Using geospatial mapping to predict and compare gambling harm hotspots in urban, rural and coastal areas of a large county in England.

BACKGROUND: Disordered gambling is a public health problem with interconnections with health and social inequality, and adverse impacts on physical and mental health. Mapping technologies have been used to explore gambling in the UK, though most were based in urban locations. METHODS: We used routine data sources and geospatial mapping software to predict where gambling related harm would be most prevalent within a large English county, host to urban, rural and coastal communities. RESULTS: Licensed gambling premises were most concentrated in areas of deprivation, and in urban and coastal areas. The aggregate prevalence of disordered gambling associated characteristics was also greatest in these areas. CONCLUSIONS: This mapping study links the number of gambling premises, deprivation, and risk factors for disordered gambling, and highlights that coastal areas see particularly high density of gambling premises. Findings can be applied to target resources to where they are most needed.

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak associated with five air force bases and a nightclub following the lifting of COVID-19-related social restrictions, United Kingdom, July-to-September 2021.

We describe the management of two linked severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks, predominantly amongst 18-35-year-olds, in a UK county in July-to-September 2021, following the lifting of national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated social restrictions. One was associated with a nightclub and one with five air force bases. On week beginning 2nd August 2021, air force contact tracing teams detected 68 cases across five bases within one county; 21 (30.9%) were associated with a night-time economy venue, 13 (19.1%) with night-time economy venues in the county's main town and at least one case per base (n = 6, 8.8%) with a particular nightclub in this town, which itself had been associated with 302 cases in the previous week (coinciding with its reopening following a national lockdown). In response, Public Health England/United Kingdom Health Security Agency, air force and local authority teams collaboratively implemented communication strategies and enhanced access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination. Key challenges included attempting to encourage behaviours that reduce likelihood of transmission to a population who may have considered themselves at low risk from severe COVID-19. This report may inform future preparation for, and management of, easing of potential future pandemic-related social restrictions, and how an outbreak in this context may be addressed.