Quarantine of Travellers during the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic- Experience from a Rural Setting in Kerala, India

Introduction: Quarantine of travellers was one of the major public health strategies enforced by the state to curb the transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the initial phases. Proper quarantine requires commitment from the person, support, and monitoring from the public health system. Aim: To understand the process, practices, perceptions, and difficulties of quarantined persons during the initial phase of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in a panchayat in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2020 using a semi-structured questionnaire through telephonic interview among quarantined individuals in a panchayat in Alappuzha, Kerala. Quarantine practices, the process of quarantine, perceptions, and difficulties faced were explored to understand their viewpoint. The perceptions of the healthcare providers were also enquired qualitatively. The data collected was entered in Microsoft Excel and statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Results: Out of the 182 quarantined individuals, 152 were in home quarantine of which 89 (58.6%) observed strict room quarantine and 132 (72.5%) had a quarantine period of more than 14 days which was the guideline then. Majority were contacted by the health staff during the period;however, 28% were not satisfied with the information that was conveyed to them. Majority adhered to infection control guidelines during quarantine. Almost half (46.7%) of them reported emotional problems during quarantine of which the major issues were loneliness and lack of social contact. Almost one-third of them had experienced stigma and rejection from people in the neighbourhood. Conclusion: Quarantine to be used effectively as a public health measure requires that the concerns and problems should also be taken care of. Adequate information regarding the need and process of quarantine should be provided and there should be a system to cater to the emotional concerns of the persons. Awareness regarding the purpose and role of quarantine among the general public will enable quarantine to be used as a powerful tool for disease control in the future.

Guidelines for Job of Physical Education Professionals in the context of COVID-19

The objective of the study was to create an assistance protocol for the public, specific for Physical Education (PE) professionals, in the context of COVID-19. The present study had a qualitative approach, delineated by documental and bibliographic analysis of the documents available on the websites of the Health Professional Councils. Thus, a protocol was elaborated consisting of two types of professional activity, of a general domain, which reinforces actions already presented by other studies, and of a specific domain, which presents new guidelines for PE professionals. Furthermore, this protocol classified the work of these professionals into three situations, namely: constant physical contact, transitory physical contact, and improbable physical contact. Up to the present moment, specifications of Personal Protective Equipment for PE professionals focused on clothing, client contact and exercise intensity have not been verified, except for the general work environment. Therefore, it is expected that the current study contributes to the health and safety of PE professionals in this pandemic context. © 2022 University of Beira Interior. All rights reserved.

SPATIAL (IN)JUSTICES IN TIME(S) OF SOCIAL DISTANCING:THE USUFRUCT OF GREEN SPACES IN BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES BASED ON SEN-TINEL 2

The general duty of home confinement imposed in Portugal during the 45 days of State of Emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic restricted leisure time to spaces surrounding houses. In this sense, considering the health benefits provided by green spaces, the main objective of this research is to identify injustices in the usufruct of these spaces in the municipalities of Braga and Guimarães, based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. The results show that 19% of the territory of Braga and Guimarães presents a problematic situation in the use of green spaces, especially in the urban centres and surroundings areas, where vegetation is very depleted. It should also be noted that, in Guimarães, diffuse urbanization/industrialization promotes the existence of critical areas also outside the urban perimeter, especially in the villages. This mapping constitutes an important input for emergency plans for similar situations, contributing to the maximization of resources when implementing measures that promote vegetation. © 2020, Finisterra, LV. All rights reserved.