Indian Agricultural Sector Present and Post Pandemic Condition

The COVID-19 influenced global pandemic severely affected the market of small industries and had a deep impact on the agri economic of the farmer community across the globe. The main objective of this article is to emphasize on the influence of global pandemic with agriculture and food sector. The lockdown made ambivalent in agriculture, the point of concern is that, at the first phase of lockdown in India, Rabi crops are at harvest stage, due to the lockdown the breakdown of supply chain has been interrupted and left a noticeable impact on the marketability of agriculture crops even though it has registered moderate growth in terms of yield. At present globally mankind is experiencing the waves of pandemic and it caused significant loss to the yield of crops. If the situation continuous, the world is going to experience the hunger deaths. To overcome the issue discussed, agriculture sector needs to adapt new technologies, right from the cultivation, harvest and supply chain with marketing to bring the new normal life back to mankind. This is the right time to have transition from conventional agri practices to the technology invented smart agriculture. Indian agriculture sector should adapt and the former community need to be educated in applying ICT based smart agriculture practices such as utilization of automated machinery, AI (artificial intelligence) enabled cultivation methods, Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks based monitoring and maintenance of the agriculture practice. The application ICTs methods in agriculture practices facilitate to choose good quality seeds, optimum quantity of manures required for the enhanced crop yield and direct monetary of the agriculture firm in order to show resilience to the global pandemic impact on agriculture sector. In the present review authors emphasised on various smart agriculture methods and their importance in promoting the agriculture practice as profitable venture and also how this ICT methods helps the sector to overcome the impact of global pandemic and to bring back the new normal life. © 2023,International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications. All Rights Reserved.

Clinico-epidemiological Characteristics of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19-Positive Patients in Bangladesh.

As of August 15, 2020, Bangladesh lost 3591 lives since the first Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case announced on March 8. The objective of the study was to report the clinical manifestation of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19-positive patients. An online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted for initial recruitment of participants with subsequent telephone interview by the three trained physicians in 237 adults with confirmed COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh. The study period was 27 April to 26th May 2020. Consent was ensured before commencing the interview. Collected data were entered in a pre-designed case record form and subsequently analyzed by SPSS 20.0. The mean±SD age at presentation was 41.59±13.73 years and most of the cases were male (73.0%). A total of 90.29% of patients reside in urban areas. Among the positive cases, 13.1% (n=31) were asymptomatic. Asymptomatic cases were significantly more common in households with 2 to 4 members (p=0.008). Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients shared similar ages of presentation (p=0.23), gender differences (p=0.30) and co-morbidities (p=0.11). Only 5.3% of patients received ICU care during their treatment. The most frequent presentation was fever (88.3%), followed by cough (69.9%), chest pain (34.5%), body ache (31.1%), and sore throat (30.1%). Thirty-nine percent (n=92) of the patients had co-morbidities, with diabetes and hypertension being the most frequently observed. There has been an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. Patients were mostly middle-aged and male. Typical presentations were fever and cough. Maintenance of social distancing and increased testing are required to meet the current public health challenge.

Role of Virtual Ward in COVID-19 Pandemic in a developing country: Our experience of first 100 patients

Objective: To assess the role of virtual ward in COVID-19 Pandemic in a developing country and to describe our experience with first 100 patients admitted in virtual ward. Methodology: This retrospective study is chart review of first 100 patients who presented consecutively to our service in virtual ward. The data were captured from the electronic medical record system, which was secure and password protected. We used Microsoft excel for data analysis. Results: Out of 100 patients, there were 63 males and 37 females and with age range of 50 – 60 years. Majority had no comorbidities while 20% had diabetes, another 24% with cardiac disease and 4% with pulmonary disease. Off all patients, 90% were discharged from the service and 10% were admitted to the hospital. One person died during the stay in service. Feedback on the quality of service showed majority patients were satisfied with the service with the score of 4.8 on the scale of 1 to 5. Conclusion: In pandemic era, there is increasing need for safer and coordinated care through virtual ward. It increases the level of patient's satisfaction and lowers the inpatient burden for the hospital.

