The myth that Nigerians are immune to SARS-CoV-2 and that COVID-19 is a hoax are putting lives at risk

Aiyewumi, Oluwadamilola; Okeke, Malachy Ifeanyi

doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020375

“…The results in Bahia show that a low compliance could lead to double the number of cases and deaths, and the accompanying collapse of the healthcare system would be inevitable. This is particularly important when planning measures in less developed countries, where poverty is associated with low education levels and, consequently, difficulties in realizing the importance of actions aimed at controlling spread of the virus 41 , 42 . More vigorous levels of stringency could further decrease the transmission rates; however, the economic effects of prolonged curfews cannot be ignored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

Pataro

¹

,

Oliveira

²

,

Morato

³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic triggered substantial economic and social disruptions. Mitigation policies varied across countries based on resources, political conditions, and human behavior. In the absence of widespread vaccination able to induce herd immunity, strategies to coexist with the virus while minimizing risks of surges are paramount, which should work in parallel with reopening societies. To support these strategies, we present a predictive control system coupled with a nonlinear model able to optimize the level of policies to stop epidemic growth. We applied this system to study the unfolding of COVID-19 in Bahia, Brazil, also assessing the effects of varying population compliance. We show the importance of finely tuning the levels of enforced measures to achieve SARS-CoV-2 containment, with periodic interventions emerging as an optimal control strategy in the long-term.

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“…Disbelievers agreed with the CDS statement “If you do not believe COVID-19 exists you will not contract it”. However, regardless of ethnicity and background people can contract COVID-19 ( Aiyewumi & Okeke, 2020 ; Ali, Asaria, & Stranges, 2020 ; Bowleg, 2020 ). Despite likely origination from Wuhan, China, the disease crossed borders spreading throughout Italy and the world without selectively choosing who to infect ( Sanfilippo, Bignami, Lorini, & Astuto, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Disbelief persists as a problem with new disease mitigation with the expansion of speculatory misinformation spread online (e.g. H1N1, Ebola, COVID-19) ( Aiyewumi & Okeke, 2020 ; de Bruin et al, 2020 ; Sell, Hosangadi, & Trotochaud, 2020 ; Tandoc & Lee, 2020 ). The microscopic and obscure nature of diseases requires rudimentary epidemiology to understand, but unfiltered statements can muddle public understanding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the COVID-19 Disbelief Scale: Conditional indirect effects of religiosity and COVID-19 fear on intent to vaccinate

Bok

¹

,

Martin

²

,

Lee

³

2021

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The COVID-19 pandemic uprooted economies, infected millions, and altered behaviors. Yet, the invisible nature of the disease, paralleled symptoms to the common flu, and misinformation generated COVID-19 disbelief. Many believed COVID-19 was a hoax. Many believed case numbers were fabricated. Others claimed it was a ruse for sociopolitical reasons. The construction of the 8-item COVID-19 Disbelief Scale (CDS) measures the false belief COVID-19 was not real and life-threatening. The CDS demonstrated discriminant validity and robust reliability across two studies. Predictive analysis evinced COVID-19 disbelievers feared COVID-19 less and had lower intent to get vaccinated. In the U.S., certain religious organizations spread misinformation. Religiosity associated with greater COVID-19 disbelief. Among disbelievers, conditional indirect effects of religiosity associated with greater COVID-19 fear and higher intent to get vaccinated. The moderated mediation model validated utility of the CDS as a concise instrument to study variable relationships.

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“…The results in Bahia show that a low compliance could lead to double the number of cases and deaths, and the accompanying collapse of the healthcare system would be inevitable. This is particularly important when planning measures in less developed countries, where poverty is associated with low education levels and, consequently, difficulties in realizing the importance of actions aimed at controlling spread of the virus ( 39, 40 ). More vigorous levels of stringency could further decrease the transmission rates; however, the economic effects of prolonged curfews cannot be ignored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

Pataro

¹

,

Oliveira

²

,

Morato

³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic triggered substantial economic and social disruptions. Mitigation policies varied across countries based on resources, political conditions, and human behavior. In the absence of widespread vaccination able to induce herd immunity, strategies to coexist with the virus while minimizing risks of surges are paramount, which should work in parallel with reopening societies. To support these strategies, we present a predictive control system coupled with a nonlinear model able to optimize the level of policies to stop epidemic growth. We applied this system to study the unfolding of COVID-19 in Bahia, Brazil, also assessing the effects of varying population compliance. We show the importance of finely tuning the levels of enforced measures to achieve SARS-CoV-2 containment, with periodic interventions emerging as an optimal control strategy in the long-term.One-sentence summaryWe present an adaptive predictive control algorithm to provide optimal public health measures to slow the COVID-19 transmission rate.

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The myth that Nigerians are immune to SARS-CoV-2 and that COVID-19 is a hoax are putting lives at risk

Cited by 25 publications

References 9 publications

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

Validation of the COVID-19 Disbelief Scale: Conditional indirect effects of religiosity and COVID-19 fear on intent to vaccinate

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

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