Control of travel-related COVID-19 in Bhutan.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Tamang ST
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8499883 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Control of travel-related COVID-19 in Bhutan.
Tamang Saran Tenzin ST Lhendup Karma K Dorji Thinley T
Journal of travel medicine 20211001 7
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Project description:ObjectivesTo comprehensively map the existing evidence assessing the impact of travel-related control measures for containment of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic.DesignRapid evidence map.Data sourcesMEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science, and COVID-19 specific databases offered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO.Eligibility criteriaWe included studies in human populations susceptible to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, SARS-CoV-1/severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus/Middle East respiratory syndrome or influenza. Interventions of interest were travel-related control measures affecting travel across national or subnational borders. Outcomes of interest included infectious disease, screening, other health, economic and social outcomes. We considered all empirical studies that quantitatively evaluate impact available in Armenian, English, French, German, Italian and Russian based on the team's language capacities.Data extraction and synthesisWe extracted data from included studies in a standardised manner and mapped them to a priori and (one) post hoc defined categories.ResultsWe included 122 studies assessing travel-related control measures. These studies were undertaken across the globe, most in the Western Pacific region (n=71). A large proportion of studies focused on COVID-19 (n=59), but a number of studies also examined SARS, MERS and influenza. We identified studies on border closures (n=3), entry/exit screening (n=31), travel-related quarantine (n=6), travel bans (n=8) and travel restrictions (n=25). Many addressed a bundle of travel-related control measures (n=49). Most studies assessed infectious disease (n=98) and/or screening-related (n=25) outcomes; we found only limited evidence on economic and social outcomes. Studies applied numerous methods, both inferential and descriptive in nature, ranging from simple observational methods to complex modelling techniques.ConclusionsWe identified a heterogeneous and complex evidence base on travel-related control measures. While this map is not sufficient to assess the effectiveness of different measures, it outlines aspects regarding interventions and outcomes, as well as study methodology and reporting that could inform future research and evidence synthesis.
| S-EPMC8042592 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We consider models for the importation of a new variant COVID-19 strain in a location already seeing propagation of a resident variant. By distinguishing contaminations generated by imported cases from those originating in the community, we are able to evaluate the contribution of importations to the dynamics of the disease in a community. We find that after an initial seeding, the role of importations becomes marginal compared to that of community-based propagation. We also evaluate the role of two travel control measures, quarantine and travel interruptions. We conclude that quarantine is an efficacious way of lowering importation rates, while travel interruptions have the potential to delay the consequences of importations but need to be applied within a very tight time window following the initial emergence of the variant.
| S-EPMC8272889 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCOVID-19 has proven to be challenging to manage for many reasons, including its high infection rate. One of the potential ways to limit its spread is by limiting international travel. The objective of this systematic review was to identify, critically appraise and summarise evidence on international air travel-related control measures for COVID-19.MethodsThis review is based on the Cochrane review: International travel-related control measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and followed the same methods. In brief, we searched for clinical and modelling studies in general health and COVID-19-specific bibliographic databases. The primary outcome categories were (i) cases avoided, (ii) a shift in epidemic development and, (iii) cases detected.ResultsFrom 6,202 citations identified by the search strategy, we included 22 new studies (modelling = 9, observational = 13) in addition to the 62 studies identified in the Cochrane review. Studies suggest that quarantine or microbial detection or a combination may avoid further cases. Similarly, these interventions may produce a positive shift in epidemic development and case detection may improve. Most studies were evaluated as having a moderate to critical risk of bias. The studies did not change the main conclusions of the Cochrane review nor the quality of the evidence (very low certainty); however, they added to the evidence base for most outcomes.ConclusionsWeak evidence supports the use of international air travel-related control measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 via air travel. More real-world studies are required to support these conclusions.
| S-EPMC9691278 | biostudies-literature
Project description:High connectivity between nations facilitates the spread of infectious diseases. We introduce an improved measure to estimate the risk of COVID-19 importation. The measure was applied to identify the effectiveness of travel-related control measures. We estimated the risk of importation, using the product of air-travel volume and COVID-19 prevalence in the area-of-origin. Travel volumes were acquired through real-time mobile data, and prevalence was calculated considering the time-varying strength of the COVID-19 testing policy. With the measure, the number of expected-imported cases was calculated, and compared with the reported-imported COVID-19 cases before and after post-entry quarantine for all entrants. The expected and reported-imported cases were well fitted (R2 = 0.8). A maximum of 35 undetected-imported cases was estimated to have entered Seoul, before the first imported COVID-19 case was confirmed. With the travel-related control measures, at most, 48 (73%) imported cases could be isolated from the local community. Our measure predicted trends in imported COVID-19 cases well. The method used to develop the measure can be applied to future emerging infectious diseases. Our results provide a 'real-world' evidence that travel-related control measures are effective at curbing further COVID-19 transmission.
