Lifting Universal Masking in Schools — Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff

New England Journal of Medicine, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 387(21), P. 1935 - 1946

Published: Nov. 9, 2022

In February 2022, Massachusetts rescinded a statewide universal masking policy in public schools, and many school districts lifted requirements during the subsequent weeks. greater Boston area, only two — neighboring Chelsea sustained through June 2022. The staggered lifting of provided an opportunity to examine effect policies on incidence coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) schools.

Language: Английский

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Higher viral load and infectivity increase risk of aerosol transmission for Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2

Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 152(0102), P. w30133 - w30133

Published: Jan. 6, 2022

Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is an important route infection. For the wildtype (WT) only a small proportion those infected emitted large quantities virus. The currently prevalent variants concern, Delta (B1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529), are characterized by higher viral loads lower minimal infective dose compared to WT. We aimed describe resulting distribution airborne emissions reassess risk estimates for public settings given load infectivity.We reran Monte Carlo modelling estimate in fine aerosol size range using available data. also updated our tool simulate indoor including CO2 calculator recirculating air cleaning devices. assessed consequences critical on infection with different protection strategies.Our suggests that much larger individuals new high, very high or super-emitters viruses: WT, one 1,000 was super-emitter; 30; 20 10, depending used. Testing effectiveness protective strategies view surgical masks no longer sufficient most settings, while correctly fitted FFP2 respirators still provide protection, except producing situations such as singing shouting.From perspective, shift towards emitting individuals, together strongly reduced dose, seem be two drivers risk, likely contributing observed rapid spread concern. Reducing contacts, always wearing well-fitted when indoors, ventilation other methods reduce virus concentrations, avoiding loud voices limiting these latest waves COVID-19 pandemic.

Language: Английский

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Respiratory aerosols and droplets in the transmission of infectious diseases

Reviews of Modern Physics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 95(4)

Published: Oct. 12, 2023

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 has led to a renewed focus on the physicochemical properties droplets and aerosol particles that are exhaled during breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing. In this article, respiratory particles, including their number concentrations size distributions, as well formation mechanisms at different sites in system, reviewed. data literature synthesized via parametrization particle distribution using log-normal modes related origin sites.

Language: Английский

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Masks and respirators for prevention of respiratory infections: a state of the science review

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 37(2)

Published: May 22, 2024

SUMMARYThis narrative review and meta-analysis summarizes a broad evidence base on the benefits-and also practicalities, disbenefits, harms personal, sociocultural environmental impacts-of masks masking. Our synthesis of from over 100 published reviews selected primary studies, including re-analyzing contested meta-analyses key clinical trials, produced seven findings. First, there is strong consistent for airborne transmission severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) other pathogens. Second, are, if correctly consistently worn, effective in reducing diseases show dose-response effect. Third, respirators are significantly more than medical or cloth masks. Fourth, mask mandates overall, community Fifth, important symbols; non-adherence to masking sometimes linked political ideological beliefs widely circulated mis- disinformation. Sixth, while much that not generally harmful general population, may be relatively contraindicated individuals with certain conditions, who require exemption. Furthermore, groups (notably D/deaf people) disadvantaged when others masked. Finally, risks environment single-use respirators. We propose an agenda future research, improved characterization situations which should recommended mandated; attention comfort acceptability; generalized disability-focused communication support settings where worn; development testing novel materials designs filtration, breathability, impact.

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 Pandemic Increases the Impact of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(8), P. 4599 - 4599

Published: April 11, 2022

In March 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 pandemic as a global issue. To reduce spread of this disease, health safety pathways were implemented worldwide. These extraordinary measures changed people's lifestyles, e.g., by being forced to isolate, and in many cases, work remotely from home. Low back pain (LBP), most common cause disability worldwide, is often symptom COVID-19. Moreover, it associated with different lifestyle features (type job, physical activity, body weight). Therefore, purpose systematic review meta-analysis was estimate effect lockdown on LBP intensity prevalence compared rates before pandemic. A search performed Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Central. Overall, eight studies 2365 patients included analysis. We used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool evaluate risk bias: six (75%) at moderate bias two (25%) low bias. showed an increase both during lockdown.

