The Association between Fear of COVID-19,Obsession with COVID-19,and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Korean Emergency Rescue Firefighters:A Cross-Sectional Study

During the rapid spread of COVID-19,first responders are at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 due to their role in providing first aid and responding to an unspecified number of people.This uncertainty can have adverse mental health effects,such as increased anxiety and fear.This study aimed to investigate the degree of association between fear of COVID-19,obsession with COVID-19,and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)in emergency rescue firefighters.The participants were 150 emergency rescue firefighters working in Region S,Korea.They filled out self-report questionnaires:The data obtained through the Fear of COVID-19 Scale,Obsession with COVID-19 Scale,and Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version were subjected to nonparametric statistical analysis using SPSS WIN 25.0.The study found a significant correlation between emergency rescue firefighters’fear of COVID-19,obsession with COVID-19,and PTSD.Fear and obsession with COVID-19 were higher among first responder firefighters who were directly involved in COVID-19-related tasks.Furthermore,a one-point increase in obsession was associated with a 2.837-point increase in PTSD.Based on the results,we found that there is a need for effective control of obsessions and fears among first responder firefighters during COVID-19,and we suggest that there is a need for mental health care for first responder firefighters during the pandemic through the development and support of programs to prevent and mitigate obsessions.

Work experience of special workers returning to work after the public health emergency:taking ICU nurses who have been infected with COVID-19 as example

Objective:The occurrence of some public health events inevitably endangers medical personnel,and medical personnel,as a special group,have to resume work on time to treat patients.This coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)infection is a good example,and what intensive care unit(ICU)nurses experience as the primary caregivers of critically ill patients after COVID-19 infection is our focus.To explore the work experience of ICU nurses after recovery from COVID-19,and to provide a theoretical basis for the intervention to improve the physical and mental health level and work experience of special workers in public health emergencies.Methods:We conducted an explorative descriptive study using an inductive thematic analysis.Using the maximum differential sampling method,a semi-structured interview was conducted among 13 ICU nurses suffered from COVID-19 in a tertiary grade A hospital in Qingdao,Shandong Province.This study carried on the theme analysis according to the inductive content analysis method and used MAXQDA 2020 Analytics Pro(VERBI Software GmbH,Berlin,Germany)to manage and summarize the interview data.Results:After being infected by the virus,SARS-Coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2),the pathogen of COVID-19,the work experience of ICU nurses was extracted from the following 5 themes:(1)Stress and challenge caused by the change of work focus;(2)downsizing,overtime,taking up work with illness,and physical discomfort;(3)dedication and family debt;(4)unknown fear and helplessness;and(5)professional responsibility and sense of benefit.Conclusions:Under the pressure of COVID-19,ICU nurses face multiple pressures and challenges,and their emotions are complex.We suggest that nursing managers should take corresponding measures to alleviate nurses'physical and psychological pressure and improve their work experience.

Emergency robotic colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective case series study

Objective: While interest in elective robotic surgery is growing, use in emergency setting remainslimited due to challenges posed by sicker patients, advanced pathology and logistical issues. During theCOVID-19 pandemic, robotic surgery could provide the benefit of having the surgeon away from thebedside and reducing the number of directly exposed medical staff. The objective of this study was toreport patient outcomes and initial learning experience of emergency robotic colorectal surgery duringthe COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A case series study was conducted, including patients undergoing emergency robotic colorectalsurgery between February 2020 and February 2021 at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, UK.Patient data were collected from an ethics approved prospective database. Patient demographics,operative time, conversions and postoperative complications were recorded. In addition, readmissions,length of stay and short-term oncological outcomes were analyzed.Results: Ten patients with median age 64 y (range, 36-83 y) were included. Four patients had roboticcomplete mesocolic resection for obstructing cancers. Six had colorectal resections for benign disease inemergency setting. All were R0 with a mean lymph node harvest of 54 ± 13. Mean operative time was249 ± 117 min, the median length of stay was 9.4 d (range, 5-22 d). Only one patient was given atemporary diverting ileostomy. There were no grade III/V complications and no 30-day mortality.Conclusions: Provided an experienced team and peri-operative planning, emergency robotic colorectalsurgery can achieve favorable outcomes with benefits of radical lymph node dissection in oncologicalcases and avoidance of diverting stoma.

