Mofeed Digest (Feb-April 2020)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. This issue of the Mofeed Digest was produced by Gheed El Bizri.

[MENA | Algeria| Bahrain| Comoros| Djibouti| Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Libya| Mauritania| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]

MENA

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Compliance and Stringency Measures in Response to COVID-19: A Regional Study
Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Date Unspecified
This study looked at the policy response and COVID-19 daily case progression of 13 MENA countries to assess the effectiveness of stringency measures in managing the spread of the virus.

Economics in the Time of COVID-19
Centre for Economic Policy Research, Date Unspecified
This article examines the channels through which COVID-19 may affect the Middle East and North Africa, including oil prices, value chains, and tourism and travel.

The Coronavirus: Potential Effects on the Middle East and North Africa
Economic Research Forum, 10 March 2020
This article explains the negative impact of COVID-19 in the MENA region with regard to infections and effects on oil prices, value chains, and tourism.

Brookings Experts on the Implications of COVID-19 for the Middle East and North Africa
Brookings Institution, 26 March 2020
This OP-ED reports on macroeconomic instability and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also discusses the ways in which the virus can be a conflict-multiplier across the region.

COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa: Reactions, Vulnerabilities, Prospects
GIGA Focus, April 2020
This article details the various responses to the coronavirus in the MENA region and the political implications.

The Securitization of the Coronavirus Crisis in the Middle East
Project on Middle East Political Science, April 2020
This working paper assesses the framing of the pandemic through the lens of the securitization theory. It discusses the application of that theory through the responses of certain countries in the Middle East.

Economic Consequences of COVID-19 in the Middle East: Implications for U.S. National Security
The Rand Corporation, 1 April 2020
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies in the Middle East that may be particularly affected by the fall in oil prices. It also explains what that impact means for the United States as it tries to maintain its influence in the region.

The Impact of Covid-19 on the Middle East and North Africa
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 16 April 2020
This article reports on the responses of different MENA states to the COVID-19 outbreak.

COVID in the Maghreb: Responses and Impacts 
Project on Middle East Political Science, 21 April 2020
This working paper analyzes the impact of the pandemic on Maghreb countries’ economic performance and political situation as well as offer predictions on how that impact will change over time. 

Algeria

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Analysis of Social Resilience to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Algeria
Geomatics, Landmanagement and Landscape, Date Unspecified
This paper is a study that aims to understand and overcome the peculiarity of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Algeria.

COVID-19 Epidemic in Algeria: Assessment of the Implemented Preventive Strategy
medRxiv, April 2020
This article studies the effects of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Algeria.

Bahrain

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How Bahrain is Leading from the Front on Coronavirus Containment
The National, 30 March 2020
This article evaluates the Bahraini state’s response to the pandemic. It touches upon the massive contact-tracing operation, the quick provision of isolation wards, the online learning system, the availability of human and capital resources, and the ways of addressing misinformation.

The Kingdom of Bahrain and COVID-19: Bahrain's Reaction to the Global Pandemic
CharlesRussel Speechlys, 7 April 2020
This articles outlines decisions that Bahrin’s government implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to stabilize the economy.

Comoros

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IMF Executive Board Approves US$12 Million in Emergency Assistance to the Union of the Comoros to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Monetary Fund, 22 April 2022
This article reports on the IMF's emergency assistance to Comoros to help it meet the urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, help catalyze development partner support, and address imminent health system needs.

Djibouti

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Republic of Djibouti: COVID-19 Situation Report #3
United Nations Djibouti, 9 April 2020
This situation report provides an overview on Djibouti's coronavirus situation assesses the preparedness and response of multiple sectors.

Djibouti's Economic Update — April 2020
The World Bank, 16 April 2022
This article provides an update on the negative impact of the restriction measures taken by Djibouti's government after the COVID-19 outbreak on its economy.

Egypt

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The Early Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Industry: Assessment of Egyptian Tourism Supply Chain
Operations and Supply Chain Management, Date Unspecified
This paper discusses the effect of COVID-19 on tourism industry in general and on Egypt in particular by investigating the circumstances of different tourism sectors affected by the pandemic, discussing the major impacts, behaviors and experiences of COVID-19 on selected tourism supply chain members in Egypt and providing a rapid assessment of the reported procedures of the three major tourism stakeholders in Egyptian tourism. Finally, this paper summarizes the early resilient practices to the tourism industry in over 2020 and beyond.

What Boes COVID-19 Mean for Egypt's Economy
Middle East Institute, 26 March 2020
This article reports on the signs of improvement in the Egyptian economy, serious challenges, and need for government action based on previous research and reports done by various sources.

Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Egypt’s Economy
American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, 31 March 2020
This research note studies monetary policies and macroeconomic impacts of COVID-19 in Egypt based on insights from AmCham Egypt's 23 sector-based committees as well as public statements by the Central Bank of Egypt, Ministry of Finance, and other Cabinet-level and government agencies.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Manufacturing Sector in Egypt
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, April 2020
This briefing note examines the impact of COVID-19 on the manufacturing industry, as well as policy recommendations and UN initiatives to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 in Egypt.

The Effect of Temperature Upon Transmission of COVID-19: Australia and Egypt Case Study.
SSRN, April 2020
This working paper is based on previous studies on the relationship between climate and the spread of germs and viruses. Australia and Egypt are models to confirm the relationship between temperature and coronavirus activity and spread. The paper aims to test that result in reality through maps of the monthly temperature average during the period from March to November 2020, through study of the case of Australia and Egypt.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and Remittances: Insights from Egypt
International Food Policy Research, 1 April 2020
This article assesses the pandemic's economic impacts for Egypt. Household income, especially for the poor, will be hard-hit, linked to disruptions in tourism and declining remittances. The team provides initial policy insights for support to households and businesses.

In-Depth Look at Egypt’s Economic Sectors amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Egypt Today, 4 April 2020
This article provides a detailed look into each economic sector impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reports on the economic measures and plans implemented by Egypt's government.

The COVID-19 Crisis in Egypt
OECD, 20 April 2020
This OECD update provides statistical evidence for the economic impact, policy reactions, and gender-based disparities due to the pandemic in Egypt.

Iraq

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Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Surgical Practice in Kurdistan, Iraq: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey
International Journal of Surgery Open, Date Unspecified
This article evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgeons' practices in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Coronavirus Damages Iraqi Economy with Fall in Tourism, Oil Prices
Al-Monitor, 9 March 2020
This article reports on the ways in which COVID-19 harms both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy.

COVID-19 in Iraq: The Virus of Social Inequality
OpenDemocracy, 1 April 2020
This article studies the ways in which COVID-19 has aggravated social inequality. It also assesses the role of solidarity amid the outbreak.

COVID 19: Assessing Vulnerabilities and Impacts on Iraq
Chatham House, 7 April 2020
This article is an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq, a country already in turmoil, facing a myriad of vulnerabilities due to corruption and a lack of governance.

Market Review: "Iraq, Oil Prices, and the Coronavirus"
Iraq-business news, 7 April 2020
This article reports on the global crash in oil prices and its impact on a crisis-stricken Iraq, recently hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 Response in Iraq: ‘Our Domestic Violence Hotlines Keep Ringing’
Cordaid, 21 April 2020
This article explains Cordaid's response to the rise of domestic violence following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iraq and the measures taken to reach out to those affected and raise awareness about healthcare program.

Fighting COVID-19 Deepens Iraq’s Humanitarian Crisis
UNICEF, 22 April 2020
This article is an essay detailing the pre-existing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and the ways in which it worsened by COVID-19.

Jordan

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Resilience and Decent Work Can Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on Jordan’s Labour Market
International Labor Organization, 26 March 2020
This article provides an assessment to better understand the scope of the COVID-19 challenge in Jordan as well as some of the pressing issues confronting workers. 

Rapid Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Women in Jordan
UN Women, April 2020
The report reviews the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on beneficiaries of UN Women Oasis centers in camp and non-camp settings. The assessment includes questions related to the economic situation; health concerns; safety and access to health services; violence against women; the roles of men and women within the household; and access to education.

Refugees at Risk in Jordan’s Response to COVID-19
Middle East Research and Information Project, 9 April 2020
This article reports on the impact of COVID-19 (including containment measures and pre-existing living conditions) on refugees in Jordan as well as Jordan's responses (international aid and funds from ongoing programs.)

Impact of Covid-19 on Vulnerable Populations in Jordan Urban Areas and Azraq
CARE International, 29 April 2020
This rapid needs assessment reports on the impact of both COVID‐19 and the containment measures and restrictions implemented by the Government of Jordan on CARE  Jordan’s beneficiaries, which include the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities (PwDs), and households with serious health risks and needs.

Kuwait

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COVID-19 Stressors on Migrant Workers in Kuwait: Cumulative Risk Considerations
BMJ Global Health, Date Unspecified
This article reports on the condition of migrant workers after being exposed to additional stressors of the virus and related responses. It provides a comprehensive qualitative cumulative risk assessment framework for migrant workers living in Kuwait.

Kuwait Props up Coronavirus-Hit Economy amid Low Oil Prices
Reuters, 31 March 2020
This article reports on the measures taken by Kuwait to deal with the effects of COVID-19 on the economy amid low oil prices.

UNDP Kuwait Response to Covid-19
UNDP, 28 April 2020
This article details UNDP's plan to tackle the implications of COVID-19 on national development, migrant workers, and gender-related dimensions.

Lebanon

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Lebanon’s Economy and Industry Suffer under Coronavirus Impact
Executive Magazine, 23 March 2020
This article reports on the impact of the pandemic on the pre-existing economic crisis in Lebanon.

Lebanon: COVID-19 Worsens Medical Supply Crisis
Human Rights Watch, 24 March 2020
This article studies the scarcity of medical supplies necessary to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Covid-19 Impact: What we know so far - Lebanon
International Planned Parenthood Federation, 31 March 2020
In this interview, Lina Sabra, the Executive Director of the Lebanese Association for Family Health (SALAMA), discusses the impact of COVID-19 on Lebanon.

COVID19: Impact on Lebanese Economy
International Journal of Science and Research, April 2020
This report analyzes the COVID-19 rise in Lebanon as well as the prevalent economic crises, response to COVID-19, expected economic impacts to the largest sectors of Lebanon and the choices which the government faces.

Lebanon: Refugees at Risk in Covid-19 Response
Human Rights Watch, 2 April 2020
This article evaluates the coercive environment and discriminatory policies implemented by Lebanese municipalities as part of their efforts to combat Covid-19, undermining the country’s public health response. It also highlights the responsibility the government has for refugee healthcare and obligations to protect the right to health.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality in the Arab Region
United Nations, 6 April 2020
This report discusses proposals set forth by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and partner United Nations agencies for policies and programs to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women.

The Consequences of the Coronavirus in Lebanon
Arab America, 8 April 2020
This article reports on the government's response to the spread of the virus, the changes in Lebanese people's lifestyles and the impact of COVID-19 on refugees.

Impact of COVID-19 on Migrant Workers in Lebanon and What Employers Can Do about it
International Labour Organization, 15 April 2020
This report provides a summary of the particular vulnerability of migrant workers during the COVID-19 health emergency, with a focus on migrant domestic workers.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Management of Cancer Patients in Lebanon: A Single Institutional Experience
Future Medecine, 23 April 2020
This article reports on the impact of COVID-19 on the management of cancer patients in Lebanon.  Through an institutional experience and specific practices, this article reports on cancer patients' behavior towards COVID-19 amidst a weakened healthcare system in Lebanon.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Healthcare of Older Adults: Insights from Lebanon (Middle East)
International Psychogeriatrics, 24 April 2020
This article reports on the local challenges to geropsychiatry practice in Lebanon after the pandemic and current solutions as cited in previous studies and research papers.

Libya

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Gender-Sensitive Prevention, Response and Management of COVID-19 Outbreak in Libya
UN Women, 20 March 2020
This article reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women based on  a survey examining the most significant health, social, and economic challenges facing women due to the emergence of the disease in Libya.

Libya: Detainees at Risk of Coronavirus Spread
Human Rights Watch, 29 March 2020
This article details the impact of the coronavirus spread on detainees in Libya as well as measures proposed by the UN to mitigate these effects.

The Impact of Coronavirus and the Continuing War on Tripoli and Western Libya
The Middle East Directions Programme, 16 April 2020
This article reports on the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the crisis in Tripoli and the western parts of Libya and destabilizes the economy. It also assesses a number of measures adopted by central and local authorities.

Libya: Historic Discrimination Threatens Right to Health of Minorities in the South amid COVID-19
Amnesty International, 20 April 2020
This article reports on the impact of the spread of COVID-19 on Libya's public health system, undermined by years of armed conflict and insecurity including attacks on medical facilities.

Impact of COVID-19 Restrictive Measures on Health Sector
World Health Organization, 23 April 2020
This article assesses COVID-19 restrictive measures on the health sector in Libya, taking into consideration the scale and urgency of the situation and the capacity of the health system.

Intensifying Shelling and COVID-19 Pandemic Creates ‘Perfect Storm’ in Libya
United Nations, 23 April 2020
This article reports on warnings issued by UN officials about a devastating impact of the coronavirus on people in Libya.

Libya: COVID-19 - Situation Report
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 27 April 2020
This situation report assesses the COVID-19 situation in Libya and its impact on health services in different regions.

Mauritania 

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Mauritania: Facing the Pandemic of COVID-19
ITUC Africa, 13 March 2020
This article reports on Mauritania's response to the pandemic, its restriction measures, as well as socio-economic incentives to cope with the pandemic's effects.

UNDP Mauritania
UNDP, 4 April 2020
This article provides a situational analysis of Mauritania during COVID-19 pandemic and details the prolonged response of the UNDP to cope with the implications of the pandemic. 

Morocco 

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Can Morocco Effectively Handle the COVID-19 Crisis? 
Chatham House, 6 April 2020 
This article discusses Morocco’s efforts to mitigate the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19.  

COVID-19: Living Through a Pandemic in Morocco
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, 15 April 2020 
This article assesses the economic and social measures the Moroccan government adopted to tackle the problems posed by the pandemic.   

Coronavirus in Morocco Opens Possibilities for New Social Contracts
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 23 April 2020 
This article examines on measures taken by the Moroccan government to tackle the multilayered challenges of the pandemic with a focus on the unsustainability of certain policies aggravating social precarity. 

Coronavirus in Morocco: Economic and Social Implications 
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 23 April 2020 
This article analyzes the economic and social challenges the COVID-19 outbreak posed to Morocco, as well as the government’s responses to these challenges.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19): Morocco Interrupting the Transmission by Ethics, Logistics, and Therapeutics Efforts 
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations, 28 April 2020 
This article examines the impact of the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 in Morocco. It demonstrates that the various measures adopted by Morocco can be a suitable model for other developing countries.

Oman

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Oman Approves Coronavirus Mitigation Measures
Arab News, 20 March 2020
This article reports on the set of measures taken by Oman to cope with the impact of coronavirus and a sharp decline in global oil prices.  

The Central Bank of Oman’s Response to COVID-19
CMS, 24 March 2020
This article summarizes some of the key COVID-19-related measures announced by the Omani government and how it might assist in providing much needed support to Omani businesses.

COVID-19 Outbreak in Oman: Model-Driven Impact Analysis and Challenges
MedRxiv, 31 March 2020
This paper provides a focused analysis of the COVID-19 situation and explains discrepancies between real cases and cases predicted by the simulation.

The Socio-economic Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Omani Women
UNFPA GCC, April 2020
This is a comprehensive needs-driven and women-centered study to analyze the current and potential impact of the pandemic on Omani women, and creating a linkage between these impacts and the related indicators of the sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the study, which is part of the Oman’s United Nations Country Team (UNCT) response plan, provided insights into the current challenges facing female entrepreneurs in the country, women working in the healthcare sector, and those with special needs, among others.

Palestine

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The Use of Technology to Continue Learning in Palestine Disrupted with COVID-19
Asian Journal of Distance Education, Date Unspecified
This qualitative study examined how decision-makers and teachers have responded to offer education for all Palestinian students at the immediate onset of the COVID-19 outbreak and how technology is being used to continue education online. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants from parents, teachers, and decision-makers in Palestine.

Palestine’s COVID-19 Response Plan
World Health Organization Regional Office in the Middle East, 26 March 2020
This paper reports on the COVID-19 situation in Palestine, the government's strategic response, actions to date, as well as the need for financial support and diplomatic engagement.

COVID-19 Response Plan
OCHA, 27 March 2020
The COVID-19 Response Plan for the occupied Palestinian territory presents the joint strategy of the humanitarian community, including UNRWA, to respond to the public health needs and immediate humanitarian consequences of the pandemic in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. This plan seeks to mobilize support to implement the most urgent and critical activities over the next three months.

Structural Violence in the Era of a New Pandemic: The Case of the Gaza Strip
The Lancet, 27 March 2020
This article studies the impact of structural violence on the vulnerable Palestinian population already affected by the pandemic.

COVID-19: Gendered Impacts of the Pandemic in Palestine and Implications for Policy and Programming
UN Women, April 2020
This report analyzes the gendered impact of the pandemic on the Palestinian population.

The Gaza Strip and COVID-19: Preparing for the Worst
International Crisis Group, 1 April 2020
This report focuses on the vulnerability of the situation in Palestine, deeply affected by COVID-19. It reports on quarantine and containment efforts, the battered health care system, and need for urgent mitigating measures.

COVID-19 Restrictions Offer Window into Palestinian Experience
Human Rights Watch, 15 April 2020
This article reports on the lives of the Palestinian population during the pandemic and under the occupation.

Qatar

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COVID-19 Qatar national Response Action Plan  
Ministry of Public Health, March 2020 
This plan sets out the Qatari government’s response to COVID-19.

Qatar: Protect Migrant Workers During Pandemic 
Human Rights Watch, 2 April 2020 
This article reports on the steps taken by the Qatari authorities to protect migrant workers, setting forth recommendations for further action.   

Qatar: Migrant Workers Illegally Expelled during COVID-19 Pandemic 
Amnesty International, 15 April 2020 
This article reports on the mistreatment suffered by migrant workers who were expelled during the pandemic without any explanation. 

Saudi Arabia

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Updating Traditions: Saudi Arabia’s Coronavirus Response
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 26 March 2020
This article reports on Saudi Arabia's coronavirus response as it relates to nationalism, geopolitics, and global economic and political risks.

Saudi Arabia Turns to E-Commerce during Covid-19 Outbreak
Oxford Business Group, 1 April 2020
This article reports on the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, leading to a boost in e-commerce.

Impact of Corona Virus on the Health Care Services in Saudi Arabia
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10 April 2020
This article establishes the effect of coronavirus on the follow-up, control, screening, vaccination, and quaternary preventions indicators of quality healthcare. 

Saudi Arabia's Economic Update — April 2020
The World Bank, 16 April 2020
This report offers an update on Saudi Arabia's economic situation following the COVID-19 situation.

The impact of COVID-19 on the Banking Sector of Saudi Arabia 
KPMG, 23 April 2020
This report disucsses COVID-19 implication for the bank sector industry in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Tourism Sector Could See 35%-45% Decline this Year on Coronavirus
Reuters, 24 April 2020
This article reports on the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia by mentioning the last events affecting tourism and noting the statistics. 

Somalia

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Preparedness and Response Plan COVID-19
International Organization for Migration, April 2020
This report examines the COVID-19 situation in Somalia and the ways the IOM can contribute to national preparedness and response plan.

How Will Remittances Affect the Somali COVID-19 Response?
The London School of Economics and Political Science, 7 April 2020
This article reports on the effects of remittances on the Somali COVID-19 response.

COVID-19 in Somalia: A Conflict-Sensitive Response to Overlapping Crises
Saferworld, 15 April 2020
This article reports on the overlapping crises existing in Somalia, while providing some recommendations for aid agencies on how to respond to conflict sensitivity.