Prevalence, risk factors and sources of anxiety among Emergency Department healthcare workers in Pakistan during COVID-19 pandemic: A single center survey

COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and questions about sources of anxiety. Of 107 participants, 61.7% were frontline workers. The prevalence of anxiety was 50.5%. Nonparametric tests determined that nurses, younger and inexperienced staff, developed significant anxiety. Multivariate ordinal regression determined independent risk factors for developing anxiety were younger age (OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.89-4.99) and frontline placement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.33-1.66). Significant sources of stress were fear of infecting family (P = 0.003), lack of social support when the health care providers were themselves unwell (P = 0.02) and feelings of inadequate work performance (P = 0.05). Our study finds that HCWs' anxiety is considerable. Appropriate measures for its alleviation and prevention are required. ©

Rapid Expert Consultation on Critical Federal Capabilities Needed to Evaluate Real-World Safety, Effectiveness, and Equitable Distribution and Use of Medical Countermeasures During a Public Health Emergency

This rapid expert consultation was produced by individual members of the Standing Committee for CDC Center for Preparedness and Response (SCPR). Its aim is to review and propose modifications to an initial draft list of critical federal capabilities presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are needed to evaluate real-world safety, effectiveness, equitable distribution, access, and use of medical countermeasures (MCMs) during a public health emergency (PHE). This effort draws from expert input, published literature, and lessons learned from previous public health emergencies, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Rapid Expert Consultation on Critical Federal Capabilities Needed to Evaluate Real-World Safety, Effectiveness, and Equitable Distribution and Use of Medical Countermeasures During a Public Health Emergency. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26574. © 2022 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

EFL learners during and beyond COVID 19 pandemic: advantages, challenges and solutions of online learning

Institutions change their educational processes in a relatively short period of time to solely online with an aim to continue teaching and learning. We examined EFL students' attitudes about online learning, their ability to absorb knowledge, and their usage of E-learning platforms in this respect. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey.225 students from King Khalid University one of the biggest university in KSA participated in the study. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the EFL learning process both during and after it. The benefits of online learning revealed in previous research appear to be diminishing, while the drawbacks grow more evident. In the context of the pandemic-induced crisis, the hierarchy of difficulties that occur in online learning shifts. The most major difficulties are technological challenges, and the EFL students faced issues at various levels. Students, on the other hand, also attributed the last position to a lack of contact with instructors or inadequate communication with them. The research implications for institutions and researchers are explored considering these findings. The findings also revealed the influence of different locations on students' views about the environment. The students did not show more inquisitiveness to continue online learning, if the universities go back to traditional learning. The co-variance matrix and objective function were also created for all the 30 questions.

Clinical features and associated comorbidities in 200 cases of COVID-19 in Peshawar, Pakistan

SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging pathogen first reported in China and rapidly spreads throughout the world. The current study focused on the prevalence of symptoms, leukocytosis, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and comorbidity in patients resulted positive for COVID-19. About 200 patients were enrolled in the study first screened by ICT and then confirmed by RT-PCR. All the patients have symptoms fever, sore throat and dry cough. However 180 (90%) patients experienced tiredness, aches and pain all over the body in 193 (96%), diarrhea in 160 (80%), conjunctivitis in 64 (32%), headache in 177 (88%), loss of taste and smell in 49 (24%), a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes in 54 (27%), shortness of breath in 12 (8%), chest pain or pressure in 16 (8%), loss of speech and movement in 4 (2%) patients. 78 (39%) patients were found having co-infections including 23 (29.5%) patients have liver infection, 14 (17.9%) were kidney patients, 16 (20.5%) were heart patients and 25 (32%) were diabetic patients. Leukocytosis were found in 76 (97%) out 78 comorbid patients, while in only 2 (2.6%) non-comorbid patients had leukocytosis. Leukopenia were detected in 122 (61%) non-morbidpatients out of 200 COVID-19 patients. Thrombocytopenia were detected in 118 (59%) COVID-19 patients. The patients with previous cardiovascular diseases and other comorbid conditions may face greater risk of developing the disease into severe form. 51-60 years of individuals are at high risk of getting infection. The hematologic changes are associated with COVID-19 includes thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, and leukocytopenia.

Advanced Preparation Makes Research in Emergencies and Isolation Care Possible: The Case of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The optimal time to initiate research on emergencies is before they occur. However, timely initiation of high quality research may launch during an emergency under the right conditions. These include an appropriate context, clarity in scientific aims, preexisting resources, strong operational and research structures that are facile, and good governance. Here, Nebraskan rapid research efforts early during the 2020 coronavirus disease pandemic, while participating in the firstuse of U.S. federal quarantine in 50 years, are described from these aspects, as the global experience with this severe emerging infection grew apace. The experience has lessons in purpose, structure, function, and performance of research in any emergency, when facing any threat.

