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COVID and Public Health
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COVID and Public Health

A special issue of COVID (ISSN 2673-8112). This special issue belongs to the section "COVID Public Health and Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 7546

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anna Puigdellívol-Sánchez

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Guest Editor
1. Medicina de Familia, CAP Anton de Borja-Centre Universitari, c/Marconi-Cantonada Edison s/n, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST), Rubí, Spain
2. Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: COVID-19 epidemiology; COVID-19 treatment; family medicine; angles in spinal anaesthesia; nerve regeneration; MRI image analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite researchers and experts to contribute original articles to a Special Issue focusing on COVID-19 and public health. This Special Issue will explore the ongoing impact of the pandemic on global health systems and public health policies. We welcome contributions that address a wide range of topics, including epidemiology, vaccine strategies, risk–benefit quantification methods, healthcare plans that address long-COVID, and the assessment of public health policies during and after the pandemic across different countries. We also welcome submissions that present methodologies for the monitoring of the evolution of the virus; these could address the integration of case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths into public databases, variant tracking, and wastewater surveillance.

By publishing innovative research, this Special Issue aims to inform and influence preparations for future pandemics and public health crises.

All submitted articles will undergo a rigorous peer-review process.

Dr. Anna Puigdellívol-Sánchez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. COVID is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19 public health
  • COVID-19 variant
  • COVID-19 hospitalization
  • COVID-19 vaccines
  • COVID-19 wastewater-based surveillance
  • post-COVID rehabilitation

