Objective: This review sought to describe the main trends and findings on the SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic\'s effect on reproduction (i.e., effects on fertility, reproductive tissue, pregnancy, vertical and sexual transmission) and sexual function and behaviors. Methods: A review was conducted on studies assessing these variables through the Scopus and PubMed databases between the years 2019-2021. Results: Results showed SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and social distancing measures have affected-and in some cases not-different aspects of people\'s reproductive function, sexual function and behaviors. Conclusions: Suggestions are offered for researchers and professionals focused on future research and clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions within non-healthcare workplaces and community-level workplace closures and lockdowns on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, selected mental disorders, and employment outcomes in workers or the general population.
METHODS: The inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions. The exclusion criteria included modeling studies. Electronic searches were conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and other databases from January 1, 2020, through May 11, 2021. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Meta-analysis and sign tests were performed.
RESULTS: A total of 60 observational studies met the inclusion criteria. There were 40 studies on COVID-19 outcomes, 15 on anxiety and depression symptoms, and five on unemployment and labor force participation. There was a paucity of studies on physical distancing, physical barriers, and symptom and temperature screening within workplaces. The sign test indicated that lockdown reduced COVID-19 incidence or case growth rate (23 studies, p < 0.001), reproduction number (11 studies, p < 0.001), and COVID-19 mortality or death growth rate (seven studies, p < 0.05) in the general population. Lockdown did not have any effect on anxiety symptoms (pooled standardized mean difference = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.06, 0.02). Lockdown had a small effect on increasing depression symptoms (pooled standardized mean difference = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.21), but publication bias could account for the observed effect. Lockdown increased unemployment (pooled mean difference = 4.48 percentage points, 95% CI: 1.79, 7.17) and decreased labor force participation (pooled mean difference = -2.46 percentage points, 95% CI: -3.16, -1.77). The risk of bias for most of the studies on COVID-19 or employment outcomes was moderate or serious. The risk of bias for the studies on anxiety or depression symptoms was serious or critical.
CONCLUSIONS: Empiric studies indicated that lockdown reduced the impact of COVID-19, but that it had notable unwanted effects. There is a pronounced paucity of studies on the effect of interventions within still-open workplaces. It is important for countries that implement lockdown in future pandemics to consider strategies to mitigate these unintended consequences.
BACKGROUND: PROSPERO registration # CRD42020182660.

BACKGROUND: Although 24-hour movement behaviors are known to be interconnected, limited knowledge exists about whether change in one behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic (eg, increased screen time) was associated with change in another (eg, reduced physical activity or sleep). This review estimates mediational associations between changes in children\'s physical activity, screen time, and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: We included studies published between January 1, 2020 and June 27, 2022, in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. Summary data were extracted from included studies and analyzed with random-effects meta-regression.
RESULTS: This review included 26 studies representing 18,959 children across 18 mid-high-income countries (53% male; mean age, 11.5 [2.9] y). There was very good evidence of decreased total daily physical activity (factor change, 0.62; 90% CI, 0.47-0.81) and strong evidence of increased screen time (1.56; 90% CI, 1.38-1.77). There was very good evidence of decreased moderate to vigorous physical activity (0.75; 90% CI, 0.62-0.90) and weak evidence of increased sleep (1.02; 90% CI, 1.00-1.04). Mediational analysis revealed strong evidence that most of the reduction in total daily physical activity from before, to during, the pandemic was associated with increased screen time (0.53; 90% CI, 0.42-0.67). We observed no further mediational associations.
CONCLUSIONS: Increased reliance on and use of screen-based devices during the COVID-19 pandemic can be linked with reduced child and adolescent physical activity. This finding links COVID-related restrictions to potential displacement effects within child and adolescent 24-hour movement behavior.