Somalia: COVID-19 Impact Update No.2 (As of 20 April 2020)
OCHA, 20 April 2020
This article provides an overview of the coronavirus situation in Somalia, the impact of the virus on education, economy, and humanitarian operations. It also reports on the government's humanitarian response to COVID-19.

Somalia Education Sector COVID-19 Response Plan
UNESCO, 22 April 2020
This report discusses a plan for preparing the education sector in Somalia for the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sudan

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Coronavirus Comes to Sudan
Atlantic Council, 30 March 2020
This article reports on Sudan's government prevention efforts as well as political costs incurred due to the coronavirus outbreak.

COVID-19 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment for Sudan
UNDP, April 2020
This report reviews the potential impact of COVID-19 on Sudan, seeking to identify socio-economic structural issues that have rendered the country fragile, and advocating for rebuilding better and more resilient. We explore the impact of the pandemic on economic activities and social sectors, identifying the most vulnerable, and offering suggestions for mitigating measures in line with demands of the revolution for dignity, freedom, and peace.

COVID-19 Spread Could Devastate Millions in Sudan
World Vision International, 14 April 2020
This article focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on children's health as well as World Vision's preparedness and planned response interventions.

Syria

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COVID-19 Pandemic: Syria’s Response and Healthcare Capacity 
Conflict Research Programme, LSE, 25 March 2020 
This memo presents a rapid assessment of the capacity of healthcare system in all parts of Syria to respond to and contain a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Syrians: An Analysis By Syrian Civil Society 
Alnap, 10 April 2020 
This is a comprehensive briefing on the key challenges and concerns facing Syrians and sanctions and restrictions imposed on different regions after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Impact of Syria’s Fragmentation on COVID-19 Response 
Project on Middle East Political Science, 21 April 2020 
This working paper highlights the several key challenges that impede any meaningful nation-wide disaster response coming from a contested region like Syria, having geographic and political fragmentation, and having to deal with the implications of COVID-19.  

Syria: Aid Restrictions Hinder Covid-19 Response 
Human Rights Watch. 28 April 2020 
This article reports on the aid restrictions preventing millions of people in northeast Syria to get treated for COVID-19. It assesses the general healthcare situation in Syria, details the role of the security council, and provides recommendations.

Tunisia

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Socio-Economic Impacts of Covid-19 on the Tunisian Economy
Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies, 7 March 2020
This paper is a case report analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on the Tunisian economy. 

Tunisia Facing COVID-19: To Exceptional Circumstances, Exceptional Measures?
Arab Reform Initiative, 17 March 2020
This paper explores how Tunisia’s different institutions have responded to the COVID-19 crisis.

UNHCR Tunisia: COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
UNHCR, 11 April 2020
This report assesses the progression of COVID-19 in Tunisia and its emergency preparedness and UNHCR's actions to step up its support.

Tunisia’s Citizens and Security Forces Come Together to Combat Coronavirus
United States Institute of Peace, 23 April 2020
This article focuses on the COVID-19 situation in Medenine, in southeast Tunisia, a microcosm of the tense community-police dynamic that prevails across Tunisia.

Setbacks for Freedom of Expression as Tunisia Fights COVID-19
Global Voices, 28 April 2020
This article reports on the attempts to silence Tunisian people who criticize the government's response to COVID-19.

Coronavirus and Tunisia’s Regional Economic Inequalities
Carnegie Endowment International, 29 April 2020
This article discusses the strict measures imposed by the Tunisian government to minimize COVID-19 infections. It also details the economic impact of those measures on the country’s long-marginalized interior regions. 

UAE

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COVID-19 Business Issues in the UAE
Squire Patton Boggs, 21 April 2020
This report summarizes the current status of stimulus and support packages in the UAE.

United Arab Emirates' Economic Update — April 2020
The World Bank, 16 April 2020
This article reports on the UAE's economic situation following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Informing United Arab Emirates’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
American University of Beirut, April 2020
This paper examines the UAE's health system and its response to COVID-19.

Yemen

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COVID-19: Impact on Yemen
ACAPS, 10 March 2020
ACAPS held a joint analysis session on 10 March 2020 with 21 participants from 12 organizations to map key risks that may impact the humanitarian situation of Yemenis for the coming six months. This report is based on the feedback and results of the workshop, publicly available data and reports, and key informant interviews with Yemeni experts.

Government, De Facto Authority and Rebel Governance in Times of COVID-19: The Case of Yemen
Project on Middle East Political Science, 20 April 2020
This article considers the case of Yemen, which shows how in conflict-torn or fragmented countries, governments, de facto authorities, and rebels may show a convergent, although not coordinated, response to COVID-19.

COVID-19 in Yemen: Preparedness Measures in a Fragile State
The Lancet Public Health, 23 April 2020
This article summarizes the current preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Yemen in terms of detection, prevention, and response in light of the recent government decisions to establish a national COVID-19 taskforce and response plan.

Mofeed Digest (October 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]

MENA

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Migrants’ Remittances in the Mediterranean– Evidence from Libya and Tunisia
European Institute of the Mediterranian, October 2022
This article highlights the wide range of consequences of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic as related to remittance outflows from Libya and Tunisia and finds that variables such as length of stay, reason for migrating and region of origin all influenced the likelihood of continued remittance-sending during the pandemic, as well as the likelihood of migrants receiving ‘reverse remittances’ from kin in their country of origin.

Effects of COVID-19 on Pediatric Cancer Care: A Multicenter Study of 11 Middle Eastern Countries
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 12 October 2022 
This article highlights the major challenges facing pediatric cancer centers due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 11 Middle Eastern countries. It specifically studies access to cancer centers, continuity of anti-cancer therapy, hospital admission, and infection protection precautions during the pandemic.

A Review about COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Environmental Concerns and Machine Learning Applications
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 12 October 2022 
This article reviews data about the transmission of the new coronavirus in various settings to better understand virus transmission. It also highlights the most significant application of machine learning to forecast and diagnose COVID-19.

Sex Disparities in Food Consumption Patterns, Dietary Diversity and Determinants of Self-Reported Body Weight Changes Before and Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in 10 Arab Countries
Frontiers in Public Health, 28 October 2022 
This article assesses the gender-based differentials in food consumption patterns, dietary diversity, and the determinants favoring weight change before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic among Arab men and women from 10 Arab countries.

Could the New BA.2.75 Sub-Variant Cause the Emergence of a Global Epidemic of COVID-19? A Scoping Review
Infection and Drug Resistance, 31 October 2022 
This article studies a specific subtype of the SARs-CoV-2 virus and assesses the potential of the new subtype for causing another global mayhem.  

Algeria

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Short-Term Adverse Effects Following Booster Dose of Inactivated-Virus vs. Adenoviral-Vector COVID-19 Vaccines in Algeria: A Cross-Sectional Study of the General Population
Vaccines, 22 October 2022 
This article studies the side effects of COVID-19 booster vaccines to determine the eventual risk factors.

Bahrain

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Women in Bahrain
Derasat, 24 October 2022 
This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bahraini Women and reports the findings of an online survey in which approximately 350 Bahraini women participated and a focus group session that examined women’s experience with remote work during the pandemic.

COVID -19 Vaccinations in Pregnancy: Save Mother and Baby from COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 28 October 2022 
This article reports the results of a retrospective study of pregnant women in Bahrain Defense Force Hospital, who were vaccinated against COVID-19 with Sinopharm or Pfizer/Bio NTech. It studies immune responses to vaccination, association with maternal and fetal factors, and the vertical transmission of antibodies.

Egypt

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Violence Against Healthcare Workers during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study
Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 14 October 2022 
This article aims to determine the prevalence of workplace violence, its risk variables, and the pattern of violence directed toward healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

Characteristics, Outcomes and Indicators of Severity for COVID-19 Among Sample of ESNA Quarantine Hospital’s Patients, Egypt: A Retrospective Study
Infection and Drug Resistance, 21 October 2022 
This article analyzes the hematological, biochemical, and chest imaging findings of a cohort of COVID-19 patients in Egypt and sheds light on the predictors of COVID-19 severity.

Iraq

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Sequencing and Mutations Analysis of the First Recorded SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant during the Fourth Wave of Pandemic in Iraq
The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2022 
This article reports on a study conducted to sequence and molecularly characterize the representing samples from the early fourth COVID-19 wave in Iraq.

Genome Sequence of an Early Imported Case of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (B.1.617.2 AY.122) in Iraq in April 2021
American Society for Microbiology, 17 October 2022 
This article reports the complete genome sequence of an early imported case of a SARS-CoV-2 strain in Iraq obtained from a flight passenger en route from India. 

COVID-19 Death Rates in Iran and Iraq: Possible Relations Between Iraq’s Pre-COVID-19 Mass Gatherings and Its Low Death Rate
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 21 October 2022 
This article focuses on the notable difference in death rates due to COVID-19 in Iran and Iraq. It also discusses the possible effect of Iraq pre-COVID-19 mass gatherings on the death rate.

Dynamic Inferences of Coronavirus Epidemiology Spread in Iraq Region
AIP Conference Proceedings 2400, 31 October 2022 
This article reflects on the authors’ development of a new epidemiological dynamical model-design that can simulate the spread of the coronavirus in Iraq.

Jordan

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Two Years of COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan: A Focus on Epidemiology and Vaccination
Journal of Global Health, 1 October 2022 
This article aims to narrate the story of COVID-19 spread in Jordan from its onset and to document major events and vaccination efforts in the country.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Symptoms After Mild and Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Frontiers in Medicine, 3 October 2022 
This article investigates the prevalence of PCS (Post-COVID-19 Syndrome) in non-hospitalized subjects with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection in Jordan and also assesses the impact of age and gender on PCS.

New Symptoms and Prevalence of Postacute COVID-19 Syndrome among Nonhospitalized COVID-19 Survivors
Scientific Reports, 8 October 2022 
This article assesses post acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) symptoms according to the onset of the infection while evaluating the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the symptoms of PACS.

Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine for COVID-19 Prophylaxis Among Healthcare Professionals and Students in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
PLOS One, 20 October 2022 
This article aims to assess the prevalence of use of traditional and complementary medicine for the prophylaxis of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals and students in Jordan.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Physical Activity of Jordanian Population
Health Science Reports, 28 October 2022 
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity (PA) of the Jordanian population and reports that the pandemic had a positive impact on the healthy lifestyle of the Jordanian population which was attributed to their feeling of the importance of sports practice on the immune system and the availability of time for those activities.

Kuwait

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COVID-19 Environmental and Operational Impact for Public Transport in Kuwait
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 3 October 2022 
This article studies the experience of the Kuwait public transport company KPTC and Kuwait Airways during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the major losses they incurred due to the decline of their users.

Using Absorbable Sutures for Traumatic Wound Closure to Avoid Additional Hospital Visits for Suture Removal During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Cureus, 6 October 2022 
This article studied the usage of absorbable sutures for wound closure treatments in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid requiring patients to come to hospitals frequently for wound dressings during the pandemic and the lockdown measures.

Lebanon

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Development of a Prediction Model for the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases Among Older Syrian Refugees Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lebanon
Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 October 2022 
This article investigates the predictors and barriers to managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) for older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic. It lists predictors including age, no cash assistance, household water and food insecurity, and having multiple chronic diseases.

Observational Study of Factors Associated with Morbidity and Mortality from COVID-19 in Lebanon, 2020–2021
PLOS One, 19 October 2022 
This article probes for outcomes of severity of COVID-19 in Lebanese patients to investigate the association between clinical and metabolic variables and disease outcomes, mainly intubation and mortality.

Food Insecurity and Eating Habits of Lebanese Children Aged 5–11 Years during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Socioeconomic Crisis: A National Study
BMC Public Health, 29 October 2022 
This article aims to find the prevalence of food insecurity among Lebanese children during the COVID-19 pandemic and its correlates.

Libya

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Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) Right Atrioventricular and Vena Cava Thrombus on Top of a Myxoma. A Case Report
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 8 October 2022 
This article studies the relationship between a prior COVID-19 infection and the formation of thrombus inside cardiac chambers in the case of a cardiac tumor such as myxoma. It reports the specific case of a 21-year-old Libyan female who had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and presented with a right atrioventricular thrombus associated with pulmonary embolism and thrombocytopenia.

Morocco 

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Covidly Humorous Memes: Coping Mechanisms and Power Dynamics of Humour during the Pandemic in Morocco
European Journal of Humour Research, 11 October 2022
This article analyzes memes posted on Moroccan Facebook pages during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and shows that the use of humor by Moroccans is not only motivated by achieving mirth but also vehicles critical views about issues of common concern debated in the digital public sphere.

Economic Resilience in Morocco during COVID-19
Economic Research Forum, 11 October 2022 
This article outlines the results of analysis assessing the effects of Morocco’s government actions during the COVID-19 pandemic on economic variables and raises questions about the design of future monetary and fiscal policies and their interaction in an environment of high public debt.

Factors Affecting Nursing and Health Technician Students' Satisfaction with Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Morocco: A Survey-Based Observational Study
Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 17 October 2022 
This article aims to determine the satisfaction levels of nursing and health technician students in Morocco with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palestine

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COVID-19 Vaccines and Epidemic Trends of COVID- 19 in Palestine Running Title: COVID- 19 Trends in Palestine 
Israa University Journal of Applied Sciences, 1 October 2022 
This article aims to determine the growth rate of COVID-19 in Palestine, as well as to compare the rates in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.

Feelings of Polish and Palestinian Students after Receiving Vaccinations against COVID-19
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21 October 2022 
This article studies the opinions of Polish and Palestinian students after receiving vaccinations against COVID-19 and shows that almost 50% of research participants from both countries believe that vaccines are an effective antidote to the pandemic situation.

Qatar

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Cardiovascular Risks and Outcome in COVID-19 Positive Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Attending Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Journal, 1 October 2022 
This article aims to report whether cardiovascular diseases increase the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients in Qatar.

Protective Effect of Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Subvariants
New England Journal of Medicine, 27 October 2022 
This article shows that the protection of a previous COVID-19 infection against reinfection with a BA.4 or BA.5 subvariant was lower than that against reinfection with a BA.1 or BA.2 subvariant because of more waning of immune protection over time and a greater capacity for immune-system evasion with the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

Saudi Arabia

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Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Contact Lens Use and Practices in Saudi Arabia – A Cross Sectional Study
Sapporo Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article aims to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact lens wear and usage in Saudi Arabia.

Awareness of Smell Exercise after Smell Dysfunction Related to COVID-19 in Alahsaa, Saudi Arabia
Archives of Otolaryngology and Rhinology, 21 September 2022 
This article aims to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19-related anosmia, hyposmia, and parosmia in Alahssa, Saudi Arabia and to establish the level of awareness of smell exercises there.

Experience of Nursing Interns during COVID-19 in Taif University, Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, October 2022 
This article aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students in Taif, Saudi Arabia, during their interns at hospitals and how they dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Logistic regression analysis for studying the impact of home quarantine on psychological health during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Alexandria Engineering Journal, October 2022 
This article uses multiple logistic regression model (MLR) to identify the impact of home quarantine on psychological stability of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Soccer-Related Injuries Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Lockdown in Saudi Arabia: An Epidemiological Study
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 7 October 2022 
This article examines the number and nature of soccer injuries per thousand hours of exposure pre and post the COVID-19 lockdown in Saudi Arabia.

Impact of Social Determinants on COVID-19 Infections: A Comprehensive Study from Saudi Arabia Governorates
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 7 October 2022 
This article identifies the main factors affecting the variations between KSA governorates in the cumulative number of COVID-19 infections.

Knowledge of COVID-19 and Its Treatment Among Healthcare Worker in Al-Ahsa Region of Saudi Arabia
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 11 October 2022 
This article assesses the knowledge find of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region about the COVID-19 in terms of its symptoms, transmission, and treatment.

The Association Between Hair Loss and COVID-19: The Impact of Hair Loss After COVID-19 Infection on the Quality of Life Among Residents in Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 13 October 2022 
This article explores the prevalence of hair loss among recovered COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia and to determine the contributing factors. It also measures the impact of hair loss after COVID-19 on patients’ quality of life.

Challenges and Barriers to E-Learning Experienced by Trainers and Training Coordinators in the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Crisis
PLOS One, 17 October 2022 
This article explores the challenges of and barriers to e-learning experienced by trainers and training coordinators in the Saudi Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Economic Burden of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Public Health, 20 October 2022 
This article provides real-world data on the health economic burden of COVID-19 on the Saudi health sector and assesses the direct medical costs associated with the management of COVID-19 in the Kingdom.

Predictors of Illness Severity in COVID-19 Cases in Saudi Arabia
Infection and Drug Resistance, 21 October 2022 
This article describes the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19 cases in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and identifies factors associated with the severity of the illness.

Nutritional Behaviour of Adolescents and the Impact of COVID-19 on a Diet in Saudi Arabia
Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 26 October 2022 
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, behavior and dietary patterns of adolescents and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions on these behaviors in Saudi Arabia.

Public Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Residents of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Online Study 
BMJ Open, 31 October 2022 
This article measures the public acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccinations among residents of Saudi Arabia and explores the factors that may play an important role in increasing the acceptance of vaccinations in future pandemics.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety and Depression among Physical Therapists in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
BMC Medical Education, November 2022 
This article reports the results of a survey conducted on physical therapists in Saudi Arabia to assess their level of anxiety and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that 63% and 55.5% of the studied therapists reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively.

Somalia

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Loss of Taste and Smell are Common Clinical Characteristics of Patients with COVID-19 in Somalia: A Retrospective Double Centre Study
Infection and Drug Resistance, 21 October 2022 
This article identifies the common clinical presentations and the evidence on the presence of ageusia and anosmia as emerging COVID-19 symptom to better inform COVID-19 patients and clinicians in Somalia.

Sudan

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Spatial–Temporal Trends of COVID-19 Infection and Mortality in Sudan
Scientific Reports, 7 October 2022 
This article reports the findings of a national descriptive study implemented to present the infection and mortality rates of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Acceptance Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines in Sudan
Frontiers in Public Health, 10 October 2022 
This article assesses the behavior of health workers, medical students, and the general public in Sudan regarding COVID-19 vaccines and identifies  the determinants of their behavior and the factors increasing vaccine acceptance among them.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Market in Sudan
Economic Research Forum, 25 October 2022 
This article draws on survey evidence of how Sudan’s labor market has fared during the COVID-19 pandemic and makes recommendations for policies to respond to the economic damage to households and firms.

The characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 among diabetic patients in Wad-Medani isolation center from September to December 2020: A cross-sectional study
Health Science Reports, 31 October 2022 
This article evaluates the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 among diabetic patients in Sudan.

Syria

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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to COVID-19 Infection, Related Behavior, Antibiotics Usage, and Resistance among Syrian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Health Science Reports, 3 October 2022
This article evaluates the Syrian population’s knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practice around the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Power Dynamics and Health Initiative Design as Determinants of Peacebuilding: A Case Study of the Syrian Conflict 
BMJ Global Health, 9 October 2022 
This article examines the role that existing power structures and health initiative characteristics play at various levels of a conflict in peacebuilding outcomes in the contexts of the Syrian war and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commitment to Protective Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Syria: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
PLOS One, 14 October 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the extent to which the Syrian population adheres to precautionary infection control measures and analyze the relationship between demographic variables and adherence in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Down Syndrome Outreach during the COVID-19 Pandemic – An Interprofessional Zoom® WhatsApp® Collaboration in Syria
Journal of Pediatric Healthcare, 16 October 2022 
This article reflects on the experience of children with Down Syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic given that they face increased risks of severe outcomes of the disease (e.g., respiratory symptoms, fever, and several medical complications).

Tunisia

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Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health Care Workers in Tunisia
Research Square, 19 October 2022 
This working paper assesses the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tunisia’s health care workers' work, psychological outcomes, and return to work indicators.

Compassion Fatigue among Frontline Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tunisia
PLOS One, 27 October 2022 
This article measures compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF) levels and their predictors among Tunisian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UAE

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Parents’ Views on the Acceptability of a COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates
Hayat Biotech, October 2022 
This article assesses the views of parents in the UAE on the acceptability of vaccines against COVID-19 for their children.