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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11 pages, 528 KiB  
Article
High- and Low-Cost Healthcare Utilization for Cancer and COVID-19 Patients
by Li Huang and Sue Min Lai
COVID 2025, 5(4), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5040056 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 191
Abstract
Background: Healthcare total spending accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding broad high- and low-cost healthcare utilization while the healthcare system is under stress can help identify strategies and gaps to improve the future quality of care while reducing high-cost care and maximizing low-cost [...] Read more.
Background: Healthcare total spending accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding broad high- and low-cost healthcare utilization while the healthcare system is under stress can help identify strategies and gaps to improve the future quality of care while reducing high-cost care and maximizing low-cost care. Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study with 56,141 individuals in the U.S. using 2020–2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data sources. We applied a Poisson regression approach to test differences among patients with/without cancer/COVID-19 in healthcare utilization outcomes, including emergency department (ED) visits, inpatient discharge, inpatient nights of stay, outpatient visits, and home provider days. Results: Outpatient visits were affected by both cancer and COVID-19 diagnoses (86% to 109% higher for individuals with cancer and/or COVID-19, p < 0.001). COVID-19 patients with/without cancer had statistically significant increases in high-cost care, including (1) ED visits (151% to 245% higher, p < 0.001), (2) number of inpatient visits (94% to 170%, p < 0.001, p < 0.001), and (3) inpatient nights of stay (259% to 268% higher, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in home-based utilization when compared to individuals without cancer and without COVID-19. Conclusions: Improving and adopting innovative low-cost home-based care utilization are critical to reduce future healthcare spending and strengthen pandemic preparedness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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17 pages, 1415 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Control in Highly Urbanized Philippine Cities: Leveraging Public Health Open-Source Government Data for Epidemic Preparedness and Response
by Maria Catherine B. Otero, Lorraine Joy L. Bernolo, Refeim M. Miguel, Zypher Jude G. Regencia, Lyre Anni E. Murao and Emmanuel S. Baja
COVID 2025, 5(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5030042 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 870
Abstract
Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) in the Philippines were at the forefront of public health surveillance and response during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 to Philippine cities, local government units continuously assessed, adapted, and implemented public health interventions (PHIs) and [...] Read more.
Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) in the Philippines were at the forefront of public health surveillance and response during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 to Philippine cities, local government units continuously assessed, adapted, and implemented public health interventions (PHIs) and depended on available open-source government data (OSGD). This study consolidated PHIs in selected HUCs in the Philippines using high-quality OSGD to create a timeline of interventions and document good practices in local COVID-19 control. OSGD resources were collected from February 2020 to January 2023, and the data quality of OSGD was evaluated using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks. A total of 180 metadata sources that met at least two core standards (Authorship and Currency) were included in the analysis. COVID-19 control strategies were analyzed vis-à-vis the rise of COVID-19 cases and types of PHIs, including the control of imported cases, case management, contact management, behavioral modification, and pharmaceutical intervention. Travel bans and hard lockdowns in Luzon early in the pandemic delayed the introduction of COVID-19 to other parts of the country. Good practices of LGUs for local COVID-19 control, such as quarantine passes, curfews and liquor bans, using QR-based contact tracing, massive community testing in high-risk communities, and free public swabbing centers, were implemented to slow down the local spread of COVID-19. With the evolving scenarios in city-level COVID-19 epidemics, local risk assessments based on available OSGD drove the adoption of relevant and innovative control strategies in HUCs in the Philippines. Lessons learned must be integrated into epidemic preparedness and response programs against future emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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21 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
Examining the Relationships Between Workplace Policies and Practices, PTSD, and Distress Among Working Parents During the COVID-19 Crisis
by Samantha A. Meeker, Alicia Modestino, Jamie Ladge, Beth E. Molnar and Alisa K. Lincoln
COVID 2025, 5(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5030028 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 371
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mortality and morbidity is becoming more understood, the severity of the long-term effects remains unknown: this includes medical sequelae of long COVID but also the impact of the social and economic upheaval on population health. Working parents [...] Read more.
While the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mortality and morbidity is becoming more understood, the severity of the long-term effects remains unknown: this includes medical sequelae of long COVID but also the impact of the social and economic upheaval on population health. Working parents faced many challenges during the pandemic, and the impact of these on the mental health and well-being of parents has been demonstrated. However, the extent of trauma-related symptoms among working parents who have faced unique challenges related to the virus itself and the social and structural consequences of containment efforts remains underexamined. Using data from a national panel survey of fworking parents (n = 1941), we explored the relationship between workplace policies and practices and COVID-19-related PTSD and psychological distress. Results demonstrate that nearly 50% of working parents experienced COVID-19-related PTSD as measured by the Impact of Events Scale-6, and over 60% had moderate to high levels of psychological distress. We examined mechanisms to understand the impact of job support on employees’ levels of PTSD and distress and found that both socio-demographic factors and workplace support related to levels of PTSD and distress among working parents. Our study highlights the distress and PTSD levels experienced by working parents in the early stages of the pandemic, underscoring the impact of workplace support on mental health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
14 pages, 832 KiB  
Article
Can Self-Reported Symptoms Be Relied on for COVID-19 Screening in Low-Resource Settings?
by Suraj Singh Senjam, Garima Goel, Neiwete Lomi, Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Yashdeep Gupta and Animesh Ray
