Social contact patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in 21 European countries – evidence from a two-year study

BMC Infectious Diseases, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: April 26, 2023

Most countries have enacted some restrictions to reduce social contacts slow down disease transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. For nearly two years, individuals likely also adopted new behaviours avoid pathogen exposure based on personal circumstances. We aimed understand way in which different factors affect - a critical step improving future pandemic responses.The analysis was repeated cross-sectional contact survey data collected standardized international study from 21 European between March 2020 and 2022. calculated mean daily reported using clustered bootstrap by country settings (at home, at work, or other settings). Where were available, rates period compared with recorded prior fitted censored individual-level generalized additive mixed models examine effects of various number contacts.The 463,336 observations 96,456 participants. In all where comparison over previous years substantially lower than those seen (approximately 10 < 5), predominantly due fewer outside home. Government imposed immediate effect contacts, these lingered after lifted. Across countries, relationships national policy, individual perceptions, circumstances determining varied.Our study, coordinated regional level, provides important insights into understanding associated support infectious outbreak responses.

Language: Английский

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The influence of COVID-19 risk perception and vaccination status on the number of social contacts across Europe: insights from the CoMix study

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: July 13, 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics have been greatly modulated by human contact behaviour. To curb the spread of virus, global efforts focused on implementing both Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination. This study was conducted to explore influence COVID-19 vaccination status risk perceptions related number social contacts individuals in 16 European countries.

Language: Английский

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Understanding the role of risk preferences and perceptions in vaccination decisions and post-vaccination behaviors among U.S. households

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Abstract COVID-19 vaccines play a critical role in protecting against infection and transmission of the virus. Therefore, understanding public perceptions is essential for successful vaccine promotion. Previous literature reported strong associations between vaccination decisions several sociodemographic variables. However, knowledge about how behavioral factors, including risk preferences, impact individuals’ attitudes towards receiving currently lacking. Using data from nationally representative survey 1050 US adults, this study investigates correlation to receive both their preferences. Additionally, we investigate post-vaccination behavior by measuring participation three different groups activities that vary degree social exposure. We find correlations four measures preference perception. also behaviors post-vaccination. shed light on main factors discouraging uptake vaccines, as well opinions regarding performance organizations addressing pandemic, grocery store policies prevent infections. Our provides information can help policymakers communicate more effectively with promote among population geographic areas higher anti-vaccine sentiments.

Language: Английский

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Dynamics of non-household contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in the Netherlands

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: March 30, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic was in 2020 and 2021 for a large part mitigated by reducing contacts the general population. To monitor how these changed over course of Netherlands, longitudinal survey conducted where participants reported on their at-risk every two weeks, as European CoMix survey. included 1659 from April to August 2514 December September 2021. We categorized number unique contacted persons excluding household members, per participant day into six activity levels, defined 0, 1, 2, 3-4, 5-9 10 or more contacts. After correcting age, vaccination status, risk status severe outcome infection, frequency participation, levels increased time, coinciding with relaxation control measures.

Language: Английский

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Impact of tiered measures on social contact and mixing patterns of in Italy during the second wave of COVID-19

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: May 19, 2023

Most countries around the world enforced non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19. Italy was one of first to be affected by pandemic, imposing a hard lockdown, in epidemic wave. During second wave, country implemented progressively restrictive tiers at regional level according weekly epidemiological risk assessments. This paper quantifies impact these restrictions on contacts and reproduction number.Representative (with respect age, sex, region residence) longitudinal surveys Italian population were undertaken during Epidemiologically relevant contact patterns measured compared with pre-pandemic levels experienced participants. Contact matrices used quantify reduction number age group setting. The estimated evaluate spread COVID-19.The comparison baseline shows significant decrease contacts, independently from or settings. significantly depends strictness interventions. For all considered, social mixing results smaller than one. In particular, restriction decreases severity interventions.The progressive reduced number, stricter associated higher reductions. Readily collected data can inform implementation mitigation measures national emergencies come.