Psychological Distress among the Nursing Workforce in the United Arab Emirates: Comparing Levels before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Nursing Forum, 9 October 2022 
This article aims to determine the level of generalized psychological distress among nurses in the United Arab Emirates comparatively before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coinfections in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Descriptive Study from the United Arab Emirates
Infection and Drug Resistance, 21 October 2022 
This article aims to characterize the clinical and microbiological profiles of coinfections in patients with COVID-19 in the UAE.

Yemen

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Psychologists’ Perspective of Mental Health in Yemen during the Civil War and COVID-19: A Qualitative Inquiry
Current Psychology, 14 October 2022 
This article examines the current state of psychological problems from the perspectives of psychologists and psychiatrists in Yemen in light of the ongoing civil war and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mofeed Digest (September 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen] 

MENA

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Arab Human Development Report 2022: Expanding Opportunities for an Inclusive and Resilient Recovery in the Post-COVID Era 
UNDP, September 2022  
This report provides an assessment of what it will take to get human development back on track in the Arab States region in the post-pandemic (COVID-19) era. It tackles the pandemic’s impacts on structural vulnerabilities in the Arab States region and its effects on the human development indices of those states. [Arabic]

Key Considerations for Integrating COVID-19 Vaccination Services: Insights from Iraq and Syria for the MENA Region
Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform, September 2022 
This article draws on evidence from academic literature and consultations with partners working in the COVID-19 response to review current integration efforts and explore potentially effective ways to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into other services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Exploring Enablers and Barriers toward COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Arabs: A Qualitative Study
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, September 2022 
This article explores public beliefs and views towards COVID-19 vaccination in different Arab countries and the effect of confidence in the healthcare system, misinformation, and scientific approaches adopted to mitigate COVID-19 on how individuals are following the recommended preventative actions including vaccination.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Real Effective Exchange Rate and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows: Evidence from Morocco, Turkey and Egypt
International Journal of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, 5 September 2022 
This article studies the impact of real effective exchange rate (REER) volatility in different exchange rate arrangements for the 1990–2020 period and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt.

SARS-CoV-2 Chronological Genomic Evolution and Epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region as Affected by Vaccination, Conflict and Socioeconomical Disparities: A Population-Based Cohort Study 
BMJ Public Health Emergency Collection, 8 September 2022 
This article describes the chronological genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on public health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) Questionnaire in Arabic Language Widely Spoken in a Region with a High Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 September 2022 
This article aims to validate a version of the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) tool in Arabic. The study investigates Arab-speaking parents’ views regarding COVID-19 vaccination of their children.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies among People in Seven Arab Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 10 September 2022 
This article aims to assess prevention, treatment, degree of symptoms, and sources of information among patients with COVID-19 in Arab countries.

Economic Trouble in Five Non-Oil Arab Countries
Strategic Comments, 13 September 2022 
This article discusses the economic shocks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in five non-oil exporters in the Arab States region, namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The article studies the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy and food markets and how those disruptions were manifested in these countries. 

Assessment of Commitment to Healthy Daily Habits and Diets, Preventive Measures, and Beliefs about Natural Products Utilization during COVID-19 Pandemic in Certain Population in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Pharmacy Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article aims to assess the commitment of participants in Saudi Arabia and Egypt towards healthy daily habits, preventive measures, healthy food habits, and beliefs about natural products as Immunostimulants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parental Health Beliefs, Intention, and Strategies about COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from Five Arab Countries in the Middle East
Vaccine, 23 September 2022 
This article aims to explore the parents’ health beliefs, intentions, and strategies towards the COVID-19 vaccine for their children among Arab population.

Digitalisation: What’s Needed in Business Responses to COVID-19 in MENA
Economic Research Forum, 25 September 2022 
This article reports evidence on how different sectors in the Middle East and North Africa have been responding to disruptions in the global business environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus is particularly on firms’ adoption of digital technologies, as well as policies that might encourage greater digitalization as an essential business strategy to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 for the economy.

Bahrain

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Implementing Artificial Intelligence-Based COVID-19 Chatbot in the Kingdom of Bahrain
International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 30 September 2022 
This article studies the role of Chatbots in helping the Bahraini healthcare sector minimize operational costs and improve the quality and speed of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Egypt

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Assessment of COVID-19 Impact on Sustainable Development Goals Indicators in Egypt Using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, September 2022 
This article assesses indicators of specific Sustainable Development Goals in reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 by conducting several questionnaire surveys among experts in Egypt. The scope of this research is limited to addressing poverty alleviation, hunger abatement, healthcare promotion, sustainable economic growth, and climate change mitigation. 

Love of Life: Role of Positive and Negative Traits among Egyptian Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mankind Quarterly, 1 September 2022 
This article aims to study the role of negative and positive traits among Egyptian students during the COVID-19 pandemic by developing a model of love of life (LOL) as a component of subjective well-being (SWB). A sample of 309 Egyptian college students responded to the following scales: Love of Life, self-esteem, SWB, positive and negative affect, and suicidality.

COVID-19 Food Policy Response Monitor for Egypt
IFPRI Egypt, 19 September 2022 
This article compiles Egypt’s food policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and features the  “Food Policy Response Monitor” which is a tool that provides an overview of key food policy responses in a tabular format and is updated regularly.

Assessment of COVID -19 Associated Coagulopathy and Multiple Hemostatic Markers: A Single Center Study in Egypt
Infection, 22 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and DIC among patients of Upper Egypt. It studied 106 COVID-19 patients and 51 apparently healthy controls.

Impact of Obesity and Its Associated Comorbid Conditions on COVID-19 Presentation
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 28 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the impact of obesity and its related complications on the course of COVID-19 in Egyptian patients.

Iraq

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Disease Severity and Efficacy of Homologous Vaccination among Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, Compared to Unvaccinated Using Main Biomarkers
Journal of Medical Virology, 27 August 2022 
This article aims to establish the clinical severity of COVID-19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals in Iraq and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines (single or double doses).

Role of Oxidative Stress in Pathogenesis and Severity of COVID-19 Infection: Case-Control Study in Iraq
Journal of Life and Bio Sciences Research, 7 September 2022 
This article aims to investigate oxidative stress in patients with mild and severe COVID-19 in Iraq.

Long COVID-19 Prevalence among a Sample of Infected People in Erbil City
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 9 September 2022 
This estimates the prevalence of residual symptoms among a sample of people infected with COVID-19 who survived and recovered in Erbil city and assesses the relation between the severity of the disease and post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses Mental Health Status in Iraq
Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 28 September 2022 
This article assesses the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 1000 nurses in Iraq using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS21).

Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 as Diagnostic Markers for COVID-19 Infection
Iraqi Journal of Science, 30 September 2022 
This article investigates the probable link between Matrix Metalloproteinase and COVID-19 by studying 58 COVID-19 patients and 30 apparently healthy individuals matched in terms of age and sex in Iraq.

The Modern Techniques in Spatial Analysis to Isolate, Quarantine the Affected Areas and Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Epidemic
Iraqi Journal of Science, 30 September 2022 
This article reflects on techniques in spatial analysis utilized in Iraq to control viral spreading, optimize health capabilities and protection teams, and limit population movement to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jordan

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Public Perception of Pharmacist's Role during COVID-19 Outbreak in Jordan
Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1 September 2022 
This article reports on a positive public perception toward the pharmacist role in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic and calls on expanding the role of the pharmacist to be more engaged in providing different health services during disasters or normal conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroepidemiological Investigation in Jordan: Seroprevalence, Herd Immunity, and Vaccination Coverage. A Population-Based National Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 5 September 2022 
This article estimates the population-based seropositivity, herd immunity, and vaccination coverage at the fourth wave of seroprevalence epidemiological COVID-19 investigations in Jordan.

Sources of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Jordan: Self-Reported Approach
Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 6 September 2022 
This article explores the sources of COVID-19 infection in Jordan and investigates the effects of demographic factors and the adherence to preventive measures on household transmission.

Inequalities in Jordan Before and After the Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 6 September 2022 
This report provides an overview of inequalities in Jordan, before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report focuses on inequality in expenditure as a proxy for income inequality and on inequality in educational outcomes and opportunities as a proxy for inequalities in capabilities.

Returning to Schools After COVID-19: Identifying Factors of Distance Learning Failure in Jordan from Parents’ Perspectives
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 9 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the distance learning experiences of Jordanian parents after their children returned to school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Related Stigma, Empathy and Intention for Testing in Jordan
PLOS One, 12 September 2022 
This article aims to establish the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma and its association with empathic responding, in addition to exploring predictors of stigma and testing intention among Jordanian people.

The First Detection of Pneumocystis Jirovecii in Asthmatic Patients Post-COVID-19 in Jordan
Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 16 September 2022 
This article aims to determine if Pneumocystis Jirovecii detection occurs in asthma patients following the incidence of COVID-19 in a Jordanian cohort.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Vulnerable Groups: Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Vaccines, 28 September 2022 
This article aims to assess the willingness of Syrian refugees in Jordan to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan were invited through social media to complete the survey between January and March 2022.

Kuwait

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Immunization in State of Kuwait: Short-Term Disruption With Rebound in Vaccination Utilization
AJPM Focus, 11 September 2022 
This article explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization in Kuwait along 4 abbreviated time frames. 

Lebanon

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Movement under State and Non-State Authorities during COVID-19: Evidence from Lebanon
SSM Population Health, September 2022 
This article proposes that non-state armed groups may make different decisions than state governments in response to public health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws upon the case of Hezbollah in Lebanon to investigate whether movement levels differed between areas with Hezbollah private governance in comparison to other areas of Lebanon.

Variations in COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Acceptance among Refugees and Lebanese Nationals Pre- and Post-Vaccine Rollout in Lebanon
Vaccines, 15 September 2022 
This article evaluates variations in attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and factors associated with vaccine acceptance among refugees and Lebanese nationals accessing 60 International Medical Corps-supported health facilities through two cross-sectional surveys pre- and post-vaccine rollout.

Implementation of a Pharmacovigilance System in a Resources-Limited Country in the Context of COVID-19: Lebanon’s Success Story
Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science, 15 September 2022 
This article describes the implementation of an effective national pharmacovigilance system in Lebanon in the context of COVID-19, within a limited resources setting and with the absence of a guaranteed funding.

Libya

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Association Between ABO Blood Group System and COVID-19 Severity: Case-Control Study From Libya
American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 7 September 2022 
This article reports the findings of a study conducted on Libyan participants to further investigate the association between the ABO blood group system and COVID-19 severity.

Morocco 

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EP06.01-010 Clinical Outcomes after Hypo Fractionated Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Morocco
Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 1 September 2022 
This article reports the outcomes of patients treated by Hypo fractionated radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Casablanca Region in Morocco.

Social Medias in Increasing Anxiety around COVID-19 in Morocco
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article studies how the exposure to publicized information about the COVID-19 pandemic might have generated psychiatric disorders among Moroccans, in particular anxiety and absence of well-being.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used against COVID-19
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 15 September 2022 
This article identifies the medicinal plants used by the Moroccan population in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Emergency Remote Learning in Morocco as a Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspectives
Learning: Research and Practice, 20 September 2022 
This article explores the experience of Moroccan university students with emergency remote learning (ERL) during the COVID-19 lockdown. It found that insecurity, the absence of intimacy, technical issues, and unfairness were the main hurdles that negatively influence participants’ online learning process.

Smallholder Farmer Aptitudes and Perceptions about the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Agriculture in Morocco during the Lockdown
Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 21 September 2022 
This article captures the perceptions of Moroccan smallholder farmers from three agricultural regions regarding the effects of COVID-19 on their farming practices and social well-being.

Monetary Policy Under Uncertainty: The Case of COVID-19 Health Crisis in Morocco
European Journal of Business and Management Research, 27 September 2022 
This article analyzes the conduct of Morocco's monetary policy in the context of the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 health crisis.

Oman

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Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses in Oman Toward Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article investigates the relationship between attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and disapproval of the policy of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among unvaccinated physicians and nurses in Oman.

Factors Associated with Coping Strategies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Stressors among Omani Adults
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article examines stressors and coping strategies adopted by Omani adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the relationships between coping strategies and sociodemographic characteristics.

Adverse Cutaneous Reactions Reported Post COVID-19 Vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate, Sultanate of Oman
Dermatologic Therapy, 13 September 2022 
This article evaluates the incidence and various patterns of cutaneous side effects reported post COVID-19 vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate in Oman.

Palestine

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Effects of COVID-19 on Domestic Tourism in the West Bank, Palestine: A Case Study of Nablus City
An-Najah Staff Publications, September 2022
This article investigates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic tourism in Nablus City located in the West Bank of Palestine.

COVID-19 Vaccination in the Gaza Strip: A Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccine Coverage, Hesitancy, and Associated Risk Factors among Community Members and Healthcare Workers
Conflict and Health, 9 September 2022 
This article explores the challenges impeding vaccination efforts against COVID-19 in the Gaza strip and estimates the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among residents there.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Palestinian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study during COVID-19 Pandemic
Middle East Current Psychiatry, 19 September 2022 
This article measures the prevalence of anxiety and depression among university students in Palestine and explores the association between anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Symptomatic Dry Eye in Nurses in Palestine during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Arab American University Digital Repository, 21 September 2022 
This article assesses the prevalence and associated factors of dry eye disease among hospital nurses in the North West Bank during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of Using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview Mode of Data Collection in the Time of COVID–19 Pandemic—Palestine Case
The Implementation of Smart Technologies for Business Success and Sustainability, 25 September 2022
This article introduces the adoption of the CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) mode of data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine and explains the main differences between CATI and CAPI (Computer-assisted personal interviewing) modes in household surveys in particular.

Qatar

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Variations in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Activity Following the Relaxation of COVID-19 Restrictions in Qatar
Journal of Travel Medicine, 17 September 2022 
This article reports that the remarkable variations in RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) transmission dynamics during the relaxation of COVID-19 measures in Qatar in late 2020 and 2021 could be mainly attributed to the number of international arrivals and the introduction of RSV from different regions.

Saudi Arabia

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SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Rate and Outcomes in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, September 2022 
This article utilizes comorbidities, vaccination status, SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and demographics data to profile participants who were reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia. It reports that diabetes, HIV, obesity, and working in health care were associated with reinfections.

Seroprevalence of Community-Acquired Atypical Bacterial Pneumonia among Adult COVID-19 Patients from a Single Center in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Medical Journal, 1 September 2022 
This article investigates the seroprevalence of the community-acquired bacterial that causes atypical pneumonia among confirmed COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia.

Sleep Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 Crisis on University Students in Saudi Arabia and Associated Factors
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article aims to assess sleep effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students in Saudi Arabia.

Factors Affecting the Decision Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in the Saudi Public in the Central Region
Cureus, 7 September 2022 
This article evaluates the factors and motivators that may affect the Saudi Arabian population's decision to get COVID-19 vaccination.

Changes in Physical Activity during COVID-19 Pandemic among Saudi Arabians: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Health Science Reports, 12 September 2022 
This article investigates patterns of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults residing in Saudi Arabia.

Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms Distribution According to Tobacco Products Consumption and Khat Chewing: A Potential Antinociceptive Role of Nicotine Among COVID-19 Patients
International Journal of General Medicine, 15 September 2022 
This article assesses the distribution of COVID-19 symptoms according to the consumption of tobacco products and khat chewing among samples of Saudi Arabian individuals.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Requesting a Complete Blood Count (CBC) in the Management of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Healthcare, 15 September 2022 
This article assesses the cost-effectiveness of requesting a complete blood count (CBC) for COVID-19 patients, as opposed to ordering a COVID-19 antibody titer in Saudi Arabia.

Mortality Predictors Among COVID-19 Elderly in Taif, Saudi Arabia
Infection and Drug Resistance, 17 September 2022 
This article identifies determinants of COVID-19-related death in geriatric patients in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of Short-Term Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines Used among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 18 September 2022 
This article assesses the short-term side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccinations against COVID-19 among teenagers in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of Helmet Noninvasive Ventilation vs Usual Respiratory Support on Mortality Among Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19
Journal of the American Medical Association, 20 September 2022 
This article evaluates whether helmet noninvasive ventilation compared with usual respiratory support reduces mortality in patients in Saudi Arabia with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Internet Traffic in Saudi Arabia 
Journal of King Abdulaziz University, 20 September 2022 
This article analyzes internet traffic characteristics in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the impact of the pandemic on internet usage patterns.

COVID-19 Vaccine Had a Significant Positive Impact on Patients with SARS-COV-2 during the Third (Omicron) Wave in Saudi Arabia
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 21 September 2022 
This article reports the findings of a retrospective study of infected COVID-19 patients during the third (Omicron) wave in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. It finds that Omicron variant symptoms among infected patients are generally milder compared to other variants and that prior COVID-19 vaccination may limit disease severity and need for hospitalization.

Assessment of Perceived Risk and Precautionary Behavior toward COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Health Belief Model, Saudi Arabia
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 21 September 2022 
This article identifies behavioral responses of the health sciences university students in Saudi Arabia during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and studies risk perceptions using the health belief model (HBM).

Assessment of Postgraduate Online Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article provides qualitative and quantitative assessments of post-graduate online medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Hospital Pharmacists’ Awareness and Perspective toward the Management of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Pharmacy Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article investigates Saudi Arabian hospital pharmacists’ awareness of important facts about the COVID-19 disease and their source of information, as well as their perception.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
International Ophthalmology, 24 September 2022 
This article estimates the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among university medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after establishing remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic and compares settings of electronic device usage and patterns of CVS protective measures applied by students before and during this pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Education in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Health Sciences Research, 26 September 2022 
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy teaching in Saudi Arabia. The authors reflect on their experience during the pandemic at King Saud University and discuss specific elements of the pharmacy school curriculum, including classroom instruction, laboratory work, and experiential learning.

Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Families and Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A National Perspective
Frontiers in Public Health, 27 September 2022 
This article explores the challenges, anxiety levels, and concerns of children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Somalia

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Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibodies among the Paediatric Population in Mogadishu, Somalia 
Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 15 September 2022 
This article determines the level of immunoglobulins against COVID-19 circulating in children in Mogadishu and to evaluates other potential risk factors.

Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients- Retrospective Single-Center Study
Infection and Drug Resistance, 17 September 2022 
This article determines the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients in Mogadishu and explores the relationship between inflammatory markers, the severity of lung involvement, and acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients.

Sudan

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Challenges of Online Medical Education in Khartoum Sudan during COVID-19 Pandemic 2021
Research Square, 12 September 2022 
This working paper investigates the challenges of online medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khartoum.

Adherence to COVID-19 Vaccine among Health Care Providers in Merowe Hospital in Rural Area at North Sudan
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 26 September 2022 
This article assesses the adherence to COVID-19 vaccines among health care providers in Merowe hospital in North Sudan.

Syria

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The Effects of Type III Traumatic Stressors of the Protracted Conflict and Prolonged COVID-19 on Syrians Internally Displaced: A Validation Study of Type III Continuous Traumatic Stressors and Their Impact
International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, September 2022 
This article aims to validate the type III continuous traumatic stress model assumptions and assess the effect of intersected traumas of civil war and COVID-19 stressors on internally displaced Syrian people.

Syndromic Surveillance of Respiratory Infections during Protracted Conflict: Experiences from Northern Syria 2016-2021
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, September 2022 
This article investigates the trends of Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) reported influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in northern Syria between 2016 and 2021 and the potential impact of COVID-19.

Guillain–Barré Syndrome Associated with COVID-19: Two Cases from a Public Hospital in Damascus, Syria
Case Reports in Medicine, 2 September 2022 
This article reports on two cases of COVID-19 complicated with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) from a public hospital in Damascus, Syria.

Tunisia

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Gender Differences in Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) in Tunisian Population
Journal of Innovations in Medical Research, September 2022 
This article investigates whether gender influences the clinical presentation and/or the outcome of COVID-19 in the Tunisian population.