Retrospective Diagnosis of COVID-19 in an Asymptomatic Patient Undergoing Emergency Surgery

Background: With reports of higher mortality and complications occurring in patients with perioperative 2019 novel coronarvirus disease (COVID-19), most elective surgeries have been postponed. However, evidence regarding emergency surgeries in patients with COVID-19 remains scarce. We report the case of a patient with asymptomatic perioperative COVID-19, presenting with an acute abdomen requiring surgery. Case: A 25-year-old male, with a prior nasopharyngeal swab that was negative for SARS-CoV-2, presented with classical signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis. Clinical examination and investigations were not suggestive of COVID-19 infection. He underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy with infection control precautions. Post-operatively, he was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 but remained asymptomatic and had an uneventful recovery. Conclusion: In asymptomatic individuals with higher risks, negative test results should be viewed cautiously. The benefits of urgent surgical interventions must be weighed against the risks of complications due to perioperative COVID-19 in these patients.

Nursing emergency management practice of COVID-19 in a traditional Chinese medicine hospital

Nursing work is an integral part of hospital work.Under the challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic,it is particularly important to establish a timely and efficient nursing management system.The nursing department of our hospital used the theory and method of feedforward control to formulate the emergency plan for epidemic prevention and control and to conduct drills.The plan includes the establishment of the emergency management system for epidemic nursing and key prevention and control positions,rational allocation of human resources,and strengthening personnel training,so as to ensure the efficient operation of nursing epidemic prevention and control work and provide a reference for nursing management mode during the epidemic.

Fever Outpatient Service of General Hospital Applies “1 + 3 + 3” Emergency Management Mode to Deal with COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: To discuss the effect of “1 + 3 + 3” emergency management mode to deal with COVID-19 pandemic in fever outpatient service of general hospitals. Method: This paper analyzes and summarizes the problems encountered by fever outpatient service in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic from three aspects of “One Team”, “Three-Key” Control and “Three Mosts”. Results: The application of “1 + 3 + 3” emergency management mode can effectively boost the orderliness and efficiency of fever outpatient service in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The “1 + 3 + 3” emergency management mode provides a new management mode and idea for dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, so the fever outpatient service of general hospitals can better improve the national overall anti-pandemic situation.

Expert consensus on emergency medicine procedure optimization guided by routine prevention and control strategy for COVID-19

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)was declared a global public health emergency on 31 January 2020.Emergency medicine procedures in Emergency Department should be optimized to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic by providing subspecialty services,reducing the spread of nosocomial infections,and promoting its capabilities to handle emerging diseases.Thus,the Chinese Society of Emergency Medicine and Wuhan Society of Emergency Medicine drafted this consensus together to address concerns of medical staffs who work in Emergency Department.Based on in-depth review of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment plans,literatures,as well as management approval,this consensus proposes recommendations for improving the rationalization and efficiency of emergency processes,reducing the risk of nosocomial infections,preventing hospital viral transmission,and ensuring patient safety.

Development and psychometric assessment of the public health emergency risk perception scale:Under the outbreak of COVID-19

Objective:Correctly understanding and evaluating the level of public risk perception toward public health emergencies not only helps experts and decision-makers understand the public’s preventative health behaviors to these emergencies but also enhances their risk information communication with the public.The aim of this study was to develop a risk perception scale for public health emergencies and test its validity and reliability during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Methods:Guided by the theoretical model of risk perception,an initial scale was generated through literature review,group meetings,resident interviews,and expert consultation.A pretest and item screening were then conducted to develop a formal risk perception scale for public health emergencies.Finally,the reliability and validity of the scale were validated through a questionnaire survey of 504 Chinese adults.Results:The final scale had 9 items.The content validity index of the scale was 0.968,and the content validity index of individual items ranged from 0.83 to 1.00.Three common factors,dread risk perception,severe risk perception,and unknown risk perception,were extracted for exploratory factor analysis,and together they explained 66.26%of the variance in the score.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model had a satisfactory fit,whereχ^(2)/df=1.384,the goodness-of-fit index(GFI)=0.989,root mean square error of approximation(RMSEA)=0.028,root mean square residual(RMR)=0.018,comparative fit index(CFI)=0.995,normed fit index(NFI)=0.982,and non-normed fit index(NNFI)=0.990.The correlations between dimensions ranged from 0.306 to 0.483(P<0.01).Cronbach’s a was 0.793 for the total scale and ranged between 0.687 and 0.801 for the individual dimensions.The split-half coefficient was 0.861 for the total scale and ranged from 0.727 to 0.856 for induvial dimensions.The test-retest coefficient was 0.846 for the total scale and ranged from 0.843 to 0.868 for induvial dimensions.Conclusion:The developed scale for the risk perception of public health emergencies showed acceptable levels of reliability and validity,suggesting that it is suitable for evaluating residents’risk perception of public health emergencies.

