"I Thought That Everyone Perceived the Situation Similarly to Me.” the Czech-Polish "Cieszyn-Silesia” Region as a Case of a Polysemic Border

This study addresses the issue of "covidfencing” (the resurrection of borders during the COVID-19 pandemic) in the context of the historically and ethnically complex region of Cieszyn Silesia / Těšínské Slezsko / Śląsk Cieszyński / Teschener Schlesien on the Czech-Polish border. Conducting interviews with cross-border workers, representatives of municipalities or cross-border regions, and a street survey in a border town, this study analyses the impacts of covidfencing on this region between March 2020 and March 2021. Applying the concept of Balibar (2002), this study shows that the border between Czechia and Poland in the Cieszyn Silesia region has characteristics of a polysemic border. Some inhabitants experienced the border closure due to the pandemic situation as an existential threat, some organised protests because they perceive the border region as a whole to be their home, some claim that the resurrection of the border did not influence anything in their lives. This study introduces the complex network of cross-border relationships and discusses the possible reasons for different perceptions of the border. © 2022 Austrian Geographical Society. All rights reserved.

Challenges and opportunities in rapid disaster research: lessons from the field in New Mexico and Vanuatu.

Rapid research is essential to assess impacts in communities affected by disasters, particularly those communities made "hard-to-reach" due to their active marginalization across history and in contemporary practices. In this article, we describe two rapid research projects developed to assess needs for and experiences of communities hard-hit by disasters. The first is a project on the COVID-19 pandemic in southern New Mexico (USA) that was developed to provide information to local agencies that are deploying programs to rebuild and revitalize marginalized communities. The second is a project on population displacement due to a volcanic eruption in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country in the South Pacific, with mental and physical health outcomes data shared with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. We describe the similar and unique challenges that arose doing rapid research in these two different contexts, the potential broader impacts of the research, and a synthesis of lessons learned. We discuss the challenges of rapidly changing rules and regulations, lack of baseline data, lack of survey instruments validated for specific populations and in local languages, limited availability of community partners, finding funding for rapid deployment of projects, rapidly training and working with research assistants, health and safety concerns of researchers and participants, and communicating with local and international partners. We also specifically discuss how we addressed our own personal challenges while also conducting time-intensive rapid research. In both studies, researchers shared results with governmental and non-governmental partners who may use the data to inform the design of their own relief programs. While different in context, type of disaster, and research strategy, our discussion of these projects provides insights into common lessons learned for working with communities at elevated risk for the worst outcomes during disasters, such as the need for flexibility, compromise, and good working relationships with community partners.

High Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 In Ciudad del Este District, Paraguay, 2020.

Introduction: Seroepidemiological studies can help to understand the dynamics of the infection by the type 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) in the community. Objective(s): To determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 Ciudad del Este district of Alto Parana department in Paraguay. Method(s): Descriptive cross-sectional study based on population. A rapid immunochromatographic test was used for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies. 1043 households were surveyed between October 27 and November 21, 2020. Result(s): Of the 1978 participants, women prevailed (60.3 %), 39.6 % had secondary education, 32.9 % were engaged in commerce. The most frequent risk factors were hypertension (13.7%), overweight or obesity (16.4%) and diabetes mellitus (6.1%). A total of 415 people (21%) had symptoms compatible with COVID-19, with headache being the most frequent (10.8%), followed by anosmia (10.4%) and sore throat (10.1%). 15.4% of respondents said they had been in contact with a COVID-19 case. 10.8% of participants had undergone a laboratory test for the diagnosis of COVID-19, of them, 72 people (33.6%) reported a positive result. Seroprevalence was high, with one in five reporting symptoms compatible with COVID-19. Conclusion(s): Despite the high anti-COVID-19 seroprevalence, most residents had mild infection, the proportion of hospitalized patients was low, and no fatal cases were reported.Copyright © 2023, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Labour Market in the Hotel Industry: Selected Conditions in Poland

Examining selected aspects of labour market performance in the Polish tourism sector can extend our knowledge of hotel company attitudes in connection with COVID-19. The aims of this article are to present selected determinants of labour market performance in the Polish tourism sector (with particular emphasis on the hotel industry) in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and to address the following research question: how did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the functioning of hotel companies in the key tourist region of Poland—Zachodniopomorskie province? The research methods used in the study included critical analysis of source literature, survey method, correspondence analysis method, and analysis of primary and secondary data, mainly from official statistics. The survey was conducted in January 2022. Information was collected from 129 respondents using surveys. The results of the research presented in the article reveal that the observed long-term upward trend in the national labour market has been halted by the pandemic and that (among the various accommodation facilities) hotels are the most vulnerable to changes in the tourism labour market. The authors' contributions to the literature are the identification of the extent to which businesses from the hotel industry have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the determination of the impact of the pandemic on selected employment-related aspects of business operations in Zachodniopomorskie province. © 2023 by the authors.

