Deploying the Minimum Number of Rechargeable UAVs for a Quarantine Barrier

To control the rapid spread of COVID-19, we consider deploying a set of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to form a quarantine barrier such that anyone crossing the barrier can be detected. We use a charging pile to recharge UAVs. The problem is scheduling UAVs to cover the barrier, and, for any scheduling strategy, estimating theminimum number of UAVs needed to cover the barrier forever. We propose breaking the barrier into subsegments so that each subsegment can be monitored by a single UAV. We then analyze two scheduling strategies, where the first one is simple to implement and the second one requires fewer UAVs. The first strategy divides UAVs into groups with each group covering a subsegment. For this strategy, we derive a closed-form formula for the minimum number of UAVs. In the case of insufficient UAVs, we give a recursive function to compute the exact coverage time and give a dynamic-programming algorithm to allocate UAVs to subsegments to maximize the overall coverage time. The second strategy schedules all UAVs dynamically. We prove a lower and an upper bound on the minimum number of UAVs. We implement a prototype system to verify the proposed coverage model and perform simulations to investigate the performance.

Stronger than partisanship and motivated reasoning: news exposure and news frames predicting US state-level preventive behaviours against COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a partisan issue rather than an independent public health issue in the US. This study examined the behavioural consequences of motivated reasoning and framing by investigating the impacts of COVID-19 news exposure and news frames, as apparent through a Latent Dirichlet topic modelling analysis of local news coverage, on state-level preventive behaviours as understood through a nationally representative survey. Findings suggested that the media effects on various preventive behaviours differed. The overall exposure rate to all COVID-19 news articles increased mask-wearing but did not significantly impact other preventive behaviours. Four news frames significantly increased avoiding contact or avoiding public or crowded places. However, news articles discussing anxiety and stay at home order triggered resistance and countereffects and led to risky behaviours. ‘Solid Republican' state residents were less likely to avoid contact, avoid public or crowded places, and wear masks. However, partisan leanings did not interfere with the impact of differing local COVID-19 news frames on reported preventive behaviours. Plus, statements regarding pre-existing trust in Trump did not correlate with reported preventive behaviour. Attention to effect sizes revealed that news exposure and news frames could have a bigger impact on health behaviours than motivated reasoning.

Design and Coverage Path Planning of a Disinfection Robot

Eliminating pathogen exposure is an important approach to control outbreaks of epidemics such as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). To deal with pathogenic environments, using disinfection robots is a practicable choice. This research formulates a 3D (three-dimensional) spatial disinfection strategy for a disinfection robot. First, a disinfection robot is designed with an extensible control framework for the integration of additional functions. The robot has eight degrees of freedom that can handle disinfection tasks in complex 3D environments where normal disinfection robots lack the capability to ensure complete disinfection. An ingenious clamping mechanism is designed to increase flexibility and adaptability. Secondly, a new coverage path planning algorithm targeted at the spraying area is used. This algorithm aims to achieve an optimal path via the rotating calipers algorithm after transformation between a 2D (two-dimensional) array and 3D space. Finally, the performance of the designed robot is tested through a series of simulations and experiments in various spaces that humans usually live in. The results demonstrate that the robot can effectively perform disinfection tasks both in computer simulation and in reality.

Factors associated with health outcomes among the uninsured population

The United States health care system lacks uniform and universal health coverage, causing approximately 10% of the population to be without health insurance, a critical determinant of health care access. Safety net organizations, including free clinics, provide free and/or reduced health care services to sociodemographic disadvantaged individuals. Despite concerns about the uninsured population, free clinic patients have not been sufficiently studied. This dissertation was designed to address this gap by adding to the literature and was designed around three empirical chapters utilizing mixed methodology.The first study used cross-sectional primary data to examine the differences between perceived and physiological stress levels and the effect of a social support network among uninsured free clinic patients. Findings suggest that higher levels of perceived stress are not significantly more prevalent than higher levels of salivary cortisol among these populations. Higher levels of social networking are significantly associated with lower perceived stress levels;having more friends than family members is slightly more associated with lower levels of perceived. However, social support and networking was not significantly associated with patients' salivary morning cortisol levels.The second study utilized a qualitative approach regarding COVID-19 vaccine perception and hesitancy among uninsured free clinic patients. Social networks are found to be important factors in reducing vaccine hesitancy. Hesitant patients had concerns related to vaccines' safety, effectiveness, and side effects. Lack of valid and reliable COVID-19 vaccination information was a challenge among this study's participants.The third study also utilized cross-sectional primary data to examine whether certain factors, including the component of patient-centeredness, are associated with patient autonomy among these populations. Findings conclude that Spanish speaking patients at the free clinic have a stronger belief in a paternalist model of the provider-patient relationship. Better communication between patients and providers results in higher levels of autonomy. Higher levels of educational attainment and better communication partnership were associated with higher levels of a free clinic patient's understanding of treatment risks.In conclusion, this dissertation's focus was to understand characteristics of an uninsured population to help develop strategies and intervention on changing behaviors, providing information that leads to their better health outcome. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

