to COVID-19 government measures was surveyed with a standardized questionnaire. Stepwise multivariate regressions using zero-inflated negative binomial models were applied to analyse depressive symptoms, followed by a general structural equation model to assess stress as mediator. Analysis were controlled for sociodemographic factors as well as social support. Results: We analysed data from 810 older adults (mean age = 69.9, SD = 5). Feeling restricted due to COVID-19 government measures was linked to increased depressiveness (b = 0.19; p < 0.001). The association was no longer significant when adding stress and covariates (b = 0.04; p = 0.43), while stress was linked to increased depressive symptoms (b = 0.22; p < 0.001). A final model confirms the assumption that the feeling of restriction is mediated by stress (total effect: b = 0.26; p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found evidence that feeling restricted due to COVID-19 government measures is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms in older adults at increased risk for dementia. The association is mediated by perceived stress. Furthermore, social support was significantly associated with less depressive symptoms. Thus, it is of high relevance to consider possible adverse effects of government measures related to COVID-19 on mental health of older people.
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COVID-19 , Dementia , Humans , Aged , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Mental Health , SARS-CoV-2 , Government , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
International freight transportation experienced significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic and related government restriction measures on international freight transportation is worth analysing for the development of transportation policies and practices in the post-pandemic period, but has received limited attention. To fill the gap, this study applies structural equation models to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international transportation market and the relationships among the pandemic, government restriction measures, and international transportation market. The impact is also differentiated for different modes of transportation. Results confirm that both demand and supply of interna-tional transportation services have been negatively affected by the first wave of the pandemic, with sea trans-portation being more affected by the reduction of demand and air transportation more by the supply volatility. The government restriction measures are found to play a mediation role, in the way that the impact of the pandemic on the supply of transportation service is suppressed through the government restriction measures. Our findings provide important guidance for transportation industry players and governments in their decision-making process facing with global market shocks such as a pandemic.
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The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an unprecedented socio-economic crisis in the last decades. More than three years after its outbreak, there is still uncertainty regarding its future evolution. National and international authorities adopted a prompt and synchronized response to limit the adverse effects of the health crisis, in terms of socio-economic damage. Against this background, this paper assesses the efficiency of the measures implemented by fiscal authorities in selected Central and Eastern European countries to ameliorate the economic repercussions of the crisis. The analysis reveals that the impact of expenditure-side measures is stronger than that of revenue-side ones. Additionally, the results of a time-varying parameter model indicate that the fiscal multipliers are higher in times of crisis. In view of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the related geopolitical turmoil and energy crisis, the findings of this paper are especially pertinent, given the need for additional fiscal support.
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Introduction: Most research on COVID-19 effects has focused on the general population. Here we measure its impact on Dutch FACT and autism outpatient service users during both waves. Objective(s): This study aimed to: 1) investigate participants' mental health, 2) assess experiences with outpatient services, and 3) assess respondents' experiences with governmental measures in the Netherlands during the first and second wave of COVID-19. Method(s): Respondents (wave 1: n=100;wave 2: n=150) reported on mental health, experiences with outpatient care, government measures and information services in an online survey. Result(s): Findings demonstrate happiness was rated an average of 6 out of 10, 70% of respondents scored below average on resilience, positive consequences for mental health (ordered world, reflection time) during both waves were similar, and prominent negative consequences included decreased social interactions and increased or new problems regarding mental health and daily functioning from wave 1-2. Lifestyle changed in 50% in both waves, although only slightly attributed to the pandemic. Substance use during both waves hardly changed. Mental healthcare continuation was highly appreciated in both waves (75-80% scored >=7 on 10-point scale). (Video)calling was the most frequently mentioned positive care experience;missing face-to-face contact with care providers considered most negative. COVID-19 measures were less doable in the second wave. Vaccination willingness approximated 70%. Conclusion(s): Results show a nuanced, but clear picture of experiences during both waves. Continuation of services through telehealth was well-received. Monitoring of long-term impact is needed.