UNASSIGNED: In Japan, on April 20, 2020, the definition of a close contact regarding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was changed from a long-term contact time to a specified contact time of 15 min and from a contact distance of 2 m to 1 m.
UNASSIGNED: We aimed to determine the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rate among close contacts of patients with COVID-19 and determine the impact of the infection on transmission among close contacts.
UNASSIGNED: The numbers of SARS-CoV-2 tests, SARS-CoV-2-positive cases, and close contacts of patients with COVID-19 were assessed between March 2020 and February 2021 in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The study period was subdivided into 3 periods. The second and third period contained data with the changed definition of close contact.
UNASSIGNED: Overall, 32,238 SARS-CoV-2 tests were performed. There were 545 patients with COVID-19 and 1487 close contacts, of whom 267 tested positive. The highest infection rate occurred in period 3. Distance, protective measures, and contact time with COVID-19 patients influenced the increased infection rate. The infection rate showed a rising trend from 11.1% in period 1 to 19.2% and 20.0% in periods 2 and 3, respectively (Cochran-Armitage test; P < 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex was an independent risk factor for infection of close contacts (odds ratio: 2.23; 95% confidence interval: 1.700-2.930).
UNASSIGNED: Female sex is a risk factor for transmission by close contacts. The rate of infection among close contacts may be associated with contact time, contact distance, and protective measures.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the landscape of COVID-19 research performed by nurses in hospitals and health services is scarce. It is important to identify, map and share knowledge and thus provide a better understanding of the important research performed by nurses.
OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive overview of Nordic nurses\' focus areas of research during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to extract knowledge on recommendations for future evidence-based practice.
METHODS: The electronic databases of MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCO) and Scopus (via Elsevier) were searched for studies describing all areas of nursing during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic conducted in the Nordic countries. Studies conducted by a nurse as the first or last author and published from March 2020 to March 2022 were included in the scoping review. The protocol for the review is registered at Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/f8kuq).
RESULTS: Of 8412 studies found in the comprehensive search, 119 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies were written by nurses from Denmark (42%), Sweden (31%), Norway (20%), Finland (6%) and Iceland (1%). The majority of studies (39%) covered patients\' and relatives\' experiences of visiting restrictions and social distancing and relatives\' communications with healthcare professionals. Twenty-six per cent of included studies covered healthcare professionals\' experiences of caring for patients infected with COVID-19, working during the pandemic and suffering from the consequences of both.
CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations of evidence-based practice for future pandemics show that social distancing for disease prevention must be provided while considering the human consequences of social distancing. Special training is also recommended for healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients accompanied by psychosocial support for their mental well-being. Additionally, virtual contact is an important supplement to personal treatment and face-to-face contact during social restrictions.

The unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak has significantly influenced our daily life, and COVID-19\'s spread is inevitably associated with human mobility. Given the pandemic\'s severity and extent of spread, a timely and comprehensive synthesis of the current state of research is needed to understand the pandemic\'s impact on human mobility and corresponding government measures. This study examined the relevant literature published to the present (March 2023), identified research trends, and conducted a systematic review of evidence regarding transport\'s response to COVID-19. We identified key research agendas and synthesized the results, examining: (1) mobility changes by transport modes analyzed regardless of government policy implementation, using empirical data and survey data; (2) the effect of diverse government interventions to reduce mobility and limit COVID-19 spread, and controversial issues on travel restriction policy effects; and (3) future research issues. The findings showed a strong relationship between the pandemic and mobility, with significant impacts on decreased overall mobility, a remarkable drop in transit ridership, changes in travel behavior, and improved traffic safety. Government implemented various non-pharmaceutical countermeasures, such as city lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing. Many studies showed such interventions were effective. However, some researchers reported inconsistent outcomes. This review provides urban and transport planners with valuable insights to facilitate better preparation for future health emergencies that affect transportation.
UNASSIGNED: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11116-023-10392-2.

