Covid-19 Impacts and Building New Resilience: A Comparative Analysis between Japan and Philippines

In light of the world leaders' response to the critical time of pandemic, this paper offers first-hand evidence of the perceived impacts of pandemic and perceived resiliency in the context of health-quarantined communities in two Asian countries. The study utilized Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to determine perceived impacts of Covid 19 and to analyze comparatively the social resilience of two countries with opposing global economic statuses, the Philippines and Japan. Due to the global condition caused by the pandemic, the online survey was administered in both countries. Resiliency survey questions were tailored for suitability within the context of the coronavirus pandemic and for face validity. The instruments used in this study consist of a Japanese translation for ease of understanding of the community respondents in Japan. Data analysis using PLS-SEM revealed impacts of Covid-19 pandemic significantly influence the social resilience of communities in both countries. Impacts of Covid-19 outbreak similarly showed significant influence on building new normal resilience of communities in two countries. Resilience was anchored on reactive and proactive capacities of communities. Implications of this study contribute to the sustainable futures of the communities focusing on intervention models to mitigate the long-term impacts of the pandemic. Further research should be done on the development of policies and programs for government implementation to manage and mitigate social complexities brought about by the pandemic or other adversities. Linking through mediation analysis of resilience factors for sustainable development can be explored for future research © 2023, Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities.All Rights Reserved.

COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Trends, Dynamics and Implications in the Agricultural, Environmental and Water Sectors

This contributed volume, based on papers presented at a conference held in Zimbabwe in mid-2021, interrogates solutions to COVID-19-related problems and issues across agricultural, environmental and water sectors in Zimbabwe and assesses their scientific, economic and practical validity. Across 19 chapters, this volume unpacks the science, economics and politics of the pandemic with a focus on understanding its secondary and tertiary impact on Zimbabwe's population. The volume is also dedicated to understanding the practical and policy-oriented approaches in tackling the pandemic and confronting the "new normal” of COVID-19. It brings together researchers, development practitioners and policy makers from various disciplines in an endeavour to understand COVID-19 trends and analyse the scientific options for mitigation, containment, innovation and ultimately pre-empt the possible emergence and impacts of other pandemics in the future. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Crisis Responses and the Changing World: Perspectives in Humanities and Social Sciences

This book comprehensively analyzes COVID-19 and its impact as well as the response from the perspectives of humanities and social sciences. This book covers topics ranging from geopolitical relations to regional integration, public health governance and even the evolution of professional practices in the time of COVID-19. It constitutes a precious and timely interdisciplinary reference for anyone aspiring not only to grasp the origins and dynamics of the present challenge, but also to identify future opportunities for further growth and holistic progress for humanity. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.

A Review of Heart Failure in Patients with COVID-19.

The interplay of COVID-19 and heart failure is complex and involves direct and indirect effects. Patients with existing heart failure develop more severe COVID-19 symptoms and have worse clinical outcomes. Pandemic-related policies and protocols have negatively affected care for cardiovascular conditions and established hospital protocols, which is particularly important for patients with heart failure.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia: A Critical Survey

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was discovered in Malaysia on January 25, 2020, it has impacted many aspects of Malaysian life, including health, lifestyle, and economic changes. As a result, this study was carried out to conduct a more thorough investigation into the problems and effects experienced by the public in Malaysia as a result of the disease outbreak. The study was conducted for six months, from January 2020 until June 2020, and 100 people were chosen randomly as the study sample. The method employed online questionnaires administered via the Google Forms platform. Based on the study's results, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts the community's physical and mental health, especially among students and employees. COVID-19 also affects peoples' lifestyles, and many have difficulties adapting to the new norms, as these changes involve how people socialize, learn, and work. The study also found that COVID-19 also negatively impacts the economy of individuals, communities, and countries, based on the current spending of Malaysian society and the affected industrial and worker conditions.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services for HIV Prevention, Sub-Saharan Africa, 2020.

Beginning in March 2020, to reduce COVID-19 transmission, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supporting voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services was delayed in 15 sub-Saharan African countries. We reviewed performance indicators to compare the number of VMMCs performed in 2020 with those performed in previous years. In all countries, the annual number of VMMCs performed decreased 32.5% (from 3,898,960 in 2019 to 2,631,951 in 2020). That reduction is largely attributed to national and local COVID-19 mitigation measures instituted by ministries of health. Overall, 66.7% of the VMMC global annual target was met in 2020, compared with 102.0% in 2019. Countries were not uniformly affected; South Africa achieved only 30.7% of its annual target in 2020, but Rwanda achieved 123.0%. Continued disruption to the VMMC program may lead to reduced circumcision coverage and potentially increased HIV-susceptible populations. Strategies for modifying VMMC services provide lessons for adapting healthcare systems during a global pandemic.

A Revision of the Impacts of Covid 19

The Covid-19 and quarantine conditions caused great changes in people's lives. In addition, it deeply affected human life in different aspects. Many negative effects of Covid 19 emerged over time and caused many damages. First of all, this process, which had a deep impact on people's psychology, caused people to suffer from many psychological, mental and physiological diseases. It also left very deep economic effects and brought all sectors to a standstill in many countries of the world. Its economic effects deeply shook states as well as individuals. Although not as effective as the others, it left some political effects. In addition, it had some adverse effects on children and turned some negative behaviors into addiction. Thus, computer and internet addiction emerged in some children. The only observed positive effect of the process was on the environment. Due to the slowdown in industrial activities, some positive improvements were seen in nature again.