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PurposeIn the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including Palestine, implemented lockdown rules. These measures slowed the outbreak of the coronavirus, and because of the poor management of the Palestinian government in dealing with women's rights in light of the Corona pandemic, they contributed to increasing gender-based violence (GBV). Design/methodology/approachThe study used the qualitative method. An inductive thematic latent content analysis was applied using the MAXQDA 2020 program throughout the data collection stage. The content analysis in this study focused on interviews made with the survivors. The interview schedule consisted of four questions covering different aspects of knowledge around GBV during COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip. In-depth interviews were conducted in Arabic with 25 survivors who experienced GBV between January 17 and March 13, 2022. FindingsThe results show that the kind of violence the survivors were most subjected to is psychological violence, followed by economic violence, and the least kind of violence that the survivors were subjected to was sexual violence. The study revealed the good practices for preventing and combating violence against Palestinian women and girls due to government measures to reduce COVID-19 from the perspective of survivors. Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of this study was the small number of cases coming to the Aisha Association for support. Because of the temporary suspension of psychological and social support projects from the foundation due to a problem related to funding, some survivors also fear that their husbands will discover that they have participated in the study, so they hesitate to agree to an interview. Survivors' lack of understanding of the study question related to implications of closing social justice institutions due to COVID-19 on GBV? This led to conflicting answers. Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first study in Palestine that dealt Consequences of Government Measures in Palestine to Mitigate COVID-19 on GBV, and its results will be important for the protection of survivors and the adoption of government policies in Palestine.
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International freight transportation experienced significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic and related government restriction measures on international freight transportation is worth analysing for the development of transportation policies and practices in the post-pandemic period, but has received limited attention. To fill the gap, this study applies structural equation models to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international transportation market and the relationships among the pandemic, government restriction measures, and international transportation market. The impact is also differentiated for different modes of transportation. Results confirm that both demand and supply of international transportation services have been negatively affected by the first wave of the pandemic, with sea transportation being more affected by the reduction of demand and air transportation more by the supply volatility. The government restriction measures are found to play a mediation role, in the way that the impact of the pandemic on the supply of transportation service is suppressed through the government restriction measures. Our findings provide important guidance for transportation industry players and governments in their decision-making process facing with global market shocks such as a pandemic.
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Understanding predictors of adherence to governmental measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 is fundamental to guide health communication. This study examined whether political stringency and infection rates during the first wave of the pandemic were associated with higher education students' adherence to COVID-19 government measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom. Both individual- and country-level data were used in present study. An international cross-sectional subsample (n = 10,345) of higher-education students was conducted in May-June 2020 to collect individual-level information on socio-demographics, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, and COVID-19-related concerns, including adherence to government measures. Country-level data on political stringency from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker and national infection rates were added to individual-level data. Multiple linear regression analyses stratified by country were conducted. Around 66% of students reported adhering to government measures, with the highest adherence in the UK (73%) followed by Iceland (72%), Denmark (69%), Norway (67%), Finland (64%) and Sweden (49%). Main predictors for higher adherence were older age, being female and being worried about getting infected with COVID-19 (individual-level), an increase in number of days since lockdown, political stringency, and information about COVID-19 mortality rates (country-level). However, incidence rate was an inconsistent predictor, which may be explained by imperfect data quality during the onset of the pandemic. We conclude that shorter lockdown periods and political stringency are associated with adherence to government measures among higher education students at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COVID-19 , Female , Humans , Male , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Pandemics/prevention & control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Communicable Disease Control , Government , Disease Outbreaks , Students , Scandinavian and Nordic Countries/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Background: To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Saudi Arabian Government introduced a number of measures in different phases (e.g. social distancing, curfew and lockdown). Aims: This study describes the incidence of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia during different phases of prevention strategies and assesses their effects on controlling the spread of the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study used COVID-19 data for 2 March-5 July 2020 from the Ministry of Health website. The period was divided into five phases based on prevention strategies implemented to control the infection. The incidence, point prevalence, case fatality, overall mortality rate and recovery rates for COVID-19 infection were assessed at the national, regional and city levels. Results: At the end of phase 5 on 5 July 2020, the nationwide incidence of COVID-19 was 11%, total recovery rate 70%, case fatality rate 0.9% and adjusted case fatality rate 1.4% (adjusted for time lag for mortality). The COVID-19 point prevalence increased from 2.1/100 000 population in phase 1 to 178.2/100 000 population in phase 5. A high recovery rate (68.7%) was observed in phase 4 accompanied with lower overall mortality and incidence in phase 5. The eastern region of Saudi Arabia had the highest point prevalence of COVID-19 infection (450.5 per 100 000 population), while Jeddah and Mecca had the highest overall mortality. Conclusions: The health system of Saudi Arabia efficiently used lockdown and curfew periods to prepare for management of confirmed cases of COVID-19, reflected by the decreased incidence and mortality rates in phase 5.
