Source investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak in the sea-land border city

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristic and tracing process of an outbreak of COVID-19 in a sea-land border city (D city) of Guangxi in December 2021, and provide scientific data for for the emergency management and scientific traceability of similar outbreaks in the future. Methods Epidemiological investigation of cases was carried out under the guideline of the Novel Coronavirus Epidemiological Investigation Programme on Cases of Pneumonia (Edition 8). RT-PCR method was used for samples testing. Furthermore, positive samples were analyzed by whole-genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis. R software 4.1.3 version was used for data analysis. Results There were 20 cases in this outbreak which related 6 families. The average incubation period was (4.6..2.2) d. Compared with the Wuhan reference strain (NC_045512), the genome sequence analysis showed that there were 35-36 nucleotide mutation sites in the novel Coronavirus genome sequence of 19 local cases, which belonged to VOC/Delta variant strain (AY.57 evolutionary branch). The 11 amino acid mutation sites were the same in all the novel Coronavirus spikes (S) proteins, which were highly homologous to the 2 COVID-19 genome sequences uploaded from a neighboring country in the GISAID genome database. Conclusion This outbreak was caused by fishermen who were infected by contacting with persons of neighboring country in the public sea area and causing located community transmission. The management of border villagers and the monitoring of epidemic strains should be strengthened to detect and deal with the outbreak as early as possible in the future.

TRIPLE HELIX MODEL IN HANDLING CHALLENGES TO THE INFORMAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The COVID19 pandemic and the multiple phases of MCOs have caused a massive impact on informal economic activities. The operators have to transform their economic activities from physical to online platforms. However, changing the economic activity platform is not as easy as it may seem. It requires the operators to acquire new skills. Therefore, this paper intends to unleash the challenges faced by the operators in transforming their businesses from physical to online platforms. This study employs a qualitative approach to achieve the objective of this study. The main respondent in this study is the fishermen's community. Three parties are involved in this study: the operators (fishermen and the entrepreneurs), the government, and the academia. Findings show that the triple helix model provides a positive platform for operators to continue their businesses online. The bonding between these three parties provides a new path for the informal operators to sustain their well-being and better quality of life. © 2022 by MIP.

'Boat Quarantine': Lessons Learned from SARS-CoV-2 Prevention and Control Measures in Fishing Communities in Thailand.

SARS-CoV-2 posed, and continues to pose, a severe threat to life, and for fishermen in Thailand, specific multifaceted quarantine design measures have been required. In response to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Trat province, a community quarantine centre was designed using boats as quarantine facilities. This study examines the implementation of boat quarantine in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic within the fishermen communities in Trat province, Thailand. In-depth interviews with 45 key individuals who have been involved in the control and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 among fishermen in the fishing communities were subjected to a thematic analysis. Boat quarantine was used to separate and restrict contact between fishermen who were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, to determine whether they became sick and to prevent mass infection within the community. Using a boat as a place to self-isolate has become an effective form of quarantine for fishermen. This model has implications for the future of infectious disease control onshore, both while the pandemic continues and after the pandemic comes to an end.

Pandemic risk, response, and resilience of fishermen in Ghana: a case study of fishing communities in Stratum VII, Volta Lake

In 2019, the World Health Organization reported the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19 in humans. In view of this, there has been an economic downturn since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent global lockdowns. This has led to the interference of the food system and its value chains. One major concern is Stratum VII of the Volta Lake situated in Yeji fishing community. Hence, this study was necessitated to evaluate the impact of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic on Fishermen's landings/catch, cost/revenue, and the management strategies employed during the lockdown. As a result, we urge governments and nongovernmental organizations, donors, the private sectors, and researchers to support fishermen and coastal fishing communities in alleviating the negative effect of the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An assessment of socioeconomic impacts due to COVID-19 on coastal fisheries in Tonga

This article presents the main findings and recommendations of a socioeconomic assessment of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tonga's coastal fisheries sector which was conducted by means of a national survey targeting households that benefit from subsistence and artisanal fishing and focus group discussions targeting registered commercial small-scale fishers. The assessment aimed to (1) better understand the effects of COVID-19 on coastal small-scale fishers and fishing households;(2) examine how they have coped and recovered from the effects of COVID-19;and (3) identify the types of support that they would find helpful to cope with and recover from the effects of COVID-19, as well as future crises.

Comparative study of the effects of COVID-19 on the activities of fishermen in two fisheries in Burkina Faso

The artisanal fishery in Burkina Faso, already fragile, has been severely affected by government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Fishermen were the first actors to feel the impact of the crisis. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of the pandemic on their activities in two fisheries in Burkina Faso. To this end, a survey was conducted in the Samendeni and Sourou fisheries. A total of 86 fishermen were interviewed. The variables collected were: unemployment rate, reduction in fishing time, variation in fish prices, loss of income, inaccessibility of fishing equipment. The results reveal that 31.4% of the fishermen were unemployed, of which 41.2% were from Samendeni and 17.1% from Sourou. A reduction in fishing time of 1 to 6 months was observed in 53.49%. The perception of the fishermen on the catches shows that 2.32% have made gains in catches, 27.91% have not noticed a variation in their catches and 69.77% have noted a decrease in the quantities caught. They lost an average of 30.3% and 22.16% of their income in Samendeni and Sourou respectively. This study revealed the difficulties experienced by fishermen during the restrictive measures to curb COVID-19.

