Exposure to and Restrictions of International Travel and the Global Diffusion of COVID-19

A Virus That Knows No Borders? Exposure to and Restrictions of International Travel and the Global Diffusion of COVID-19: „Closing borders is naive, the virus will come regardless" –this was the policy assumption that was repeatedly stated until mid-March by the WHO, the EU, as well as responsible authorities in Germany and other countries. Meanwhile, other states had started closing their borders to travellers from high-risk countries or to introduce mandatoryquarantines. On 17 March, the EU did what it had previously argued against, and closed its borders to travellers from outside the EU and the Schengen Area. Germany, too, changed its line, and closed its borders to France, Switzerland, and Austria and on 18 March also to travellers from Italy. Who was right? Those who initially rejected travel restrictions as useless or those countries that decided to introduce them early on? Results from a global analysis of travel restrictions and cross-national differences in mortality rates as a resultof the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that the belief that the spread of the virus could not be significantly slowed down by entry restrictions was fatally mistaken. The paper also shows that exposure of a country to international travel, as indicated by centrality in air travel networks and tourist numbers is strongly associated with higher COVID-19 mortality rates. By contrast, island states, which have lower exposure to international travel because of their lack of land borders, have much lower mortality. The results are robust across a wide variety of model specifications and controls, including domestic COVID-19 containment measures. The findings have important policy implications and suggest that in containing upcoming waves of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as similar pandemics in the future, the risks of exposure to international travel and the advantages of early travel restrictions should be given much greater weight. Among various types of travel restrictions, the findings suggest prioritizing targeted restrictions over global ones, and mandatory quarantines for travellers over entry bans.

The slow media catch-up

The slow media catch-up: The Government has a lot to answer for relating to its mishandling of the coronavirus; as does the ‘opposition’. But we mustn’t let the media off the hook for the role it has played too.

Despairing of coronavirus lockdown measures

Focus group reveals voters are despairing of coronavirus lockdown measures: Since the start of the pandemic, most polls have suggested that voters support Covid lockdown measures But, according to focus groups, it would appear voters have lost faith in lockdowns and will not obey rules The groups also revealed people are becoming increasingly worried about damage to jobs and the economy It came as the UK yesterday announced 20,530 more coronavirus cases and the deaths of 224 people

September 2020 least deadly month ever in Sweden

Cornucopia?: September 2020 least deadly month ever in Sweden - 2020 third least deadly year ever so far: According to the state authority Statistics Sweden (SCB) data, september 2020 was the least deadly month per capita ever in Swedish history. So far the year 2020 has been the third least deadly year per capita ever in the country, despite the tragic and global Covid-19 pandemic.

 

 

Changes to the ordinance prohibiting the holding of public gatherings and events: To address the crowding that has been seen in nightclubs, the Government has decided that public dance events for more than 50 people will once again be prohibited. The Government has also adopted a new exemption from the ordinance, allowing public gatherings and public events with a maximum of 300 seated attendees, rather than the 500 previously discussed. The changes come into effect on 1 November.

Sweden Refuses to Impose New Lockdown Measures, Saying People Have Suffered Enough: Health authorities in Sweden have refused to follow the rest of Europe by imposing new coronavirus lockdown measures on their population, arguing that those beset by loneliness and misery of being isolated have suffered enough.

Despite Sweden mirroring other countries on the continent with rising coronavirus infections, the government has held firm in refusing to lockdown its population, weighing the untold misery and health impacts of isolation against the threat of COVID-19.

Real-time pandemic data from Carnegie Mellon's CovidCast shows why you should wear a mask

Real-time pandemic data from Carnegie Mellon's CovidCast shows why you should wear a mask: Despite the clear opposition to masks within the Trump White House and among its allies, Americans of all political stripes overwhelmingly support their use as a public health measure and say they wear them whenever they’re in public.

Still, there are significant differences in mask-use rates at the state level. And data from Carnegie Mellon’s CovidCast, an academic project tracking real-time coronavirus statistics, yields a particularly vivid illustration of how mask usage influences the prevalence of covid-19 symptoms in a given area. 

FDA approves first COVID-19 drug - remdesivir. But it's 'not a blockbuster.'

FDA approves first COVID-19 drug. But it's 'not a blockbuster.': The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fully approved remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19. The drug is now approved for use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients 12 years old and up, and weighing at least 40 kilograms, according to a statement from the FDA. Previously, the agency allowed doctors to give remdesivir to hospitalized patients through an emergency use authorization, or temporary permission only given "when there are no adequate, approved and available alternatives," according to the agency. 

Lista de contra-indicações

COVID-19 and Digital Rights

COVID-19 and Digital Rights: Many of our digital rights are impacted by COVID-19. Now more than ever, EFF is dedicated to ensuring that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all the people of the world.