The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the epidemiology and etiology of respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections. The implementation of control measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene was associated with a decrease in the incidence of some respiratory and gastrointestinal infections caused by other viruses and bacteria. Epidemiological data suggest that the incidence of respiratory tract infections other than SARS-CoV-2 infection has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly due to the adoption of several non-pharmaceutical interventions in public areas. Currently, there is very little research on the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens in terms of microbiome and virome. As a matter of fact, changes in the epidemiology of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections may be due to other causes than SARS-CoV-2-specific control measures. It is still unclear whether these changes might result from direct interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the microbiome and/or virome. Continuous and ongoing efforts to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infectious diseases are critical in advancing scientific discovery for prevention and treatment strategies for future pandemics. Through this research theme, we aim to explore scientific gaps related to our understanding of the changes in epidemiology and pathogenic agents responsible for respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost nine months since the first recorded case, the novel betacoronovirus; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has now passed 18 million confirmed cases. The multi-disciplinary work of researchers worldwide has provided a far deeper understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis, clinical treatment and outcomes, lethality, disease-spread dynamics, period of infectivity, containment interventions, as well as providing a wealth of relevant epidemiological data. With 27 vaccines currently undergoing human trials, and countries worldwide continuing to battle case numbers, or prepare for resurgences, the need for efficient, high-quality pipelines for peer-reviewed research remains as crucial as ever.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections have had a global impact, leading to a set of public health and social measures (PHSMs). These measures—such as hand hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing—have affected people’s behavior and thus led to change in the transmission of infectious diseases. Studies of the impact of the opportunistic implementation of PHSMs on infectious diseases including respiratory virus infections during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been reported. For example, seasonal influenza epidemics, sexual transmitted infections, and pediatric infectious diseases decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The story of COVID-19 now seems so familiar: from the first reported case of a new respiratory infection in China in December 2019, to a pandemic that rapidly changed the world. Respiratory clinicians and scientists were at the forefront of delivering healthcare for people with COVID-19, leading efforts to understand this novel virus and disease, and developing and testing strategies to better prevent and treat it. These endeavours extended not only to the acute illness, but also to understanding the longer-term consequences. The pace of knowledge acquisition was rapid but is now maturing. This Monograph therefore provides a timely and valuable state-of-the-art summary for clinicians and scientists on our understanding of this virus and its consequences to date. It is essential reading for all those involved in the care of people who are or who have been affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the nation's K-12 education system. The rush to slow the spread of the virus led to closures of schools across the country, with little time to ensure continuity of instruction or to create a framework for deciding when and how to reopen schools. States, districts, and schools are now grappling with the complex and high-stakes questions of whether to reopen school buildings and how to operate them safely if they do reopen. These decisions need to be informed by the most up-to-date evidence about the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19; about the impacts of school closures on students and families; and about the complexities of operating school buildings as the pandemic persists. Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prioritizing Health, Equity, and Communities provides guidance on the reopening and operation of elementary and secondary schools for the 2020-2021 school year. The recommendations of this report are designed to help districts and schools successfully navigate the complex decisions around reopening school buildings, keeping them open, and operating them safely.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, into a dreaded pandemic. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 by the world health organization. The disease has spread to almost 200 countries and continue to do so, resulting in huge mortalities morbidities and associated economic burden to the affected countries. The pandemic has resulted in global shut down and has impact on life of every one.This book is analyzing the epidemiology of the covid 19,characteristics of the virus,its mode of spread, pathogenesis,pathology,clinical presentation,diagnosis,prevention, and prognosis of this infection.The impact of the disease on health care system,psycho social implications and economic impact to the society are also discussed in detail.This will seve as a reference manual for treating physicians,students,epidemiologists and researchers in the field . Knowledge about the infection is fast evolving hence the readers are advised to check out the latest guidelines especially in case of management of cases of Covid19.

This open access book collects expert contributions on actuarial modelling and related topics, from machine learning to legal aspects, and reflects on possible insurance designs during an epidemic/pandemic. Starting by considering the impulse given by COVID-19 to the insurance industry and to actuarial research, the text covers compartment models, mortality changes during a pandemic, risk-sharing in the presence of low probability events, group testing, compositional data analysis for detecting data inconsistencies, behaviouristic aspects in fighting a pandemic, and insurers' legal problems, amongst others. Concluding with an essay by a practicing actuary on the applicability of the methods proposed, this interdisciplinary book is aimed at actuaries as well as readers with a background in mathematics, economics, statistics, finance, epidemiology, or sociology.