Sink or swim? How COVID-19 and the responses to it have affected small-scale fishers

This policy brief reports findings from research investigating the impacts of Covid-19 regulations and mitigation measures on small-scale fishers in the Western Cape, South Africa. The researchers conducted 47 in-depth interviews, held 5 focus groups, facilitated the production of 14 food diaries in 4 primary field sites of Struisbaai, Langebaan, Velddrift and Lambert's Bay.

Fishermen shipwrecked ashore. a study on old age and pandemic in the Gulf of Mexico

This work addresses the way in which the pandemic impacts fishermen and their productive activity in a town on the Gulf of Mexico. The questions that guide the analysis are: How is the pandemic perceived by fishermen over 60 years old and what are the main alterations, fears, insecurities, anxieties and risks that they face it? But also what are the hopes that have been generated in their daily lives? It was assumed that the pandemic has generated changes in their daily lives, which have been triggered by the conditions of economic, social and environmental crisis, in which they live, especially people who pass through advanced ages. It is noted that the protection measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease have affected more than the pandemic itself.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on aquatic environment and fishing community: Boon or bane?

COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat for mankind having an extensive socio-economic impact. However, it is considered as an unfortunate event with some positive environmental effects where nature is retrieving itself. The water quality index in different places of the world was reported to be improved during the lockdown, which in turn whipped up the regenerative process of fishes, sea turtles, marine mammals, and aquatic birds. Additionally, ecologically sensitive areas such as mangroves and coral reefs were also seen rejuvenating during COVID-19 seal off. But these favourable implications are temporary as there is an unexpected surge in plastic waste generation in the form of PPE kits, face masks, gloves, and other healthcare equipment. Moreover, the outbreak of the pandemic resulted in the complete closure of fishing activities, decline in fish catch, market disruption, and change in consumer preference. To address these multidimensional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, government organizations, NGOs, and other concerned authorities should extend their support to amplify the positive impacts of the lockdown and reduce the subsequent pollution level while encouraging the fisheries sector.

THE INDIVIDUAL/GENERICITY CONTRADITION AND THE EDUCATION IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC: A DEBATE ON THE (IM)POSSIBILITY OF REMOTE TEACHING IN THE REALITY OF ARTISANAL FISHERMEN IN THE PARAENSE AMAZON

In the light of the individual/genericity contradiction, the text problematizes the adoption of remote teaching as on alternative to schooling of less favored social sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent suspension of classroom activities. The empirical case of analysis is the reality of a population of artisonal fishermen from the poroense Amazon. Methodologically, literature review, bibliographic research and semi-structured interviews were used. The analyzes were made through the content analysis bias from the perspective of Historical Dialectical Materialism, seeking to ascend from the apparent concrete to the concrete-thought. It was concluded that the difficulty/ impassibility of access by artisanal fishermen to the technological resources required for remote teaching makes the adoption of this type of teaching-learning ineffective in the reality of this population and social sectors in a similar situation.

Experiences of citizenship in precarization: An ethnography from northern Colombia in the time of COVID-19.

This article is the result of qualitative research on current ways of being a citizen in northern Colombia during the era of COVID-19. In a region characterized by impoverished communities, the study area becomes a privileged place in which to understand how communities in so-called "developing countries" face a pandemic with their local resources. To place the reader, we discuss the history of this place, the town of Taganga, located in the city of Santa Marta in northern Colombia. Likewise, its culture and social structure are described, as well as the current situation related to access to electricity, water, garbage collection, and food. The article shows how, through local means, today's communities seek to establish settlements with essential services, such as water and electricity, without any relationship with the state.

Preliminary assessment of the impact of Covid-19 Pandemic in the small-scale and recreational fisheries of the Canary Islands.

Covid-19 pandemic has affected worldwide in many different ways. Fisheries around the world are not an exception due to the long-term isolation and the non-activities period suffered. To do an evaluation of its impact on the fishing sectors in the Canary Islands, 87 online and phone questionnaires were carried out between July and September 2020, conducting the interviews to artisanal fishermen, fishmongers, recreational charter boats fishermen and tackle shops along the archipelago. Both, the artisanal and recreational fishing sectors have been affected by this pandemic, but in an unequal manner. The drop of the demand of fresh fishing products in the islands markets due to the closure of hotels, restaurants and other services, and the highly significant decreasing in the number of tourists, provoked an estimated income loss for the artisanal fishermen about the 40% on average, but the majority of vessels continued their activities during the pandemic, with very limited effects on direct employment. However, the fishmonger's activity apparently was not affected and increased their monthly income in relation to the previous year. Likewise, the infeasibility of fishing charter companies due to the great reduction in the number of tourists contrasted with the significant increase in the number of recreational fishing licenses immediately after the confinement ended. Even though that fishing tackle shops increased sales by over 60% in relation to the similar period of the year before, only 4.4% of these shops declared not to have had economic losses.

From Bad to Worse: The Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Fisheries Workers.

This commentary provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on the commercial fishing industry. The information highlighted in the article was gathered from fishermen, fishing industry experts, health and safety advisors, and advocates. From these first-hand accounts, we provide the immediate and expansive impacts of COVID-19 on fishermen's health and wellbeing. In particular, we discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 market disruptions, as well as the very real, logistical challenges of protecting workers on fishing vessels. We also provide examples of how these combined issues have led to increased occupational risk in one of the nation's most deadly industries. Lastly, we identify a number of recommendations for providing much-needed support for commercial fishermen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.