COVID-19 Prophylaxis with Doxycycline and Zinc in Health Care Workers: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1 September 2022 
This article assesses the efficacy of a combination treatment of doxycycline and zinc in the primary prevention of COVID-19 infection in Tunisian health care workers compared with two control groups.

The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Secondary School Teachers in Sfax, Tunisia : Anxiety Disorders
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article determines the prevalence and the factors for anxiety during the COVID-19 period among high school teachers in Sfax, Tunisia.

Effect of COVID-19 on the Ambient Air Pollution in Tunisia during 2020 and 2021 Years
Journal of Community Medicine and Health Solutions, 2 September 2022 
This article shows that the gradual limitation of industrial activity and automobile traffic in Tunisia caused by COVID-19 pandemic protective measures have been accompanied by an apparent decrease in air pollution and air quality index in Tunisian regions, especially in the north and the center.

Perception of Tunisian Public Health Practitioners on the Role of Primary Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 5 September 2022 
This article describes public health experts’ perceptions of the implication of Primary Health Care on managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia.

Women Entrepreneurs in Tunisia within the Context of the COVID-19: Constraints, Dilemmas and Resilience Behavior
Procedia Computer Science, 10 September 2022 
This article examines the resilience behaviors of women entrepreneurs (WE) in Tunisia during the COVID-19 crisis. The authors explore this question through the life stories of nine women entrepreneurs.

Impact of Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Program on Submaximal Exercise Capacity of Tunisian Male Patients with Post-COVID-19: A Pilot Study
Frontiers in Physiology, 28 September 2022 
This article evaluates the impact of a cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program (CRRP) on submaximal exercise capacity through the 6-min walk test (6MWT) data in post-COVID-19 Tunisian patients.

UAE

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Characteristics of Admissions to a Tertiary Psychiatric Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Observational Study
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article studies the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-demographic and clinical profiles of patients who were admitted to a tertiary psychiatric hospital in the UAE during 2020 compared with the corresponding period in 2019, and evaluates the effect of the pandemic on the mental healthcare system.

Parents’ Views on the Acceptability of a COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates
Vaccine, 9 September 2022 
This article  investigates parents’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It finds that the acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine is high among parents.

Experiences of Work-Related Stress Among Female Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab of Emirates
Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 21 September 2022 
This article explores the lived experiences of work-related stress among female healthcare workers in United Arab of Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads in Stool Samples and Nasopharyngeal Swabs from COVID-19 Patients in the United Arab Emirates
PLOS One, 22 September 2022 
This article investigates COVID-19 viral load trends in stools and nasopharyngeal swabs in the UAE and explore their correlation with multiple demographic and clinical factors.

The effect of lockdowns and distant learning on the health-related behaviours of school students in the United Arab Emirates
BMC Primary Care, 27 September 2022 
This article assesses the effects of the lockdown and remote learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the health-related behaviors of school students in the UAE.

Assessment and Evaluation of Psychological Status of Undergraduate College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 30 September 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of undergraduate university students in the UAE in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Mofeed Digest (August 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Comoros | Djibouti | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen] 

MENA

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Putting MENA’s Pathogenic Variants on the Global Map
KAUST, August 2022
This article reports on the work of KAUST bioscientists to place some of the genetic information of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Saudi Arabia on the global map. The scientists also identified a link between disease severity and the virus’s nucleocapsid protein.

COVID-19 Policy Responses in the Arab Region: Limited Fiscal Space and Lack of Effective Social Protection Systems
UN ESCWA, August 2022
This report sheds light on social protection interventions as part of wider fiscal support measures implemented by governments in the Arab region to cushion the repercussions of the pandemic on private households. It focuses on intra- and cross-regional differences in social protection spending using information and figures of public announcements issued by governments and tracked by the COVID-19 Stimulus Tracker of the ESCWA.

COVID-19 and the Gendered Impacts on Adolescent Wellbeing: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study of Locally Adapted Measures in Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine
eClinical Medicine, 3 August 2022
This article explores relationships between gender, COVID-19 vulnerability, social protection, and adolescent wellbeing in three diverse contexts: Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine.

Women’s Employment and Care Work in MENA during the Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 16 August 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s employment and gender disparities in the MENA region. It shows that the experience of the pandemic underscores the persistent gender inequality in unpaid care work in MENA, and the necessity of redressing gender norms underlying this inequality to allow women equal employment opportunities.

How the COVID Vaccine Rollout Exposed Inequality in the Middle East
Middle East Eye, 19 August 2022
This article shows how the pandemic and the subsequent rush towards vaccination underscored the tremendous gap between rich countries and poorer countries and also the immense inequities that exist between countries and regions themselves. The article points to the Middle East as the region where inequities have been most intense.

COVID, Care and the City: Perspectives from MENA
London School of Economics, 22 August 2022
This article inquires whether the interval of COVID-19 produced particular challenges and practices in the MENA region, and how these shifted over the period 2020-2022. The authors draw on contributions related to different urban centers including those in Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunis, and with a special focus on Palestine and Palestinians in Lebanon.

Modeling the Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Among Five High Burden African Countries    
Clinical Epidemiology, 26 August 2022
This article aims to understand the transmission dynamics of the coronavirus and its variants in five African countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Libya. The authors project that for the next 30 years, there will be around 86 million infected individuals and millions of deaths only in those five countries.

First, Do No Harm? The World Health Organization in the MENA Region
Arab Center Washington D.C., 26 August 2022
This article reflects on the successes and the failures of the World Health Organization in the MENA region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies challenges facing the WHO in the region including the exodus of health professionals, resource-poor health facilities, and a lack of specialized resources for women, children, refugees, people with disabilities, the elderly, and nomadic groups.

Algeria

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Rapport D’Enquête pour L’Evaluation de L’Impact Socio-Economique de la Pandémie COVID-19 sur les Entreprises en Algérie
UNDP, 23 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a survey assessing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses in Algeria.

Bahrain

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Long Term Detection and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater in Bahrain
Journal of Hazardouz Materials Advances, August 2022
This article reports on a long-term quantification study in Bahrain to investigate the incidence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epidemiological Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection
International Journal of Infectuous Diseases, August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a retrospective epidemiological study of 1362 COVID-19 reinfection cases in Bahrain between April 2020 and July 2021. The authors analyzed differences in disease severity and reinfection characteristics among various vaccination statuses: fully vaccinated, interrupted vaccination, one-dose vaccination, post-reinfection vaccination, and unvaccinated.

Demographic and Viral-Genetic Analyses of COVID-19 Severity in Bahrain Identify Local Risk Factors and a Protective Effect of Polymerase Mutations
medRxiv, 16 August 2022
This working paper analyzes paired viral sequencing and non-genetic host data to understand host and viral determinants of severe COVID-19 infections. The authors estimated the effects of demographic variables specific to the Bahrain population and found that the impact of health factors is largely consistent with other populations.

Maternal COVID-19 Disease and COVID-19 Immunization
Cureus, 23 August 2022
This article evaluates the immune response and vertical transmission of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) antibodies in vaccinated, expectant mothers infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and studies the sequelae. The study was conducted on pregnant women at Bahrain Defense Force Hospital from March 2021 to September 2021.

Comoros

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COVID-19 : L’Engagement Communautaire des Femmes au Cœur de la Réponse aux Comores
World Health Organization, 25 July 2022
This article highlights the role of women communities in the Comoros in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Djibouti

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti
The Borgen Project, 3 August 2022
This article examines the impact of the protective measures enacted by the Djiboutian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, income, unemployment, and women.

Egypt

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Post COVID-19 Firm-Level Government Support in Egypt: Uneven Allocation and Unequal Effects
Economic Research Forum, August 2022
This article explores the allocation and effectiveness of government support to firms in Egypt. Government support has helped mitigate the effects of COVID-19, with a significantly larger, favorable impact on smaller, younger and private firms.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in Egyptian Children with Hemoglobinopathies and Inherited Anemias
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, August 2022
This article examines the prevalence of COVID-19 cases among children with hemoglobinopathies and other inherited anemias living in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt, who are at high risk of exposure to infection.

Modelling the Fourth Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt
Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 11 August 2022
This article studies the dynamics of COVID-19 in Egypt using machine learning algorithms and the epidemiological model SEIR. Among the machine learning models studied, two models showed promising results (SVR, SEGPR).

Comorbidities and Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Upper Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 12 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of comorbidities in COVID-19 patients on the outcome and to determine predictors of prolonged hospital stay, requisite for intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

SARS-CoV-2 Genome Variations and Evolution Patterns in Egypt: A Multi-Center Study
Scientific Reports, 25 August 2022
This article reports on the study of 110 diagnosed positive COVID-19 patient’s samples collected from Kasr Al-Aini Hospital and the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt between May 2020 and January 2021. The viral genomes were sequenced by next generation sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis was performed to understand viral transmission dynamics.

Iraq

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The Role of Influenza Vaccination in the COVID-19 Infection: Impact on Incidence and Severity in Iraq
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article examines the role of the influenza vaccination in COVID-19 infections. It shows that influenza vaccination could be linked to better clinical outcomes and a lower COVID-19 severity score, without significant effect on the infection rate.

Analysis of Proinflammatory Cytokines in COVID -19 Patients in Baghdad, Iraq
Archives of Razi Institute, 10 August 2022
This article investigates the proinflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID -19 in Baghdad, Iraq. The most common clinical symptoms were cough, fever, and headache, while sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms, chest pain, and loss of taste and smell were less common in COVID -19 patients.

Reinvigorating Medical Student Mentorships in Neurosurgery during the Pandemic: Lessons Learned from Iraq
Surgical Neurology International, 12 August 2022
This article discusses the Baghdad neurosurgery mentorship during the COVID-19 pandemic with notable comparison to the mentorship preceding the pandemic.

Contributing Factors in Whether Displaced Households Want to Receive Humanitarian Information from Humanitarian Actors: Iraq Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 August 2022
This article investigates factors related to desire of displaced households to receive humanitarian information. The authors show that the desire to receive humanitarian information was related to whether household members were unemployed due to COVID-19, displacement status, and walking time to reach the nearest health care facility and marketplace.

Measurement of the Serum Level of Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein-1 in Hospitalized Iraqi COVID-19 Patients
Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences, 26 August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a study aimed to assess Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 biomarker serum level in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Disease Severity and Efficacy of Homologous Vaccination among Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, Compared to Unvaccinated Using Main Biomarkers
Journal of Medical Virology, 27 August 2022
This article aims to establish the clinical severity of COVID-19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Physical Activities in Basra, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Emerging Investigators, 30 August 2022
This article aims to determine the level of physical activity of the residents of Basra (the second-largest province in Iraq) during the COVID-19 quarantine according to sex, age, educational level, marital status, occupational/educational status, and health status.

Jordan

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Drivers of the Acceptance Of COVID-19 Vaccines in Jordan: The Moderating Role of a Pre-Existing Health Condition
Journal of Positive School Psychology, August 2022
This article investigates the drivers influencing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in Jordan and examines the moderating role of pre-existing health conditions.

The Impact of an Educational Workshop on Counteracting Hesitancy toward the COVID-19 Vaccine among Pharmacy Students in Jordan
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article investigates the effect of clinical pharmacist-led education on counteracting hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine and thus on the willingness to take it by pharmacy students in Jordan.

Attitudes towards COVID-19 Booster Vaccines, Vaccine Preferences, Child Immunization, and Recent Issues in Vaccination among University Students in Jordan
Vaccines, 4 August 2022
This article explores attitudes toward recent issues in vaccination among university students in Jordan. The authors inquired about COVID-19 vaccine preferences, factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine preferences, child vaccination, and booster vaccines.

Regional Connectivity Drove Bidirectional Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Middle East during Travel Restrictions
Nature Communications, 15 August 2022
This article investigates the relative contributions of regional and intercontinental connectivity to the source-sink dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 for Jordan and the Middle East.

Active Safety Surveillance of Four Types of COVID-19 Vaccines: A National Study from Jordan        
Clinical Drug Investigation, 23 August 2022
This article aims to investigate and compare the incidence, nature, severity, and predictors of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with COVID-19 vaccines.

Jordan: COVID-19 Impact on Micro-Businesses and Landless Labourers - Final Report (August 2022)
REACH, 29 August 2022
This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown measures and restrictions, and their economic impacts) on agricultural microenterprises, income-generating activities, and income-diversification activities in Jordan. The enterprises and activities selected for this study correspond to four specific occupational groups: farming micro-businesses, food processing micro-businesses, artisanal micro-businesses, and landless laborers.

Kuwait

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Aggression and Violence during the Lockdown Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kuwait
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 18 August 2022
This article investigates whether there are significant sociodemographic differences in reported cases of physical and verbal aggression, anger, hostility, and violence among 815 Kuwaiti residents during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Children's Oral Health and Caregiver's Attitude towards Teledentistry: A Kuwait based study
Journal of Population Therapuetics and Clinical Pharmacology, 24 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children's oral health and caregiver's attitude towards teledentistry in Kuwait.

Lebanon

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Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health among the Young Population in Lebanon
L'Encéphale, August 2022
This article investigates the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms related to insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and identifies risk factors contributing to psychological stress in the Lebanese young population during COVID-19 pandemic.

Older Adult Syrian Refugees and COVID-19 in Lebanon
Norwegian Refugee Council, 2 August 2022
This joint report by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University in Beirut explores the challenges faced by older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Fighting COVID-19 in a Multicrisis Context: The Case of Lebanon
Community, Economy and COVID-19, 24 August 2022
This article studies the way in which the pandemic was successfully managed in the short term in Lebanon, but also how the lack of sustainable policies, low government trust, and limited monetary means led to an economic catastrophe and eventual large-scale spread of COVID-19.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, Financial Wellness, and Online Teaching on Schoolteachers’ Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon
International Journal of Clinical Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess stress, anxiety, and depression levels among Lebanese schoolteachers based on the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lebanese economic crisis, and online education.

Menstrual Health and Period Poverty in Lebanon during Economic Crisis: A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges and Recommendations
Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 26 August 2022
This article aims to explore stakeholder's perspective on the Lebanese public health policy regarding menstrual health, the evolving challenges it faces in the context of the current economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic, and to suggest recommendations for solutions.

COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance in Lebanon
Scientific Reports, 27 August 2022
This article documents the Lebanese experience of COVID-19 mortality surveillance and provides an analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed deaths.

Libya

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Labour Market Access for Migrants in Libya and the Impact of COVID-19
International Labour Organization, August 2022
This report aims to advance the understanding of (1) migrants’ access to employment and the role of labor intermediaries, (2) employment characteristics and conditions of migrant workers, and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on migrant’s ability to access the labor market in Libya and to sustain their livelihoods.

Morocco 

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Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients in Casablanca: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Cureus, 9 August 2022
This article aims to determine the prevalence of digestive symptoms among COVID-19 patients in Casablanca and to assess the correlation between these symptoms and disease severity.

Analysis and Dynamics of a Mathematical Model to Predict Unreported Cases of COVID-19 Epidemic in Morocco
Computational and Applied Mathematics, 20 August 2022
This article aims to study the mathematical modeling of undetected cases of the novel coronavirus in Morocco.

Real-world Study of the Effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 Vaccine in the Kingdom of Morocco
BMC Public Health, 20 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a retrospective cohort study to determine real-world BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) effectiveness against serious or critical hospitalization of individuals RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first five months of BBIBP-CorV use in Morocco.

Phylogeography and Genomic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Morocco
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 30 August 2022
This article reports on the analysis of a total of 2130 genomes of the delta variant circulating around the world in order to monitor the evolution of these variants in Morocco. Authors also included 164 Moroccan delta variant sequences in their analysis.

Oman

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Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, August 2022
This article aims to estimate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Oman.

Oman's COVID-19 Publication Trends: A Cross-Sectional Bibliometric Study
Public Health in Practice, August 2022
This article aims to assess the COVID-19 research output in Oman.

Reverse Immigration Effects for Expatriates in Oman During the COVID-19 Pandemic Shock
International Advances in Economic Research, 15 August 2022
This article investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic shock had a negative impact on expatriates in the host country (Oman), and it identifies heterogeneous effects among different ethnic groups.

COVID-19 WhatsApp Sticker Memes in Oman
Discourse and Society, 31 August 2022
This article examines the form and function of personalized COVID-19 WhatsApp sticker memes created and shared as social laments by citizens in Oman.

Palestine

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The Palestinian Health-Care Providers’ Perceptions, Challenges and Human Rights-Related Concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 11 August 2022
This article aims to explore health-care providers’ perceptions, perspectives, challenges, and human rights-related concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Palestine.

Severe Chest Imaging Findings of Coronavirus Disease from March to November 2020 in Palestine
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 16 August 2022
This article aims to provide a thorough analysis of imaging manifestations of patients infected with severe COVID-19 in Palestine.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Adults in the West Bank: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Vaccines, 17 August 2022
This article aims to assess the seroprevalence rate among a random sample of Palestinians residing in the West Bank region of Palestine, especially among those who were not vaccinated and not diagnosed. The authors also measured the percentage of adult Palestinians who accepted to get vaccinated across gender and age groups.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Perception Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination among the General Population of Gaza Strip-Palestine
International Journal of Clinical Science and Medical Research, 22 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and the beliefs perception regarding COVID -19 and vaccination among a convenience sample of general Palestinian adults. 

Qatar

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The Association between Tobacco Use and COVID-19 in Qatar           
Preventive Medicine Reports, August 2022                                                               
This article aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among COVID-19 patients in Qatar, and to examine the relationship between tobacco use and hospitalized COVID-19 (non-severe and severe), and quantify its risk factors.

Barriers to Practicing COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among Migrant Workers in Qatar: A Qualitative Study during the First Wave of the Pandemic
International Journal of Public Health, 4 August 2022
This article aims to identify the limitations facing MACWs (Manual and Craft Workers) in Qatar towards practicing the COVID-19 preventive measures and thereby designing behavioral change strategies.

Cardiovascular Risks and Outcome in COVID-19 Positive Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Attending Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study
MayoClinic Proceedings - Innovations, Quality & Outcomes Journal, 8 August 2022
This article aims to report whether cardiovascular diseases increase the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients in Qatar

Protection of Omicron Sub-Lineage Infection Against Reinfection with Another Omicron Sub-Lineage
Nature Communications, 9 August 2022
This article aims to investigate immune protection of infection with one sub-lineage against reinfection with the other sub-lineage in Qatar during a large BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron wave, from December 2021 to March 2022.

Immune Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Re-Reinfection and Immune Imprinting
medRxiv, 24 August 2022
This working paper from Qatar provides evidence that having two SARS-CoV-2 infections, one with a pre-Omicron variant followed by one with an Omicron subvariant, elicits stronger protection against future Omicron-subvariant reinfection than having had only one infection with an Omicron subvariant.

Dynamics of Anti-S IgG Antibodies Titers after the Second Dose of COVID-19 mRNA and non-mRNA Vaccines in the Manual and Craft Worker Population of Qatar
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to generate evidence on long-term anti-S IgG antibodies titers and their dynamics in individuals in Qatar who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule. 

Saudi Arabia

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Physical Activity Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviours among Adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prior to and during COVID-19 Restrictions
Journal of Obesity, 2 August 2022
This article investigates the factors associated with physical activity (PA) prior to and during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) among middle school students in Jeddah, KSA.

Outcome after Single Dose of ChAdOx1 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection at 16 Weeks Post-Vaccination among Healthy Adults in Saudi Arabia
Annals of Saudi Medicine, 4 August 2022
This assesses the rate of subsequent infection and immunogenicity of a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections at 16 weeks post-vaccination in a sample of healthy and young participants in Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Infection Control Measurement during COVID-19 Pandemic among Dental Assistant in Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science, 5 August 2022
This article assesses knowledge and awareness about infection control measurement during the COVID-19 pandemic among dental assistants in Hafar Al-Batin in Saudi Arabia.