With COVID-19 being a newly evolving disease, its response measures largely depend on the practice of and compliance with personal protective measures (PPMs).
This systematic review aimed to examine the knowledge and practice of COVID-19 PPMs in African countries as documented in the published literature.
A systematic search was conducted on the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using appropriate keywords and predefined eligibility criteria for the selection of relevant studies. Only population-based original research studies (including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies) conducted in Africa and published in the English language were included. The screening process and data extraction were performed according to a preregistered protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42022355101) and followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Thematic analysis was used to systematically summarize the studies into 4 predefined domains: knowledge and perception of PPMs, mask use, social and physical distancing, and handwashing and hand hygiene, including their respective levels and associated factors.
A total of 58 studies across 12 African countries were included, published between 2019 and 2022. African communities, including various population groups, had varying levels of knowledge and practice of COVID-19 PPMs, with the lack of personal protective equipment (mainly face masks) and side effects (among health care workers) being the major reasons for poor compliance. Lower rates of handwashing and hand hygiene were particularly noted in several African countries, especially among low-income urban and slum dwellers, with the main barrier being the lack of safe and clean water. Various cognitive (knowledge and perception), sociodemographic, and economic factors were associated with the practice of COVID-19 PPMs. Moreover, there were evident research inequalities at the regional level, with East Africa contributing 36% (21/58) of the studies, West Africa contributing 21% (12/58), North Africa contributing 17% (10/58), Southern Africa contributing 7% (4/58), and no single-country study from Central Africa. Nonetheless, the overall quality of the included studies was generally good as they satisfied most of the quality assessment criteria.
There is a need to enhance local capacity to produce and supply personal protective equipment. Consideration of various cognitive, demographic, and socioeconomic differences, with extra focus on the most vulnerable, is crucial for inclusive and more effective strategies against the pandemic. Moreover, more focus and involvement in community behavioral research are needed to fully understand and address the dynamics of the current pandemic in Africa.
PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022355101; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022355101.

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has reduced social interaction even among children. The objective of the study was to assess the role of social distancing in the course of common pediatric upper airway recurrent diseases.
METHODS: Patients aged ≤14 years with at least one ENT-related clinical condition were retrospectively recruited. All patients had two outpatient evaluations in the same period (April - September): the control group had the first evaluation in 2018 and second in 2019, whereas the case group had the first evaluation in 2019 and second in 2020. Patients of each group were individually compared between their two visits and deemed improved/unchanged/worsened for each specific ENT condition. The percentage of children improved/unchanged/worsened were then collectively compared between the two groups for each condition.
RESULTS: Patients who experienced social distancing presented a significantly higher improvement rate than controls for recurrent acute otitis media episodes (35.1 % vs. 10.8 %; Fisher\'s exact test p = 0.033) and for tympanogram type (54.5 % vs. 11.1 %, Fisher\'s exact test p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: The anti-contagion social restrictions decreased the prevalence of middle ear infections and effusion in children. Further studies on larger cohorts are required to better elucidate these findings.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly contagious viral infection. In addition to its association with common pulmonary and gastrointestinal complications, COVID-19 is also associated with numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. This minireview aims to cover current literature addressing the application of telemedicine in neurological disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article revealed that quarantine, masking, and social distancing policies practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic involved restrictions and challenges to providing medical services, especially for patients with neurological disorders with or without COVID-19 infection. During the pandemic, both healthcare administrators and clinicians, including neurologists, have rapidly adapted or introduced telemedicine technologies for delivering specialty care. In some areas in the world, telemedicine has been successfully applied to reduce the impact imposed by COVID-19. Conclusively, this article supports the idea that telemedicine is an effective tool for providing specialized healthcare for patients with neurological conditions while adhering to social distancing or lockdown policies instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government and medical/healthcare authorities, physicians and healthcare providers need to work together to expand the adoption of telemedicine applications, even after the COVID-19 crisis.

Social distance practices are crucial for outpatient clinics during disease outbreaks and are an effective preventive measure for reducing influenza transmission during such pandemics in people with poor health.
This study applies an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach to confirm the effectiveness of social distancing in healthy individuals during an influenza pandemic and employs the induced ordered weighted averaging model to confirm the effectiveness of EBP. The study design, validity, reliability, results, and generalizability focused on discussing three systematic reviews and two cohort studies via the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). First, by introducing the patient, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) question; second, by establishing the five steps of EBP; third, by utilizing the CASP checklist for the appraisal; and finally, by presenting a conclusion.
According to the hierarchy of evidence, preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses retrieved five articles for addressing the PICO question. All the evidence demonstrates that social distancing is valuable during influenza pandemics among non-infected individuals. Precise, timely, and robust social distancing implementation can reduce the spread of infection, delay the epidemic peak, and ease the pressure on healthcare resources. Gatekeepers are responsible for guiding individuals through the implementation process for reducing influenza transmission, particularly in densely populated areas.
Social distance is crucial for outpatient clinics during an epidemic and effectively reduces the spread of infection, delay epidemic peaks, and eases pressure on healthcare resources.