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COVID-19 , COVID-19/prevention & control , Communicable Disease Control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Incidence , Saudi Arabia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
In December 2019, the world was confronted with the outbreak of the respiratory disease COVID-19. The COVID-19 epidemic evolved at the beginning of 2020 into a pandemic, which continues to this day. The incredible speed of the spread and the consequences of the infection had a worldwide impact on societies and health systems. Governments enforced many measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic: Restrictions (e.g. lockdown), medical care (e.g. intensive care) and medical prevention (e.g. hygiene concept). This leads to different spreading behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on measures. Furthermore, the spreading behavior is influenced by culture and geographical impacts. The spreading behavior of COVID-19 related to short time intervals can be described by Weibull distribution models, common in reliability engineering, soundly. The interpretation of the model parameters allows the assessment of the COVID-19 spreading characteristics. This paper shows the results of a research study of the COVID-19 spreading behavior depending on different pandemic time phases within Germany and Japan. Both countries are industrial nations but have many differences concerning historical development, culture and geographical conditions. Consequently, the chosen government measures have different impacts on the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research study contains the analyses of different pandemic time intervals in Germany and Japan: The breakout phase in spring 2020 and subsequently following waves until winter season 2020/2021. © ESREL 2021. Published by Research Publishing, Singapore.
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COVID-19 is a virus with a very fast spread rate in the world. Therefore, knowledge of factors that may explain such spread is paramount. The main objective of this research was to analyze the determinants of the virus spread worldwide. Unlike previous studies that were limited to traditional factors, this research extends the analysis to government measures (quarantine, containment, and response budget) against the spread of the virus. Thus, an econometric model relating the variable of interest to a number of variables was carried out using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and the Two Steps Least Squares (2SLS) methods on a sample of 163 countries. The main findings indicate that economic factors such as the level of development, the degree of trade openness and the response budget to the COVID-19 pandemic, have a positive effect on the spread of the virus. With regard to social factors, the population density and confinement are major causes of the spread of the virus. Finally, temperature contributes to reduce the spread of the virus. These findings are robust to the estimation technique and to the measurement of the spread of the virus considered. In the light to these findings, implications for economic policies have been drawn.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been reported in the demographic literature primarily with concern to the increase in mortality rates. Most countries, including the Czechia, have sought to prevent an increase in mortality rates through the introduction of measures to prevent (or at least mitigate) the spread of the disease across their populations. This report presents an overview of measures introduced by the Czech government during 2020 and 2021. It addresses specifically those measures that acted to restrict the free movement of persons, the imposition of respiratory protection precautions, the restriction of the operation of retail outlets, services and schools and measures that applied to employees and employers. It presents, inter alia, a chronology of the availability of vaccines and defines particular periods of the pandemic based on the severity of the measures imposed. Briefly, it defines four levels of restrictions, the highest of which restricted the operation of companies via the imposition of government measures in the period 27 February to 11 April 2021. The years 2020 and 2021 are divided into a total of 13 periods that were characterised by various degrees of restriction. These periods are illustrated in the conclusion of the report in the context of the development of pandemic indicators (the numbers of tested, vaccinated, infected, hospitalised and deceased persons). Government measures, together with changes in the intensity of the mortality rate, need to be taken into account in the study of other demographic processes since the government-imposed restrictions may well have exerted a direct effect on the intensity of marriages, divorces and migration, and thus indirectly on fertility levels.
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The article provides an overview of the main measures adopted by the Italian government to support families during the period of pandemic. The package of measures included the extension of the possibilities to take paid or unpaid parental leave, monetary allowances and incentives to use remote work, in primis smart working. Moreover, particular attention is paid to the issue of disability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Italian) L'articolo fornisce un'analisi della evoluzione delle principali misure adottate dal governo italiano per aiutare le famiglie durante il periodo della pandemia. Il pacchetto delle misure include l'estensione delle possibilita di usufruire dei congedi parentali pagati e non pagati, incentivi finanziari e possibilita di utilizzo del lavoro agile. Una particolare attenzione e riservata alle problematiche legate alla disabilita. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
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Purpose>The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the risk dynamics of stock and bond markets in G7 countries;and to examine if the stock-bond risk dynamics can be linked to government measures to contain the pandemic.Design/methodology/approach>To examine the pandemic impact on the risk dynamics of the bond and stock markets, this study chooses G7 countries for their efficient financial market properties. This study uses standard generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) (1,1) and exponential GARCH (1,1) models to determine the most volatile and sensitive market, most persistent market during the crisis and the leverage effect between stock and bond markets. This study then uses a panel study to investigate whether this volatility in stock and bond markets is affected by the COVID-19 cases and various government responses (fiscal stimulus packages, monetary policy, emergency investment in health care and vaccine investment).Findings>The findings of the study confirm that the bad news of the pandemic is causing higher volatility than good news for all seven stock markets. Canadian stock and bond markets are the most volatile, and Italian bond and stock markets are the most sensitive G7 countries. Japan has shown the highest persistence, and the stock market exhibits higher leverage than the bond market. Fiscal stimulus packages are helping to reduce bond market volatility, but none of these measures are effective in the stock market.Research limitations/implications>The pandemic is still spreading, and the rate at which it spreads wildly will always pose a limitation to any attempt to examine its full effect.Practical implications>Investigation of market volatility will help policymakers and market players formulate the best strategies to overcome and exit the crisis and plan post-pandemic solutions. It provides valuable insights for investors to rebalance their portfolios during highly volatile markets while preserving their risk appetite and investment objectives.Originality/value>The paper provides evidence on the impact of the pandemic-induced crisis and the respective government responses on the volatility of competing capital markets (stock and bond) in countries that are considered most efficient in reflecting news.