| S-EPMC9178220 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionAll Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive cases in Samtse District, Bhutan were isolated in the isolation facilities managed by the government hospitals. This study aimed to identify the socio-demographic risk factors for developing COVID-19 symptoms amongst these patients.Methods and materialsA secondary data of the COVID-19 positive cases from isolation facilities of Samtse District from 5 May to 7 September 2021 was used for this study. Survival analysis was carried out to estimate the cumulative probability of symptom onset time by each risk factor. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the probabilities for the onset of symptoms at different time points and a log-rank test was employed to assess the differences between covariates.ResultsA total of 449 patients were included, of which 55.2% were males and 73.3% (328) were aged >18 years. The mean age was 42 years with a range of 3 months to 83 years. Forty-seven percent (213) reported at least one symptom. Common symptoms were fever (32.3%, 145), headache (31.6%, 142), and cough (30.1%, 135), respectively. Males were 64% less likely to be symptomatic than females [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.183-0.917]. Farmers (aHR = 3.17, 95% CI 1.119-8.953), and drivers and loaders (aHR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.029-9.834) were 3 times more likely to be symptomatic compared to housewives. Residents of Samtse sub-districts were 5 times more likely to be symptomatic than those living in other sub-districts (aHR = 5.16, 95% CI 2.362-11.254).ConclusionThe risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms was being fe male, farmers, drivers and loaders, and residents of the Samtse sub-district. These high-risk groups should be provided additional care when in isolation facilities.
| S-EPMC9108283 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We aimed to estimate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks associated with air travel to a COVID-19-free country [New Zealand (NZ)]. A stochastic version of the SEIR model CovidSIM v1.1, designed specifically for COVID-19 was utilised. We first considered historical data for Australia before it eliminated COVID-19 (equivalent to an outbreak generating 74 new cases/day) and one flight per day to NZ with no interventions in place. This gave a median time to an outbreak of 0.2 years (95% range of simulation results: 3 days to 1.1 years) or a mean of 110 flights per outbreak. However, the combined use of a pre-flight PCR test of saliva, three subsequent PCR tests (on days 1, 3 and 12 in NZ), and various other interventions (mask use and contact tracing) reduced this risk to one outbreak after a median of 1.5 years (20 days to 8.1 years). A pre-flight test plus 14 days quarantine was an even more effective strategy (4.9 years; 2,594 flights). For a much lower prevalence (representing only two new community cases per week in the whole of Australia), the annual risk of an outbreak with no interventions was 1.2% and had a median time to an outbreak of 56 years. In contrast the risks associated with travellers from Japan and the United States was very much higher and would need quarantine or other restrictions. Collectively, these results suggest that multi-layered interventions can markedly reduce the risk of importing the pandemic virus via air travel into a COVID-19-free nation. For some low-risk source countries, there is the potential to replace 14-day quarantine with alternative interventions. However, all approaches require public and policy deliberation about acceptable risks, and continuous careful management and evaluation.
| S-EPMC8144219 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 international travel restrictions has to date, not been fully explored, and with the ongoing threat that new variants could potentially restrict movement further, it is important to consider the impacts that travel restrictions have on community members. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological and financial impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions on those separated from their partners or immediate families, as well as temporary visa holders who were unable to migrate.MethodsBetween 4 November 2021 to 1 December 2021, we executed a cross-sectional online survey targeting three specific groups; (1) those stranded from their partners; (2) those stranded from immediate families; and (3) temporary visa holders unable to migrate or cross international borders. We collected data on respondents' demographic profile; the nature of COVID-19-related travel impacts; depression, anxiety, and stress levels (using the validated DASS-21); and finally, data on respondents financial, employment and accommodation situation.Results1363 respondents located globally completed the survey. 71.2% reported financial stress, 76.8% ([Formula: see text], SD = 5.94) reported moderate-to-extremely severe depression, 51.6% ([Formula: see text], SD = 5.49) moderate-to-extremely severe anxiety, and 62.6% ([Formula: see text], SD = 5.55) moderate-to-extremely severe stress levels. Statistically significant factors associated with moderate-to-extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress included being female, chronic illness, and experiencing financial stress. Employment during COVID-19 -specifically essential services workers or unemployed-was associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress, with only essential workers being a predictor of higher stress severity. Factors that provided psychological protection included being older and having children.ConclusionThis study is one of the first to explore the impact COVID-19-related international travel restrictions have had on the financial status and psychological health of affected individuals. It highlights the significant human cost associated with the restrictions and identifies psychologically vulnerable populations. These results will help the design of targeted health and social policy responses.
| S-EPMC9355190 | biostudies-literature
Project description:During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented international travel restrictions that aimed to contain viral spread while still allowing necessary cross-border travel for social and economic reasons. The relative effectiveness of these approaches for controlling the pandemic has gone largely unstudied. Here we developed a flexible network meta-population model to compare the effectiveness of international travel policies, with a focus on evaluating the benefit of policy coordination. Because country-level epidemiological parameters are unknown, they need to be estimated from data; we accomplished this using approximate Bayesian computation, given the nature of our complex stochastic disease transmission model. Based on simulation and theoretical insights we find that, under our proposed policy, international airline travel may resume up to 58% of the pre-pandemic level with pandemic control comparable to that of a complete shutdown of all airline travel. Our results demonstrate that global coordination is necessary to allow for maximum travel with minimum effect on viral spread.
| S-EPMC8077591 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8247263 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the re-emergence of staycations to the fore, as many people were forced to spend their vacations at or close to home due to travel restrictions. This phenomenon first went mainstream during the 2008 financial crisis, and has now been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the growth and practice of staycations during the first two years of the pandemic by analyzing social media and internet search data using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling and Google Trends analytics. Key findings suggest that, while spatially close to home, people tried to achieve a psychological distance away from home. This was demonstrated by a strong global search interest in spending staycations at hotels close to home. The optimal LDA topic model produced 38 topics which were classified under four aggregate dimensions of antecedents, attributes, activities, and consequences of staycations. The findings provide useful insights to managers and policymakers on boosting revenue through this practice, and the role of staycations in promoting leisure activities close to home and sustainable tourism.
| S-EPMC9527198 | biostudies-literature