Emergency surgical workflow and experience of suspected cases of COVID-19: A case report

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been confirmed to be a newly discovered zoonotic pathogen that causes highly contagious viral pneumonia,which the World Health Organization has named novel coronavirus pneumonia.Since its outbreak,it has become a global pandemic.During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),however,there is no mature experience or guidance on how to carry out emergency surgery for suspected cases requiring emergency surgical intervention and perioperative safety protection against virus.CASE SUMMARY A 41-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment due to"3-d abdominal pain aggravated with cessation of exhaust and defecation".After improving inspections and laboratory tests,the patient was assessed and diagnosed by the multiple discipline team as"strangulation obstruction,pulmonary infection”.His body temperature was 38.8℃,and the chest computed tomography showed pulmonary infection.Given fever and pneumonia,we could not rule out COVID-19 after consultation by fever clinicians and respiratory experts.Hence,we performed emergency surgery under three-level protection for the suspected case.After surgery,his nucleic acid test for COVID-19 was negative,meaning COVID-19 was excluded,and routine postoperative treatment and nursing was followed.The patient was treated with symptomatic support after the operation.The stomach tube and urinary tube were removed on the 1st d after the operation.The clearing diet was started on the 3rd d after the operation,and the body temperature returned to normal.Flatus and bowel movements were noted on 5th postoperative day.He was discharged after 8 d of hospitalization.The patient was followed up for 4 mo after discharge,no serious complications occurred.A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency room due to"abdominal distention,fatigue for 6 d and fever for 13 h".After the multiple discipline team evaluation,the patient was diagnosed as"intestinal obstruction,abdominal mass,peritonitis and pulmonary infection".At that time,the patient's body temperature was 39.6℃,and chest computed tomography indicated pulmonary infection.COVID-19 could not be completely excluded after consultation in the fever outpatient department and respiratory department.Therefore,the patient was treated as a suspected case,and an urgent operation was performed under three-level medical protection.Postoperative nucleic acid test was negative,COVID-19 was excluded,and routine postoperative treatment and nursing were followed.After the operation,the patient received symptomatic and supportive treatment.The gastric tube was removed on the 1st d after the operation,and the urinary tube was removed on the 3rd d after the operation.Enteral nutrition began on the 3rd d after the operation.To date,no serious complications have been found during follow-up after discharge.CONCLUSION Based on the previous treatment experience,we reviewed the procedures of two cases of suspected COVID-19 emergency surgery and extracted the perioperative protection experience.By referring to the literature and following the regulations on prevention and management of infectious diseases,we have developed a relatively mature and complete emergency surgical workflow for suspected COVID-19 cases and shared perioperative protection and management experience and measures.

Emergency surgery in COVID-19 outbreak:Has anything changed?Single center experience

BACKGROUND The current coronavirus disease 19(COVID-19)pandemic is changing the organization of health care and has had a direct impact on the management of surgical patients.At the General Surgery Department of Sant’Anna University Hospital in Ferrara,Italy,surgical activities were progressively reduced during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy.During this period,only one operating room was available for elective cancer surgeries and another for emergency surgeries.Moreover,the number of beds for surgical patients had to be reduced to provide beds and personnel for the new COVID-19 wards.AIM To compare 2 different period(from March 9 to April 92019 and from March 9 to April 92020),searching differences in terms of number and type of interventions in emergency surgery of a main University Hospital in Ferrara,a city in Emilia Romagna region,North of Italy.METHODS This retrospective study was carried out at the General Surgery Department of Sant’Anna University Hospital in Ferrara,Italy.We examined the number of emergency surgeries performed and patient outcomes during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy and subsequent total lockdown.We then drew a comparison with the number of surgeries performed and their outcomes during the same period in 2019.The study examined all adult patients who underwent emergency surgery from March 9 to April 9,2019(n=46),and those who underwent surgery during the first month of the lockdown,from March 9 to April 9,2020(n=27).Analyses were adjusted for age,gender,American Society of Anesthesiologists classification scores and types of surgery.RESULTS A total of 27 patients underwent emergency surgery at Sant’Anna University Hospital in Ferrara during the first month of the lockdown.This represents a 41.3%reduction in the number of patients who were hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery compared to the same period in 2019.The complication rate during the pandemic period was substantially higher than it was during the analogous period in 2019:15 out of 27 cases from March 9 to April 9,2020(55)vs 17 out of 46 cases from March 9 to April 9,2019(36.9).Of the 27 patients who underwent emergency surgery during the pandemic,10 were screened for COVID-19 using both thorax high resolution computerized tomography and a naso-pharyngeal swab,while 9 only underwent thorax high resolution computerized tomography.Only 1 patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and died following surgery.CONCLUSION There was a significant reduction in emergency surgeries at our center during the COVID-19 pandemic,and it is plausible that there were analogous reductions at other centers across Italy.