Language: Английский

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Changes in symptoms and characteristics of COVID-19 patients across different variants: two years study using neural network analysis

BMC Infectious Diseases, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: Nov. 28, 2023

Considering the fact that COVID-19 has undergone various changes over time, its symptoms have also varied. The aim of this study is to describe and compare in personal characteristics, symptoms, underlying conditions individuals infected with different strains COVID-19.This descriptive-analytical was conducted on 46,747 patients who underwent PCR testing during a two-year period from February 22, 2020 23, 2022, South Khorasan province, Iran. Patient characteristics were extracted based self-report information system. data analyzed using logistic regression artificial neural network approaches. R software used for analysis significance level 0.05 considered tests.Among cases analyzed, 23,239 (49.7%) male, mean age 51.48 ± 21.41 years. There significant difference among variants disease (p < 0.001). factors positive association myalgia (OR: 2.04; 95% CI, 1.76 - 2.36), cough 1.93; 1.68-2.22), taste or smell disorder 2.62; 2.1 3.28). Additionally, aging found increase likelihood across six periods.We older age, myalgia, taste/smell are better compared dyspnea high body temperature, identifying patient. As evolved, chills diarrhea, demonstrated prognostic strength as Omicron.

Language: Английский

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Longitudinal social contact data analysis: insights from 2 years of data collection in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: July 6, 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CoMix study, a longitudinal behavioral survey, was designed to monitor social contacts and public awareness in multiple countries, including Belgium. As it is vulnerable participants' "survey fatigue", which may impact inferences.A negative binomial generalized additive model for location, scale, shape (NBI GAMLSS) adopted estimate number of reported between age groups deal with under-reporting due fatigue within study. The dropout process analyzed first-order auto-regressive logistic regression identify factors that influence dropout. Using so-called next generation principle, we calculated effect on estimating reproduction number.Fewer were as people participated longer suggests survey fatigue. Participant significantly affected by household size categories, but not any two latest waves. This indicates covariate-dependent missing completely at random (MCAR) pattern, when (MAR) alternative. However, cannot rule out more complex mechanisms such (MNAR). Moreover, found be consistent over time implies 15-30% reduction both ([Formula: see text]) ratio correcting under-reporting. Lastly, did change pattern relative incidence also considering age-specific heterogeneity susceptibility infectivity.CoMix data highlights variability contact patterns across time, revealing governing spread/transmission COVID-19/airborne diseases population. Although surveys are prone participant drop-out, showed these can identified corrected using NBI GAMLSS. information used improve design similar, future surveys.

Language: Английский

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Back to the future? Drastic drop in serotype 19A carriage in daycare centers within two years after a second switch to PCV13 in Belgium

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: April 1, 2025

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) reduce Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and carriage. After switching from PCV13 to PCV10 in 2015-2016, Belgium switched back 2019. Building on our systematic monitoring of childhood nasopharyngeal carriage since 2016, here, we analyze the serotypes S. other pathogens children attending daycare centers (DCCs) 2018 2021. From period 2018-2019 2020-2021, included a total 2,741 swabs collected aged 6 30 months. We identified pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus conducted serotyping antimicrobial susceptibility assessments strains using culture methods real-time PCR. was frequent quite stable over three study years. H. influenzae M. catarrhalis were more frequently carried than pneumoniae. Frequency all PCV13-serotypes together among carriers decreased significantly 19.4% 9.9% 2020-2021 (p < .001), largely due serotype 19A Resistance pneumococcal penicillin increased Two years after second switch 2019, again Belgian centers.

Language: Английский

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Modeling of inhalation exposure to transmitted droplets at different interpersonal distances and postures in indoor environments

Indoor Environments, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100091 - 100091

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Joint Analysis of the Epidemic Evolution and Human Mobility During the First Wave of COVID-19 in Spain: Retrospective Study

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9, P. e40514 - e40514

Published: May 22, 2023

The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic placed a tremendous strain on health care systems worldwide. To mitigate spread virus, many countries implemented stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), which significantly altered human behavior both before and after their enactment. Despite these efforts, precise assessment impact efficacy NPIs, as well extent behavioral changes, remained elusive.In this study, we conducted retrospective analysis in Spain to better comprehend influence NPIs interaction with behavior. Such investigations are vital for devising future mitigation strategies combat enhance epidemic preparedness more broadly.We used combination national regional analyses incidence alongside large-scale mobility data assess timing government-implemented combating COVID-19. Additionally, compared findings model-based inference hospitalizations fatalities. This approach enabled us construct counterfactual scenarios that gauged consequences delayed initiation response measures.Our demonstrated pre-national lockdown response, encompassing measures heightened individual awareness, contributed reducing disease burden Spain. indicated people adjusted epidemiological situation nationwide was implemented. Counterfactual suggested without early there would have been an estimated 45,400 (95% CI 37,400-58,000) fatalities 182,600 150,400-233,800) reported figures 27,800 107,600 hospitalizations, respectively.Our underscore significance self-implemented prevention by population study also emphasizes necessity prompt quantification prior enacting enforced measures. highlights critical interplay between progression, interdependence presents challenge predicting they

Language: Английский

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