COVID-19 Research Highlights

On 5 May, the World Health Organization lifted its designation of COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern. The abatement of the pandemic represents an extraordinary scientific achievement. However, COVID-19 remains a threat and its effects will continue to be felt for years.

This meta-analysis of 42 studies finds that learning progress has slowed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, particularly among children from low socio-economic backgrounds and in poorer countries. Reported learning deficits were larger in maths than in reading.

Leveraging multiple datasets (surveys, web search trends and mobility), Huang et al. document how anti-Chinese rhetoric led to blame sentiment and consumer discrimination against Asian American businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lockdowns may help control disease, but also come with potential costs. Domestic violence complaints in India increased in districts with the strictest lockdown rules, and remained higher 1 year later, even after restrictions were loosened.

Using longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data, Danielsen et al. find no indication that the proportion of Danish young adults with self-injury, suicidality or eating disorder symptoms increased during lockdown.

In 2021, life expectancies returned to pre-pandemic levels in parts of western Europe but further worsened in eastern Europe, the United States and Chile. Life expectancy deficits were negatively correlated with vaccine uptake in later 2021.

The implementation of COVID-19 stay-at-home policies was associated with a considerable drop in urban crime in 27 cities across 23 countries. More stringent restrictions over movement in public space were predictive of larger declines in crime.

Recent phone survey data from Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda reveals the breadth of the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and households.

This study introduces a public dataset that finds that school closures in the United States have been more common in schools with lower math scores and higher rates of students from racial minorities, who experience homelessness, and who have lower incomes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide rates in Japan declined by 14% during the initial wave (February to June 2020) but increased by 16% in the second wave (July to October 2020), with a larger increase (37%) among females.

A citywide experiment tested the effects of three high-pay-off, geo-targeted lotteries to motivate adults to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Zip-code-targeted lotteries in which residents were given 50–100× boosts in their chances of a win did not result in higher vaccine uptake.

Proof-of-vaccination mandates for non-essential venues and activities were rapidly followed by >60% increases in weekly first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada, France, Italy and Germany, leading to cumulative gains in vaccination rates.

Using data-driven mathematical modelling that combines viral evolution with epidemiological dynamics, Ye et al. show that COVID-19 vaccine inequity leads to the emergence of new variants and new waves of the pandemic, while equitable allocation of vaccine doses reduces case counts and fatalities in all countries.

In a randomized controlled trial, Schleider et al. show that single-session online interventions are able to reduce depression symptoms up to three months later in adolescents.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Petherick, Goldszmidt et al. show that, from March to December 2020, adherence to physical distancing fell worldwide, while mask-wearing adherence increased.

This Registered Report presents evidence from 87 countries and regions showing that brief emotion-regulation interventions consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A randomized controlled trial reveals that exposure to recent online misinformation around a COVID-19 vaccine induces a decline in intent to vaccinate among adults in the UK and the USA.

Combining mobile tracking data and a survey experiment, Munzert et al. show that Germany’s contact tracing app is underused by those who socially distance less; however, even small cash incentives increased app uptake in the cohort.

The COVID-19 Real-Time Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool allows individuals to assess risk associated with attending events of different sizes via a real-time, interactive website and helps individuals assess whether this risk is worth taking.

An analysis of news shared on Twitter estimates the level of infodemic risk associated with COVID-19 across countries. Epidemic spread and infodemic risk co-evolve, with reliable information becoming more dominant as infection rates rise locally.

Fusing models from epidemiology and network science, Block et al. show how to ease lockdown and slow infection spread by strategic modification of contact through seeking similarity, strengthening communities and repeating interaction in bubbles.

Guan et al. analyse the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on global supply chains. Earlier, stricter and shorter lockdowns can minimize overall losses. A ‘go-slow’ approach to lifting restrictions may reduce overall damages if it avoids the need for further lockdowns.

The Our World in Data COVID-19 vaccination tracker charts the scale and rate of global vaccinations against COVID-19, making the data available to scientists, policymakers and the general public

The Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) records data on 19 different government COVID-19 policy indicators for over 190 countries. Covering closure and containment, health and economics measures, it creates an evidence base for effective responses.

This Resource describes the data from a survey on COVID-19 related behaviours, beliefs and norms. From July 2020 to March 2021, the authors fielded a global survey on people’s baseline beliefs, behaviours and norms related to COVID-19 in 67 countries, yielding over 2 million responses.

The COVID-19 Real-Time Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool allows individuals to assess risk associated with attending events of different sizes via a real-time, interactive website and helps individuals assess whether this risk is worth taking.