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The COVID-19 pandemic is the main informational topic of our time. It is reflected both by the members of modern academia and by the broader audiences. The latter actively express their opinions in the virtual space, and one of their ways to comprehend the epidemiological situation in the world is the Internet meme. The scientific study of this phenomenon reveals the needs and the problems of the Internet audience, which is constantly expanding. The article aims to research Internet memes as public reaction indicators and feedback tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical material of the article is the content of the Russian media space from 2020 to 2021. To reach the aim, at the beginning of the article, the authors define the essence of the Internet meme, its functions, and its specifics as a tool of social reaction;based on the obtained theoretical information, they create an algorithm for decoding the symbolic structure of the Internet meme. In the main part of the article, using the created algorithm, the authors analyze popular Russian Internet memes about the pandemic. They consider feedback tools and mechanisms in the context of political communication theory, based both on Laswell’s classical positions and on their subsequent critique. The main method of the work is semiotic analysis applied given the linguistic and cultural features of the object. As a result, the authors arrive at the following conclusions. The Internet meme is a media object with a certain status which determines its popularity in the online space: it has a sign nature (verbal and visual components), contains an actual and humorous message created based on already existing cultural patterns. Therefore, memes fulfills not only entertainment and communication functions, but also a social one. The meme is a tool of sublimation and compensation for a person’s negative social and existential tension. As a consequence, the Internet meme can serve as a channel of feedback between individuals and also in the process of political bilateral communication between state and society. The authors confirm this thesis by analyzing Internet memes about the COVID-19 pandemic that have been created by Russian internet users since the beginning of the coronavirus infection. They have become popular in social networks and messengers in Russia. Most of these Internet memes focus both on the existence of the pandemic and on the state measures to prevent COVID-19’s spread. The very subject of ridicule on the part of the Internet meme changes parallel to the way the state introduces, changes, or abolishes certain protective measures. The creation of such content follows the same scheme: the meme author has a pattern already known in the virtual space, and s/he edits it focusing on events in society. As a result, the changed details of an image or an added inscription fill it with new humorous content. A lot of the Internet memes about the pandemic are sarcastic. Therefore, their semiotic decoding can be useful for public authorities: it reveals the cause of people’s discontent, the reaction of the population to governmental measures, and thus allows the use of this knowledge for better policy decisions and more efficient communication strategies for their implementation. © 2022 Tomsk State Pedagogical University. All rights reserved.
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INTRODUCTION: Three months after the first appearance of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), Senegal recorded its first case on March 2, 2020. Faced with this pandemic, the State reacted quickly with public measures : instituting a curfew, placing a ban on travel between regions, and closing shops and places of worship. This research aims to study the acceptability of these non-pharmaceutical measures by the Senegalese population. METHOD: This study was a cross-sectional and analytical survey conducted in June and July 2020 among Senegalese over 18 years old. Sampling by the representative quota method was distributed proportionally to age, gender and region. We constructed the questionnaire using the theoretical framework of acceptability of health interventions. Through a telephone call center synchronised to an internet server, we collected data on personal characteristics, knowledge of the disease, trust in information sources, trust in government, concern about the pandemic, and the seven dimensions of acceptability. We performed descriptive analysis and structural equation with R software version 4.0.2. RESULTS: This study included a total of 813 individuals. The average age was 34.7 years ( ± 14.2 years). They were predominantly male (54.6 %), with no education (42.6 %). The increased level of knowledge of the disease was associated with confidence in national media information sources provided by the administrative and health authorities (ß=0.11, p<0.01). The increase in the level of trust in the government in response to COVID-19 was positively related to the acceptability of curfew (ß=0.16, p<0.001), travel ban between regions (ß=0.11, p<0.001), and closure of places of worship (ß=0.1, p<0.01) and markets (ß=0.09, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In Senegal, the acceptability of the measures depended on knowledge of the disease, perception of the risk of the disease, and trust in the government. There is a need to strengthen awareness and risk communication of COVID-19.