Borderland Economic Resilience under COVID-19: Evidence from China-Russia Border Regions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the global economy and trade, and border regions have been hit severely because of their high dependency on foreign trade. To understand better the economic impact of COVID-19 on border regions, we developed a COVID-19 economic resilience analytical framework and empirically examined 10 Chinese-Russian border cities in Northeast China. We quantitatively analyzed five dimensions of economic resilience, distinguished four types of shock, and examined the determinants of economic resilience. The results show that: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic has wide-ranging impacts in the border areas, with import-export trade and retail sales of consumer goods being the most vulnerable and sensitive to the shock. The whole economy of the border areas is in the downward stage of the resistance period; (2) from a multi-dimensional perspective, foreign trade and consumption are the most vulnerable components of the borderland economic system, while industrial resilience and income resilience have improved against the trend, showing that they have good crisis resistance; (3) borderland economic resilience is a spatially heterogeneous phenomenon, with each border city showing different characteristics; (4) economic openness, fiscal expenditure, and asset investment are the key drivers of economic resilience, and the interaction between the influencing factors presents a nonlinear and bi-factor enhancement of them. The findings shed light on how border economies can respond to COVID-19, and how they are useful in formulating policies to respond to the crisis.

CROSS-BORDER SHOPPING TOURISM - CASE STUDY TO COMPARE TWO REGIONS OF THE NORTH-EASTERN SLOVAKIA

Shopping tourism is a rapidly developing form of tourism. Cross-border shopping tourism has a particular character since it is associated with crossing national borders. The inhabitants living in border regions in particular use this possibility to shop at favourable prices in the nearby foreign country. The aim of this paper is to assess the preferences and shopping behaviour within cross-border shopping tourism in the North-Eastern Slovakia on an example of the comparison of its two regions, more concretely the selected economically under-developed border region of the Presov Region and the Presov District that is economically more advanced and is not directly adjacent to the national border. The results contained in the paper are based on an online research (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) in the preferences and perception of the inhabitants of both selected regions. The results highlight cross-border shopping tourism practised mainly in the Polish border regions mostly with family members using a motor vehicle while the increased frequency of shopping is associated with some special calendar events. As for the range of goods, the respondents preferred shopping clothes, food and sweets due to lower prices or their unavailability in their place of residence. It was confirmed as statistically significant that one of the motives for cross-border shopping was a favourable EURO exchange rate. Apart from motivation, we also monitored satisfaction, safety and negative attitudes associated with cross-border shopping tourism.

The state of the cross-border economy in the Baltic Sea Region in modern conditions

The current economic crisis has been caused by the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has weakened the state of the economy. This study aims to identify and describe the status and development of COVID-19 in the Baltic Sea Region and to identify the economic consequences and changes in the economy caused by the pandemic. The situation is exacerbated by the extreme uncertainty of the actions taken by the public administration in the border regions. These include, above all, the lack of concrete and transparent measures to impose quarantine in specific sectors, the forced restriction of the population's economic and commercial activities, the limitation of access to recreational areas for the entire population, the displacement to remote work and education, the closure of childcare and pre-school institutions. The scale and nature of the consequences of all these restrictions in different sectors and industries need to be clarified. All this adds to the complexity of developing specific measures to respond to the crisis in the prevailing conditions. There is an urgent need to recognise crises and new challenges in border regions, which rapidly change in pandemic conditions and affect people on both sides of the border. The well-established principle of a "Europe without borders” has been shaken, and countries that have abruptly closed their national borders have done so unilaterally. A multiple regression study of selected macroeconomic indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic is conducted. The scale and nature of the consequences of sudden border closures on population movement in the Baltic Sea Regions are shown. All these restrictions peaked in 2020;unfortunately, the COVID-19 spread has yet to improve. Government measures applied to overcome the crisis must therefore identify the most effective way to restore lost positions and outline the future development of the border regions.

COVID-19 testing, infection, and vaccination among deported Mexican migrants: Results from a survey on the Mexico-U.S. border.

