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Face recognition technology is commonly utilized for user authentication and verification by analysing a digital image of a person's face and matching it against a database of faces for identification purposes. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to mandatory quarantines and the use of quarantine bracelets for some individuals, which can be time-consuming and require a lot of effort. Face recognition technology can help raise awareness about the current situation and alleviate some of the burden associated with quarantine measures. The aim of this research is to concentrate on the face recognition of individuals with a history of quarantine, as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in educational institutions like universities, colleges, and schools. This research study concentrates on individuals with a history of quarantine orders. The system will employ the Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithm for face detection. Additionally, the system will utilize the Face Landmark Algorithm to compare the 128-d vector with images stored locally. The system will make use of the Helen face collection dataset for its data requirements. The aim of this study is to explore and identify techniques for detecting individuals who violate quarantine measures and issuing notifications through the proposed system. By implementing this system, it could contribute to creating a more secure environment within the educational institution and potentially reduce the spread of the virus.

In this study, we developed and analyzed a compartmental epidemic model and a system model that incorporate vaccination, elimination, and quarantine techniques, with a saturated incidence rate, by theoretical and numerical means. The model is described by a system of four nonlinear differential equations. Our analysis included determining the reproduction number Rq and examining equilibrium solutions. The outcomes of the disease are identified through the threshold Rq. When Rq1, the unique endemic equilibrium is asymptotically stable locally. The stability of the endemic and disease-free equilibria globally has been examined using the Routh–Hurwitz and Dulac criteria. Subsequently, numerical simulations were utilized to illustrate the theoretical findings effectively.

ObjectivesBefore vaccines and effective treatments were available, quarantine of close contacts was important to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2. To evaluate potential benefits and harms of quarantine, we aimed to estimate infection rates and describe experiences and mental health among persons in mandated quarantine during the early SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.MethodsWe invited adults in mandated quarantine after an exposure to SARS-CoV-2 identified through contact tracing of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, between August 2020 and January 2021. Participants completed two questionnaires and received up to two SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction tests, during and at the end of quarantine.ResultsAmong 395 participants, quarantine duration ranged from 2 to 20 days. By day 11 since the last contact, 11.1% [95% CI 8.4%–14.7%] were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The proportion of participants with symptoms of depression doubled from 9.3% before quarantine to 18.9% during quarantine, and 12.1% reported quarantine was very or extremely difficult.ConclusionAlthough quarantine was only moderately burdensome for most participants, some experienced significant difficulties and burden. Policymakers need to balance infection control with potential harms placed on individuals.

Rapid identification and isolation/quarantine of COVID-19 cases or close contacts, respectively, is a vital tool to support safe, in-person learning. However, safe isolation or quarantine for a young child also necessitates home confinement for at least one adult caregiver, as well as rapid learning material development by the teacher to minimize learning loss. The purpose of this study is to better understand barriers and supports to student home confinement. We conducted a mixed-methods study using focus group discussions and a self-administered online survey with parents and staff members from 12 elementary schools and childcare sites across San Diego County serving low-income and socially vulnerable families. Focus group participants reported that mental distress and loneliness, learning loss, childcare, food, income loss, and overcrowded housing were major barriers related to home confinement. The experiences described by FGD participants were prevalent in a concurrent community survey: 25% of participants reported that isolation would be extremely difficult for a household member who tested positive or was exposed to COVID-19, and 20% were extremely concerned about learning loss while in isolation or quarantine. Our findings suggest that there are serious structural impediments to safely completing the entire recommended course of isolation or quarantine, and that the potential for isolation or quarantine may also lead to increased hesitancy to access diagnostic testing.

BACKGROUND: Influenza circulated at historically low levels during 2020/2021 due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic travel restrictions. In Australia, international arrivals were required to undergo a 14-day hotel quarantine to limit new introduction of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: We usedtesting data for travelers arriving on repatriation flights to Darwin, Australia, from 3 January 2021 to 11 October 2021 to identify importations of influenza virus into Australia. We used this information to estimate the risk of a case exiting quarantine while still infectious. Influenza-positive samples were sequenced, and cases were followed up to identify transmission clusters. Data on the number of cases and total passengers were used to infer the risk of influenza cases exiting quarantine while infectious. RESULTS: Despite very low circulation of influenza globally, 42 cases were identified among 15 026 returned travelers, of which 30 were A(H3N2), 2 were A(H1N1)pdm09, and 10 were B/Victoria. Virus sequencing data identified potential in-flight transmission, as well as independent infections prior to travel. Under the quarantine strategy in place at the time, the probability that these cases could initiate influenza outbreaks in Australia neared 0. However, this probability rose as quarantine requirements relaxed. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of influenza virus infections in repatriated travelers provided a source of influenza viruses otherwise unavailable and enabled development of the A(H3N2) vaccine seed viruses included in the 2022 Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. Failure to test quarantined returned travelers for influenza represents a missed opportunity for enhanced surveillance to better inform public health preparedness.

Unprecedented financial and emotional stress, paired with measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., school closures), place youth at risk for experiencing increased rates of abuse. We analyzed data from New York City's Administration for Children's Services to investigate the frequency of child maltreatment prevention service case openings during this time. Longitudinal counts of case openings were compiled for January through June of the years 2014-2020. An independent samples Kruskal-Wallis H-test suggested that pre-quarantine case openings were significantly larger than case openings during quarantine. To account for the possible influence of other historical events impacting data, a secondary Kruskal-Wallis H-test was conducted comparing only the 4 months of quarantine data available to the 4 months immediately preceding quarantine orders. The second independent samples Kruskal-Wallis H-test again suggested that pre-quarantine case openings were significantly larger than case openings during quarantine. A Poisson regression model further supported these findings, estimating that the odds of opening a new child maltreatment prevention case during quarantine declined by 49.17%. These findings highlight the severity of COVID-19 impacts on child maltreatment services and the gap between demand for services and service accessibility. We conclude with recommendations for local governments, community members, and practitioners.

Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented various unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally, prompting society to adopt new preventative strategies to curb spread of the disease. Those experiencing homelessness have been particularly impacted because of barriers to practicing social distancing, inability to isolate, and poor access to care. Project Roomkey was established in California as a statewide measure to provide non-congregate shelter options for individuals experiencing homelessness to properly quarantine. On goal in this study was to analyze the effectiveness of hotel rooms as a safe disposition alternative to hospital admission for patients experiencing homelessness and who were also positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study that included chart review of patients who were discharged to the hotel from March 2020–December 2021. We recorded demographic information, index visit details, number of emergency department (ED) visits both a month prior to and following the index visit, admission rates, and number of deaths.Results: During this 21-month study period, a total of 2,015 patients who identified as undomiciled were tested for SARS-COV-2 in the ED for various reasons. Of those patients, 83 were discharged from the ED to the hotel. Of the 83 patients, 40 (48.2%) ultimately tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their index visit. Two patients returned to the ED within seven days with COVID-19-related symptoms, and 10 patients within 30 days. Two patients required subsequent admission with COVID-19 pneumonia. No deaths were recorded within the 30-day follow-up period.Conclusion: The availability of a hotel served as a safe alternative to hospital admission for patients experiencing homelessness and who were either suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. It is reasonable to consider similar measures in the management of other transmissible diseases for patients experiencing homelessness who require isolation.

BackgroundU.S. school closures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to extended periods of remote learning and social and economic impact on families. Uncertainty about virus dynamics made it difficult for school districts to develop mitigation plans that all stakeholders consider to be safe.MethodsWe developed an agent-based model of infection dynamics and preventive mitigation designed as a conceptual tool to give school districts basic insights into their options, and to provide optimal flexibility and computational ease as COVID-19 science rapidly evolved early in the pandemic. Elements included distancing, health behaviors, surveillance and symptomatic testing, daily symptom and exposure screening, quarantine policies, and vaccination. Model elements were designed to be updated as the pandemic and scientific knowledge evolve. An online interface enables school districts and their implementation partners to explore the effects of interventions on outcomes of interest to states and localities, under a variety of plausible epidemiological and policy assumptions.ResultsThe model shows infection dynamics that school districts should consider. For example, under default assumptions, secondary infection rates and school attendance are substantially affected by surveillance testing protocols, vaccination rates, class sizes, and effectiveness of safety education.ConclusionsOur model helps policymakers consider how mitigation options and the dynamics of school infection risks affect outcomes of interest. The model was designed in a period of considerable uncertainty and rapidly evolving science. It had practical use early in the pandemic to surface dynamics for school districts and to enable manipulation of parameters as well as rapid update in response to changes in epidemiological conditions and scientific information about COVID-19 transmission dynamics, testing and vaccination resources, and reliability of mitigation strategies.

Monkeypox 2022, a zoonotic virus similar to smallpox, presented as a rapidly escalating human outbreak with community transmission outside endemic regions of Africa. In just over one month of detection, confirmed cases escalated to over 3300, with reports of patients in at least 43 non-African nations. Mechanisms of transmission in animals and the reservoir host remain uncertain; spread from humans to wild or domestic animals risks the creation of new endemic zones. While initial cases were reported in men who have sex with men (MSM), monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. Anyone with close contact with an infected person, aerosolized infectious material (e.g., from shaken bedsheets), or contact with fomites or infected animals is at risk. In humans, monkeypox typically presents with a non-specific prodromal phase followed by a classic rash with an incubation period of 5-21 days (usually 6-13 days). The prodrome may be subclinical, and the monkeypox virus may be transmissible from person-to-person before observed symptom onset. Most clinicians are unfamiliar with monkeypox. Information is rapidly evolving, producing an urgent need for immediate access to clear, concise, fact-based, and actionable information for frontline healthcare workers in prehospital, emergency departments/hospitals, and acute care/sexual transmitted infection clinics. This paper provides a novel Identify-Isolate-Inform (3I) Tool for the early detection and management of patients under investigation for monkeypox 2022. Patients are identified as potentially exposed or infected after an initial assessment of risk factors and signs/symptoms. Management of exposed patients includes consideration of quarantine and post-exposure prophylaxis with a smallpox vaccine. For infectious patients, providers must immediately don personal protective equipment and isolate patients. Healthcare workers must report suspected and confirmed cases in humans or animals to public health authorities. This innovative 3I Tool will assist emergency, primary care, and prehospital clinicians in effectively managing persons with suspected or confirmed monkeypox.

This work aims to identify effective means of distance learning methods for developing pedagogical competence among student-teachers. To achieve this goal, the study applies various methods and approaches, including dialectical and functional methods, alongside analysis and synthesis, pedagogical observation, comparison, and classification. The research employed these methodologies to analyze existing literature and explore best practices in distance learning for teacher training. The research yielded significant theoretical and practical contributions. The theoretical foundation strengthens the understanding of how distance learning can foster pedagogical competence. The practical value lies in its potential application as both instructional and methodological material for training future teachers. It can also serve as a tool for practicing educators to improve their skills by familiarizing them with effective distance learning tools and strategies. Future research should explore the evolution of distance learning methods in teacher training, identify potential shortcomings of distance learning approaches, and propose effective solutions to overcome these limitations.