Transmission and Cleaning Misconception during the COVID-19 Pandemic Time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 7 August 2022
This article aims to investigate the knowledge and attitude of the public in Saudi Arabia toward the concept of surface decontamination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attitudes of Public-School Teachers towards E-learning in Saudi Arabia
Arab World English Journal, 10 August 2022                                                           
This investigates the attitudes of Saudi public-school teachers towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and documents their views concerning its advantages and disadvantages.

Monkeypox Caused Less Worry than COVID-19 among the General Population during the First Month of the WHO Monkeypox Alert: Experience from Saudi Arabia
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 11 August 2022                                      
This article assesses the Saudi public's perception, worries, and vaccine acceptance for Monkeypox and COVID-19 during the first month of announcement by the World Health Organization.

Seroprevalence and Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Antigen-IgG among Health Care Workers in a Large COVID-19 Public Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Prospective Cohort Study
PLOS ONE, 12 August 2022
This article aims to describe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and to perform 8 months longitudinal follow-up (FU) to assess the duration of detectable IgG. It also aims to explore the risk factors associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Determinants of Post-COVID-19 Conditions among SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Diseases, 23 August 2022                                                                                   
This article describes the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions among the general population of Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers toward COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2021, Web-Based Study International Journal of Advanced Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine among Saudi adults in the Eastern Province.

The Impact of Ramadan during COVID-19 Confinement on Weight, Dietary, and Lifestyle Habits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study        
BMC Public Health, 30 August 2022                                                                           
This article aims to investigate the influence of COVID-19 lockdown measures during Ramadan fasting on weight change in 481 participants in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 30 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes and Prognostic Factors for Critical Illness in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 31 August 2022                                
This article aims to correlate clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to disease outcome in Saudi Arabia. 

Somalia

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Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Sexual Function in Women with Female Genital Mutilation
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 18 August 2022 
This article evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual function in women with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia.

Sudan

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Labor Market: The Case of Sudan 
Economic Research Forum, August 2022                                                                   
This article shows how workers in Sudan suffered from temporary or permanent layoffs/suspensions (without pay), delays in wage payment, reduced earnings or delayed payments, and changes in personal net monthly wage during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides policy recommendations to increase government support to manage the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market and the provision of social protection for workers in Sudan and MENA countries.

Syria

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Knowledge and Attitudes about Influenza and the Common Cold in Syria Post COVID-19: A Qualitative Study  
Annals of Medicine and Surgery, August 2022
This article estimates the level of knowledge regarding the common cold and the influenza diseases among the Syrian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows that the public still cannot distinguish between the two diseases.

Another Crisis in the Sorrowland: COVID-19 in Northeast Syria
Journal of Global Health, August 2022
This article discusses the realities of COVID-19 infections and vaccination in the context of the conflict in north east Syria. It shows how refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and informal settlements have some of the greatest risks for infectious disease spread.

The Quality of Syrian Healthcare Services during COVID-19: A HEALTHQUAL Approach
Frontiers in Public Health, 11 August 2022
This article evaluates the perceived healthcare service quality in Syria during the COVID-19 pandemic based on hospital type (public and private). The authors argue that crowdedness environment, medical staff availability and their low salaries, pricing policies as well as the health insurance system, are to blame for the low perceived quality.

Rare case of Pneumoperitoneum in Nonintubated COVID-19 Patient 
Clinical Case Reports, 19 August 2022
This article reports the rare case of a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 presented to the emergency department at Aleppo University Hospital where supplementary oxygen is delivered via noninvasive face mask ventilation and where X-ray imaging confirmed the existence of pneumoperitoneum.

Tunisia

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Navigating through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Unfinished Learning in Primary and Secondary Education in Tunisia
Journal for International Comparative and Multicultural Education, 3 August 2022
This article sheds light on the different measures taken in Tunisia to curb learning loss during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the challenges facing Tunisian students and the government.

Hospital Bed Capacity Across in Tunisia Hospital during the First Four Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to analyze bed occupancies for public hospitals and time delay response from the health care system in regard to the epidemiological situation in Tunisia during the first four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

UAE

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Customers’ Spending Behavior in the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of Business Management, August 2022                            
This article examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer spending behavior in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It finds that the spending behavior of UAE residents during the pandemic has not changed much compared to the pre-pandemic period, despite that some have lost a portion of their income.

A Review of the Environmental Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Environmental Challenges, August 2022                                                                  
This article reviews the environmental implications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual and community levels in the UAE. It found that the positive effects include improved air quality and reduced contamination of public spaces with pollutants, while negative effects include poor disposal of medical plastic waste and facemasks and the rise in unhygienic health practices amongst residents of the UAE.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Therapy Undergraduates and Their Families. A Qualitative Study from the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of General Medicine, 1 August 2022                                   
This article explores the physical activities of advanced undergraduate physical therapy students and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown and discusses how participants helped promote and maintain their own and their family’s physical health during the pandemic. It also identifies what knowledge and skills from their physical therapy studies the students utilized during the lockdown.

Human Albumin Solution Utilization Patterns Prior and During COVID-19 Pandemic in United Arab Emirates: Time to Develop and Implement National Guideline on Prescribing and Utilization                                                                      
Narra Journal, 1 August 2022                                                                                       
This article identifies albumin utilization patterns in a multi-specialty private hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), before and during the COVID-19 epidemic in the country. It demonstrates the importance of reconsidering the prescribing strategies for albumin administration.

Pulmonary Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients on CT Pulmonary Angiography - A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                                              
Journal of Surgery and Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to identify the prevalence and distribution of pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19 infected patients at Shiekh Khalifa Medical City in the UAE. 

Genomic Epidemiology and Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                   
Scientific Reports, 29 August 2022                                                                              
This article aims to characterize the epidemiology, transmission pattern, and emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs) and variants of interests (VOIs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE, followed by the investigation of mutations associated with hospitalized cases.

Yemen

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Detection of Short-Term Side Effects of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in a War-Torn Country                                               
Pragmatic and Observational Research, 25 August 2022                                     
This article identifies the type and frequency of short-term side effects following 48 hours of the first shot of the chAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in Yemen.

Mofeed Digest (July 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Libya| Mauritania| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]

MENA

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Downplaying, Trust, and Compliance with Public Health Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the MENA
POMEPS, June 2022
This working paper explains the varying levels of compliance with public health measures. Authors build on literature about compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions and develop a theoretical argument for when trust in authorities is expected to support non-compliance, rather than compliance.

Impact of the Stringency and Volatility of COVID Containment Measures on Firms' Performances in the MENA region?
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper examines the impact of COVID containment measures and their volatility on firms’ performances. Findings indicate that tightening restrictions are associated with less sales.

Does COVID-19 Pandemic Spur Digital Business Transformation in the MENA Region? Evidence from Firm Level Data
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This article assesses the role of the COVID-19 outbreak in accelerating digital transformation in the Middle East and North Africa region. The analysis relied on micro data collected from 5,480 firms surveyed in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. 

Are Labor Markets in the Middle East and North Africa Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic? 
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper explores how labor market outcomes for MENA workers have evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper uses the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Economic Research Forum (ERF) COVID-19 MENA Monitor phone surveys in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia to examine outcomes of employment, unemployment, and labor force participation, along with hours of work and hourly wages.

Job Loss during COVID-19: Estimating the Poverty and Food Security Effects in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco 
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper discusses the impact of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on household income and food security in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. The authors show that laid-off workers have a higher propensity to consume their savings, get help from relatives, sell assets and borrow from family.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women's Care Work and Employment in the Middle East and North Africa
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper examines how MENA women’s unpaid care responsibilities have changed during the pandemic. 

Employment and Care Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Persistent Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper studies employment rates, wage inequality, hours of work, and employment recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and after a general recovery in mid-2021. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on Jobs, Incomes and Food Security in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco 
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on job and income losses, and its relation to pushing people in Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco into extreme poverty.

Impact of COVID-19 on Health Professionals' Education in Eastern Mediterranean Region
East Mediterranean Health Journal, July 2022
This article assesses health professionals' education in the East Mediterranean Region and explores the strategies adopted to ensure the continuity of their education in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Service Delivery for Noncommunicable Diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. 
East Mediterranean Health Journal, July 2022
This article reports on an Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) assessment by the World Health Organization to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on NCD-related services, programs, funding, and consideration of NCDs in COVID-19 response.

A New Approach in Identifying the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on University Student’s Academic Performance
Alexandria Engineering Journal, July 2022
This article uses statistics and machine learning approaches to study the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education systems especially on university students’ psychological health. The study was performed on students in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan and looked at key determinants such as the use of digital devices, sleep habits, social communication, emotional mental state, and academic performance.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality and Food Security in the Arab region with a focus on the Sudan and Iraq
Care Evaluations, 2 July 2022 
This report studies how the COVID-19 pandemic affected gender equality and food security in the MENA region. The regional focus of the study identified key themes, challenges, and norms across multiple contexts in the Arab region, while highlighting specific findings for Iraq and the Sudan.

Assessment of the Non-Communicable Diseases Kit for Humanitarian Emergencies in Yemen and Libya
BMJ Global Health, 7 July 2022
This article provides a summary of the key methodologies, findings, and limitations of non-communicable diseases kit assessments conducted in Libya and Yemen in order to ensure the contents are fit for purpose and to assess usability and utility.

Navigating beyond COVID-19 Recovery in the MENA Region
OECD, 14 July 2022
This article reflects on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on MENA countries and the potential changes it may bring to their reform agendas. It addresses the ongoing effects of the crisis and the long-term consequences and identifies emerging new trends. 

Pandemic Effects: COVID-19 and the Crisis of Development in the Middle East
Development and Change, 27 July 2022
This article explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic development and political mobilization in the Middle East. It argues that beyond its direct public health implications, the pandemic is serving to intensify the extreme inequalities in wealth and power that have characterized the region for many years. 

Algeria

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The Impact of e-Learning Systems on Motivating Students and Enhancing Their Outcomes during COVID-19: A Mixed-Method Approach
Frontiers in Psychology, 29 July 2022
This article analyzes the impact of e-learning systems utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic across Algerian universities on higher education students' motivation and outcomes.

Bahrain

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Bahrain COVID-19 Case Studies
World Health Organization, July 2022
This World Health Organization report lauds the Bahraini government for its management of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights lessons learned from the Kingdom’s lockdown, testing, and vaccination experiences. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on Summer Travels in 2022
Derasat, 25 July 2022
This article from the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies "Derasat" reflects on the results of an opinion poll to study how COVID-19 impacted summer travels in 2022. [Arabic]

Egypt

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Egypt COVID-19 Country Case Study
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper examines COVID-19 measures undertaken by the Egyptian authorities and the effect they had on employment, wages, income, and enterprises. 

Promoting Family-Friendly Jobs and Labor Market Policies in Egypt in the Context of COVID-19 and beyond
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This policy brief shows how the COVID-19 outbreak impacted females’ employment, time-use, and work preferences in Egypt and how it increased the burden of domestic work and unpaid work imposed on women with children, through the restrictions, measures, and closure of daycares and schools.

Outcome and Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients Associated with Stroke: A Multicenter Hospital-Based Study in Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 7 July 2022
The article studies the impact of COVID-19 on strokes by examining the outcomes and characteristics of patients who had an acute ischemic stroke due to COVID-19 infection.

Clinical and Chest Computed Tomography Features of Patients Suffering from Mild and Severe COVID-19 at Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt
PLOS ONE, 8 July 2022
This article investigates whether chest CT characteristics are correlated to COVID-19 severity. Specifically, it evaluates the potential association between clinical data and 25-point CT score and investigates their predictive significance in COVID-19-positive patients at Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt.

Characteristics, Causes and Impact of Headache among a Sample of Physicians Working during COVID-19 Pandemic
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 14 July 2022 
This article determines the prevalence of new onset headache among physicians working in COVID-19 isolation hospitals and its impact on their performance. Authors also aimed to explore factors affecting the headache symptoms and its clinical characteristics.

Iraq

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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey
Passer Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, June 2022
This article aims to gain a better understanding of the people’s awareness and their attitude towards the pandemic by conducting a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey in Kurdistan.

Religious Beliefs and Work Conscience of Muslim Nurses in Iraq during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Historical Thought and Source Interpretation, 8 July 2022
This study aims to evaluate the impact of religious beliefs on work conscience of healthcare workers through a standard questionnaire conducted on 1800 Muslim nurses in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prevalence of SARS -CoV-2 IgG/IgM Antibodies among Patients in Zakho City, Kurdistan, Iraq
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 28 July 2022
This article aims to detect seropositivity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus among outpatients, symptomatic, and asymptomatic individuals in Zakho City in Kurdistan.

Potential Role of TLR3 and RIG-I Genes Expression in Surviving COVID-19 Patients with Different Severity of Infection
Iraqi Journal of Science, 31 July 2022
This article reports on a case-control study (100 recovered COVID 19 cases and 100 healthy individuals) which aimed to determine the role of gender, age, TLR3 and RIG-I genes in COVID-19 aggressiveness.

Jordan

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Obstacles in the Road of Biomedical Research on COVID-19 in Jordan: Poor Funding and Beyond
Journal of Global Health, July 2022 
This article examines the contributions of Jordanian scientists to academic studies on COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, categorizes them, and provides insights on the challenges the researchers face such as limited funding. 

Dr. Assessment Problems Faced by Faculty Members at Fine Arts Faculties in Jordan During COVID-19 Epidemic
Journal of Arts and Humanities, 4 July 2022
This article examines the most common assessment challenges facing faculty members at Fine Arts Faculties in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic by surveying a sample of 38 faculty members working in Jordanian universities.

Vaccination Intention against COVID-19 among the Unvaccinated in Jordan during the Early Phase of the Vaccination Drive: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Vaccines, 21 July 2022
This article assesses the intention and predictors of accepting the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in Jordan. The article found that despite having high rates of intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, older adults and housewives, general workers and unemployed individuals were less likely to be vaccinated.

Establishing the First COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Biobank in Jordan
Biopreservation and Biobanking, 28 July 2022
This article reflects on the identification and storage of 214 fresh frozen plasma units qualified for CCP-plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients according to World Health Organization standards and the subsequent establishment of the first COVID-19-convalescent plasma data and plasma biobank for treating COVID-19-infected cancer patients in Jordan and the region.

Lebanon

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Predicting Intention to Vaccinate against COVID-19 in Older Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Findings from a Multi-Wave Study
medRxiv, 24 July 2022
This working paper aims to examine the prevalence, reasons and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine refusal among older Syrian refugees in Lebanon. 

Fear and Death Anxiety in the Shadow of COVID-19 among the Lebanese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
PLOS ONE, 27 July 2022
This article assesses the fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among the adult population in Lebanon. Death anxiety was identified as the most significant predictor of fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libya

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Business Resilience in Libya in the Post-COVID Age
Spark, 17 July 2022 
This article reflects on SPARK’s extension of the Tadamon program to Libya with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) to support medium, small, and micro enterprises in order to create job opportunities. The article assesses the resilience of businesses in Libya and provides further resilience designs. 

Low SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Blood Donors after the First 6 Months of COVID-19 Epidemic in the Tobruk Region, Eastern Libya
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 27 July 2022
This article estimates the seroprevalence rate of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) in blood donors' population to reflect the progression of the epidemic in the Tobruk region and reveal how many people have contracted the virus because only symptomatic cases had been registered.

Morocco 

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Morocco COVID-19 Country Case Study
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper assesses COVID-19 measures undertaken by Moroccan authorities and the effect they had on employment, wages, income, and enterprises.

Contribution to the Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Management of Accounting Results: Case of the Telecommunications and New Technologies Sector in Morocco
Revue Du Contrôle, De La Comptabilité Et De l’Audit, 26 July 2022
This article focuses on the management of corporate accounting results in the first year of the pandemic in Morocco. It analyzed the annual financial reports published on the website of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority to verify ex-post whether earnings management has taken place for all listed companies in the telecommunications and new technologies sector.

Oman

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Seroconversion of COVID-19 in Frontline Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman
Oman Medical Journal, July 2022
This article studies the seroconversion among frontline staff at the highest risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infections, including emergency department, critical care, and COVID-19 isolation wards in all healthcare job categories.

Prophylactic Anticoagulant Treatment Might Have an Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Reduce Mortality Rates in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients?
Oman Medical Journal, July 2022
This article studies the anti-inflammatory effects of Prophylactic Anticoagulant Therapy (PAT) in COVID-19 patients. The article eventually determined that PAT was not effective. 

Impact of the COVID-19 Face Mask Disposal on Environment and Perception of People of the Sultanate of Oman
The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 4 July 2022
This article assesses how the SARS-CoV-2 virus disrupted the household waste management chain in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, a descriptive survey has also identified people's perception about the existing household waste management system.

Factors Sustaining Clients' Behavioral Intentions To Use Smartphones-Banking In Oman: A Survey Study Based On COVID-19 Crisis
OSF-Center for Open Science, 9 July 2022
This article surveys the opinions of a sample of bank clients operating in the Omani banking sector regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the client's behavioral intentions in adopting smartphone banking techniques and their sustainability use after the crisis. 

Conceptualizing Graduates Attributes (GAs) in English Language Teacher Education Programs in Oman During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sage Open, 25 July 2022
This article examines stakeholders’ perspectives and aspirations concerning the graduate attributes used in English-language teacher education programs in Oman during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palestine

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An Investigation into Religious Awareness as a Crucial Factor in Adherence to COVID-19 Medical Directives in Palestine
BMC Public Health, 13 July 2022
This article examines the role of religion as a factor in adherence to the COVID-19 medical directives in Palestine. 

Qatar

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COVID-19 Disease Severity in Persons Infected with the Omicron Variant Compared with the Delta Variant in Qatar
Journal of Global Health, 6 July 2022
This article studies the disease severity associated with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in order to determine the appropriate management strategies at the individual and population levels. The authors assess the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in persons infected with the Omicron vs the Delta variant.

Duration of Immune Protection of SARS-CoV-2 Natural Infection Against Reinfection in Qatar
MedRxiv, 7 July 2022
This working paper investigates the duration of protection afforded by natural infection, the effect of viral immune evasion on duration of protection, and protection against severe SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, in Qatar, between February 28, 2020 and June 5, 2022.

Effects of Previous Infection and Vaccination on Symptomatic Omicron Infections
The New England Journal of Medicine, 7 July 2022 
This article evaluates the effectiveness of vaccination with Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna, natural immunity due to previous infection with variants other than omicron, and hybrid immunity (previous infection and vaccination) against symptomatic Omicron infection and against severe, critical, or fatal coronavirus disease 2019.

COVID-19 Risk Score as a Public Health Tool to Guide Targeted Testing: A Demonstration Study in Qatar
PLOS ONE, 19 July 2022
This article presents the development of a COVID-19 risk score to guide targeted RT-PCR testing in Qatar in order to identify those at highest risk of having the infection.

Assessing Factors Influencing Technology Adoption for Online Purchasing Amid COVID-19 in Qatar: Moderating Role of Word of Mouth
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 25 July 2022 
This article examines how contingencies disrupt existing theoretical models and their implications for the post-COVID-19 era for online purchases. 

Saudi Arabia

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Fungal Coinfections in COVID-19-Positive Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology, July 2022
This article aims to investigate the relationship between fungal coinfections and morbidity and mortality rates in patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Awareness, knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices before the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, July 2022 
This article assesses the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of the general population in Saudi Arabia towards COVID-19, as well as its adherence to preventive measures and its willingness to take the vaccine.

Contribution of Saudi Arabia to Regional and Global Publications on COVID-19–Related Research: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis
Journal of Infection and Public Health, July 2022
This article assesses the increasing Saudi Arabian contribution to worldwide research on COVID-19. 