Lessons for Epidemic Emergency Policy: A Scoping Review of Ebola and COVID-19 Pandemics in Africa

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks in Central and West Africa 2013-2020 were the deadliest, most intense and most widely spread. On top of this, the novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has given us all a new experience. It is imperative to draw lessons to prepare for future disease outbreaks. This was a scoping review, a method that allows the assessment of emerging evidence. The objectives of the review were to 1) describe the manifestation of the epidemics;2) elaborate on the social and economic effects;3) characterize the responses;and 4) draw lessons. The findings show that Ebola risk is permanent and even increasing. The next COVID-19 epidemic is around the corner. For Africa, the situation has been made worse by poverty and fragility of institutions. Africa’s incapacity to manufacture its own vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and protective wear has been detrimental in the management of epidemics. The need for personal and home hygiene has been emphatically brought to attention. The trust in the government and other agencies is the cornerstone in the management of emergencies. The use of armed soldiers should be discouraged, for they scare people from seeking help. It is much better to use trusted local leaders instead of strangers during pandemic emergencies. Understanding the local politics without getting involved in them is essential. It is critical to understand community and individual perception of the risk of the disease in question. Often neglected is the psycho-social aspect, which should be planned early. The science of response measures ought to be explained simply and transparently, as part of risk communication. Emergency funds should be raised, and made easy and quick to disburse. Mechanisms of sharing health technologies and knowledge need to be devised under the UN. People centeredness ought to guide the conduct of trans-border movements and all transactions during pandemics.

Surviving the shift: College student satisfaction with emergency online learning during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic disrupted education systems by forcing systems to shift to emergency online leaning.Online learning satisfaction affects academic achievement.Many factors affect online learning satisfaction.However there is little study focused on personal characteristics,mental status,and coping style when college students participated in emergency online courses.regression analyses were performed to identify factors that affected online learning satisfaction.RESULTS Descriptive findings indicated that 62.9%(994/1580)of students were satisfied with online learning.Factors that had significant positive effects on online learning satisfaction were online learning at scheduled times,strong exercise intensity,good health,regular schedule,focusing on the epidemic less than one hour a day,and maintaining emotional stability.Positive coping styles were protective factors of online learning satisfaction.Risk factors for poor satisfaction were depression,neurasthenia,and negative coping style.CONCLUSION College students with different personal characteristics,mental status,and coping style exhibited different degrees of online learning satisfaction.Our findings provide reference for educators,psychologists,and school adminis-trators to conduct health education intervention of college students during emergency online learning.

Recommendations for Emergency Management of Rural Major Infectious Diseases in Non-epicenter Areas:Taking Village B during COVID-19 as an Example

This paper analyzed the key issues and challenges confronted in the governance of Village B in the non-epicenter area in rural areas of China during the COVID-19 pandemic.It clarified the weak points in the prevention and control of infectious diseases in Village B.A triple emergency management mechanism of"people-materials-environment"in rural areas should be established.It came up with constructive recommendations for scientifically and effectively responding to public health emergencies in rural non-epicenter areas,which is helpful to improve the rationality,legality and scientific effectiveness of the construction of emergency response mechanisms in rural areas.