No jab, no international travel? Linking TRA, mass media, motivation, and experience

Despite mixed emotions about COVID-19 vaccination as a precondition for international travel, COVID-19 vaccination is being advocated as one of the instruments that could facilitate safe free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the purpose of the present research is to distinguish the underlying mechanisms that could predict individuals' intentions to take the COVID-19 vaccine as a precondition for international travel. The conceptual framework was built on the extended theory of reasoned action (TRA), which incorporates mass media coverage, travel motivations, and previous travel experience. An online purposive sampling technique was utilized in this study, and 1188 responses were collected. Subsequently, structural equation modeling was utilized to test the proposed model. The originality of the present study lies with unraveling the mechanisms that affect the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine as a precondition for international travel. In addition, the discussions are presented in subsequent sections of the paper.

Flipping the Frame: How Rudy Gobert Went From an Episodic Bad Actor to a Thematic Hero

Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 diagnosis in March of 2020 started the process that led to American sports shutting down in the early days of the pandemic. After the diagnosis, video of him touching reporters' voice recorders at a press availability went viral. This framing analysis in five mainstream newspapers finds that over the course of 72 hours, Gobert went from a bad actor to a hero in news copy as an episodic frame focusing on his actions gave way to a thematic frame about the virus and its effects on the country.

Territorial Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination in Romania

This paper explores relationships between vaccination coverage and indicators at the level oflocal administrative units for the case of rural localities of Romania. Positive correlations have been identified in relation to fiscal capacity, coverage of the population with general practitioners, COVID‐19 incidence rate and absence of a marginalized community within the locality. Regional differences are again highlighted in the analysis. This means that there is at least partially an overlap of the disadvantaged rural areas with the ones registering low vaccination uptakes against COVID‐19. Further on, it means that these territorial areas accumulate a series of structural disadvantages that can prove to increase the discrepancies between them and other rural or large urban areas. The paper contributes to enlarging the perspective on vaccination coverage by adding both conceptual and practical insights. From the point ofview of practitioners, the results of the study can be used to tailor intervention in communities with similar characteristics, to underscore public health inequalities across territories. Points for practitioners are relevant for a wide range of stakeholders from public health, public management, and social protection fields, placed in both local and central level decision‐making positions. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration & Policy is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The semiotics of the anti-COVID-19 mask

The pandemic spreading of the COVID-19 virus has led to the global need to introduce, often by law, the medical face mask, which can undoubtedly be considered as "the object of 2020.” In a few months, most human faces around the world in the public space, but also often in the private space, have been covered with various kinds of protective masks. Very soon, these objects have become the centre of several discursive productions, going from medical reports to media coverage, from artistic representations to ironic memes. The medical face mask was not totally new in the west, where it was already present in special circumstances, like dentists' studios or emergency rooms, and was quite familiar in the east, especially in Japan, China, and Korea. Yet such massive introduction changed the meaning of the medical face mask in every context. Old habits were reconfigured or clashed with the new ones, giving rise to a novel syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the human face in conjunction with this device and in the context of the global pandemic. The present paper offers an introduction to a semiotic mapping of such radical cultural change and its likely consequences.