COVID-19 Infection in Persons Living with HIV in a Network of Community Health Centers in New York

Background. COVID-19 infection amongst persons living with HIV (PLWH) at Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHC) is not yet well understood. FQHC patients are frequently impoverished and marginalized due to socioeconomic instability and structural inequities. The virus has a wide-ranging clinical presentation, and little is known about how it affects specific populations such as PLWH and whether specific patterns of immunocompromise confer increased risk. Patients in community health centers and those living with HIV are often underrepresented from clinical trials. Patients seen at FQHC's are more likely to be uninsured or living in poverty, or of Black or Latinx racial and ethnic backgrounds. Sun River Health is a not-for-profit, New York State licensed Article 28 Diagnostic & Treatment Center and FQHC. Sun River Health provides HIV primary care and supportive services caring for more than 2,500 PLWH primarily concentrated in 16 sites throughout the region. This study is a retrospective analysis of a vulnerable community at the heart of this pandemic. Methods. We gathered COVID-19 diagnosis related data from the clinic's electronic medical record and the New York State Health Information Exchange (HIE). We did chart reviews on 122 PLWH who had positive COVID PCR or antibody test between March 10 2020 and June 10 2020. Data collected included presence of symptoms, presence of comorbidities, CD4 counts, Hospitalization rate, ICU admission, and number of deaths. Results. 71.3% of cases occurred between the ages of 40-69 years. There were 85 cases (69.7%) in men and 37 cases (30.3%) in women. 54 cases (44.3%) occurred in African Americans, and 46 cases (37.7%) in Caucasians. 48 cases (39.3%) occurred in Latinx individuals, and 68 cases (55.7%) in Non-Hispanics. 91 cases (74.6%) were symptomatic and had either a positive COVID-19 PCR or antibody test. Symptomatic COVID-19 was present at higher rates in those with multiple predisposing comorbidities. 101 cases (82.8%) were virally suppressed. 89 cases (72.9%) were not hospitalized while 27 cases (22.1%) were hospitalized. Conclusion. Most PLWH with COVID-19 were managed on an outpatient basis. PLWH with COVID-19 are not at a greater risk of severe disease or death as compared to HIV negative patients.

Assessment of severity of Anxiety Symptoms among King Faisal University Al Ahsa students during coronavirus pandemic (COVID 19)

COVID-19 starts to spread between the countries since the beginning of 2020 and infects millions of people worldwide. The governments put a strict rule, including lockdown, to prevent the disease;many health consequences happened and got attention from clinicians and researchers. This study aim to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms developed in King Faisal University students by continuous stress and lockdown due to the pandemic (COVID-19). A cross-sectional study was done using the Arabic version of the Hamilton anxiety rating scale, which we apply online, targeting King Faisal University students;the total number of participants was 529. This study showed that 73.2 % of King Faisal University student have mild anxiety symptoms, 14.2 % reported to have mild to moderate anxiety symptoms, while 7.4 % of the students have moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, only a few (5.3%) of the students reported to have very severe anxiety symptoms. The severity of anxiety symptoms significantly related to age, marital status, being a medical college student and smoking. We can conclude that most participants have mild anxiety symptoms while the rest of the participants reported having more severe anxiety symptoms. Age, marital status, smoking and being a medical college student can affect the severity of anxiety symptoms among the population. It is highly recommended to start screening, education and prevention programs for psychiatric impacts among university students and the community as soon as possible since the COVID 19 pandemic is still going. © 2021 Teikyo University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

Mitigating a COVID-19 outbreak among major league baseball players - United States, 2020

Mass gatherings have been implicated in higher rates of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and many sporting events have been restricted or canceled to limit disease spread. Based on current CDC COVID-19 mitigation recommendations related to events and gatherings, Major League Baseball (MLB) developed new health and safety protocols before the July 24 start of the 2020 season. In addition, MLB made the decision that games would be played without spectators. Before a three-game series between teams A and B, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health was notified of a team A player with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19;the player was isolated as recommended. During the series and the week after, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was diagnosed among 19 additional team A players and staff members and one team B staff member. Throughout their potentially infectious periods, some asymptomatic team A players and coaches, who subsequently received positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, engaged in on-field play with teams B and C. No on-field team B or team C players or staff members subsequently received a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. Certain MLB health and safety protocols, which include frequent diagnostic testing for rapid case identification, isolation of persons with positive test results, quarantine for close contacts, mask wearing, and social distancing, might have limited COVID-19 transmission between teams.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown on quality of life of high-school students

