Impact of lockdown relaxation and implementation of the face-covering policy on mental health: A United Kingdom COVID-19 study

Fatality Rates After Infection With the Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529): How Deadly has it been? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Since late 2019, the global community has been gripped by the uncertainty surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In November 2021, the emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa added a new dimension. This study aims to assess the disease's severity and determine the extent to which vaccinations contribute to reducing mortality rates.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the epidemiological implications of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 were performed, incorporating an analysis of articles from November 2021that address mortality rates.

Results

The analysis incorporated data from 3,214,869 patients infected with omicron, as presented in 270 articles. A total of 6,782 deaths from the virus were recorded (0.21%). In the analysed articles, the pooled mortality rate was 0.003 and the pooled in-house mortality rate was 0.036. Vaccination is an effective step in preventing death (odds ratio: 0.391, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The mortality rates for the omicron variant are lower than for the preceding delta variant. mRNA vaccination affords secure and effective protection against severe disease and death from omicron.

From facts to feelings: Navigating the complexities of COVID-19 restrictions, perceptions, and mental well-being

Objectives of the present study were to 1) examine accuracy of COVID-19 public health restriction knowledge and the impact of information source, 2) assess the effect of perceived level of restriction on perceived infection risk of COVID-19 infection and level of compliance with restrictions, and 3) investigate the relationship between mental health outcomes and perceived as well as actual level of restriction. Canadians (n = 5,051) completed an online survey between December 2020 and March 2021 assessing public health restriction knowledge, accuracy of this knowledge, information sources about COVID-19, perceived infection risk, compliance with restrictions, loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Approximately half of our sample had accurate knowledge of the restrictions in their region/province, which significantly differed by province. Individuals who perceived restriction levels to be higher than they were, reported significantly greater perceived infection risk, more compliance with restrictions, worse mental health, and greater loneliness. Individuals living under moderate restrictions had better mental health and experienced less loneliness compared to minor, significant and extreme restriction levels. Findings suggest that while restrictions are beneficial for compliance, stronger and clearer restrictions should be coupled with mental health supports to remediate the negative effects of restrictions and uncertainty on mental health and loneliness.

Effects of cumulative COVID-19 cases on mental health: Evidence from multi-country survey

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety were both ranked among the top 25 leading causes of global burden of diseases in 2019 prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The pandemic affected, and in many cases threatened, the health and lives of millions of people across the globe and within the first year, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% with the greatest influx in places highly affected by COVID-19.

AIM

To explore the psychological impact of the pandemic and resultant restrictions in different countries using an opportunistic sample and online questionnaire in different phases of the pandemic.

METHODS

A repeated, cross-sectional online international survey of adults, 16 years and above, was carried out in 10 countries (United Kingdom, India, Canada, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia). The online questionnaire was based on published approaches to understand the psychological impact of COVID-19 and the resultant restrictions. Five standardised measures were included to explore levels of depression [patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9)], anxiety [generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) assessment], impact of trauma [the impact of events scale-revised (IES-R)], loneliness (a brief loneliness scale), and social support (The Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social support).

RESULTS

There were two rounds of the online survey in 10 countries with 42866 participants in Round 1 and 92260 in Round 2. The largest number of participants recruited from the United Kingdom (112985 overall). The majority of participants reported receiving no support from mental health services throughout the pandemic. This study found that the daily cumulative COVID-19 cases had a statistically significant effect on PHQ-9, GAD-7, and IES-R scores. These scores significantly increased in the second round of surveys with the ordinary least squares regression results with regression discontinuity design specification (to control lockdown effects) confirming these results. The study findings imply that participants’ mental health worsened with high cumulative COVID-19 cases.

CONCLUSION

Whist we are still living through the impact of COVID-19, this paper focuses on its impact on mental health, discusses the possible consequences and future implications. This study revealed that daily cumulative COVID-19 cases have a significant impact on depression, anxiety, and trauma. Increasing cumulative cases influenced and impacted education, employment, socialization and finances, to name but a few. Building a database of global evidence will allow for future planning of pandemics, particularly the impact on mental health of populations considering the cultural differences.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health among Patients with Chronic Ocular Conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on the mental and visual health of patients. This cross-sectional, survey-based, multicentric study evaluates the state of mental and visual health among patients with chronic ocular diseases such as glaucoma, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or chronic uveitis during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health was assessed using three questionnaires: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25). A total of 145 patients completed the questionnaires. The PHQ-9 showed that most respondents (n = 89, 61%) had none or minimal depressive symptoms, while 31 (21%) had mild depressive symptoms, 19 (13%) had moderate depressive symptoms, 5 (3%) had moderately severe depressive symptoms, and 1 (1%) had severe depressive symptoms. Regarding stress surrounding the pandemic, the median IES-R showed mild distress in 16 (11%), moderate distress in 7 (5%), and severe distress in 4 (3%). The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had a negative impact on patients' mental health with close to 20% of the patients reporting at least moderately depressive symptoms and 19% reporting at least mildly distressful symptoms.