Sustainable Participatory Governance: Data-Driven Discovery of Parameters for Planning Online and In-Class Education in Saudi Arabia During COVID-19
Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 19 July 2022
This article provides a case study on sustainable participatory governance using a data-driven parameter discovery for planning online, in-class, and blended learning in Saudi Arabia evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Functional and Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Rheumatic Patients’ Quality of Life in Saudi Arabia
Quality of Life Research, 20 July 2022
This article studies the impact of COVID-19 on rheumatic patients both functionally and psychosocially, in addition to the virus' impact on their quality of life. 

Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca) in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province
Cureus, 26 July 2022
This article studies the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and the factors that contribute to their occurrence. 

COVID-19 and Saudi Arabia: Awareness, Attitude, and Practice
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 26 July 2022
This article reviews the awareness/knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)-related publications in Saudi Arabia up to date to understand the impact of COVID-19 on these domains. 

Somalia

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Overcoming COVID-19 Restrictions Through Adaptive Measures that Facilitate Access to Agricultural and Nutrition Knowledge
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2022 
This fact sheet documents a new distance learning initiative in Somalia through radio launched in 2020 by FAO as a response to public health threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, complementing cash+ activities and replacing face-to-face beneficiary training.

Double Burden on Health Services in Somalia due to COVID-19 and Conflict
Annals of Medicine and Surgery, July 2022
This article explores the detrimental effects of conflict in Somalia during the COVID-19 pandemic such as the inadequate amount of available health workers, facilities, and health service delivery methods.

Sudan

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Attitude and Behavior of Emerging Novel COVID-19 Disease - Khartoum, Sudan
Medical Journal of Clinical Trials and Case Studies, 18 July 2022
This article assesses the attitudes and behavior of 1200 Sudani participants towards COVID-19 and reports negative attitudes in more than half of the participants. 

Syria

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Knowledge and Attitudes about Influenza and the Common Cold in Syria Post COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 16 July 2022
This article examines the knowledge and understanding of common flu and influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria. Key findings showed that most people cannot differentiate between common cold and influenza. 

Tunisia

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Tunisia COVID-19 Country Case Study
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper examines COVID-19 measures undertaken by the Tunisian authorities and the effect they had on employment, wages, income, and enterprises. 

Adverse Effects of Personal Protective Equipment among First Line COVID-19 Healthcare Professionals: A Survey in Southern Tunisia
Infection, Disease and Health Journal, 12 July 2022
This article assesses the negative effects of personal protective equipment on healthcare workers in Tunisia. It estimates the prevalence of the adverse effects and determines their predictive factors.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Roles of the Health Regulatory Authority in Tunisia
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 28 July 2022
This article outlines the roles of the Tunisian regulatory authority, the Directorate of Pharmacy and Medicines (DPM) at the Ministry of Health, in the registration and the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Income Loss and COVID-19: Evidence from Tunisia
European Journal of Business and Management Research, 28 July 2022
This article assesses income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia in light of factors such as education, job sectors, and income brackets. 

UAE

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The Rise of Telepharmacy Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Assessment of Services in the United Arab Emirates
Pharmacy Practice, 4 July 2022
This article explores changes in community pharmacies’ processes in response to the pandemic in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and factors affecting the adoption of these changes.

Distress Symptoms during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Study with the General Population of the United Arab Emirates
Pharmacy Practice, 4 July 2022
This article analyzes distress symptoms surfacing during the COVID-19 lockdown period and their associated factors among a sample of the UAE population.

The Radiography Students’ Perspective of the Impact of COVID-19 on Education and Training Internationally: A Cross Sectional Survey of the UK Devolved Nations (UKDN) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Radiography, 18 July 2022
This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the education and training of radiography students internationally in the United Kingdom Devolved Nations (UKDN) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to determine any possible impact on their future careers.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental Illness Symptoms among School Students Post Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional National Study
medRxiv, 21 July 2022
This working paper analyzes the frequency of depression, anxiety and PTSD after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in school students in the UAE. 

ABO Blood Group in Relation to COVID-19 Susceptibility and Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Observational Study in the United Arab Emirates
Life, 29 July 2022
The article studies the relation between ABO blood groups and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Yemen

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Situation Report for COVID-19: Yemen
MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis - Imperial College London, 3 July 2022 
This report uses excess mortality data in Yemen for the period of the COVID-19 epidemic, calculated by comparing current mortality to historic trends and then back-calculating an inferred number of COVID-19 infections using mathematical modeling techniques to estimate the number of people that have been infected and to make short-term projections for future healthcare needs.

Mofeed Digest (June 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Djibouti | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]

MENA

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Arab States: Overcoming the Fragilities of Governance Systems for Sustainable Recovery
UNDP, Date Unspecified 
This article assesses the fragility of Arab government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and provides policy recommendations. It discusses how government trust and the perception of the social contract will change due to the citizen-government interaction during the pandemic. 

COVID-19 in the MENA: An Exploration of Gender Sensitive State Responses
Middle East Political Science, Date Unspecified
This article describes how women in the formal sector of MENA economies have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors focus on 3 MENA countries and explore the gendered impacts of the pandemic. 

COVID-19 Responses in the Middle East and North Africa in Global Perspective
Middle East Political Science, Date Unspecified 
This article studies the nature of the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), exploring both within-region diversity and between-region variation. It concludes that while the MENA region as a whole is broadly similar to other parts of the world in its COVID response, there are substantial within-region differences in terms of how COVID policies were implemented and to what extent residents were affected by the pandemic and adopted public health behaviors. 

Does COVID-19 Pandemic Spur Digital Business Transformation in the MENA Region? Evidence from Firm Level Data
Economic Research Forum, June 2022
This working paper analyzes how the outbreak of COVID-19 in the MENA region affected the accelerating digital transformation in business firms. The results demonstrate a strong association between the pandemic outbreak and digitization. They also show that the firms operating in the service sector were more likely to adopt digital solutions.

Presentation, Management, and Outcome of COVID-19 among Patients with Cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2 June 2022
This article captures data on 1345 patients with cancer to assess SARS-COV-2 infection presentations, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and outcomes in 12 centers in 8 Mena region countries.

Economic and Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Nations of the GCC
Global Business and Economics Review, 17 June 2022
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in GCC countries, especially on the economic and psychosocial level. The article investigates the impact of government support on mitigating the psychological and psychosocial impacts of the pandemic on citizens.

Algeria

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Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Energy Consumption and Socio-Spatial Behavior of the Residential Sector in Extreme Climates. Case study Southwest of Algeria
TECHNIUM, 9 June 2022
This article examines the immediate and long-term impact of COVID-19 on various forms of energy consumption during confinement in Algeria. The authors focus on the impact of COVID 19 on the energy consumption of electricity, gas, and water in the residential sector.  

The Impact of the COVID-19 Related School Closure on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Children with SEN and Their Parents in Algeria
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 23 June 2022
This study studies and analyzes the experience of twenty-three parents and five children with special educational needs during complete lockdown and limited access to school support in Algeria.

Bahrain

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Post-Vaccination Outcomes in Association with Four COVID-19 Vaccines in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Scientific Reports, 2 June 2022
This study examines COVID-19 related outcomes derived from Bahraini national database where 4 vaccines were deployed, comparing the 4 vaccines through post-vaccination outcomes. 

Students’ Perception Regarding E-learning During COVID-19 at Bahrain Polytechnic
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 6 June 2022
This article presents the findings of a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Bahrain Polytechnic to assess students' perspectives towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Bahrain Ranks First in Post-Pandemic Tourism Recovery Report
National News, 15 June 2022
According to money.co.uk study, Bahrain has been given the highest ranking in tourism recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at a 95% rate. This ranking indicated that the Gulf nation's 2021 tourist numbers bounced almost all the way back to the 2019 level of 3.8 million.

Djibouti

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Epidemiology of the First and Second Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic in Djibouti and the Vaccination Strategy Developed for the Response
BMJ Public Health, June 2022
This study examines the epidemiology of the first two covid-19 waves in Djibouti, highlighting mishaps in the National Plan for Introduction and Deployment for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Djiboutian Government during the COVID-19: Focusing on the Djiboutian Perspective
FigShare, 30 June 2022
This study assesses the Djiboutian government’s effectiveness in combating COVID-19 through studying different indicators like citizen trust in government, government responsiveness and leadership, and COVID-19 information access and accuracy. Results conveyed a strong link between responsiveness and effectiveness. 

Egypt

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The Impact of Job Stress on Employee’s Performance at one of Private Banks in Egypt during COVID-19 Pandemic
International Business Research, Date Unspecified 
This article investigates the perception of employees of one of the private banks in Egypt and their performance in the presence of job stress in the uncertain period of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Neurosurgical Practice in Egypt
Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery, 7 June 2022
This article examines the impact of lockdown and restrictive measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic on neurosurgical cases at two university hospitals in Egypt. Results show that the number of cases has dropped by 38%.

Exenterate or Not: A Simple Proposed Management Algorithm for Mucormycosis During the Era of COVID-19 in a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Egypt
Clinical Ophthalmology, 11 June 2022
This article studies available data of 30 Egyptian patients with post COVID-19 orbital mucormycosis to construct a simple management algorithm for posed cases. 

Egypt Loses $23 Billion from COVID-19, Ukraine Conflict
Egyptian Streets, 21 June 2022
Egypt's Minister of Finance declared during his proposed budget speech that the country had lost 440 EGP, about 23.4 billion dollars due to the Russian-Ukrainian war and the COVID-19 pandemic over the span of the last two years. 

Recovering from COVID-19 Learning Losses
UNICEF, 23 June 2022
This UNICEF article delineates the various challenges that the pandemic has posed for children and their learning in Egypt. The article focuses on marginalized children of color or refugee status and recognizes that despite the progress achieved in the education sector in Egypt, marginalized children are still far behind expectations for their age in literacy. [ARABIC]

Acceptance Rate of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Predictors in Egypt: An Online Survey
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 30 June 2022
This article presents the findings of a self-administered study conducted on random participants from six different Egyptian governorates to assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination among the Egyptian adult population. 

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: an Egyptian Survey Study
Tropical Medicine and Health, 30 June 2022
This article presents a study conducted in 2 Maintenance Hemodialysis centers in Egypt to investigate the level of vaccine acceptance among Egyptian patients with MHD.

Iraq

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Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Nursing Students of Mosul University, Iraq
Rawal Medical Journal, Date Unspecified 
This article uses a quantitative cross-sectional study to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among nursing students in Mosul city in Iraq.

The Relationship between COVID-19 Fear and Anxiety with the Quality of Life of Students in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Novelty in Clinical Medicine, June 2022
This article examines the link between the fear and anxiety students experience during the pandemic with online learning, and their quality of life. According to intention to be vaccinated, the patients were divided into vaccine acceptant (VA), hesitant (VH), and resistant (VR) groups who comprised 58.3%, 26.5%, and 15.2%, respectively.

Misdiagnosis of COVID-19 Infection before Molecular Confirmation in Sulaimaniyah City, Iraq
European Journal of Medical Research, 3 June 2022
This article utilizes a detailed questionnaire to assess the misdiagnosis and mismanagement of COVID-19 cases in Northern Iraq, Kurdistan region. Regarding the false diagnosis of cases, 92% were made by non-physician healthcare workers, and only 8% were made by physicians.

The Role of Influenza Vaccination in the COVID-19 Infection: Impact on Incidence and Severity in Iraq
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 21 June 2022
This article investigates the extent to which influenza vaccinations can mitigate the severity and decrease the frequency of incidence of COVID-19 infections in Iraq. 

Predictors of Mental Health Symptomatology among Kurdish Patients Who Recovered from COVID-19 in Iraq
Discover Psychology, 27 June 2022
This article seeks to determine the mental health symptomatology and its associated factors among Kurdish Iraqis who recovered from COVID-19. It was found that 31.6% of the participating recovered patients with COVID-19 met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 21.05% were classified with probable depression.

Menstrual Changes Following COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan and Iraq
Plos One, 29 June 2022
This study aimed to investigate and to evaluate menstrual changes in females following COVID-19 infection, and to evaluate female perception about the effect of COVID-19 on their menstrual cycles. Authors conducted the study on 483 women from Jordan and Iraq. 

Postmortem Lung Biopsy for COVID-19 Patients in Iraq
Research Square, 30 June 2022
This article studies the pathophysiological changes that happen to lung tissues in COVID-19 affected individuals and to accurately specify the cause(s) of death. Authors utilized a case series of post-mortem lung histopathology examinations of deceased COVID-19 positive patients in Iraq.

Jordan

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User Experience Assessment of a COVID-19 Tracking Mobile Application (AMAN) in Jordan
Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Date Unspecified 
This article examines the user experience of a COVID-19 tracking application in Jordan by getting feedback from users and identifying UX (user experience) based on user interaction.

Short-Term Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jordan
Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 27 June 2022
This article presents the findings of a cross-sectional study of the short-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine to clarify the expected outcome of getting vaccinated and reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Menstrual Changes Following COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan and Iraq
Plos One, 29 June 2022
This study aimed to investigate and to evaluate menstrual changes in females following COVID-19 infection, and to evaluate female perception about the effect of COVID-19 on their menstrual cycles. Authors conducted the study on 483 women from Jordan and Iraq. 

Exploring the Role of Superspreading Events in SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks
medRxiv, 29 June 2022
This article presents a study that formulates a Markov chain model to investigate the influence of superspreading events on SARS-COV-2 outbreak dynamics.

Kuwait

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The Effects of COVID-19 School Disruptions Will Last Decades
World Bank, 20 June 2022 
This World Bank blog-post discusses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools and learning in Kuwait. It states the long-term life long losses to their earning, males being affected more tragically than females. [Arabic here]

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Paediatric Cohort in Kuwait
BMJ Open, 28 June 2022
This article reports the findings of a population-level retrospective cohort study to describe the clinical characteristics and dynamics of SARS-COV-2 reinfection in children in Kuwait. Results show that reinfection is uncommon in children. 

Pandemic Price Controls Experiment Goes Seriously Awry in Kuwait
Bloomberg, 29 June 2022 
This Bloomberg article reports on the indiscriminate economic havoc that has risen in Kuwait two years after price control was applied to freeze food costs during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Lebanon

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Evaluating the Governance and Preparedness of the Lebanese Health System for the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
BMJ Open, 1 June 2022
This article reports on a qualitative study held in Lebanon aiming to assess the capacity and governance of Lebanon's health system throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The health workforce showed high resilience despite the inadequate training and staff shortages. 

Genomic Surveillance of SARS CoV2 in COVID-19 vaccinated healthcare workers in Lebanon
BioRxiv, 6 June 2022 
This article reports on the findings of a national SARS-COV-2 genomic surveillance among healthcare workers in Lebanon. 

Experience of Field Testing in Lebanon during the COVID-19 Pandemic, January to August 2021
BMJ Global Health, 7 June 2022
This article presents data related to COVID-19 cases after field testing in Lebanon. The article also reflects on challenges faced and lessons learned. 

Risk Markers of COVID-19, a Study from South-Lebanon
MDPI, 27 June 2022
This article aims to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among suspected COVID-19 patients in South Lebanon as well as the risk markers for COVID-19 associated with ABO blood group, Rhesus factor, and patient’s address during the past year.

Libya

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Knowledge, Attitude, Perception and Psychological Status of Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak in Libya: A Cross Sectional Study
Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 1 June 2022
This article studies and evaluates levels of knowledge, attitude, perception, and psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Libyan citizens. 

Morocco 

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Dataset to Explore Factors Affecting COVID-19 Vaccination Intention. Evidence from Morocco
Data in Brief, 9 June 2022 
This article identifies the various factors that influenced Moroccan citizens to get the COVID-19 vaccine.  The data were collected using an online questionnaire. 

Depression and Eating Disorders among Health Care Professionals in Morocco during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 8 June 2022
This article reports on the findings of an online anonymous self-administered questionnaire that was conducted on Moroccan healthcare workers to screen for depression and eating disorders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Oman

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Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 16 June 2022
This article assesses the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among health care workers in Oman. A cross-sectional study using a self- administered questionnaire was conducted among the HCWs in December 2020.

Audit Fees under the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Oman
Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 28 June 2022
This article reports on the findings of a study examining the effect of COVID-19 on audit fees after its huge impact on companies' financial statements in Oman. 

Pulmonary Barotrauma in COVID-19 Patients: Experience From a Secondary Care Hospital in Oman
Cureus, 29 June 2022
This article discusses the findings of a retrospective study identifying patients with pulmonary barotrauma and recording their medical data at an Intensive Care Unit in Oman.

Palestine

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COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Its Associated Factors among Palestinian Healthcare Workers: Expectations Beaten by Reality
Vaccine, 9 June 2022
This article presents a cross-sectional study conducted in Palestine to examine the level of vaccination among healthcare workers and its determinants. Key findings show that almost two thirds of Palestinian healthcare workers have already received their vaccine. 

Health Consequences of University Employees Post COVID-19 Vaccination at Palestinian University
Research Square, 14 June 2022
This article examines health consequences of Palestinian university workers receiving their COVID-19 vaccination, aiming to decrease vaccination hesitancy and provide more adequate input on its side effects.

Vaccine Apartheid and Settler Colonial Sovereign Violence: From Palestine to the Colonial Global Economy
Distinktion Journal of Social Theory, 14 June 2022
This article adopts a decolonial lens to assess the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Palestine and globally. It challenges the underlying premise being that the advanced, wealthy, and capable nation-states have endogenously earned the position of power and prosperity and that the world’s poor nation-states are posited as the recipients of charity from these rich states only after the latter have sufficiently inoculated themselves.

The Impact of the Corona Pandemic on the Performance of Palestinian Commercial Banks Listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 30 June 2022
This article studies a sample of 6 companies from the banking sector in Palestine to shed light on the Palestinian stock exchange before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Qatar

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Predictive Ability of Factors in diagnosing COVID-19: Experiences from Qatar's Primary Care Settings
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 2022 
This article aims to establish the predictive ability of demographic and clinical factors in diagnosing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Qatar's publicly funded primary care settings.

Duration of mRNA Vaccine Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Subvariants in Qatar
Nature Communications, 2 June 2022
This article investigates the duration of protection of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines after the second dose and after the third/booster dose, against symptomatic COVID-19 infections in Qatar.

Qatar: Challenges and Successes in COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Rand Blog, 9 June 2022
This article presents an overview of the Qatari experience in combating the coronavirus pandemic. It references Qatar's strict contact tracking and tracing policy, the launching of a vaccination campaign in December 2020, and media campaigns that promote awareness of the importance of taking preventive measures and getting the vaccine as important steps in the state’s pandemic response.

Qatar Airways Bounces Back from Pandemic with Record Revenues and Profits
Forbes, 16 June 2022
This Forbes article discusses the efforts, resilience and trajectory of Qatar Airways in emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. It references a sharp uptick in annual revenues to QR52.3 billion ($14.4 billion).  

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptance among the Public in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Review of the Literature
Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 29 June 2022
This article aims to provide an up-to-date evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the public in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Saudi Arabia

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Factors Related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia
Public Health in Practice, June 2022
This article presents the findings of a cross-sectional study aiming to assess the amount of vaccine hesitancy and its determinants in relation to various demographic, social, and personal characteristics among the Saudi population.

A Nationwide Survey to Assess COVID-19’s Impact on Health and Lifestyle in Saudi Arabia
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Science, June 2022 
This article aims to assess the COVID-19 related knowledge and its socio-demographic correlates in individuals from different parts of Saudi Arabia and to evaluate the health-related impact and lifestyle changes in the Saudi population because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also determines the perceived importance of future preparedness among residents. 

Characteristics of Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients in the Al-Ahsa Region of Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study with Survival Analysis
Annals of Saudi Medicine, 2 June 2022
This article seeks to identify the characteristics and risk factors for mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in Al-Ahsa region in Saudi Arabia. 

Psychological Distress Reported by Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
PLOS ONE, 3 June 2022
This article estimates the prevalence and severity of psychological distress and studies predisposing risk factors among healthcare workers in KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,985 HCWs from 6 hospitals across the country designated with caring for COVID-19 patients.