With the spread of covid-19 all over the world in 2020, which also crept into Egypt, most countries had been prompted to have a considerable period of compulsory quarantine that affected different aspects of human activities. Such events encouraged artists to follow different ways to express their artistic works. One of the essential approaches utilized in Egypt was presenting artworks through virtual art exhibitions. The current work's objective is to investigate the effect of such virtual art exhibitions on art appreciation in Egyptian society. The study uses the descriptive and analytical approach in investigating the relationship between art and crises,besides analyzing the approach of the virtual exhibition. An electronic questionnaire was developed to estimate the vision of expert artists and art education students toward virtual art exhibitions. The questionnaire results showed an attraction towards virtual art exhibitions due to their advantages; continuity of artistic activities, the wide spread of the artworks locally and internationally, low cost, and involving some of the artists' family members in art practice. However, virtual art exhibitions lack real interaction, discussion, and realizing artistic work details.

Abstract Background The Japanese government has instituted border control measures against COVID-19, including entry and exit screening of people arriving from overseas. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the exit screening policy in Japan in reducing the risk of importing COVID-19 cases among travelers from Asian and Pacific countries. Methods The study period was stratified based on the timing of exit screening: (i) the control period (the pre-exit screening period from 25 October 2020 to 16 January 2021), (ii) the time period with the Alpha variant from 17 January to 10 April 2021, and (iii) the time period with the Delta variant from 2 May to 2 October 2021. Incidence data in the countries of origin were used to adjust for the risk of infection among travelers. The positivity rate of entry screening in Japan was compared among the three different study periods, adjusting for the risk of infection in the country of origin. Results The adjusted relative risk of positivity was greatly reduced and substantially below the value of 1 during the Alpha variant period compared with the control period. Although the relative risks increased when comparing the Delta variant period against control, the estimate remained below 1, except for among travelers from India and Myanmar. The relative risk reduction was greatest in high-income countries, with estimates of 100% and 96% risk reduction during the Alpha and Delta variant periods, respectively, followed by upper-middle-income countries with estimates of 90% and 76%, respectively. Conclusions Even in the presence of the Alpha and Delta variants, exit screening clearly reduced the risk of infection among travelers arriving from Asian and Pacific nations. As the testing relies on the country of origin, the effectiveness varied greatly by the socioeconomic income status and epidemiological situation of those countries. Test standardization and quality assurance may be required in low- and middle-income countries.

Abstract Background Various measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic are not only effective in reducing the spread of the disease, but also lead to some unexpected results. This article regarded these measures as an intervention and explored their impact on the incidence of tuberculosis in Shantou, China. Methods The incidence rate and the surveillance data of tuberculosis from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2021 were provided by the Shantou Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Institute. Data were divided into pre-pandemic period (January 1st, 2018 - December 31st, 2019) and pandemic periods (January 1st, 2020 - December 31st, 2021). The Interrupted Time Series (ITS) was used to analyze the trend of tuberculosis incidence prior to and during the COVID-19 epidemic. Results The results showed that the incidence of tuberculosis cases in Shantou decreased significantly (p

Abstract Background Virtual simulation-based education for healthcare professionals has emerged as a strategy for dealing with infectious disease disasters, particularly when training at clinical sites is restricted due to the risk of infection and a lack of personal protective equipment. This research evaluated a virtual simulation-based education program intended to increase nurses’ perceived competence in providing psychological support to patients affected by infectious disease disasters. Methods The efficacy of the program was evaluated via a randomized controlled trial. We recruited 104 nurses for participation in the study and allocated them randomly and evenly to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given a web address through which they could access the program, whereas the control group was provided with a web address that directed them to text-based education materials. Data were then collected through an online survey of competence in addressing disaster mental health, after which the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(version 23.0). Results The analysis showed that the experimental group’s disaster mental health competence (F = 5.149, p =.026), problem solving process (t = 3.024, p =.003), self-leadership (t = 2.063, p =.042), learning self-efficacy (t = 3.450, p =.001), and transfer motivation (t = 2.095, p =.039) significantly statistically differed from those of the control group. Conclusions A virtual nursing simulation-based education program for psychological support can overcome limitations of time and space. The program would also be an effective learning resource during infectious disease outbreaks. Clinical trial registration This Korean clinical trial was retrospectively registered (21/11/2023) in the Clinical Research Information Service ( https://cris.nih.go.kr ) with trial registration number KCT0008965.

The monkeypox epidemic has become a global health issue due to its rapid transmission involving nonhuman-to-human transmission in nonendemic areas. Various actions, such as quarantine, vaccination, and hospitalization, have been implemented by worldwide governments. Given the relatively high cost and strict implementation of vaccination, our focus lies on quarantine and hospitalization. In this paper, we study the monkeypox epidemic involving quarantine and hospitalization through fractional-order mathematical modeling. The proposed model considers six classes of human populations (susceptible, exposed, infected, quarantined, hospitalized, and recovered) and three classes of nonhuman populations (susceptible, exposed, and infected). The basic properties of the model have been investigated, and its equilibrium points have been obtained, namely monkeypox-free, nonhuman-free endemic, and endemic. We have derived the basic reproduction numbers for human-to-human and nonhuman-to-nonhuman transmissions, denoted as R0h and R0n respectively. The existence and stability (both locally and globally) of each equilibrium point depend on R0h and R0n relative to unity. We performed calibration and forecasting of the model on the weekly monkeypox case data of the human population in the United States of America from June 1 to September 23, 2022. Research findings indicate that the fractional-order model shows better calibration and forecasting compared to the corresponding first-order model based on the root mean square error. Furthermore, the best-fitting model calibration indicates R0=max{R0h,R0n}>1, suggesting the potential for endemic conditions in humans. However, the best forecasting shows R0

