Effectiveness of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines during an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.2 in China: A case-control study.

Real-world evidence on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines marketed in China against the Omicron BA.2.2 variant remains scarce. A case-control study was conducted to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of COVID-19 vaccines marketed in China (inactivated vaccines, an Ad5-nCoV vaccine, and a recombinant protein vaccine). There were 414 cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 828 close contacts whose test results were consecutively negative as controls during the outbreak of the Omicron variant in Lu'an City, Anhui Province, China, in April 2022. The overall adjusted VE against Omicron BA.2.2 variant infection in the vaccinated group with any COVID-19 vaccine was 35.0% (95% CI: -9.1-61.3%), whereas the adjusted VE for booster vaccination was 51.6% (95% CI: 15.2-72.4%). Subgroup analysis showed that the overall adjusted VE of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine (65.8%, 95% CI: 12.8-86.6%) during the outbreak while any dose of inactivated vaccines and recombinant protein vaccine offered no protection. The adjusted VE of three-dose inactivated vaccines was 48.0% (95% CI: 8.0-70.6%), and the two-dose Ad5-nCoV vaccine was 62.9% (95% CI: 1.8-86%). There is no protection from a three-dose recombinant protein vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines offered 46.8% (95% CI: 9.5-68.7%) protection from infection within six months. There were statistically significant differences between the VEs of heterologous booster (VE = 76.4%, 95% CI: 14.3-93.5%) and homologous booster vaccination (VE = 51.8%, 95% CI: 9.6-74.3%) (P = .036). Booster vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines offered more protection than full vaccination. A booster vaccination campaign for a booster dose after three doses of a recombinant protein vaccine must be urgently conducted.

The impact of self-compassionate mindfulness on online learning behavioral engagement of international students during COVID-19: Positive emotion and self-improvement motivation as mediators

Focusing on the domain of self-compassion, this study explored the promotion mechanism of online learning behavioral engagement (OLBE) of international students in China under COVID-19. Positive emotion and self-improvement motivation were selected as mediators. Participants were 606 international students from 8 countries who were studying online in their own countries due to the international travel restriction of COVID-19. Results showed positive emotion and self-improvement motivation completely mediated self-compassionate mindfulness (SCM) and OLBE of international students. Positive emotion and self-improvement partially mediated SCM and OLBE of international students respectively. Students with higher SCM engage with online learning more in that they possess more positive emotion and self-improvement motivation. This study suggested that SCM may facilitate OLBE via positive emotion and effective self-improvement motivation.

Management of an emergency sample collection team under the setting of whole-community severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleic acid testing.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a nucleic acid test is frequently conducted to identify positive cases. Compared with a hospital-based strategy, whole-community nucleic acid testing displays a unique advantage in rapid screening of a massive population. Yet a management plan to ensure ample and contamination-free sample collection is lacking.The objective of the current study was to establish an efficient operational mode of whole-community nucleic acid testing by management of a sample collection team and to provide a reference for joint prevention work to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. METHODS: The efficient operation of nucleic acid testing within the community was implemented by urgent setting up of sample collection teams, efficient allocation of medical supplies, optimization of management procedures and coordination among multiple working departments. RESULTS: A total of 21 585 nucleic acid samples were collected within 3 d, while no one was missed or experienced a cross infection. No falls, heatstroke, disputes or other adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Under the emergency setting of nucleic acid testing of a large population, a management system with orderly organization, clear division of responsibilities and standardized operational procedures should be formulated.