A GIS Tool That Provides Intelligent Solutions in Emergency Departments during COVID-19

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a revolution in open geographic information system (GIS) sources and Web GIS, which have grown considerably. Patient handover and crowding are critical issues to address during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to optimise quality and resource utilisation in emergency departments (EDs). GIS technology has been used to clarify the state of COVID-19 at the country level, however, the potential of GIS technology requires ongoing investigation to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. During a pandemic, great pressure is placed on EDs, with patients waiting long periods for treatment, which can lead to great health risks. This paper aims to illustrate the rule of GIS in providing intelligent solutions in emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic. A satisfaction questionnaire was distributed to over 180 patients who were selected randomly from the nine emergency rooms of Jeddah governorate hospitals from different priority levels. Fifteen factors are determined and grouped into five domains to reflect patients’ satisfaction: emergency department environment, emergency department staff, physician care satisfaction, and wait time satisfaction. The critical values reveal in wait time were 84% of patients from the second to the fourth level of priority had waited a long or extremely. Most of the respondents (87%) wanted to know ER wait times before arrival hospital. The website was the most preferred choice for publishing wait times outside the ER for 56.7% of them. An online ArcGIS dashboard was developed to monitor hospital wait times in Jeddah City. This dashboard can be useful to the public to guide them in determining which hospital is the most suitable regarding a minimum waiting time and can also help in considering the travel distance.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Sydney Metropolitan Hospital Emergency Department

Introduction: The impact of the COVID-19 has resulted in a decrease in presentations in emergency departments (ED). This has been influenced by societal restrictions, lockdowns and access to services. This study aims to observe the patterns in ED presentations for Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital over the course of the initial COVID-19 pandemic wave. Methods: A retrospective review of all presentations to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital ED was conducted comparing monthly patient encounters from February-August for 2017-2020. Results: The total number of ED presentations was 42,225. There was a statistically significant reduction during 2020 of 9.8% between the study periods (1546 vs 1395, p = 0.014). The period of greatest reduction was seen in March-May, the strictest lockdown period for New South Wales. The admitting disciplines that showed a reduction in this time were colorectal (76.62%, p = 0.046), emergency (25.53%, p = 0.025), endocrine (31.82%, p = 0.026), orthopaedics (33.63%, p = 0.004), and vascular (35.71%, p = 0.017). The disciplines that showed an increase in presentations over the entire studied time were gynaecology (26.54%, p = 0.008), and psychiatry (17.46%, p = 0.011). Conclusion: There were significant reductions in total number of ED presentations. Notably, there were significant reductions across multiple admitting disciplines, as well as in a decrease in presentations for those in younger age groups.

Emergency department visits and hospital admissions in kidney transplant recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic:A hospitalbased study

BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated that the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has affected daily living and the healthcare system.No previous study has described the consequences of COVID-19 on emergency department(ED)visits and hospital admission among kidney transplant(KT)recipients.AIM To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ED visits and hospital admissions within 1 year in patients who underwent KT in Thailand.METHODS We conducted a retrospective study at a university hospital in Thailand.We reviewed the hospital records of KT patients who visited the ED during the outbreak of COVID-19(from January 2020 to December 2021).We used the previous 2 years as the control period in the analysis.We obtained baseline demographics and ED visit characteristics for each KT patient.The outcomes of interest were ED visits and ED visits leading to hospital admission within the 1^(st)year following a KT.The rate of ED visits and ED visits leading to hospital admissions between the two periods were compared using the stratified Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS A total of 263 patients were included in this study:112 during the COVID-19 period and 151 during the control period.There were 34 and 41 ED visits after KT in the COVID-19 and control periods,respectively.The rate of first ED visit at 1 year was not significantly different in the COVID-19 period,compared with the control period[hazard ratio(HR)=1.02,95%confidence interval(CI):0.54-1.92;P=0.96].The hospital admission rate was similar between periods(HR=0.92,95%CI:0.50-1.69;P=0.78).CONCLUSION ED visits and hospital admissions within the 1st year in KT recipients were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite these findings,we believe that communication between post-KT patients and healthcare providers is essential to highlight the importance of prompt ED visits for acute health conditions,particularly in post-KT patients.