The scope of COVID-19 vaccine insurance coverage and possible disputes

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented large-scale vaccination programs. In Taiwan, COVID-19 vaccine insurance is available. However, as the COVID-19 vaccine is a new vaccine, there is limited research assessing its safety, and many physicians are not fully informed about its potential risks. Additionally, there is limited recognition of the risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccine by the government and insurance companies, making it difficult for individuals to prove that an injury is a result of the vaccine. This study examined legal elements, insurance coverage, and potential disputes related to COVID-19 vaccine insurance in Taiwan. This study proposed three ways to resolve vaccine insurance disputes: 1. Insurance companies should clarify the scope of insurance policies and the difference between adverse events following vaccination and adverse reactions. 2. The government should proactively update and supplement the information available on the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines. 3. The courts should reduce the burden of proof for individuals with vaccine injuries by interpreting insurance contracts and evidence law. (Taiwan J Public Health. 2023;42(2):153-164)

COVID-19 and the View from Africa

In Africa, refusal of COVID-19 and other vaccines is widespread for different reasons, including disbelief in the existence of the virus itself and faith in traditional remedies. In sub-Saharan countries, refusal is often made worse by opposition to vaccines by the religious establishments. This is a pressing problem, as Africa has the highest vaccine-avoidable mortality rate for children under the age of five in the world. Dialogue between those wishing to promote vaccines and those who resist them is essential if the situation is to be improved. This article argues that Western and other aid agencies seeking to promote vaccination programs need to develop a dialogue with resisters, and in this process to embrace and commend the ancient African philosophical tradition of Ubuntu, incorporating it into these programs as a way to overcome such entrenched resistance. The paper concludes with concrete recommendations for how to accomplish this goal.

Vaccine Rate Coverage Forecast in Brazil: Is It Possible to Keep Polio Eradicated?

Objectives: Brazil's annual vaccination coverage rate (AVCR) for Polio has risen to alarming levels in recent years. Given the imminent possibility of the return of the disease eradicated 32 years ago in Brazil, the objective was to assess the historical data of AVCR and foresee the Brazilian performance in the next five years. Method(s): We apply a classic linear forecasting model Holt Winter (HW), composed of a forecasting equation and three corresponding smoothing equations alpha, beta, and gamma. The Polio AVCR between 1994 and 2022 was collected from the National Immunization Program and was evaluated in two stages using the R software involving (i) analysis of data, (ii) application of the HW using least squares adjustment. Result(s): The AVCR showed a growing trend between 1994 (38%) and 1999 (86%). From 2000 to 2015, the average AVCR was 78.72%, with the best coverage in 2015 (95.07%). Between 2016 and 2022, the AVCR was 66.75%, with a tendency to reduce over time. Between 2020 and 2022, AVCR had its lower result (64.44%), which can be explained by the postponement of Polio vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The best adjustment of smoothing alpha, beta and gamma was achieved (0.67, 0, 0) by HW. The forecast showed positive results in the average AVCR, with a growth of 16.71% in the next five years and with an AVCR projection of just 75.89%, in the case of no public health action is endowed by the country. To reach the best AVCR achieved in 2015, it is necessary to expand it by 48.5%. Conclusion(s): Forecasts using HW are recommended for public health monitoring, helping managers make decisions with limited resources. The results indicate that it is necessary to develop a strategic plan to expand AVCR to keep Polio eradicated from Brazil, mainly due to both disease gravity and treatment unavailability.Copyright © 2023

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on dog ownership and rabies vaccination in Metropolitan Lima.

The aim of this study was to determine the possible influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on dog ownership and anti-rabies vaccination practices in Metropolitan Lima (Peru), taking as a source of information the National Survey of Budgetary Programmes (ENAPRES) carried out by the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) in the period 2017-2021. The proportion of respondents who owned at least one dog per household had an increasing trend, reaching the highest proportions in the pandemic years (2020: 47.5%;2021: 50.8%). The districts of Lima Sur and Lima Centro presented the highest (52.1-58%) and lowest (31.6-42.4%) proportion of respondents with dogs, respectively. According to the socioeconomic stratum (ESE), dog ownership had an inverse relationship (rs=-0.95), with a higher proportion in sector E (51.5-60.7%) and lower in sector A (32.5-43.1%). The proportion of vaccinated animals had a decreasing trend, reaching the lowest coverage during the pandemic years (2020: 84.8%;2021: 82.4%). The highest proportion of vaccinated dogs was found in Lima Centro (88.1-95.9%). According to ESE, the relationship was direct (rs=0.813). The highest proportion of vaccinated animals during the pre-pandemic and pandemic years occurred in ESE A (90.3-95%) and B (87.8-94.8%). In all the years of the study, the lowest proportions of vaccinated animals were in ESE E (75-80.2%). The study shows that dog ownership and rabies vaccination coverage were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results can be used to assess the sanitary measures implemented to keep the capital free of urban rabies.Copyright © 2023 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. All rights reserved.