This study developed a deterministic transmission model for the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), considering various factors such as vaccination, awareness, quarantine, and treatment resource limitations for infected individuals in quarantine facilities. The proposed model comprised five compartments: susceptible, vaccinated, quarantined, infected, and recovery. It also considered awareness and limited resources by using a saturated function. Dynamic analyses, including equilibrium points, control reproduction numbers, and bifurcation analyses, were conducted in this research, employing analytics to derive insights. Our results indicated the possibility of an endemic equilibrium even if the reproduction number for control was less than one. Using incidence data from West Java, Indonesia, we estimated our model parameter values to calibrate them with the real situation in the field. Elasticity analysis highlighted the crucial role of contact restrictions in reducing the spread of COVID-19, especially when combined with community awareness. This emphasized the analytics-driven nature of our approach. We transformed our model into an optimal control framework due to budget constraints. Leveraging Pontriagin's maximum principle, we meticulously formulated and solved our optimal control problem using the forward-backward sweep method. Our experiments underscored the pivotal role of vaccination in infection containment. Vaccination effectively reduces the risk of infection among vaccinated individuals, leading to a lower overall infection rate. However, combining vaccination and quarantine measures yields even more promising results than vaccination alone. A second crucial finding emphasized the need for early intervention during outbreaks rather than delayed responses. Early interventions significantly reduce the number of preventable infections, underscoring their importance.

Background and aims: COVID-19 has emerged as a novel pandemic, emphasizing the crucial role of prevention and quarantine measures. Compliance with these measures becomes particularly important for individuals in close contact with COVID-19-infected individuals. This study aimed to investigate the level of quarantine compliance among individuals who had close contact with COVID-19 patients in Hamadan province, as well as identify predictors associated with compliance. Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted between March and July 2022, involving 350 individuals who had close contact with COVID-19 patients in Hamadan province, Iran. A researcher-designed questionnaire was employed to gather participants’ demographic and clinical information, as well as their adherence to quarantine principles, through a 7-question assessment. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Stata software, version 16. Results: The study participants had a mean age of 40.23±12.91 years. The rate of good compliance with quarantine measures among individuals in close contact with COVID-19 patients was found was 58.66%. Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that men in close contact with COVID-19 patients had a 1.66 times higher chance of complying with quarantine compared to women (odds ratio [OR]=1.66, 95% CI=1.06, 2.56), P=0.025). Additionally, individuals over the age of 60 who had close contact with COVID-19 patients exhibited a 2.28 times higher chance of non-compliance with quarantine (OR=2.28, 95% CI=1.17, 4.45, P=0.015). Conclusion: Demographic characteristics could significantly influence compliance with quarantine principles among individuals in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Addressing these factors is crucial for effective health planning and patient education in the country.

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta (Pango lineage B.1.617.2) variant of concern spread globally, causing resurgences of COVID-19 worldwide1,2. The emergence of the Delta variant in the UK occurred on the background of a heterogeneous landscape of immunity and relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Here we analyse 52,992 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from England together with 93,649 genomes from the rest of the world to reconstruct the emergence of Delta and quantify its introduction to and regional dissemination across England in the context of changing travel and social restrictions. Using analysis of human movement, contact tracing and virus genomic data, we find that the geographic focus of the expansion of Delta shifted from India to a more global pattern in early May 2021. In England, Delta lineages were introduced more than 1,000 times and spread nationally as non-pharmaceutical interventions were relaxed. We find that hotel quarantine for travellers reduced onward transmission from importations; however, the transmission chains that later dominated the Delta wave in England were seeded before travel restrictions were introduced. Increasing inter-regional travel within England drove the nationwide dissemination of Delta, with some cities receiving more than 2,000 observable lineage introductions from elsewhere. Subsequently, increased levels of local population mixing-and not the number of importations-were associated with the faster relative spread of Delta. The invasion dynamics of Delta depended on spatial heterogeneity in contact patterns, and our findings will inform optimal spatial interventions to reduce the transmission of current and future variants of concern, such as Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529).