Background: Migrants detained and held in immigration and other detention settings in the U.S. have faced increased risk of COVID-19 infection, but data on this population is scarce. This study sought to estimate rates of COVID-19 testing, infection, care seeking, and vaccination among Mexican migrants detained by U.S. immigration authorities and forcibly returned to Mexico. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional probability survey of Mexican migrants deported from the U.S. to three Mexican border cities: Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and Matamoros (N = 306). Deported migrants were recruited at Mexican migration facilities after being processed and cleared for departure. A two-stage sampling strategy was used. Within each city, a selection of days and shifts were selected during the operating hours of these deportation facilities. The probability of selection was proportional to the volume of migrants deported on each day of the month and during each time period. During the selected survey shifts, migrants were consecutively approached, screened for eligibility, and invited to participate in the survey. Survey measures included self-reported history of COVID-19 testing, infection, care seeking, vaccination, intentions to vaccinate, and other prevention and risk factors. Weighted data were used to estimate population-level prevalence rates. Bivariate tests and adjusted logistic regression models were estimated to identify associations between these COVID-19 outcomes and demographic, migration, and contextual factors. Results: About 84.1% of migrants were tested for COVID-19, close to a third were estimated to have been infected, and, among them, 63% had sought care for COVID-19. An estimated 70.1% had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and, among those not yet vaccinated, 32.5% intended to get vaccinated. Close to half (44.3%) of respondents had experienced crowdedness while in detention in the U.S. Socio-demographic (e.g. age, education, English fluency) and migration-related (e.g. type of detention facility and time in detention) variables were significantly associated with COVID-19 testing, infection, care seeking, and vaccination history. Age, English fluency, and length of detention were positively associated with testing and vaccination history, whereas detention in an immigration center and length of time living in the U.S. were negatively related to testing, infection, and vaccination history. Survey city and survey quarter also showed adjusted associations with testing, infection, and vaccination history, reflecting potential variations in access to services across geographic regions and over time as the pandemic unfolded. Conclusion: These findings are evidence of increased risk of COVID-19 infection, insufficient access to testing and treatment, and missed opportunities for vaccination among Mexican migrants detained in and deported from the U.S. Deportee receiving stations can be leveraged to reduce disparities in testing and vaccination for deported migrants. In addition, decarceration of migrants and other measures informed by public health principles must be implemented to reduce COVID-19 risk and increase access to prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services among this underserved population.

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in the Wastewater and Rivers of Tapachula, a Migratory Hub in Southern Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been monitored by applying different strategies, including SARS-CoV-2 detection with clinical testing or through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). We used the latter approach to follow SARS-CoV-2 dispersion in Tapachula city, located in Mexico's tropical southern border region. Tapachula is a dynamic entry point for people seeking asylum in Mexico or traveling to the USA. Clinical testing facilities for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring are limited in the city. A total of eighty water samples were collected from urban and suburban rivers and sewage and a wastewater treatment plant over 4 months in Tapachula. We concentrated viral particles with a PEG-8000-based method, performed RNA extraction, and detected SARS-CoV-2 particles through RT-PCR. We considered the pepper mild mottle virus as a fecal water pollution biomarker and analytical control. SARS-CoV-2 viral loads (N1 and N2 markers) were quantified and correlated with official regional statistics of COVID-19 bed occupancy and confirmed cases (r > 91%). Our results concluded that WBE proved a valuable tool for tracing and tracking the COVID-19 pandemic in tropical countries with similar water temperatures (21-29 °C). Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 through urban and suburban river water sampling would be helpful in places lacking a wastewater treatment plant or water bodies with sewage discharges.