The Covid-19 pandemic in canadian newspapers: An analysis of the journalistic articles as risk and crisis messages

This chapter contributes to the scholarly literature in crisis communication by emphasizing on the media coverage of the first three months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canadian newspapers. Indeed, described as a health, social, and economic crisis, Covid-19 swiftly plunged the world into a state of crisis. Media coverage of the pandemic contributes to crisis communication, by attempting to make sense of the new coronavirus and its many impacts on global order. Thanks to an innovative methodological approach, we analyzed the journalistic coverage through a simultaneous tripartite process of staging the protagonists (Who?), selecting different facets of social reality (What?), and positioning with respect to professional ideals (How?). © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.

Economics of a Health System's Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine for Its Employees

Am J Manag Care. 2023;29(6):In Press _____ Takeaway Points The value of direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine services offered by academic health systems is understudied. * DTC telemedicine services for low-acuity or minor illnesses are increasingly offered as an employee benefit, but any per-episode unit cost advantage may be offset by overuse of care. * DTC telemedicine staffed by an academic health system and offered to its employees resulted in lower per-episode unit costs for care within 7 days and only marginally increased the use of services. * DTC telemedicine staffed by an academic health system and offered directly to employees was cost-saving. _____ Employers in the United States have increasingly been offering a direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine benefit for low-acuity or minor illnesses to their employees.1-3 By 2021, more than 95% of employers with 50 or more employees provided some coverage for DTC telemedicine in their largest health plan;more than 75% felt that offering telemedicine was important and nearly 20% either limited or eliminated cost sharing for telemedicine.4 Despite these trends among general employers, few health systems have directly provided DTC telemedicine to their own employees. [...]because these services are easy to access (often available immediately, around the clock, and without travel), they may induce overuse of care, especially for self-limited conditions such as viral upper respiratory infections for which the alternative to in-person care is no care at all, thus increasing the overall cost of care.5-11 Telemedicine will save money relative to in-person care if any unit price advantages are not overwhelmed by the increased use of care overall, induced by its convenience. Employers provide health insurance coverage for 158 million Americans or nearly 50% of the population. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, telemedicine has represented a significantly larger portion of all medical claims—consistently more than 5% of all medical claims by mid-202112-15—and the estimated value of the global telemedicine industry is projected to reach a quarter of a trillion dollars by 2024.13 Yet, the future of telemedicine remains undetermined with reimbursement rates in debate,16-18 driven in large part because its economic value is understudied and uncertain. Penn Medicine is self-insured and more than 95% of employees use its only employer-sponsored plan—a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan—rather than insurance obtained individually or through a family member. Since 2017, these PPO-insured employees have been offered Penn Medicine OnDemand,19 a 24/7 DTC telemedicine benefit to employees and their adult (≥ 18 years) dependents.

Reasons for influenza vaccination in older adults in 2019 and 2020

Objective: To assess influenza vaccination coverage and reasons for vaccination or not in older adults, in the campaigns of 2019 and 2020. Methods: This is a quantitative and longitudinal study, carried out in Tres Lagoas (MS). Older adults registered in health care or social services participated. In the first quarter of 2020, 172 older adults were assessed in person, of whom 86 were re-interviewed between August and October 2020 through telephone contact. In the first interview, questions were asked about the flu vaccination in 2019 and the reasons for vaccination or not. In the second, the questions were about vaccination in 2020 and why. Vaccination coverage for 2019 and 2020 was compared using the McNemar test. Results: There was a predominance of women, with an average age of 69.1 years. Vaccination coverage in 2019 was 90.7%. Most of them took the vaccine because they believed it was important. As reasons for non-vaccination, the previous reactions and the fact that they did not have the flu were highlighted. In 2020, coverage was 86.0%. Most older adults were vaccinated because the vaccine was available in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde). The reasons for non-vaccination were fear of leaving home due to the pandemic and lack of professional guidance. There was no significant difference in vaccination coverage in 2019 and 2020 (p=0.388). Conclusion: Vaccination coverage decreased in the year of the pandemic, with no significant difference. Reliable information from healthcare professionals and the media is essential for maintaining high vaccination coverage. © 2022 Departamento de Enfermagem/Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. All rights reserved.