Objective: Most studies investigated the relationship between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) by comparing the incidence of GBS before and during the pandemic of COVID-19. However, the findings were inconsistent, probably owing to varying degrees of the lockdown policy. The quarantine requirements and travel restrictions in China were lifted around December 7, 2022. This study aimed to explore whether the relative frequency of GBS increased during the major outbreak in the absence of COVID-19-mandated social restrictions in China. Methods: GBS patients admitted to the First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, from December 7, 2022 to February 20, 2023, and from June, 2017 to August, 2019 were included. The relative frequencies of GBS in hospitalized patients during different periods were compared. The patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection within six weeks prior to GBS onset formed the COVID-GBS group and non-COVID-GBS group, respectively. Results: The relative frequency of GBS among hospitalized patients during the major outbreak of COVID-19 (13/14,408) was significantly higher than that before the COVID-19 epidemic (29/160,669, P < 0.001). More COVID-GBS patients (11/13) presented AIDP subtype than non-COVID-GBS cases (10/27, P = 0.003). The mean interval between onset of infective symptoms and GBS was longer in COVID-GBS (21.54 ± 11.56 days) than in non-COVID-GBS (5.76 ± 3.18 days, P < 0.001). Conclusions: COVID-19 significantly increased the incidence of GBS. Most COVID-GBS patients fell into the category of AIDP, responded well to IVIg, and had a favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray, an ornamental submerged plant indigenous to tropical America, has been introduced to numerous countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania, impacting native aquatic ecosystems. Given this species is a popular aquarium plant and widely traded, there is a high risk of introduction and invasion into other environments. In the current study the potential global geographic distribution of C. caroliniana was predicted under the effects of climate change and human influence in an optimisedMaxEntmodel. The model used rigorously screened occurrence records of C. caroliniana fromhydro informatic datasets and 20 associated influencing factors. The findings indicate that temperature and human-mediated activities significantly influenced the distribution of C. caroliniana. At present, C. caroliniana covers an area of approximately 1531×104 km² of appropriate habitat, especially in the south-eastern parts of South, central and North America, Southeast Asia, eastern Australia, and most of Europe. The suitable regions are anticipated to expand under future climate scenarios; however, the dynamics of the changes vary between different extents of climate change. For example, C. caroliniana is expected to expand to higher latitudes, following global temperature increases under SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5 scenarios, however, intolerance to temperature extremes may mediate invasion at higher latitudes under future extreme climate scenarios, e.g., SSP5-8.5. Owing to the severe impacts its invasion causes, early warning and stringent border quarantine processes are required to guard against the introduction of C. caroliniana especially in the invasion hotspots such as, Peru, Italy, and South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although COVID-19 has entered the endemic phase, individuals infected with COVID-19 are required to adhere to home quarantine measures. By exploring the public's knowledge and attitude towards recommended home quarantine measures, their readiness in containing potential COVID-19 outbreak can be determined. This study aimed to assess the public knowledge and attitude towards home quarantine instructions and their association with history of COVID-19 infections. Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional study conducted among the public in Malaysia between August to October 2022. All Malaysian adults over 18 years of age were included. Knowledge on home quarantine instructions and COVID-19 warning signs were measured using "True," "False," or "I'm not sure", while attitude towards home quarantine instructions was measured using a five-point Likert Scale. The questionnaire was initially constructed in English and then translated into the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. Face and content validation were performed. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was found to be satisfactory. Results: 1,036 respondents were analyzed, comprised mostly of females (743, 71.6%) with a history of COVID-19 (673, 64.9%). In the knowledge domain, more than 80% of the respondents answered 9 out of 11 home quarantine instructions statements correctly. 457 (44.1%) were unaware or unsure about the minimum distance of the infected individual's bed from the rest of the occupants in a shared bedroom. The respondents reported relatively weaker knowledge in identifying uncommon warning signs of COVID-19 deterioration, including anuria (162, 44.5%), ingestion problems (191, 52.5%), and immobility (195, 53.6%). In the attitude domain, more than 90% of respondents answered correctly in 8 out of 9 questions. Respondents with a previous history of COVID-19 infections had better knowledge than COVID-19 infection-naïve individuals towards both home quarantine instructions and COVID-19 warning signs. Conclusion: Most respondents had good knowledge and attitude towards home quarantine instructions, with those previously infected with COVID-19 showing greater awareness of uncommon warning signs. However, there was a notable lack of awareness regarding physical distancing within shared rooms, appropriate disinfectant use and mobility limitation within the household. This study highlights the knowledge gaps to be improved in future educational campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Early during the COVID-19 outbreak, various approaches were utilized to prevent COVID-19 introductions from incoming airport travellers. However, the costs and effectiveness of airport-specific interventions have not been evaluated. Methods: We evaluated policy options for COVID-19-specific interventions at Entebbe International Airport for costs and impact on COVID-19 case counts, we took the government payer perspective. Policy options included; (1)no screening, testing, or mandatory quarantine for any incoming traveller; (2)mandatory symptom screening for all incoming travellers with RT-PCR testing only for the symptomatic and isolation of positives; and (3)mandatory 14-day quarantine and one-time testing for all, with 10-day isolation of persons testing positive. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in US$ per additional case averted. Results: Expected costs per incoming traveller were $0 (Option 1), $19 (Option 2), and $766 (Option 3). ICERs per case averted were $257 for Option 2 (which averted 4,948 cases), and $10,139 for Option 3 (which averted 5,097 cases) compared with Option I. Two-week costs were $0 for Option 1, $1,271,431 Option 2, and $51,684,999 Option 3. The per-case ICER decreased with increase in prevalence. The cost-effectiveness of our interventions was modestly sensitive to the prevalence of COVID-19, diagnostic test sensitivity, and testing costs. Conclusion: Screening all incoming travellers, testing symptomatic persons, and isolating positives (Option 2) was the most cost-effective option. A higher COVID-19 prevalence among incoming travellers increased cost-effectiveness of airport-specific interventions. This model could be used to evaluate prevention options at the airport for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases with similar requirements for control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Travel restrictions and border controls were used extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the processes for making robust evidence-based risk assessments of source countries to inform border control policies was in many cases very limited. Methods: Between April 2020 and February 2022, all international arrivals to New Zealand were required to spend 14 days in government-managed quarantine facilities and were tested at least twice. The infection rates among arrivals in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 were respectively 6.3, 9.4 and 90.0 cases per thousand arrivals (487, 1064 and 1496 cases). Test results for all arrivals were linked with travel