COVID-19 is a pandemic which has caused significant disruptions in schooling and access to education. It is important to investigate the impact these lockdowns have had on the quality of life of high school students. Here, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO QOL) bref survey is used to investigate the impact of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns on the quality of life of high school students in urban Lahore, Pakistan. Using statistical analyses, it is found that concentrational levels, financial constraints, support from family and friends, and opportunities for leisure activities are the factors that significantly impact the quality of life of students. Furthermore, a correlation between general social determinants of health, including social and economic factors, was not seen, and is attributed to the skewness of the chosen demographic being from a higher income bracket. © 2020 Lahore Medical And Dental College. All rights reserved.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) knowledge and perceptions: An online community survey in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia - Al Ahsa

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been announced as a pandemic by the world health organization since the 11th of March 2020. Case count has been increasing since then thought the world. Healthcare authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities and it is beyond the borders. Misconceptions surrounding a newly discovered disease can impact general population's adherence to precautions and thus leading to a rapid spread of the virus. This study is aimed to investigate knowledge and perceptions of the Saudi community about COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among the community about COVID19 for two weeks starting from 20 March 2020. The questionnaire used is based on a validated and already applied questionnaire, which has 14-items in two parts: Knowledge and Perception. The questionnaire was translated into Arabic and conducted a pilot study for assessing reliability co-efficient. It took 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire and it was circulated through social media. A chi square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables at the significance level of p<0.05. Results: A total of 1011 participants completed the survey, more than 99% of them have heard about pandemic COVID-19. 57.5% were males, 42.5% were female and most of them were within the age group between 18 and 30 years and with the level of education as a bachelor's degree. Nearly 85% obtained their information from social media as a primary source of COVID-19 and followed by almost 60% from governmental authorities as a second source. About 88.3 % were aware of the basic symptoms of COVID-19 and mostly 99.0% exhibited a positive knowledge regarding the preventive measures of COVID-19 that hand hygiene, covering nose. About 92% are aware that there is no benefit from flu vaccination in preventing COVID-19. A significant proportion of participants within different socio demographic data perceived eating well-cooked/handled meat to be safe (p<0.05). Moreover, nearly 74.1% were aware that coronavirus COVID-19 can Leads to pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death (p<0.05). Conclusion: Most participants have good knowledge and perceived that COVID- 19 is dangerous diseases and spread among the community rapidly. It reflects that health care authorities have done their job properly and successful in engaging the community during the crises.

Mental Health of the COVID-19 Patients in Bangladesh.

The mental health aspect of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients in Bangladesh has remained less focused and has not been addressed properly. The objective of the study was to assess the levels of anxiety and depression in COVID-19 patients. We adopted a mixed online and telephone-based survey using Google Forms. Recruitment was performed through a snowball sampling approach. The Google Form was initially circulated in Facebook to identify interested participants. Then, three trained physicians interviewed the online responders over telephone for a period spanning from April 2020 to June 2020. Two well-known questionnaires, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), were used for the assessment of anxiety and depression, respectively. Here, the severity of anxiety was classified with the standard thresholds: minimal or none (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14) and severe (>15) for the GAD-7. Depression severity score: 0-4 was considered as none or no depression, 5-9: mild, 10-14: moderate, 15-19: moderately severe, 20-27 was for severe depression. A total of 237 patients were finally analyzed. The mean age ±SD of the patients was 41.59±13.73 years. Most of them were male (73%) and lived in urban areas (90.29%). Half of the patients were unemployed, and 17.7% admitted loss of job due to lockdown. The overall prevalence of anxiety and depression was 55.7% and 87.3%, respectively. The mean GAD-7 score was 5.79±4.95, and the mean PHQ-9 score was 5.64±5.15. Among the depressive patients, 3% had minimal depression, 38.4% had mild depression, 32.1% had moderate depression, 11.8% had moderate depression, and 2.1% had a severe depression. Similarly, 37.1%, 10.5% and 8% had mild, moderate and severe levels of anxiety, respectively. Nearly half of the study population (47.7%) was suffering from both depression and anxiety. Living in urban area was an independent predictor for depression (OR 3.882; CI: 1.249-12.069). Considering the high comorbid burden, the mental health issues of these patients need to be addressed and reinforced to the existing health system on a priority basis.