CROSS-BORDER DIGITALIZATION OF THE WESTERN BORDER OF RUSSIA: POTENTIAL AND PROSPECTS

Border regions are significant geostrategic territories, which long-term sustainable development is one of the priorities of Russia’s national security. The specificity of their economic-geographical position necessitates the development and implementation by the authorities of special governance approaches aimed at finding a balance between the openness and barrier function of the state border. One of the most common tools for the spatial development of border areas is the sustainable cross-border cooperation with the regions of neighboring countries using various froms of cross-border cooperation, incl. focused on the generation and diffusion of innovations. The covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, having become a truly global challenge of our time, has made significant changes not only in the policies of many countries regarding the border, but also in the functioning of already established cross-border regions. The impossibility of fully implementing the previous formats of interethnic and interregional interaction has necessitated the search for new forms of cooperation, primarily based on the use of rapidly developing digital technologies. This led to the growth of academic and practical interest in substantiating the mutual effects of digitalization, innovation and internationalization for the regions. This article is devoted to assessing the potential and prospects of cross-border digitalization of the Western borderland of Russia. The objectives of the study were to identify the gap between border regions in the level of accessibility and penetration of digital technologies, as a significant condition for the formation of cross-border digital connections. The object of study is 15 subjects of the Russian Federation and 17 regions of NUTS 2 neighboring states. Using geoinformation and statistical methods of analysis, a typology of regions by the value of the digitalization index is proposed, with the allocation of leaders, moderate and lagging regions, and an assessment of their spatial location relative to the state border. Possible reasons for the current digital inequality, primarily of a socio-economic nature, are discussed. The determining role of the institutional factor in realizing the potential of cross-border digitalization has been substantiated. It is concluded that political efforts for digital convergence in the western direction are being undertaken only between Russia and Belarus, although further intensification is required. © Mikhaylova, A. A., 2022

TOWARDS A CLASSIFICATION OF TRANSBOUNDARY TOURIST AND RECREATION MESOREGIONS IN THE BALTIC REGION

In the wake of the Covid-10 pandemic, the Baltic region saw a dramatic reduction in tourist flows in 2000—2021;the decrease was as much as tenfold in some destinations. This study aims to classify the 16 transboundary tourist and recreational mesoregions of the Baltic region according to 2019 tourist flows. The research evaluates, for the first time, the 2020—2021 decline in tourist flows across these regions. The main outcome of this study is grouping the mesoregions into three orders according to the size of 2019 tourist flows. Four mesoregions were assigned to the first order (with over 500,000 arrivals), three of them located in the southwest Baltic region;nine, the second order (from 100,000 to 500,000 arrivals);three, the third order (from 50,000 to 100,000 arrivals). The most substantial fall in tourist flows occurred in 2020—2021 in the mesoregins including Sweden and Russia and the least marked in those involving Denmark, Germany, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. The findings may help track the future restoration of transboundary tourist flows in the countries of the Baltic region. © Manakov, A. G., Krasilnikova, I. N., Ivanov, I. A., 2022

CRISIS DIAGNOSIS IN CROSS-BORDER REGIONS: LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC

In the article, methods and tools for diagnosing crisis phenomena in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the example of border regions of the Baltic Sea countries and the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation, were presented. Governmental measures and restrictions on the functioning of the economic subjects introduced in the border regions caused some shock and stress situation, which are of great importance for the course of the crisis conditions and the way out of the crisis. The purpose of the diagnosis is to establish a specific recognition of the research object, to provide a specific description and to formulate a final document or a conclusion about the condition of this object within a specified research completion date. In other words, the diagnosis allows the determination of the state of the research object and the development of a conclusion from these results, which can be based on indicators, coefficients, standards, in order to propose real positive changes up to the definition of the strategy and development tactics. The study uses the methods of systemic, structural, factor and comparative analysis, considering common and available parameters. A qualitative diagnosis of the object is carried out based on the algorithm and research stages. Specific problems are investigated on the basis of indicators and characteristics that are comparable in studies of corona crisis phenomena. Currently, the frontier economy is facing new challenges that test the basic mechanisms of functioning in crisis conditions. All these processes imply measures to eliminate the consequences of post-pandemic phenomena. This research can be used by the public administration units in diagnosing the processes of cross-border cooperation in the period of recovering from the post-pandemic crisis.

Virtual Seminar on Coronavirus 2019 for the US-Mexico Border Region: Building Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration.

While the US-Mexico border region has had increasing restrictions due to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the economically and socially integrated region continues to facilitate necessary movement between the two countries. Binational partners representing universities, government, and health delivery worked together to develop a COVID-19 Virtual Seminar for the US-Mexico Border Region, which consisted of weekly sessions in Spanish designed to better facilitate communication and collaborative systems between border states. In total 835 participants registered for the virtual seminar with attendance ranging from 394 in Session 1 to 269 in Session 6. From evaluation surveys (n = 297), organizers observed a large plurality of healthcare professionals, followed by students, researchers, and government employees. The seminar's contribution to increasing collaborative and communication systems identified major needs in the region surrounding surveillance and monitoring; increased resources for migrant shelters to control outbreaks; an increase in personal protective equipment; tracking binational cases.