Continued nucleic acid tests for SARS-CoV-2 following discharge of patients with COVID-19 in Lu'an, China.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that discharged Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have retested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during a follow-up RT-PCR test. We sought to assess the results of continued nucleic acid testing for SARS-CoV-2 patients in COVID-19 patients after they were discharged in Lu'an, China. METHODS: We conducted RT-PCR tests on sputum, throat swabs, fecal or anal swabs, and urine samples collected from 67 COVID-19 patients following discharge. Samples were collected on the 7th and 14th days following discharge. Patients testing positive on the 7th or 14th day were retested after 24 hours until they tested negative twice. RESULTS: Seventeen (17/67, 25.4%) discharged COVID-19 patients had a positive RT-PCR retest for SARS-CoV-2. Among them, 14 (82.4%) were sputum positive, five (29.4%) were throat swab positive, seven (41.2%) were fecal or anal swab positive, one (5.9%) was urine sample positive, five (29.4%) were both sputum and throat swab positive, four (23.5%) were both sputum and fecal test positive, and one (5.9%) was positive of all four specimens. The shortest period of time between discharge and the last positive test was 7 days, the longest was 48 days, and the median was 16 days. The proportion of positive fecal or anal swab tests increased from the third week. The median Cq cut-off values after onset were 26.7 after the first week, 37.7 the second to sixth week, and 40 after the sixth week. There were no significant differences between the RT-PCR retest positive group and the unrecovered positive group. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high proportion of patients who retested positive for COVID-19. Discharge criteria have remained fairly consistent so we encourage regions affected by COVID-19 to appropriately amend their current criteria.

Characteristics and Outcome of 69 Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Lu'an City, China Between January and February 2020.

BACKGROUND This population study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics and outcome of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in Lu'an City, China between January 22, 2020 and February 18, 2020 identified from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP). MATERIAL AND METHODS Laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the CISDCP were included in this study. The distribution of cases, exposure history, clustered epidemic situation, and clinical manifestations, disease severity, and key time nodes were analyzed. Once the throat swab or sputum sample was positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing as confirmed cases. RESULTS There were 69 cases of COVID-19 that were confirmed between January 22 and February 18, 2020 reported. The onset time was concentrated on January 25, 2020 solstice to February 6, 2020 (71.0%), and the reporting dates were concentrated on January 31, 2020 and February 9, 2020 (69.6%). Nineteen cases (27.5%) had a history of sojourn in Hubei Province, and none of the cases reported after February 6, 2020 had a history of exposure in Hubei Province. There were 14 cluster outbreaks, and human-to-human transmission was the most common (78.6%). The most common symptoms were fever (56.5%), cough (37.7%), and self-conscious discomfort (14.5%). Besides, there were 9 severe cases (13.0%). CONCLUSIONS The epidemic prevention and control in Lu'an City has achieved phased results. Yet, new strict control measures need to be implemented to prevent a further outbreak, especially for those who will return to Lu'an City.

The descriptive epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 during the epidemic period in Lu'an, China: achieving limited community transmission using proactive response strategies.

Hubei province in China has had the most confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and has reported sustained transmission of the disease. Although Lu'an city is adjacent to Hubei province, its community transmission was blocked at the early stage, and the impact of the epidemic was limited. Therefore, we summarised the overall characteristics of the entire epidemic course in Lu'an to help cities with a few imported cases better contain the epidemic. A total of 69 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11 asymptomatic carriers were identified in Lu'an during the epidemic from 12 January to 21 February 2020. Fifty-two (65.0%) cases were male, and the median age was 40 years. On admission, 56.5% of cases had a fever as the initial symptom, and pneumonia was present in 89.9% of cases. The mean serial interval and the mean duration of hospitalisation were 6.5 days (95% CI: 4.8-8.2) and 18.2 days (95% CI: 16.8-19.5), respectively. A total of 16 clusters involving 60 cases (17 first-generation cases and 43 secondary cases) were reported during the epidemic. We observed that only 18.9% (7/37) index cases resulted in community transmission during the epidemic in Lu'an, indicating that the scale of the epidemic was limited to a low level in Lu'an city. An asymptomatic carrier caused the largest cluster, involving 13 cases. Spread of COVID-19 by asymptomatic carriers represents an enormous challenge for countries responding to the pandemic.