Persons Diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Primary Care Dataset: A Cohort Description

Objectives: Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum contains primary care electronic health records, including vaccinations and nearly complete capture of SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results between August 2020-March 2022. Our objective was to build code lists to define a cohort of persons diagnosed with COVID in England using routinely collected health data. Method(s): Persons aged 1 year or older were indexed on first COVID diagnosis from August 1, 2020 - January 31, 2022. We developed SNOMED code lists to define high risk of severe disease: 1) National Health Service's (NHS) list of highest risk conditions;2) PANORAMIC trial inclusion criteria;3) UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) clinical risk groups. COVID vaccinations were defined as of December 1, 2021 using medical and product codes. Code lists were developed using wildcard search terms which were reviewed by multiple independent reviewers, and inclusion/exclusion was determined by consensus. All lists for diagnoses were reviewed by a UK physician. Result(s): We identified 2,257,907 people diagnosed in primary care with COVID;46% were male and mean age was 34 years, comparable to governmental data for the same period reporting 47% of cases in England were male and mean age was 34 years. We identified 12% at high risk of severe disease using the NHS definition, 31% using the PANORAMIC trial criteria, and 10% using the UKHSA clinical risk groups. Among adults, 86.1% had >=1 and 80.2% had >=2 COVID vaccine doses (2% and 0.2% lower than official reports, respectively). Conclusion(s): This cohort represented the age and sex distribution of COVID cases, and the COVID vaccination coverage, in England through January 2022. Definitions were built using reproducible methods that can be leveraged for future work. The high capture of COVID vaccinations supports the use of this cohort to examine clinical and societal benefits of COVID vaccination in England.Copyright © 2023

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Antenatal Healthcare in Al-Ramadi city, Iraq

Background:Antenatal care (ANC) is a form of preventive medicine, pregnancy-specific, and general health advice effectively given in the antenatal period. ANC is conducted by healthcare personnel on pregnant women at regular intervals to protect and improve maternal and neonatal health. Objectives: The study aimed to know if the COVID-19 pandemic affects the coverage rate of ANC visits of pregnant women. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Al-Andalus Primary Healthcare Center which is located in the center of Al-Ramadi city, Iraq. We reviewed the records of all ANC first, second, and total visits of the months February, May, and October during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Results: The study showed the coverage rate of ANC visits was statistically significantly declined with the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of 2021, there are some elevation in the coverage rate of ANC visits.. Conclusion: The study concluded that the lockdown period in the pandemic state due to COVID-19 led to a significant decline in the coverage rate of ANC visits. © 2022, Al-Anbar Medical Journal.

Nigeria's new president ‘must walk the talk on health'

Speed read Nigeria's president-elect eyes 40 per cent health insurance coverage in two years Ambitious target needs funding, human resources Over 75,000 nurses and midwives left Nigeria in five years [LAGOS] Health experts in Nigeria say the country's president-elect who will be inaugurated on 29 May must prioritise health care and refrain from politicising it. While Nigeria committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) established in 2005 makes health insurance coverage voluntary. [...]in May 2022, after two decades of sustained calls by health professionals, a new Act was passed which aimed to provide health insurance for all Nigerians, through a mandatory mechanism and in collaboration with state health insurance agencies.

The Incidence Proportion of SARS-CoV-2 Infections and the Percentage of Deaths among Infected Healthcare Workers in Poland.

(1) Background: The incidence proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Poland is not exactly known. This study aims to present secondary epidemiological data identifying the scale of the spread of novel coronavirus infection and the estimation of vaccination coverage in selected professional groups of HCWs in Poland. (2) Methods: The secondary epidemiological data included both the number of infections and infection fatality rate (IFR) in individual occupational groups, which occurred throughout the observation period (January 2021-July 2022), both in the country and in individual voivodeship (administrative area). (3) Results: The incidence proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs was 16.48%. The highest percentage of infected workers concerned laboratory scientists (21.62%) and paramedics (18%). The highest frequency of infections among HCWs occurred in the province of Zachodnio-Pomorskie (18.9%). Due to COVID-19, 558 healthcare workers died during the analysed period, mostly nurses (n = 236) and doctors (n = 200). The results regarding the vaccination coverage of HCWs against COVID-19 indicate the highest percentage of vaccinated were among doctors (83.63%) and the lowest among physiotherapists (38.2%). (4) Conclusions: In general, the percentage of infections was high in Poland during the pandemic (16.48%). Significant territorial differences were observed in the frequency of infections, deaths, and percentage of vaccinated workers in individual voivodeships.