Side Effects and Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccination in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Frontiers in Medicine, 7 June 2022
This article assesses the side effects and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines among adults following vaccination in Saudi Arabia.

Factors Affecting Online Learning, Stress and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 10 June 2022
This article reports the findings of a study investigating the factors affecting online learning (OL) and stress and anxiety (SaA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Voluntary Testing for COVID-19: Perceptions and Utilization among the Inhabitants of Saudi Arabia
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 10 June 2022
This article investigates the perceptions and utilization of Voluntary Testing services for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia. In total, 3,510 adult participants from all provinces of Saudi Arabia were recruited via a national online survey.

Types of Variants Among Increased Cases of COVID-19 in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia in June 2021
Cureus, 16 June 2022
This article seeks to identify the types and distribution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants causing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the western region in Saudi Arabia in June 2021.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with COVID-19 Illness Outcomes in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of General Medicine, 27 June 2022
This article reports the findings of a retrospective study that presents the demographic, epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of patients at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia and determines risk factors contributing to their COVID-19 outcome.

Somalia

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Pumping Oxygen into Somalia’s Health System as Part of COVID-19 Response
World Bank, 6 June 2022
This article reviews the response of Somalia to the coronavirus pandemic in the light of the amalgamation of crises facing the country. The article acknowledges that unlike many countries, Somalia was dealing with multiple threats of crises: locusts, drought, flooding, COVID-19 in addition to the country’s fragility, after decades of war and political instability.

Sudan

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Mental Health Status of High School Students in Khartoum State, Sudan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
BJPsych Open, 20 June 2022 
This article aims to assess the mental health status of high school students in Khartoum State, to evaluate the participants’ adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and to identify factors associated with commitment to COVID-19 guidelines and mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Syria

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Syndromic Surveillance of Respiratory Infections during Protracted Conflict: Experiences from Northern Syria 2016-2021
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 2022 
This article investigates the trends of Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) reported ILI (influenza-like illness) and SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) in northern Syria between 2016 and 2021 and the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2.

Addressing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Refugee Health
PLOS Medicine, 27 June 2022
This article discusses the disparity in the experience of the pandemic between refugees and citizens and focuses on Syrian refugees.  It acknowledges that refugees are often blamed by governments and members of the public for infectious disease epidemics and states that they may experience elevated risks of infectious diseases like COVID-19 through no fault of their own.

Tunisia

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Students’ perceptions of distance education during a Covid-19 pandemic in Tunisia
International Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, June 2022
This article uncovers the perceptions of university students regarding the use of distant learning tools and techniques during the spread of COVID-19, by exploring their experiences during containment. 

COVID-19’s Impact on Tunisia
The Borgen Project, 1 June 2022
This article discusses the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tunisia, exploring different indicators such as GDP, tourism, retail and agriculture. 

COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence: Pandemic Response and Impact on Civil Society in Tunisia
Project on Middle East Political Science, 16 June 2022
This working paper argues that CSOs made progress in combatting violence during the first year of the pandemic due to political openness, a culture of coalitions, and bipartisan support for eliminating violence against women. However, the President’s power grab and subsequent political instability led to a breakdown in coalition culture and a stifling of civil society, making it harder for feminist organizations to advocate for GBV protections. The paper draws on pre-pandemic ethnographic data and international and Tunisian news articles, polling data, statistics, and reporting during the pandemic.

UAE

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Association between Quality of Sleep and Screen Time during the COVID-19 Outbreak among Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates
Journal of Sleep Research, 7 June 2022 
This article aims to investigate the association between screen time on different electronic devices and sleep quality among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV Vaccine Against Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Nature Communications, 9 June 2022
This article aims to study the effectiveness of the inactivated BBIBP-CorV vaccine against severe COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalization, critical care admission and death due to COVID-19) and its long-term effectiveness in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

Yemen

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Adult Mortality before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nine Communities of Yemen: A Key Informant Study
medRxiv, 21 June 2022
This article aims to estimate population mortality during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in nine purposively selected urban and rural communities of southern and central Yemen (Aden and Ta’iz governorates).

Mofeed Digest (May 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Tunisia| UAE]

MENA

[Back to Top]

Population’s Behavior toward COVID-19 Safety Measures: Evidence from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia
Agence Française de Développement, May 2022
This article captures the public’s behavior toward COVID-19 safety measures in each of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. In all these countries, the article found that women are those who mostly observe the safety measures.

Social Safety Nets and Food Insecurity in MENA in the Time of COVID-19
Agence Française de Développement, May 2022
This article assesses the efficiency of social safety nets in the MENA region in mitigating food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides context for the chronic undernourishment of over 50 million people in the region in 2019.

A Billionaire’s World: Labor, Loss, and Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa During COVID
Harvard International Review, 4 May 2022
This article focuses on the MENA region in juxtaposing the global spike of 3.9 trillion USD in billionaires’ wealth during the first year of the pandemic with the parallel loss of 3.7 trillion USD in workers’ assets.

Diverging Levels of COVID-19 Governmental Response Satisfaction Across Middle Eastern Arab Countries: A Multinational Study
BMC Public Health, 5 May 2022
This article evaluates and compares public opinion on the governmental measures to control the spread of COVID-19 of high, low and middle-income countries in the Middle East. When benchmarked with international levels of satisfaction, GCC countries scored highly whereas Lebanon scored poorly. 

Tracking COVID-19 Urban Activity Changes in the Middle East from Nighttime Lights
Scientific Reports, 16 May 2022
This article utilizes nighttime lights data from NASA from 584 urban areas to track the implementation and adherence to curfew and lockdown measures in 17 MENA countries during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Algeria

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The Geometrization of the COVID-19 Care Offer for the ORSEC Plan in Algeria
Algerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Date Unspecified 
This article utilizes several scientific tools to examine the readiness of different Algerian provinces to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Intention to Get COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study Among the General Public in Algeria
Science Direct, 13 May 2022 
This article presents the results of an online survey conducted to assess the intentions to receive the Covid-19 vaccine among the Algerian population. Out of a total of 656 participants, 51.1% were in favor of COVID-19 vaccines while 18.5% and 30.5% were against or hesitant respectively.

Side Effects of COVID-19 Inactivated Virus vs. Adenoviral Vector Vaccines: Experience of Algerian Healthcare Workers
Frontiers in Public Health, 16 May 2022
This article evaluates side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in a sample of 721 Algerian healthcare workers. Most common self-reported side effects were injection site pain, arm pain, fatigue, fever, headache and myalgia. 

Food Behavior of the Algerian Population at the Time of the COVID-19: The First Survey Carried Out in the Western Algerian Region
South Asian Journal, 28 May 2022
This article sheds light on the Algerian population's food habits during the pandemic through an observational and descriptive epidemiological study conducted on 640 individuals.

Bahrain

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Comparative Modelling of Stock Price Volatility Before and During the COVID- 19 Pandemic in Bahrain: Implications to the Effect of the Pandemic to Stock Price Autocorrelation
Diamond Scientific Publishing, Date Unspecified  
This article studies the volatility of stock prices before and during the pandemic in Bahrain. It found that the weekly price movements of the BAX index were more volatile during the pandemic than before its onset.

The Effect of Age, Gender and Comorbidities Upon SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antibody Induction After Two Doses of Sinopharm Vaccine and the Effect of a Pfizer/BioNtech Booster Vaccine
Frontiers in Immunology, 30 May 2022
This article reports the findings of a study that evaluated antibody levels in 379 Bahraini individuals to assess the effect of a COVID-19 booster dose. The authors hoped that their study would help develop a triple dose vaccination strategy to ensure protective immunity against COVID-19.

Egypt

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Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiothoracic Surgery: Experience of Alexandria (Egypt) Main University Hospital
Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 23 May 2022
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workflow and waiting lists of high-cost Cardiothoracic surgeries in Egypt. It found that cardiac surgeries have witnessed the worst consequences, including cancellation of all surgeries, expansion of waiting lists, and patients' non-compliance with follow-up.

Iraq

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Trends in COVID-19: Incidence, mortality, and case fatality in Iraq
Saudi Medical Journal, May 2022
This article reports the findings of a biometric study conducted in 2021 to help detect the epidemiological trend of COVID-19 in Iraq, the distribution of cases according to age, gender, and geographic distribution. The authors also examined morbidity and mortality rates to evaluate the intensity of the COVID-19 burden on the Iraqi healthcare system.

Jordan

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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Jordanian Households and Firms: Findings from the ERF Covid-19 Monitor in Jordan 
Economic Research Forum, May 2022
ERF and FCDO collaborated to conduct short panel phone surveys aiming to assess how Jordanian households, firms, micro firms, and workers cope with the impact of COVID-19.

Attitude of Pregnant and Lactating Women toward COVID-19 Vaccination in Jordan: a Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 3 May 2022
This article reports the findings of a study conducted with pregnant and lactating women in Jordan to determine their stances towards the COVID-19 vaccine and understand their varying attitudes. 

COVID-19 Epidemiology and Changes in Health Service Utilization in Azraq and Zaatari Refugee Camps in Jordan: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Plos Medicine, 10 May 2022
This article utilized observational programmatic data to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Jordan, and at two refugee camps Zaatari and Azraq specifically. The authors analyzed the difference in routine health services pre and post COVID-19. 

Conception Preferences during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns
Behavioral Sciences, 13 May 2022
This article focused on women in Jordan to study their insights regarding fertility, the preparedness to use assisted reproductive technology, and the awareness and beliefs related to conceiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuwait

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School Is Closed : Simulating the Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic–Related School Disruptions in Kuwait
World Bank, 5 May 2022
This working paper tackles the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent educational disruptions on students in Kuwait. It found that during the pandemic, students in Kuwait faced significant reductions in their lifetime income, with males facing a larger reduction than females.

COVID-19 Outcomes Among Rheumatic Disease Patients in Kuwait: Data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) Physician Registry
International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 11 May 2022
This article assesses the characteristics of inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) patients in Kuwait diagnosed with COVID-19 and the factors linked with hospitalization, complications, and mortality.

Lebanon

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Lebanon: Challenges and Successes in COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Rand Corporation, 6 May 2022 
This blog-post from The Rand Blog identifies challenges in COVID-19 responses faced by Lebanon amid the current political and economic crises. The authors also highlights the country’s successes and innovations in combating those challenges. 

Too Much to Mask: Determinants of Sustained Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among older Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
MedRxiv, 10 May 2022 
This article studies the determinants of adherence of two non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 preventive measures in Lebanon: masking-up and social distance.  The study focused on Syrian refugees in Lebanon aging 50 and older. 

The Impact of COVID-19 and the Economic Crisis on Lebanese Public Health: from Food insecurity to Healthcare Disintegration
Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 16 May 2022
This article reviews the impact of the economic crisis in Lebanon and the pandemic's effect on health and healthcare. The study looked at measures such as food insecurity, water shortages, hospital and medication crises, labor force issues, and electricity and fuel shortages. 

Development of a Quality Assurance Tool for Intensive Care Units in Lebanon during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal for Quality in Healthcare, 31 May 2022
This article was motivated by the fact that the World Health Organization has supported the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to increase ICU beds at public hospitals by 300%, without having a readily available tool to monitor the quality of ICU care. Therefore, the authors describe the process of rapidly developing and implementing a tool to monitor the quality of ICU care at public hospitals in Lebanon.

Morocco 

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Real-world study of the effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccine in the Kingdom of Morocco
medRxiv, 27 April 2022 
This article discusses the findings of a case control study that was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine in Morocco. The results were in agreement with the literature showing it was highly protective against serious and critical hospitalization. 

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Morocco: Applying the Health Belief Model
Vaccines, 16 May 2022
This article presents an analysis of a cross-sectional survey completed by 3800 individuals to identify the factors that influenced the population in Morocco to receive the vaccine. Authors show that the strongest predictor for the intention of receiving a vaccine is whether a participant is married.

Role of Instagram on the Purchasing Behavior of Moroccan Consumers during the COVID-19
International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics, 31 May 2022
This article delineates the factors that influenced the purchasing habits of Moroccans during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigates the way Instagram specifically shaped these behaviors. It presents the results of a survey taken among 200 Instagram using consumers.

Oman

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Psychological Effects of, and Compliance with, Self-Isolation among COVID-19 Patients in South Batinah Governorate, Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 8 May 2022
This article investigates the extent to which COVID-19 patients complied with self-isolation policies. It also examines the psychological effects of self-isolation on patients in Oman.

The Impact and Challenges of Education and Administration in VET on Economic Growth in Oman During the COVID-19 Period
Frontiers in Psychology, 16 May 2022
This article aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic growth and the impact of institutional management and education on Vocational Education and Training schools in Oman. 

Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of COVID-19 in a Primary Care Center in the South Batinah Region of Oman
Cureus, 18 May 2022
This article reviews the medical charts of 150 patients at Rustaq Polyclinic in South Oman to identify the clinical and biomedical profile of the coronavirus disease and variations across demographic groups.

Palestine

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Seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 Antibodies Among Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Adults in the West Bank: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
medRxiv, 16 May 2022
This article discusses the findings of an assessment of the seroprevalence rate among a random sample of Palestinians residing in the West Bank region. The authors reveal a drastic rise in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to infection and vaccination.

UNRWA Releases Health Programme Report: Innovation in the Face of Covid-19 – Press Release
United Nations, 24 May 2022
This UNRWA report examines the situation of Palestinian refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic against the backdrop of the hostilities in Gaza, the ongoing war in Syria, and the economic/social/political crisis in Lebanon.

Qatar

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Effectiveness of Ehteraz Digital Contact Tracing App versus Conventional Contact Tracing in Managing the Outbreak of COVID-19 in the State of Qatar
BMJ Innovations, 3 May 2022
This article uses two databases to evaluate the accuracy of Ehteraz (the Qatari app for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic) as a tracing tool and compares its effectiveness to that of the traditional human led case investigation. 

Effect of mRNA Vaccine Boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection in Qatar
The New England Journal of Medicine, 12 May 2022
This article conducted two retrospective studies in Qatar to examine the effectiveness of a booster vaccination, compared to the usual two dose vaccination, in preventing SARS-COV-2 infection and serious COVID-19 hospitalization and death.

Flu Vaccine Could Cut COVID Risk
Nature, 12 May 2022
This article reports that influenza vaccines were effective in preventing COVID-19 according to a study held on more than 30,000 healthcare workers in Qatar.

Predictors of Mortality and Morbidity in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: An Experience from a Low Mortality Country
Health Sciences Report, 17 May 2022
This article studies the clinical characteristics and factors associated with mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units in Qatar. They found that these rates were lower in Qatar compared to other countries. 

The Association between Tobacco Use and COVID-19 in Qatar
Preventive Medicine Reports, 19 May 2022
This article studies the association between tobacco usage and COVID-19 hospitalization cases.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown “Home Quarantine” on the Physical Activity and Lifestyle of Children in Qatar
Frontiers in Public Health, 25 May 2022  
This article presents the results of a cross-sectional online survey distributed in Qatar to assess the impact of quarantine on physical activity, screen time, sleep, and diet in children aging 5 to 12.

Saudi Arabia

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Fractional-Order Coronavirus Models with Vaccination Strategies Impacted on Saudi Arabia's Infections
AIMS Mathematics, Date Unspecified  
This article highlights the role of fractional calculus models in describing the growth of COVID-19 dynamics in Saudi Arabia over the span of 107 days. 

Post-Acute COVID-19 Condition in Saudi Arabia: A National Representative Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, May 2022
This article presents a retrospective cross-sectional study characterizing the symptoms that appear after SARS-COV-2 infection in Saudi Arabia. The article also determines the relationship of the different “post-symptoms” with COVID-19 severity. 

Clinical Characteristics, Laboratory Findings, Management, and Outcome of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children at a Tertiary Care Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study
Frontiers in Pediatrics, 3 May 2022
This article investigates the clinical features of COVID-19 infected children, and discusses the therapeutic methods used in their treatment in Saudi Arabia. It analyzes data on children with COVID-19, including demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, imaging and laboratory results, therapies, and clinical outcomes.

Perceived Stress and Resilience Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Critical Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Correlational Cross-Sectional Study
PeerJ, 6 May 2022
This article studies the level of stress of nurses working in critical care units fighting directly against COVID-19. Although COVID-19 cases had declined significantly during the study period in Saudi Arabia, the majority of nurses were still experiencing moderate to high levels of stress about the epidemic, but were, at the same time, moderately resilient.

Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Disturbances Associated With the COVID-19 Outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 9 May 2022
This article assesses the occurrence of sleep disturbance associated with the spread of COVID-19 among residents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It also discusses the psychological effects of the outbreak. 

Effect of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions in the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Saudi Arabia
Plos Global Public Health, 9 May 2022
This article reports on a study of the relation between non-pharmaceutical interventions (such as masking and lockdowns etc…) and SARS-COV-2 transmission in Saudi Arabia during its first pandemic wave. 

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Residents of Saudi Arabia
Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 13 May 2022
This article studies stress levels and their determinants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. The authors report that 35.4% of participants suffered from moderate or severe psychological impact, 19.7% had a mild psychological impact, whereas 44.9% reported minimal psychological impact. 

How Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal of Public Health Research, 16 May 2022
This article sheds light on the coping mechanisms adopted by higher education students in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results reveal that the 4 most frequent strategies were: seeking social support, acceptance, mental disengagement, and humanitarian engagement. 

Stress Perception among Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Sigma Vitae, 18 May 2022
This article reports the stress levels among dentists in Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Overall dental practitioners are at moderate stress levels; among them, males, private practitioners, and dentists above 50 years of age exhibited more stress, whereas graduates had the least stress scores.

A Remaining Piece of the COVID-19 Puzzle: Saudi Arabia’s Remittances Account
King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, 30 May 2022
This paper assesses the behavioral shift and trend break in remittance outflows from Saudi Arabia which is ranked among the top 5 countries in remittance worldwide. It contextualizes the change within the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Knowledge Levels of Acceptance and Hesitancy of COVID-19 Vaccine Among General Population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Medicine and Pharmacology, 31 May 2022
This article examines the knowledge levels of acceptance and hesitancy of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine among the population of Saudi Arabia. 

Somalia

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Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from Somalia’s Businesses
World Bank, 5 May 2022
This World Bank blog-post discusses the COVID-19 related sections of the WB Somalia Economic Update.

Sudan

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Women Mental Health Status and Behaviour Change during the COVID-19 in Sudan
Heliyon, May 2022
This article discusses the results of a questionnaire assessing women's roles during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khartoum, Sudan. It also tackles changes in their mental health. 

Face Mask Practice and Technique During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nonrepresentative Cross-Sectional Study in Sudan
Patient Preference and Adherence, 3 May 2022
This article reports the findings of a cross-sectional study conducted among Sudanese aged 18 and older to assess face mask wearing practice during the COVID-19 pandemic among the Sudanese population. 

Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on Migrants in Eastern Sudan
DTM, 15 May 2022
This report examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of migrants’ life in Sudan.

Widespread Cynicism About COVID-19 Vaccines In Sudan
SMEX, 26 May 2022
This article highlights the governmental and non-governmental responses in Sudan to counter vaccine and COVID-19 misinformation online.

Tunisia

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Phylogenetic and Amino Acid Signature Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2s Lineages Circulating in Tunisia
Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 10 May 2022
This article identifies SARS-COV-2 lineages in Tunisia and explores their genetic characteristics. The researchers captured a total of 335 mutations. 

UAE

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Vaccine Side Effects Following COVID-19 Vaccination Among the Residents of the UAE—An Observational Study
Frontiers in Public Health, 6 May 2022
This article aims to investigate the nature, difference, and severity of COVID-19 vaccines’ side effects.

The Psychological Distress and COVID-19 Pandemic during Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study from United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Heliyon, 13 May 2022
This article evaluates the psychological impact of COVID-19 related lockdown measures on UAE residents. It concludes that the lockdown more psychologically impacted males, older people, and unemployed individuals during the pandemic.