Language: Английский

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Size, concentration, and origin of human exhaled particles and their dependence on human factors with implications on infection transmission

Journal of Aerosol Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 168, P. 106102 - 106102

Published: Nov. 21, 2022

Understanding infection transmission between individuals, as well evaluating the efficacy of protective measures, are key issues in pandemics driven by human respiratory particles. The is a quantitative understanding size and concentration particles exhaled their variability across range for representative population all ages, genders, different activities. Here we present data from 132 healthy volunteers aged 5 to 80 years, measured over entire particle each individual. Conventional spectrometry was combined with in-line holography under well-controlled conditions common activities such breathing, speaking, singing, shouting. We find age be most important parameter small exhale <5 µm (PM5), which doubles 7-year period adolescents 30-year adults. Gender, body mass index, smoking or exercise habits have no discernible effect. provide evidence that diameter originate lower tract, 5–15 larynx/pharynx, >15 oral cavity. PM5 can vary one order magnitude within person, while inter-person span two orders magnitude, largely explained difference age. found larger than µm. Our results show cumulative volume 2–8 times higher adults children. In contrast, number particles, produced predominantly upper independent Finally, examined types airborne-transmissible diseases provided insights into possible modes without several types/fits face masks.

Language: Английский

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Individual costs and societal benefits of interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(24)

Published: June 7, 2023

Individual and societal reactions to an ongoing pandemic can lead social dilemmas: In some cases, each individual is tempted not follow intervention, but for the whole society, it would be best if they did. Now that in most countries, extent of regulations reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission very small, interventions are driven by decision-making. Assuming individuals act their own interest, we propose a framework which this situation quantified, depending on protection intervention provides user others, risk getting infected, costs intervention. We discuss when tension between benefits arises parameter comparisons important distinguish different regimes use.

Language: Английский

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Numerical study on the onset of global-scale flow from individual buoyant plumes: Implications for indoor disease transmission

Physics of Fluids, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Transport of exhaled droplets and aerosol suspension is a main route for the transmission highly infectious respiratory diseases. A poorly ventilated room, where human body heat drives flow pathogen motion, one such paradigmatic situation with an elevated risk viral transmission. Here, we report numerical study on heat-driven buoyancy convection in slender rectangular geometry geometric size 12 × 1 3 m3. Using large-scale three-dimensional simulations, reveal how different spacings between sources can potentially spread pathogenic species occupants room. Morphological transition airflow takes place as distance varied, which shapes distinct patterns disease transmission: For sufficiently large distance, individual buoyant plume creates natural barrier, forming jets that block occupants. Thermal plumes exhibit significant effects. However, small distances, collective effect emerges thermal condense into superstructure, facilitating long-distance transport via crossing rolls. In addition, quantify impact morphological particles by introducing tracer particles. The quantitative analysis shows under certain critical infection becomes significantly due to this behavior. Our findings highlight importance reasonable social distancing reduce indoor cross-transmission people provide new insights hidden transitional behavior environments.

Language: Английский

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Highly efficient microbial inactivation enabled by tunneling charges injected through two-dimensional electronics

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(18)

Published: May 3, 2024

Airborne pathogens retain prolonged infectious activity once attached to the indoor environment, posing a pervasive threat public health. Conventional air filters suffer from ineffective inactivation of physics-separated microorganisms, and chemical-based antimicrobial materials face challenges poor stability/efficiency inefficient viral inactivation. We, therefore, developed rapid, reliable method against bacteria/viruses using large-scale tunneling charge–motivated disinfection device fabricated by directly dispersing monolayer graphene on insulators. Free charges can be stably immobilized under through effect. The stored motivate continuous electron loss microorganisms for accelerated disinfection, overcoming diffusion limitation chemical disinfectants. Complete (>99.99%) broad-spectrum was achieved <1 min attachment scaled-up (25 square centimeters), reliably 72 hours at high temperature (60°C) humidity (90%). This readily applied high-touch surfaces in environments pathogen control.

Language: Английский

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Can a combination of vaccination and face mask wearing contain the COVID‐19 pandemic?

Microbial Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 721 - 737

Published: Dec. 28, 2021

Summary The COVID‐19 pandemic is going into its third year with Europe again being the focus of major epidemic activity. present review tries to answer question whether one can come grip by a combination vaccinations and non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Several vaccines are remarkable efficacy achieve high protection rates against symptomatic disease, especially severe but mathematical models suggest that current vaccination coverage in many countries insufficient control. NPIs needed as complementary measures because recent research has also revealed limits alone. Here, we evidence for face mask wearing various settings. Overall pooled analysis showed significant reduction incidence wearing, although heterogeneity between studies was substantial. Controlled trials difficult conduct, separating effects population from impact other challenging masks depend on material fit. potentially synergistic since protects so far well disease development (the omicron variant currently an unknown) immunity infection wanes over few months after vaccination. In comparison, interfere virus transmission process at level physical barrier independent coronavirus variant. Vaccination much less costly apply than NPI which associated economic social costs, paradoxically both target vocal opposition sizable minority society. parallel biomedical research, need more science this guide political decisions how end pandemic.

Language: Английский

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