Measuring the impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had major direct impacts on health, including hundreds of millions of cases and nearly five million deaths as of October 2021. Advances in data availability, informatics, visualization, and modeling have made it relatively simple to track the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across the course of the pandemic. More difficult to measure are the many indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it. Canceled medical appointments, missed routine screenings, disruptions to routine immunization schedules, and interruptions to critical preventative health services like childhood lead screening have all occurred as a result of the pandemic and the global public health and healthcare response to it. In addition to the impacts on access to healthcare and public health essential services, the COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on employment, childcare, food security, and mental health that have direct and indirect effects on health now and for many years into the future.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Mental Health, and Play for Young Children during and after Pandemic

COVID-19 might not have severely threatened young children's physical health;however, it has had profound impacts on their sound development and mental health that could have long-lasting effects on their lives. It is not easy to foresee when this crisis will be over;yet young children’s development and learning cannot be stopped. Therefore, efforts to support young children, considering the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, must be made immediately. The purposes of this study are to review the existing literature on the effects of the pandemic on young children’s healthy development, and to revisit the value of young children’s play in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. This article begins with general directions for supporting young children during and after the crisis, followed by three sections including (1) impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on young children;(2) mental health and development of young children;and (3) play for young children during and after pandemic. Conclusions and suggestions for future research are provided. © 2022 by THE PACIFIC

Anxiety, Anger and Depression Amongst Low-Income Earners in Southwestern Uganda During the COVID-19 Total Lockdown.

Background: Low-income earners are particularly vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst earners whose income falls below the poverty threshold. Two hundred and fifty-three (n = 253) male and female low-income earners between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age were recruited to the study. Modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tools as appropriate were used to assess anxiety, anger, and depression respectively among our respondents. Results: Severe anxiety (68.8%) followed by moderate depression (60.5%) and moderate anger (56.9%) were the most common mental health challenges experienced by low-income earners in Bushenyi district. Awareness of mental healthcare increased with the age of respondents in both males and females. A linear relationship was observed with age and depression (r = 0.154, P = 0.014) while positive correlations were observed between anxiety and anger (r = 0.254, P < 0.001); anxiety and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015) and anger and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015). Conclusion: The study shows the importance of mental health awareness in low resource settings during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Females were identified as persons at risk to mental depression, while anger was highest amongst young males.

A cross-sectional study of COVID-19 impacts in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in greater Western Sydney, Australia.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the experiences of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Greater Western Sydney, Australia, in selected livelihood items during COVID-19 and the perceived impacts of the pandemic on their lives. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data between 25 August and 30 September 2020 among CALD communities in Greater Western Sydney. Information was collected on respondents' experiences in selected livelihood items, including housing, finances, safety, accessing social services and activities, finding work, food, clothing, and relationships during COVID-19 and the pandemic's perceived impact on their lives. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-eight participants were included in the study, 45.5% male and 54.5% female. Many respondents reported their experience in the selected livelihood items as "worse" during COVID-19 at the time of the study. The feeling of safety was most disrupted, with 56% of respondents rating their experience as "worse". This experience was followed by accessing social support group activities, with 50% of respondents stating their experience of using this service had worsened. The experience of accessing social services and financial situation was rated as "worse" by 41% of respondents. Experience in finding work, housing, and attending schools were all rated as "worse". The median perceived impact of COVID-19 among respondents who rated their experience in the selected livelihood items as "worse" were statistically higher than those who rated their experience as the "same". Respondents' characteristics also predicted the perceived impact of COVID-19. Unemployed respondents were 3.53 (95% CI: 1.16-10.73, p = 0.026) times more likely to perceive the impact of COVID-19 on their lives as "high" compared to employed respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The finding demonstrates that the "high" number of respondents had the same situation as before COVID-19 and highlights the level of resilience exhibited by CALD communities in the Australian context. It also suggests that services in Australia were good during the pandemic. However, enhanced policy and initiatives designed to meet the CALD population's needs are required, particularly in the areas most reported to have been disrupted by changes associated with COVID-19.

Afforestation, reforestation and new challenges from COVID-19: Thirty-three recommendations to support civil society organizations (CSOs).

Afforestation/reforestation (A/R) programs spearheaded by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a significant role in reaching global climate policy targets and helping low-income nations meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these organizations face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, these challenges affect their ability to address issues associated with deforestation and forest degradation in a timely manner. We discuss the influence COVID-19 can have on previous, present and future A/R initiatives, in particular, the ones led by International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs). We provide thirty-three recommendations for exploring underlying deforestation patterns and optimizing forest policy reforms to support forest cover expansion during the pandemic. The recommendations are classified into four groups - i) curbing deforestation and improving A/R, ii) protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, iii) enhancing socio-economic conditions, and iv) amending policy and law enforcement practices.

Will Covid-19 put the public back in public transport? A UK perspective.

Covid-19 has had a major impact on public transport systems across the world. Public financial support has been needed to maintain services in the face of drastically reduced ridership and adjustment to the need for social distancing. This paper explores the challenge this poses to current methods of delivery of public transport services and argues that a simple return to the status quo is unlikely as public transport adjusts to a new normal of more home working and fear of crowded spaces. In turn this impacts most on the transport disadvantaged. The paper argues that this may spell the end of the prevailing model of a deregulated competitive public transport that has prevailed in the United Kingdom and require a major rethinking of the way to provide an efficient and effective transport system. Such a rethink will depend on understanding the interplay of private and social norms and building public trust.