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COVID-19 , Adolescent , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Government , Humans , Male , Pandemics/prevention & control , Senegal/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The study aims to validate the measures taken by the government of Mongolia against COVID-19 and to analyse the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the livelihood of different types of households. The survey covers 362 households consisting of five different types, namely, apartment households, ger district households, herder households, vegetable growing households, and small farmer households. Principal component analysis is used to reduce the number of variables to a few factors that best explain the variation in the variables. Two to three components were found from the principal component analyses that describe (i) government policy, (ii) challenges due to COVID-19, and (iii) risk and vulnerability that occurred due to COVID-19. Multiple regression models attributed by the household’s type were used to analyse the impact of the selected variables on the households’ income. According to the regression results, herding households are the least affected, compared to the other four types of households. The government measures to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 have better results for apartment households and ger district households. Rural households are less affected and seem to be more resilient to COVID-19 shocks than other households.
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The COVID-19 pandemic brings with it serious challenges that have a huge impact on the construction industry. Malaysia was placed under lockdown during the pandemic and a Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on 18 March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This research seeks to determine the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the Government on the Malaysian construction industry. The literature review provides the theoretical background for the study and establishes, enhances, and consolidates the knowledge base for this study. A questionnaire survey using Google form was used to collect the data. One hundred questionnaires were distributed to gather the data. This survey was carried out in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur. This study used the SPSS software to analyze the collected data employing frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, and chart builder. The findings of this research contribute to the body of knowledge on the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the Government on the construction industry in Malaysia. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted the normal lives and routines of Filipinos. Dubbed as the 'new normal,' the wearing of face masks and face shields and adherence to social distancing and the community quarantines have been enforced by the Philippine government to all its citizens. The primary concern is to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus absent of widespread and available pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccines and therapies, in the hopes of keeping the overall healthcare system functional. In this study, the researchers use NetLogo, an agent-based modeling software to emulate such government measures on a closed population of agents and observe the effects on the spread of COVID-19. Running different simulation scenarios, the researchers find that the NetLogo model is able to predict long- term trends imposed by these government restrictions. The results show that through increasing the number of people using face coverings and restricting interactions through enforcement of community quarantines, the rise of infections can be decreased substantially. The results of our model are consistent with the Philippine government's collated pandemic data on the effect of the enforcement of restrictions to the ongoing outbreak during certain time periods in the year 2020. © 2021 IEEE.
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The opening of schools that coincided with the beginning of fall 2020 and the arrival of the second wave of COVID-19 in continental Europe has fostered significant debate in several countries. Some contributions have suggested that youngsters play a minor role in the spread of the virus, given the specific characteristics of this infection; other scholars have raised concerns about the necessary movement that involves keeping schools open, and the consequent potential spread of the virus. In this study, we focus on the Italian case, an interesting setting in which to test the impact of opening schools on the spread of COVID-19, because of the different dates at which schools have opened in the various Italian provinces, and because of the different rates at which the virus has spread across Italy. Our results suggest that open schools have a positive impact on COVID-19 cases, whose spread occurs between 10 and 14 days after opening. While closing schools or using distance learning have other social and economic consequences, making it necessary for policymakers to adopt a holistic evaluation, it should be taken into account that open schools have an impact on the spread of the pandemic.
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Pandemic by COVID-19 has impacted the life of each and every person in one way or another. And such impacts are going to endure long enough after this pandemic period of time. This is why to reconstruct the experiences of the process while it is taking place becomes a task not only interesting but necessary. Following this reasoning the present article elaborates on the perceptions, attitudes and practices that Cuban individuals have developed regarding COVID-19, and about the measures the government has implemented towards its control between April and September 2020. For that purpose, it was applied a quantitative method by surveys combining open questions during a first stage of the research and closed questions during a second. There were surveyed 516 subjects through different virtual platforms. Main results go around four categories such as perceptions about the decease itself, about the measures of the government, the ways of coping and acting toward the situation and the challenges perceived by the population.