history, providing a large and comprehensive dataset on the number of SARS-CoV-2-positive and negative travellers from different countries over time. We developed a statistical model to predict the country-level infection risk based on infection rates among recent arrivals and reported cases in the country of origin. The model incorporates a country-level random effect to allow for the differences between the infection risk of the population of each country and that of travellers to New Zealand. A time dependent auto-regressive component of the model allows for short term correlation in infection rates. Results: A model selection and checking exercise found that the model was robust and reliable for forecasting arrival risk for 2 weeks ahead. We used the model to forecast the number of infected arrivals in future weeks and categorised countries according to their risk level. The model was implemented in R and was used by the New Zealand Ministry of Health to help inform border control policy during 2021. Conclusions: A robust and practical forecasting tool was developed for forecasting infection risk among arriving passengers during a period of controlled borders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The model uses historical infection rates among arrivals and current infection rates in the source country to make separate risk predictions for arrivals from each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On April 29, 2020, China entered a normalization stage of prevention and control. By December 2021, more than 40 outbreaks had occurred in China, which reflected the shortcomings of the pandemic prevention and control measures in China at that time. As the capital city of China, Beijing faces more pressure in epidemic prevention and control. We used the COVID-19 cluster containment evaluation indicators to determine the effects of prevention and control measures on four COVID-19 outbreaks in Beijing. After considering the specificity and operability of evaluation indicators and the availability of evaluation data, the evaluation system in our study consisted of six dimensions: epidemic prevention and control effect, discovery and detection ability, precision prevention and control capability, public protection effect, medical treatment and nosocomial infection prevention and control ability, and information release and public opinion response ability. The composite scores of the prevention and control effects of the Xinfadi, Shunyi, Daxing, and Ejina Banner-associated COVID-19 outbreaks in Beijing were 62, 82, 87, and 76, respectively. In the six dimensions, the epidemic prevention and control effect, discovery and detection ability, precision prevention and control capability, and public protection effect scores for the Xinfadi outbreak were lower than those for the Shunyi, Daxing and Ejina Banner-associated outbreaks. The medical treatment and nosocomial infection prevention and control ability scores for the outbreak associated with Ejina Banner were lower than those for the Xinfadi, Shunyi, and Daxing outbreaks. In managing cluster outbreaks, Beijing was able to detect index cases early enough to reduce the scale and duration of the outbreak and consistently release official information to reduce public panic, standardize the management of centralized quarantine sites to prevent cross-infection, adhere to the "dynamic COVID -zero" strategy to accurately prevent and control outbreaks, reduce the societal influence of the pandemic, and coordinate the epidemic prevention and control and socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, France faced a 2-month lockdown in 2020, marked by numerous restrictions. This study aimed to examine the experience and management of children aged 6–17 years with learning and/or attention disorders during the first lockdown. We conducted an observational, retrospective study, with data collection from March 1 to May 31, 2021, by means of an anonymous digital qualitative questionnaire completed by parents. The experience of confinement as well as the children's behavior, schooling, and level of progress during rehabilitation were assessed by parents through a Likert scale. Data were compared according to two groups: negative experience and positive or neutral experience of the child's confinement. A total of 251 questionnaires were collected and 217 were analyzed. Overall, 47 children (21.7 %) reported a negative experience of the confinement period. In total, 164 (75.6 %) of the children had their schooling monitored throughout the period; half of the parents reported a course format unsuited to their child's disorders and a lack of motivation, and 46.5 % a refusal by their child to study. Only 16.8 % of parents reported a regression in their child's rehabilitation. These last three results were significantly associated with a poor experience of confinement (p < 0.05). The period of confinement was experienced relatively well by the children, and the rehabilitative management seemed to have been minimally impacted during this period. The therapeutic education of children, their parents, and also teachers is a major axis of improvement for better care and support of children with these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Diaphania indica (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), the cucumber moth for the territory of the European Union (EU), following the commodity risk assessment of Jasminum polyanthum from Uganda, in which D. indica was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union. D. indica is native to South Asian countries and is now distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. In the EU, D. indica occurs in Madeira (Portugal). It is a polyphagous pest, feeding on 16 genera in 6 plant families, primarily on plants of the Cucurbitaceae family. Important cucurbit hosts in the EU include cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Plants for planting, fruits and cut flowers provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Climatic conditions and availability of host plants in southern EU countries would most probably allow this species to successfully establish and spread. Establishment could also occur in greenhouses in the northern parts of the EU. Economic impact in cultivated hosts, especially cucurbit crops is anticipated if establishment occurs. This insect is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and further spread. D. indica meets the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Shirahoshizo patruelis (Voss, 1937) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), following the commodity risk assessment of bonsai plants from China consisting of Pinus parviflora grafted on P. thunbergii, in which S. patruelis was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union (EU). This categorisation refers to S. flavonotatus, which is the pest's current valid scientific name. It is native to China and has never been recorded in the EU. It completes from 2 to 3 generations per year. Eggs are laid in cracks and crevices of trunks and branches with bark thickness of approximately 0.6–1.2 cm. The pest overwinters as an adult or as a mature larva under the bark. Plants for planting, wood with bark and wood products provide pathways for entry. Although the weevil has been reported to carry the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, it is not considered a vector. Climatic conditions and availability of host plants in some EU countries would allow S. flavonotatus to establish and spread. Impact on Pinus spp. is anticipated. Recognising that the weevil is reported to attack both weakened and healthy trees, there is uncertainty on the magnitude of impact. Its recorded capacity to attack non‐Asian Pinus species also indicates its ability to adapt and expand the range of trees it can utilise as hosts, which could include European Pinus species. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and spread. S. flavonotatus meets the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Bailey's rust mite, Calepitrimerus baileyi Keifer (Acariformes: Eriophyidae), following the commodity risk assessment of Malus domestica plants from Türkiye performed by EFSA, in which C. baileyi was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union. This mite is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The eriophyid is known to occur in Africa, America, Asia, Europe (Greece and Serbia) and Oceania on Malus spp., which is the only confirmed host genus for C. baileyi. Plants for planting of Malus spp. are the main potential pathway for entry into the EU. However, plants for planting of the genus Malus Mill. are considered as high‐risk plants (EU 2018/2019) and therefore prohibited from entering the EU unless granted a country‐specific derogation. This is the case for the import of Malus spp. plants for planting from Serbia ((EU) 2020/1361 corrected by 2022/1309). Therefore, this derogation could provide a plausible entry pathway for C. baileyi into the EU. Climatic conditions and the ample availability of the host, Malus spp., in the EU are conducive for establishment, as proven by the occurrence of C. baileyi in Greece. However, the species is not reported as having an impact in Greece, despite reports of damage outside the EU. Measures to prevent further entry and spread of C. baileyi in the EU are available. C. baileyi satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. However, uncertainties about the distribution of C. baileyi within the EU and its impact on apples in the EU are considered key and affect the confidence of conclusions for this categorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan. Methods: A retrospective study with longitudinal data was conducted during COVID‐19 from May 2021 to November 2021 (T2) in Kurogawa, Japan. The candidate population for this study was 145 with the following requirements: (1) older individuals aged 65 years or above who were registered in the Kurogawa study, and (2) those with previous data (from November 2016 to February 2020; T1 as pre‐pandemic). Memory function was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II‐DR). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Japanese version of the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15). Social capital was evaluated through civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Fear of the COVID‐19 infection (FCV‐19S) was evaluated. Results: The final analysis included 96 participants (mean age = 81.0 years, SD = 4.8) Multivariate analysis for GDS‐15 score by Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) revealed significant associations between LM II‐DR (β = −0.13, 95% CI: −0.21–0.05, p = 0.002) and FCV‐19S during COVID‐19 (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.15, p = 0.02) with GDS‐15 score. However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with GDS‐15 score. Conclusions: Among older adults in rural Japan, memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis. However, social capital was not associated with depressive symptoms. This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises like the COVID‐19 pandemic. Key points: This study examined the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan.LM II‐DR and FCV‐19S were significantly associated with GDS‐15 scores, under considering within‐individual correlation and time points (before and during COVID‐19) in Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) analysis.However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis.This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID‐19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great psychological distress in healthcare workers, especially among nurses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on a large sample of Spanish nurses in the public health system in terms of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, fear of COVID-19, compassion fatigue, burnout, and demand for psychological help, as well as the possible effect of preventive confinements on these variables. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was developed in December 2020 among 439 registered nurses from the Public Health Service of the Principality of Asturias. Psychological variables were measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the compassion fatigue and burnout subscales from the Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire (ProQoL). The study found 37.6 % of nurses with anxiety and 17.1 % with depression. Perceived stress and compassion fatigue levels were medium/high. Also, burnout level was high in 50.6 % of participants. Being a woman (medium/large effect size), working with COVID-19 patients (medium effect size) and previous quarantines (small/medium effect size) were associated with higher psychological distress. Preventive quarantines increase anxiety and fear of COVID-19 (medium effect size), depression and compassion fatigue (small effect size). The COVID-19 infection does not have a significant impact in terms of psychological distress or professional quality of life among nursing professionals. Given the high proportion of professionals at risk of developing emotional disorders, the implementation of mental health preventive programs is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Test-to-stay concepts apply serial testing of children in daycare after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 without use of quarantine. This study aims to assess the safety of a test-to-stay screening in daycare facilities. METHODS: 714 daycare facilities and approximately 50 000 children ≤6 years in Cologne, Germany participated in a SARS-CoV-2 Pool-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening from March 2021 to April 2022. The screening initially comprised post-exposure quarantine and was adapted to a test-to-stay approach during its course. To assess safety of the test-to-stay approach, we explored potential changes in frequencies of infections among children after the adaptation to the test-to-stay approach by applying regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) analyses. To this end, PCR-test data were linked with routinely collected data on reported infections in children and analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions. RESULTS: 219 885 Pool-PCRs and 352 305 Single-PCRs were performed. 6440 (2.93%) Pool-PCRs tested positive, and 17 208 infections in children were reported. We estimated that during a period of 30 weeks, the test-to-stay concept avoided between 7 and 20 days of quarantine per eligible daycare child. RDiT revealed a 26% reduction (Exp. Coef: 0.74, confidence interval 0.52-1.06) in infection frequency among children and indicated no significant increase attributable to the test-to-stay approach. This result was not sensitive to adjustments for 7-day incidence, season, SARS-CoV-2 variant, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses provide evidence that suggest safety of the test-to-stay approach compared with quarantine measures. This approach offers a promising option to avoid use of quarantine after exposure to respiratory pathogens in daycare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losing a significant other through death is a tragic experience worsened by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To curb this massive increase of deaths, the South African government introduced various rules to regulate the burial process. However, these COVID-19 regulations have caused major ruptures and disruptions on how bereaved families observe and practice cultural rites and customs following death within an African context. Consequently, many bereaved family members, particularly Black Africans, struggle with adhering to the regulations and funerals have been coined ' super spreaders ' of the virus. The concerns raised in this article are twofold, namely, the impact of the Covid-19 regulations on how Black Africans grieve and mourn, as well as the involvement of social workers in formulating regulations that ought to be adhered to. This article explores the fissures and bricolages brought about by COVID-19, ultimately suggesting possible ways of dealing the losses ascribed to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical distancing measures to limit contagion in the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to care for older persons with dementia. Non-essential home visits were prevented and family caregivers took over most of their care. The aim of our study was to describe the lived experience of peoples living with dementia caregivers during the pandemic regarding the care provided and the person cared for. A qualitative phenomenological design was used. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling. Informants were selected from primary healthcare centers, day centers, and a community mental health unit. The study participants comprised 21 caregivers. Semi-structured in-depth interviews by telephone were used, and field notes were collected from the researchers. A thematic analysis was conducted. The criteria used to control trustworthiness were credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Three main themes and six related sub-themes were identified: (1) care for the person with dementia during the pandemic, including lockdown, associated with difficulties in coping with restrictions, deterioration in health, and the impact of the closure of health and social resources; (2) health and social care provided to people with dementia after the disruptions and the care received from primary care prior to hospital or residential admission; and (3) the caregiver's perspective on the effects of the psycho-emotional impact, and coping strategies adopted in caring. Interventions for people with dementia should be planned in order to prevent the worsening of their health and cognitive status, while also developing programs to prevent stress and alleviate caregiver burden in case of health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa was reported for the first time in Tunisia in 2019. This was also the first reported occurrence of the disease in a Mediterranean climate. In Tunisia, CBS is mainly found in lemon (Citrus limon) orchards, and is seldom observed on sweet orange (Citrus × sinensis). This recent finding in North Africa raises questions about how the disease has been able to spread under Mediterranean climatic conditions. In this work, 216 Phyllosticta strains collected from lemon orchards in 2021, 2022 and 2023 throughout the country's main citrus-growing provinces were characterised by species morphological and molecular identification, mating type and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) microsatellite genotyping (MLG). P. citricarpa was the only species found to be associated with CBS in Tunisia. Although P. citricarpa is a heterothallic fungal species, potentially able to reproduce both sexually and asexually, a single mating type (MAT 1-1-1) idiomorph was found in the population. In addition, three MLGs were observed, across ten microsatellite loci, one of which was massively represented (93 %), indicating a clonal population. The clonality observed suggests a single recent introduction of the pathogen into the country. These findings support the idea that in Tunisia, P. citricarpa only reproduces asexually by pycniospores, with a relatively limited dispersal potential. This is consistent with the absence of pseudothecia on the leaf litter. These results show that CBS is able to thrive under Mediterranean conditions, even in the absence of sexual reproduction. This should be taken into consideration for CBS risk assessment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metapopulation network model is a mathematical framework used to study the spatial spread of epidemics with individuals' mobility. In this paper, we develop a time-varying network model in which the activity of a population is correlated with its attractiveness in mobility. By studying the spreading dynamics of the SIR (susceptible-infectious-recovered)-type disease in different correlated networks based on the proposed model, we theoretically derive the mobility threshold and numerically observe that increasing the correction between activity and attractiveness results in a reduced mobility threshold but suppresses the fraction of infected subpopulations. It also introduces greater heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of infected individuals. Additionally, we investigate the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions on the spread of epidemics in different correlation networks. Our results show that the simultaneous implementation of self-isolation and self-protection is more effective in negatively correlated networks than that in positively correlated or non-correlated networks. Both self-isolation and self-protection strategies enhance the mobility threshold and, thus, slow down the spread of the epidemic. However, the effectiveness of each strategy in reducing the fraction of infected subpopulations varies in different correlated networks. Self-protection is more effective in positively correlated networks, whereas self-isolation is more effective in negatively correlated networks. Our study will provide insights into epidemic prevention and control in large-scale time-varying metapopulation networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the environmental factors such as supports and barriers that have been faced by those children with SLD between the before and after COVID-19 lockdown and their involvement, participation frequency and desire for change. The participation features as well as the environmental factors at home, school and community settings of these children (n: 61; mean age: 9.37 ± 1.50 year)during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were assessed by using the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) instrument via Internet access. The differences in participation frequency, involvement, desire for change, and environmental factors (supports and barriers) for school and community settings between the pre and post COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were found to be p < 0.01. There were no statistical differences at home settings in terms of participation frequency and supports (p > 0.05). This study provides information about the participation levels of children with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the environmental factors faced by these children. The results are expected to contribute to the rehabilitation program that may improve the participation levels of children with special needs, and determine where greater efforts are needed to support so as to raise their participation levels and improve environmental features after the quarantine process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify factors influencing compliance with social distancing, a key nonpharmaceutical intervention during the early stages of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The study population comprised 182 758 Koreans who participated in the 2020 Community Health Survey. Personal characteristics were classified into sociodemographic, health behavioral, and psychosocial factors, and factors associated with social distancing compliance were identified. Health behaviors and psychosocial factors were highly related to compliance with social distancing. Approximately 13% of smokers were less likely to practice physical distancing and 50% of high-risk drinkers were less likely to limit going out or attending gatherings and events. Higher concern about COVID-19 and a more positive perception of the government's response policy were associated with a higher compliance with social distancing. Strategic public health policies considering the characteristics of the public are needed to enhance compliance with nonpharmaceutical interventions during disease outbreaks lacking effective treatments and vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud is the property of Centro de Estudiso Avanzados en Ninez y Juventud alaianza Cinde, Universidad de Manizales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The COVID-19 pandemic affected individual sleep quality, especially with high-stress levels. We assessed sleep quality in young adults during COVID-19, and mental health, stress, and screen time (ST) use. An international cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to January 2021. The surveys assessed sleep quality (PSQI), ST use, and mental health. 183 participants were eligible for analysis. The average global PSQI score was 7.29 (sd = 3.58, n = 99). Associations were found between global PSQI scores and Fear of COVID-19 (r (98) =.223, P =.027), anxiety scores (r (99) = -.541, P <.001), increased total stress scores (r (88) =.486, P <.001), and depression (r (97) =.628, P <.001). Those currently quarantining had statistically higher PSQI scores than those who quarantined in the past (F (2,175) = 3.397, P =.036), but not for those who did not quarantine. Differences were found between genders for global PSQI (F (4,94) = 2.865, P <.027) and poor vs good sleep (X2 (1,98) = 3.982, P =.046). There was also a relationship between ethnicity and poor vs good sleep quality (X2 (2,94) = 6.538, P =.038). We did not find associations between ST and sleep quality but found poor sleep quality significantly related to mental health during COVID-19. We found no direct evidence that quarantining itself results in poor sleep quality. Interventions need to maximize sleep quality in certain groups, like females and ethnic minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]