COVID 2025, 5(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5020015 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 620
Abstract
Background: Understanding the extent of the disease penetration and assessing its impact is critical during a pandemic. However, laboratory-based COVID-19 estimation can be resource-intensive and may not be feasible during an emergency, particularly in low-resource settings. Aim: To investigate whether self-reported symptoms can [...] Read more.
Background: Understanding the extent of the disease penetration and assessing its impact is critical during a pandemic. However, laboratory-based COVID-19 estimation can be resource-intensive and may not be feasible during an emergency, particularly in low-resource settings. Aim: To investigate whether self-reported symptoms can be used for COVID-19 screening to estimate the burden among individuals aged 18 years and above in a rural setting. Methods: A community-based cross-section study was conducted in a rural district of Haryana, a state in north India, using a self-reported semi-structured questionnaire developed on a digital platform. Information on COVID-19 manifestations as essential and non-essential, confirmed laboratory tests, and disability data using Washington Groups of Short Set were obtained. The sensitivity of the COVID-19 symptoms was estimated against laboratory-confirmed true positives. A chi-square or Fisher exact test for association and a multivariable regression to determine the predictors of the prevalence was carried out. Results: In total, 2954 respondents (79.8%), out of 3700 enumerated, were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 42 years (SD 17.2), with 54.8% female respondents. The prevalence of COVID-19 based on self-reported symptoms was 6.2% (95%CI: 5.3–7.1). The age-adjusted prevalence was 6.04% (95%CI: 5.9–6.1). Of the total COVID-19 cases, 170 (5.7%, 95%CI: 4.9–6.5) revealed a laboratory-confirmed test. Given three essential symptoms to declare provisionally COVID-19 cases, the sensitivity was 82.9% (141/170), but considering two or more essential symptoms along with two or more non-essential, the sensitivity reached up to 91.8% (156/170). The multivariable analysis showed that increased age, higher education attainment, students, entrepreneurs, persons working in private sectors, and participants with poor hygiene were predictors. Conclusions: A symptoms-based identification of COVID-19 cases can give a reliable estimate and valuable insight into the extent of the penetration, especially in low-middle-income countries, and can be a supplement, not a replacement, to a laboratory test. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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15 pages, 531 KiB  
Article
Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resilience and Mental Health Among Latino Day Laborers
by Sylvia A. Ayieko, John Atkinson, Anna Llamas and Maria E. Fernandez-Esquer
COVID 2025, 5(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5010001 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 706
Abstract
Resilience, the successful process of growth and adaptation in the face of adversity, stress, or trauma, is crucial for optimal well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Latino day laborers (LDLs) faced multiple stressors, making them vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. Using a cross-sectional [...] Read more.
Resilience, the successful process of growth and adaptation in the face of adversity, stress, or trauma, is crucial for optimal well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Latino day laborers (LDLs) faced multiple stressors, making them vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. Using a cross-sectional study design, we examine the association between situational stressors, mental health, and resilience among LDLs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data included sociodemographic information and measures of situational stressors, mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress), and resilience. Positive and negative resilience subscales were analyzed separately due to a high correlation. A total of 300 male participants completed the surveys, with a mean age of 45.1 years. Almost half had never been married (48%) and had completed nearly eight years of school. The results indicated no significant associations between stressors, positive resilience, and mental health outcomes (B = 0.023, NS) but a significant association between negative resilience, mental health outcomes, and some stressors, such as lack of money (B = 0.103; p < 0.05). The implications of this study include the need to further investigate the use of negatively worded items and how resilience is demonstrated among other vulnerable populations or cultural groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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11 pages, 4219 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Trends in a Northeastern Brazilian State from the Start of the Pandemic: Exploring an Alternative Time Series Method
by Matheus Paiva Emidio Cavalcanti, Jorge de Oliveira Echeimberg, Tassiane Cristina Morais, Blanca Elena Guerrero Daboin, Fernando Augusto Marinho dos Santos Figueira, Carlos Mendes Tavares and Luiz Carlos de Abreu
COVID 2024, 4(12), 1960-1970; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4120138 - 11 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 932
Abstract
Pernambuco, a northeastern Brazilian state, suffered significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence, mortality, and fatality rates were incredibly high; these outcomes were a direct failure of the public health system to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed an efficient method to analyze [...] Read more.
Pernambuco, a northeastern Brazilian state, suffered significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence, mortality, and fatality rates were incredibly high; these outcomes were a direct failure of the public health system to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed an efficient method to analyze the trends in incidence, mortality, and lethality indicators of COVID-19 and the dynamics of their main determinants in the state of Pernambuco from March 2020 to March 2022. This was a time series ecological study. We calculated the lethality, mortality, and incidence rates with official and public data from the Health Department of this state. The effective reproduction number (Rt) was estimated, and then the periods were delimited, thus creating the efficiency model. Differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. We found 585,551 cases and 18,233 deaths from COVID-19. January 2022 was the month with the highest number of cases (6312) and, in May 2020, we recorded the highest number of deaths (149). Our method was efficient in analyzing periods of COVID-19, noting a contrast between the early and most recent periods, with the latter showing a stable number of new cases and patient deaths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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11 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Oral Hygiene Status of Children with High Caries Risk and Their Parents
by Zeliha Hatipoğlu Palaz, Nagehan Aktaş and Didem Atabek
COVID 2024, 4(12), 1897-1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4120133 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1055
Abstract