The Institut Pasteur of Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the Emergency Management of Air Travellers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Unique Experience in Supporting the Response Strategy in Côte D’Ivoire from 2021 to 2022

Since its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan Province (China), the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease quickly spread around the world in such a way that most response plans were outdated. There was an urgent need to change and adapt response strategies as the virus globally spread. Entire firms and economies were brought to a standstill in order to reduce the virus’ capacity to spread and to limit some of the short-term impacts in order to save time and find out solutions to come back to a more or less normal way of life. Thus, most of the countries that closed their air, sea and land borders had to reopen them progressively, with travel restrictions submitted to rigid controls. In Côte d’Ivoire, as in all other countries, air travellers leaving the territory were required to provide a certificate for a negative COVID-19 test, valid for 24 to 72 hours depending on the country of destination. However, the national system implemented could not provide a result before 48 hours. The objective of this work was to develop an alternative strategy to the system for air travellers who were in a hurry and those who had a computer bug in obtaining their result. A total of 38,444 air travellers benefited from this strategy implemented by the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire during these two years.

China's model to combat the COVID-19 epidemic:a public health emergency governance approach

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)is of global health concern.It is a serious public health emergency for the entire world,threatening human life and public health security.To address the epidemic,it is necessary not only to take good prevention and treatment measures,but also to have effective and targeted public health emergency governance.That said,reports focusing on governance are scant.In this commentary,we summarize China’s model to combat the COVID-19 epidemic from a public health emergency governance approach.Stemmed from goals and values,a number of mechanisms are put forward,which include:a whole-ofgovernment response and accountability,setting up a multi-sectoral cooperation platform,swiftly scaling up epidemic emergency capacity,whole-of-society actions with engagement of social organizations,and engaging citizens in the epidemic prevention and control.As the epidemic continues to evolve,other countries might learn from China to build their own,context-specific models for better outcomes.

Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Children Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 at the COVID-19 Treatment Center at the ISIRO Hospital and WATSA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: COVID-19, an emerging infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), typically presents with mild clinical manifestations in pediatric populations. As in many other regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the COVID-19 pandemic affected children in Haut-Uélé, a province bordering South Sudan and Uganda. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 in pediatric population in this area. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period from August 1, 2021 to February 7, 2022. It included all patients aged 0 to 19 years with confirmed COVID-19 using RT-PCR and managed at the COVID-19 Treatment Centers (CTCO) in ISIRO and WATSA. Data were collected from patient records supplemented by the dataset from the service of Health Information System (SNIS) and the Epidemiological Surveillance Commission of the Provincial Health Division (DPS). Epidemiological and clinical profiles were analyzed. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software, Version 18. Results: During the 4th wave of the pandemic, 5 out of 13 health zones in Haut-Uélé province were affected, with a total of 569 recorded cases;45 of them were children aged 0 to 19 years (7.9%). Asymptomatic cases accounted for 33.3% (15 cases). The mean age was 9.88 ± 5.49 years, with the most affected age group being 10 - 14 years (44.45%). There was a predominance of males (73.3%), with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.75. Half of the patients (53.3%) were from Watsa Health Zone. A seasonal peak was observed between December and January. Comorbidities were present in 10% of infected patients, and nearly half of participants were contacts of infected individuals. The primary reasons for admission were fever (66.66%), followed by rhinorrhea (57.77%) and cough (31.11%). All patients responded favorably to treatment. Conclusion: The proportion of pediatric COVID-19 cases at the CTCO centers in Haut-Uélé was low, with adolescent males being the most affected group. More than half of the cases were asymptomatic. The most common reasons for consultation were fever, rhinorrhea, and cough.

Innovative public strategies in response to COVID-19: A review of practices from China

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unparalleled challenges to prompt and adaptive responses from nations worldwide.This review examines China's multifaceted approach to the crisis,focusing on five key areas of response:infrastructure and system design,medical care and treatment,disease prevention and control,economic and social resilience,and China's engagement in global health.This review demonstrates the effectiveness of a top-down command system at the national level,intersectoral coordination,a legal framework,and public social governance.This study also examines medical care and treatment strategies,highlighting the importance of rapid emergency response,evidence-based treatment,and well-planned vaccination rollout.Further discussion on disease prevention and control measures emphasizes the importance of adaptive measures,timely infection control,transmission interruption,population herd immunity,and technology applications.Socioeconomic impact was also assessed,detailing strategies for disease prevention,material supply,livelihood preservation,and social economy revival.Lastly,we examine China's contributions to the global health community,with a focus on knowledge-sharing,information exchange,and multilateral assistance.While it is true that each nation's response must be tailored to its own context,there are universal lessons to be drawn from China's approach.These insights are pivotal for enhancing global health security,especially as the world navigates evolving health crises.