Insufficient social distancing may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: The case of Ijuí city in Brazil

Heck, Thiago Gomes; Frantz, Rafael Z.; Frizzo, Matias Nunes; François, Carlos Henrique Ramires; Ludwig, Mirna Stela; Mesenburg, Marília Arndt; Buratti, Giovano Pereira; Franz, Ligia Beatriz Bento; Berlezi, Evelise Moraes

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0246520

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…These results reinforce the importance of local and international traveling restrictions as a preventive measure to slow the spread of the virus [47], measures still not enforced in Brazil and many other countries. As an alternative, policies such as social distancing and early detection of more pathogenic variants could have curtailed the spread of P.1 and P.2 across states and unburdened the public health system [48][49][50].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil

et al. 2021

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The sharp increase of COVID-19 cases in late 2020 has made Brazil the new epicenter of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The novel viral lineages P.1 (Variant of Concern Gamma) and P.2, respectively identified in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro, have been associated with potentially higher transmission rates and antibody neutralization escape. In this study, we performed the whole-genome sequencing of 185 samples isolated from three out of the five Brazilian regions, including Amazonas (North region), Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Bahia (Northeast region), and Rio de Janeiro (Southeast region) in order to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Brazil in the first months of 2021. Here, we showed a widespread dispersal of P.1 and P.2 across Brazilian regions and, except for Amazonas, P.2 was the predominant lineage identified in the sampled states. We estimated the origin of P.2 lineage to have happened in February, 2020 and identified that it has differentiated into new clades. Interstate transmission of P.2 was detected since March, but reached its peak in December, 2020 and January, 2021. Transmission of P.1 was also high in December and its origin was inferred to have happened in August 2020. We also confirmed the presence of lineage P.7, recently described in the southernmost region of Brazil, to have spread across the Northeastern states. P.1, P.2 and P.7 are descended from the ancient B.1.1.28 strain, which co-dominated the first phase of the pandemic in Brazil with the B.1.1.33 strain. We also identified the occurrence of a new lineage descending from B.1.1.33 that convergently carries the E484K mutation, N.9. Indeed, the recurrent report of many novel SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Brazil could be due to the absence of effective control measures resulting in high SARS-CoV2 transmission rates. Altogether, our findings provided a landscape of the critical state of SARS-CoV-2 across Brazil and confirm the need to sustain continuous sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 isolates worldwide in order to identify novel variants of interest and monitor for vaccine effectiveness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil

et al. 2021

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“…By contrast, other regions have reported higher mortality rates in their second waves, including some Central and Eastern European countries [ 22 ], India, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico [ 6 ]. A number of factors may explain these increases including the lack of testing capacities, more lax preventative measures including social distancing and lockdown not strictly or impossibly imposed [ 23 – 25 ], overwhelmed healthcare systems and inadequate supply of medications and vaccines. The emergence of new coronavirus strains also plays a major role in countries such as India, South Africa and Brazil [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 during wave 1 and wave 2 of the current pandemic

et al. 2021

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In this study of patients admitted with COVID-19, we examined differences between the two waves in patient characteristics and outcomes. Data were collected from the first COVID-19 admission to the end of study (01/03/2020–31/03/2021). Data were adjusted for age and sex and presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Among 12,471 admissions, 1452 (11.6%) patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. On admission, the mean (± SD) age of patients with other causes was 68.3 years (± 19.8) and those with COVID-19 in wave 1 was 69.4 years (± 18.0) and wave 2 was 66.2 years (± 18.4). Corresponding ages at discharge were 67.5 years (± 19.7), 63.9 years (± 18.0) and 62.4 years (± 18.0). The highest proportion of total admissions was among the oldest group (≥ 80 years) in wave 1 (35.0%). When compared with patients admitted with other causes, those admitted with COVID-19 in wave 1 and in wave 2 were more frequent in the 40–59 year band: 20.8, 24.6 and 30.0%; consisted of more male patients: 47.5, 57.6 and 58.8%; and a high LACE (Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Comorbidity and Emergency department visits) index (score ≥ 10): 39.4, 61.3 and 50.3%. Compared to wave-2 patients, those admitted in wave 1 had greater risk of death in hospital: OR = 1.58 (1.18–2.12) and within 30 days of discharge: OR = 2.91 (1.40–6.04). Survivors of COVID-19 in wave 1 stayed longer in hospital (median = 6.5 days; interquartile range = 2.9–12.0) as compared to survivors from wave 2 (4.5 days; interquartile range = 1.9–8.7). Patient characteristics differed significantly between the two waves of COVID-19 pandemic. There was an improvement in outcomes in wave 2, including shorter length of stay in hospital and reduction of mortality.

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“…Yet studies (e.g. Heck, Frantz, Frizzo, François, Ludwig, Mesenburg, Buratti, Franz, & Berlesi, 2021) have argued that insufficient social distancing may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pearls in the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of older adults’ lived experiences in Ghana

Dovie¹

2021

INTERC

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This study investigates older Ghanaian adults’ lived experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic along the trajectory of social, healthcare, childcare, self-care and humanitarian dimensions and how they navigated the effects thereof, utilizing interpretive methodology based qualitative dataset. The sample [n=10] was selected using purposive sampling technique. The paper finds that the current pandemic poses significant social challenges. The restrictions on human social movements has implications for social isolation. Social isolation can lead to loneliness and depression. Essentially, loneliness and long-term social distancing physiologically have the propensity to decrease the ability of an individual to fight infections and inflammations. In consequence, the study participants adopted a myriad of survival strategies such as social bonding with grandchildren, keeping busy, fending for and socialising children outside the traditional classroom environment and yet keeping them focused academically. These activities facilitate social interaction among older adults and children with implication for bridging the childcare gap that the closure of schools has brought about with some form of relief for working mothers. It also serves as an income generating avenue in disguise albeit meagre. In conclusion, more reflection on and the study of the social, psychological/emotional, self-care and childcare challenge dimensions of the pandemic is imperative.

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Insufficient social distancing may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: The case of Ijuí city in Brazil

Cited by 16 publications

References 34 publications

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil

Comparison of characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 during wave 1 and wave 2 of the current pandemic

Pearls in the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of older adults’ lived experiences in Ghana

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