Background: People consumed more sugary foods and neglected oral hygiene during the lockdowns due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to compare the oral hygiene status and dietary habits of children with high caries risk and their parents before and [...] Read more.
Background: People consumed more sugary foods and neglected oral hygiene during the lockdowns due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to compare the oral hygiene status and dietary habits of children with high caries risk and their parents before and after COVID-19. Methods: The study was conducted with the parents of 155 children aged 3–5 years. A questionnaire including both the children’s and parents’ dietary and oral hygiene habits was completed by the parents. Decay, missing, filling teeth (dmft/DMFT) status of the children was recorded before and after COVID-19. Results: A significant decrease was observed in the parents’ tooth brushing frequency (p = 0.028), while no difference was observed in the children’s brushing frequency before and after COVID-19 (p = 0.216). Both children and parents ate significantly more frequently (p = 0.047, p = 0.043). dmft/DMFT values increased significantly after COVID-19 (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited effect on tooth brushing habits in children with high caries risk. Additionally, it resulted in increased consumption of sugary foods among both children and parents, exacerbating caries in children aged 3–5 years. Healthcare professionals and parents can work together to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health, especially for high-caries-risk children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
24 pages, 3042 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Role of News Outlets in the Rise of a Conspiracy Theory: Hydroxychloroquine in the Early Days of COVID-19
by Robert Dickinson, Dominique Makowski, Harm van Marwijk and Elizabeth Ford
COVID 2024, 4(12), 1873-1896; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4120132 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Improper use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 has been linked to 17,000 preventable deaths. This content analysis study investigates the emergence of this conspiracy theory, the role of the news media in perpetuating and disseminating it, and whether coverage differed by outlet political [...] Read more.
Improper use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 has been linked to 17,000 preventable deaths. This content analysis study investigates the emergence of this conspiracy theory, the role of the news media in perpetuating and disseminating it, and whether coverage differed by outlet political alignment. We searched Nexis for relevant media from 17–31 March 2020. A total of 128 media pieces were coded qualitatively and thematically analysed. The news media amplified the voices of right-wing political elites and used a variety of manipulative tactics in reporting on hydroxychloroquine. Powerful ingroup/outgroup mechanisms polarised the American public and created a schism between Trump supporters and the public health apparatus that reflected the political asymmetry in reporting on hydroxychloroquine. The widespread use of optimistic framings and anecdotal evidence contributed to public misunderstandings of the evidence. Therefore, strategic and interventionist public health efforts are required to combat misinformation. This study informs discussions of how politicised media coverage catalyses conspiracism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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7 pages, 206 KiB  
Brief Report
Adherence to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy During COVID-19: A Retrospective Study
by Nicole P. Jenkins, Gregory W. Vurture, Amber Wai-San Chan, Stephanie Sansone, Nina Jacobson and Scott W. Smilen
COVID 2025, 5(5), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5050064 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 59
Abstract
COVID-19 introduced widespread challenges in healthcare access and was demonstrated to be a significant stressor for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) is a first line behavioral modification to address PFD. The impact of COVID-19 on PFPT adherence [...] Read more.
COVID-19 introduced widespread challenges in healthcare access and was demonstrated to be a significant stressor for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) is a first line behavioral modification to address PFD. The impact of COVID-19 on PFPT adherence rates in a urogynecologic population is unknown; therefore, a retrospective chart review was conducted looking at “pre-pandemic” (referring to before 1 March 2020) and “pandemic” (referring to after 1 March 2020) cohorts. A total of 173 women met the inclusion criteria (93 pre-pandemic vs. 80 pandemic). The PFPT adherence rates were similar between the pre-pandemic and pandemic groups (20.0% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.85). Patient-reported barriers to initiation included insurance coverage, transportation, and time commitment. When looking for clinical correlates associated with non-adherence, patients who utilized an internal referral to a hospital-associated PFPT facility were 4.9-fold more likely to adhere to PFPT for PFD (95% confidence interval: 1.31–18.23, p = 0.018). While COVID-19 was not identified as a barrier to PFPT adherence, identifying barriers preventing patients from attending PFPT remains an area for improvement. Increasing the utilization of an internal referral system to a hospital-associated PFPT facility may be an effective solution for increasing patient adherence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
11 pages, 187 KiB  
Brief Report
Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: A Qualitative Study from African, Caribbean, and Black Communities in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
by Josephine Etowa, Ubabuko Unachukwu, Sylvia Sangwa, Egbe B. Etowa, Haoua Inoua, Ruby Edet, Emmanuella Okolie, Erica Kamikazi, Emana Ifeoma Emiko, Luc Malemo and Biswajit Ghose
COVID 2025, 5(5), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5050062 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 104
Abstract
Through engagement with multi-stakeholders—including African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community members and leaders, as well as service providers in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada—this study explores in-depth narratives and first-hand accounts of their lived experiences in the context of COVID-19 vaccine promotion. A thematic analysis [...] Read more.
Through engagement with multi-stakeholders—including African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community members and leaders, as well as service providers in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada—this study explores in-depth narratives and first-hand accounts of their lived experiences in the context of COVID-19 vaccine promotion. A thematic analysis of the focus group discussions, conducted in NVivo, revealed that vaccine acceptance among ACB communities is shaped by factors such as racial discrimination, COVID-19 knowledge, misconceptions, communication strategies and barriers, preference for alternative medicines, and community resilience. These findings highlight several implications for policymakers and provide directions for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID and Public Health)
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