Investigation of Factors Affecting COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Communities of Universities in the United Arab Emirates
Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 20 May 2022 
This article investigates the impact of various factors on the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in 5 universities across UAE. 

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic and Related Vaccination in an Orthopedic Clinic in the United Arab Emirates: An Observational Study
Frontiers in Surgery, 31 May 2021
This article explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination on individuals fighting musculoskeletal disorders in the UAE.

Mofeed Digest (April 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Libya| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE]

MENA

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Reality Check : Forecasting Growth in the Middle East and North Africa in Times of Uncertainty 
World Bank, 11 April 2022 
This World Bank report projects an uncertain and uneven recovery in the MENA region. [ARABIC]

The Geopolitics of the North African Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic: Opportunities and Challenges 
Journal of International Women’s Studies, 15 April 2022 
This article examines the response of the North African countries to the pandemic, the opportunities and the challenges facing the region, and the lessons learned in order to be better prepared for impending crises.

Khalid Abu-Ismail on the Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty and Food Insecurity in the Arab Region 
Economic Research Forum, 19 April 2022 
In this video, Khalid Abu-Ismail, senior economist at the UN’s Economic and Social Commission to West Asia (ESCWA), discusses the role of ESCWA in mitigating the impacts of the pandemic and how to build on existing social protection networks to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on food insecurity. 

Attitudes Towards Mask Wearing in MENA: The Impact of Gender and Education 
Wilson Center, 20 April 2022 
This Wilson Center article analyzes respondents’ opinions on their risk of contracting the virus, preparedness for preventing its spread, and level of responsibility to protect themselves and others. The findings suggest that within their education, age, and marital status groups, women more frequently report mask-wearing and taking actions to prevent the spread of the virus.

UNHCR MENA COVID-19 Year-End Report (January-December 2021) 
UNHCR, 20 April 2022  
This is the end of year report from the UNHCR for the MENA region which offers a holistic overview of the region’s situation vis-a-vis the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. It presents major regional developments, key figures and important achievements. 

COVID-19, Economic Problems, and Family Relationships in Eight Middle East and North African Countries 
Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Sciences, 29 April 2022 
This article assesses the reported family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association between these relationships and individual, interpersonal, and country-level income in eight Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Family relationships improved or remained unchanged for those who tested positive for COVID-19 and did not improve for those who lost wages or lost someone due to COVID-19.

Algeria

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Diversity Impact on Vaccine Equity in Algeria 
Minority Rights Group, 4 April 2022 
The Minority Rights Group conducted research on the impact of language and ethnicity on COVID-19 vaccine confidence among indigenous Amazigh communities in Algeria. This report provides a brief analysis of the monitoring efforts from January 2021 (the beginning of the vaccine campaign in Algeria) to March 2022. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy (VBH) and Its Drivers in Algeria: National Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study 
Vaccines, 15 April 2022 
This article studies COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and its associated factors in the general population in Algeria. The study utilized social media platforms to distribute an online self-administered questionnaire for vaccinated Algerian citizens.

Bahrain

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Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 BBIBP-CorV Vaccine in Children 3-12 Years Old 
Vaccines, 11 April 2022 
This article evaluates the reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of BBIBP-CorV, prior to involving this age group in the vaccination program in the kingdom of Bahrain.

Perceptions of Medical Students on Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Bahrain 
Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 21 April 2022 
This article explores medical students’ views of online learning during this pandemic at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain. The authors also analyze the association between students’ perceptions and certain demographic and institutional factors.

Egypt

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Central Bank Of Egypt's Measures to Offset the Impact of COVID-19 
Central Bank of Egypt, April 2022 
This document from Egypt’s Central Bank lays out state measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. 

Modeling COVID-19 Effects on SDGs Using System Dynamics in Egypt 
Environmental Sciences and Pollution Research, 5 April 2022 
To address the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a thorough examination of the pandemic’s influence on four SDGs in Egypt is presented in a system dynamic model. The model predicts declining poverty, decreasing percentage of food insecurity, rising growth rates, and declining GHG emissions.

Egyptian Small and Medium Sized Enterprises’ Battle against COVID-19 Pandemic: March – July 202 
Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, 11 April 2022 
This article investigates the effect of the pandemic on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt and how they reacted to the outbreak. It suggests that practical measurements should not only provide first aid to start-ups by alleviating the pressure caused by constrained cash flow but also consider long-term measures embedded in and supported by the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure start-ups rapid recovery and growth.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Perceptions Among Dental Teaching Staff of a Governmental University in Egypt 
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 21 April 2022 
This study aimed to assess vaccine acceptance and its determinants among a group of dental teaching staff in Egypt. At the time of conducting this study (August 2021–October 2021), less than half of the participating dental teaching staff in the studied Egyptian university were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Infection and Severity of COVID-19 Infection among Health Care Workers: A Report from Egypt 
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets, 25 April 2022 
This article aims to determine the percentage of COVID-19 infection and risk factors associated and predictors of COVID-19 among health care workers in Assiut University Hospital. It concludes that healthcare workers are at-risk for severe COVID-19 infection.

Iraq

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The Passage of Time in Iraq during the COVID-19 Pandemic 
PLoS One, 14 April 2022 
This article studies the pandemic’s impact on the subjective speed at which people feel like time is passing. It explores experiences of the passage of time in Iraq. An online questionnaire was used to explore the passage of time during the day, week, and the 11 months since the first period of COVID-19 restrictions were imposed in Iraq.

Iraq Pulse: Unrest amid the COVID-19 Pandemic 
Arab Barometer, 19 April 2022 
This ArabBarometer article describes Iraqi attitudes vis-à-vis living conditions and other metrics amid the pandemic. The findings of this survey display public discontent over political life, dissatisfaction with education and health systems and economic performances, and concerns about civil liberties.

COVID-19 Vaccine Inequities and Hesitancy in Iraq 
World Bank, 28 April 2022 
Starting in August 2020, the World Bank collaborated with the World Food Program (WFP) and implemented nine (9) rounds of the Iraq High Frequency Phone Survey (IHFPS) as part of the WFP’s monthly mVAM survey. This brief presents findings on COVID-19 vaccination disparities and hesitancy from the last three rounds of the IHFPS.

Jordan

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Study of Climatology Parameters on COVID-19 Outbreak in Jordan 
Environmental Earth Sciences, 4 April 2022  
This research aims to study the association between the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the three major cities of Jordan, namely Amman, Zarqa, and Irbid, and climate indicators to include the average daily temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, pressure, and the concentration of four pollutants (CO, NO2, PM10, and SO2). It was concluded that the multiple linear regression and feedforward artificial neural network could forecast the COVID-19 confirmed cases in the case studies; Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa.

Assessment of COVID-19 Molecular Testing Capacity in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study at the Country Level 
Diagnostics, 6 April 2022 
This article assesses the overall COVID-19 molecular testing capacity in Jordan as of April 2021. It identifies potential defects that could comprise the utility of the COVID-19 molecular testing capacity in the country. 

Mitigating Psychological Distress in Healthcare Workers as COVID-19 Waves Ensue: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan 
Human Resources for Health, 11 April 2022 
The authors have previously studied psychological distress in healthcare practitioners (HCPs) during the start of the pandemic and demonstrated that HCPs were experiencing considerable stress, despite the country reporting low caseloads at the time of the study. In this article, they utilize the same methodology to reexamine levels of distress as COVID-19 peaked in the country and HCPs began managing large numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Acute Kidney Injury among Hospital-Admitted COVID-19 Patients: A Study from Jordan 
International Journal of General Medicine, 29 April 2022 
This article looks into Acute kidney Injury (AKI) as among the more dangerous complications contributing to morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients. It concludes that early recognition of and treatment for AKI will decrease mortality and hospitalization in patients with COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 Exclusive Allocation Strategy on Quality of Healthcare: A Study from Jordan, 2020 
Health Security, 29 April 2022 
This article focuses on the Jordanian strategy of allocating tertiary healthcare centers exclusively for COVID-19 patients and postponing all other treatments and healthcare provision. Authors collected data on admissions, occupancy of hospital beds, and length of stay at emergency departments and outpatient clinics, as well as surgeries conducted. 

Kuwait

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgeons and Surgical Residents' Caseload, Surgical Skills, and Mental Health in Kuwait 
Medical Principles and Practice - The International Journal of the Kuwait University, 5 April 2022 
This article assesses the psychological impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the effect it had on surgical training. It concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the psychological well-being of a significant proportion of surgeons and associated surgical training programs.

Lebanon

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Assessing the Pharmaceutical Care Provision to Suspected COVID-19 Patients in Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Patient Study 
BMC Health Services Research, 9 April 2022 
This article assesses the appropriateness of pharmaceutical care provided by CPs to patients with suspected COVID-19 and to investigate their communication skills. A simulated patient (SP) study was conducted among randomly selected community pharmacies in Beirut, Lebanon. 

Lebanon’s COVID-19 Vaccination Digital Platform Promotes Transparency & Public Trust 
World Bank, 26 April 2022 
This World Bank blog-post, also available in Arabic, reviews the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Lebanon. It states that the COVID-19 vaccination campaign was implemented in a transparent, equitable, and efficient manner, and has contributed to reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. [ARABIC]

Libya

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Impact of Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health among the Libyan Population 
PLoS One, 28 April 2022 
This article aims to determine the prevalence of psychological illness and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Libyan population’s mental health.

Oman

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Regulatory Measures and Priorities in Response in Oman to the COVID19 Pandemic  
The Electrochemical Society, Date Unspecified  
This article explores the role of various initiatives taken by authorities and measures the other viable options to the pandemic. It concludes that the authorities have considered adopting emergency measures to assist residents in managing their work and care, to strengthen and expand income support measures, to broaden support for SMEs and self-employed people and to improve measures for health care services once for all. 

Fatality Prediction of COVID-19 by Using Machine Learning: Oman Dataset 
Sultan Qaboos University, Date Unspecified  
This Sultan Qaboos University working paper presents the outcomes of a cohort study of 467 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Oman. It studies the capacity of machine learning technologies to predict COVID-19 fatality cases. 

Shipping and Transportation Traffic of Medical and Non-Medical Goods Before and During COVID-19 in Oman 
Procedia Computer Science, Date Unspecified 
This article investigates the changes in the shipping and transportation traffic of medical and non-medical goods during and before the start of COVID-19 pandemic in Oman.

Spatial Associations between COVID-19 Incidence Rates and Work Sectors: Geospatial Modeling of Infection Patterns among Migrants in Oman 
Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 5 April 2022 
This article models spatial associations between COVID-19 incidence rates and migrant workers. It explains the spatial relationships between COVID-19 infection rates of migrants and the type of workplace at the subnational level in Oman.

Palestine

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A Feminist Economic Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on the Palestinian Economy.                                                                                                                                          UN Women Palestine,Date Unspecified  
This report from the UN Women Palestine examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Palestinians from a feminist perspective.

Proactive Innovation in a Prolonged Conflict Setting: Facing COVID-19 in a Specialized Cancer Hospital in Palestine 
Frontiers in Public Health, 1 April 2022 
This article studies Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH)’s COVID-19-related preparedness measures.

Gender-Based Violence Experiences among Palestinian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mental Health Professionals’ Perceptions and Concerns 
Conflict and Health, 4 April 2022 
This article explores mental health professionals’ perceptions and concerns on GBV (Gender Based Violence) among Palestinian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reproduction of Palestinian Heterotopic Space: Encountering First Wave of Covid-19 in East Jerusalem 
Middle East Critique, 7 April 2022 
This article discusses how the Palestinians approached the pandemic within the context of occupation, and how they used their power to reproduce what Henri Lefebvre called heterotopic spaces. The aim is to shed light on the evolving role of civil society to support local action in dealing with a pandemic and to understand COVID-19 from peoples’ perspective rather than from a top-bottom lens in occupied cities. 

Attitudes and Acceptance of the Palestinian Population towards COVID-19 Health Precautions and Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study 
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets, 19 April 2022 
This article assesses the commitment to COVID-19 health precautions and vaccination willingness among the Palestinian population. It concludes that COVID-19 threat perception, high education level, and city residency predict more commitment to health precautions, in contrast to male students and unemployed participants. 

Qatar

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Chronic Urticaria and COVID-19 Vaccination: Qatar Data (preliminary report of COVAC-CU-international) 
Qatar Medical Journal, 4 April 2022 
This article evaluates the real-world (Qatar) experience of the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on patients with chronic urticaria and analyzes the rates of vaccine-associated reactions and risk factors associated.

Teaching in Times of Crisis: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Higher Education 
Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 10 April 2022 
This article studies the management of the transformation to online teaching as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. Based on 16 interviews with educators from a university located in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, namely, Qatar, the authors present measures of support that contribute towards charting the path to the next normal.

COVID-19 Disease Severity in Children Infected with the Omicron Variant 
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 11 April 2022 
This article studies COVID-19 disease severity in children/adolescents infected with the Omicron variant. Conducted on a dataset from Qatar, the study concludes that Omicron variant infection in children/adolescents is associated with less severe disease than Delta variant infection as measured by hospitalization rates and need for ICU care or mechanical ventilation.

Characteristics and Obstetric Outcomes in Women With Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qatar 
Cureus, 22 April 2022 
This article assesses the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases as they are considered to have a high risk of obstetric complications with the emergence of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A 12-month Retrospective Study of Outcomes of COVID-19 Drive-Through Swabbing Hubs’ Screening of Asymptomatic Population in Qatar 
Journal of Global Health Reports, 25 April 2022 
This article seeks to estimate the point prevalence of COVID-19, testing positivity rates and risk factors associated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity among asymptomatic people identified through active population surveillance in Qatar. It concludes that active community testing implemented through the PHCC’s drive-through swabbing hubs offers a valuable opportunity to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and reduce the spread of the disease.

Saudi Arabia

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Social Stigma as an Outcome of the Cultural Repercussions toward COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia 
Cogent Social Sciences, 1 April 2022 
This article explores the impact of social stigma on people infected with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and the factors that worsen the stigma against COVID-19 patients.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia 
Patient Preference and Adherence, 2 April 2022 
This article assesses the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and detect the factors that influence vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.

An Appraisal of the Early Impact of COVID-19 on Affordable Housing Finance in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 
International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 8 April 2022 
This study examines the relevance of affordable housing, the perceived impact of COVID-19 on affordable housing and proffered measures to promote affordable housing finance in Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. 

Coagulation Profile in COVID-19 Patients and its Relation to Disease Severity and Overall Survival: A Single-Center Study 
British Journal of Biomedical Science, 8 April 2022  
This article investigates hemostatic changes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their relationship to disease severity and survival. This study included 284 patients with COVID-19 who attended the Security Forces Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Health Economic Burden of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia 
medRxiv, 13 April 2022 
This article provides real-world data on the health economic burden of COVID-19 on the Saudi health sector and assesses the direct medical costs associated with the management of COVID-19. 

Modeling the Effect of Lockdown and Social Distancing on the Spread of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia 
PLOS ONE, 14 April 2022 
This article formulates a mathematical model to study the impact of lockdown and social distancing measures on COVID-19 spread. It explores several scenarios to investigate the optimal application of these measures and address whether it is possible to rely solely on social distancing without imposing a lockdown.

Effectiveness of Using E-Learning Systems During COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Experiences and Perceptions Analysis of Engineering Students 
Education and Information Technology, 19 April 2022 
This article analyzes and investigates the experiences and perceptions of using Blackboard as a distance learning (online) platform.

COVID-19 Reinfection: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Saudi Arabia  
Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 19 April 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the rate, risk factors, and severity of COVID-19 reinfection.

Hospital Length of Stay and Related Factors for COVID-19 Inpatients Among the Four Southern Regions Under the Proposed Southern Business Unit of Saudi Arabia 
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 20 April 2022 
This article assesses the length of stay (LoS) variation for COVID-19 inpatients among the four regions of the Southern Business Unit (SBU). It reveals that LoS (length of stay) was significantly impacted by region in the SBU in the KSA.

Persistent Symptoms Post-COVID-19: An Observational Study at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 
Cureus, 21 April 2022 
This article studies the type of persistent symptoms post-COVID-19 infection, their prevalence, and factors that play a role in developing the post-COVID-19 symptoms among COVID-19 patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Internship Preparedness among Students in Healthcare-Related Fields in the Covid-19 Era: Exploring the Attitude and Knowledge in Saudi Arabia 
Journal of Public Health Research, 27 April 2022 
This article studies students’ attitude toward and knowledge of COVID-19 and examine the predictors of their attitude toward hand hygiene.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Restrictions: Concerns and Opinions among Individuals in Saudi Arabia 
Healthcare, 28 April 2022 
This article examines concerns about COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia. It concludes that a high proportion of individuals in Saudi Arabia are concerned about possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and many believe that unvaccinated individuals should not be restricted from participating in public life. 

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Community Pharmacists Toward Non-pharmaceutical Products in Saudi Arabia 
Frontiers in Public Health, 29 April 2022 
This article studies community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice toward non-pharmaceutical products. A total of 211 community pharmacists working in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia were included.

Somalia

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Data Innovation in Response to COVID-19 in Somalia: Application of a Syndromic Case Definition and Rapid Mortality Assessment Method 
Global Health Action, 4 April 2022 
This article aims to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on beneficiaries of a long-term cash transfer program in Somalia and assess the utility of a syndromic score case definition and rapid mortality surveillance tool.

Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in Covid-19 Patients- Retrospective Single-Center Study 
Infection and Drug Resistance, 5 April 2022 
This article aims to determine the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients and also the relationship between inflammatory markers, the severity of lung involvement, and acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients. 

Evaluation of the electronic Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) system in Somalia, 2017–2020 
Conflict and Health, 16 April 2022 
This article presents an assessment of the performance of the EWARN (Early Warning Alert and Response Network) in Somalia from January 2017 to December 2020, reflections on the successes and failures, and provides future perspectives for enhancement of the EWARN to effectively support an Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Pneumonia in Somalia 
Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, 25 April 2022 
This article seeks to determine the prevalence of CRF (cardiovascular risk factors) and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital in Somalia.

Sudan

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COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance, Hesitancy, and Associated Factors among Medical Students in Sudan 
PLOS ONE, 7 April 2022 
This article aims to determine the acceptance and hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among medical students in Sudan. It reveals a high level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical students.

Syria

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Simulation of the Progression of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Northwest Syria Using a Basic and Adjusted SIR Model 
Zoonotic Diseases, 1 April 2022 
This article investigates the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northwest Syria, a conflict-affected region, for nine months. The novelty of the study is provided by simulating the progress of the COVID-19 outbreak in conflict settings, as it is the first study to predict the dynamics of COVID-19 disease in Northwest Syria by adjusting for face-mask-wearing as a preventive measure to explore its impact on outbreak dynamics.

Tunisia

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Studying SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy among Health Professionals in Tunisia 
BMC Health Services Research, 12 April 2022 
This article estimates the prevalence and the predictors of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among the Tunisian health professionals. Female sex, working far from the capital, and having concerns about the vaccines components predicted more hesitancy among participants. 

COVID-19 in Tunisia (North Africa): Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the General Population of the Capital City Tunis 
Diagnostics, 13 April 2022 
This article reports on the findings of the first serosurvey conducted in Tunis prior to the implementation of mass vaccination and analyzes factors associated with seropositivity. It states that more than one third of people living in Tunis obtained antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Tunisia: Covid-19 Vaccines and Access to Health in Rural Tunisia 
Amnesty International, 25 April 2022 
Amnesty International reports on many barriers preventing residents from getting their vaccines in a mountainous area by the Tunisian-Algerian border where the organization has conducted field research. They say that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weakness of right to health protections in Tunisia and particularly when it came to vaccine rollout programs and the marginalization of historically underserved rural regions of Tunisia. 

UAE

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Covid Diplomacy in the Era of Pandemic Response: The Case of United Arab Emirates  
Journal of International Women’s Studies, Date Unspecified 
This article explores how foreign aid and COVID-19 assistance, including medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines’ supply, have created a new source of soft power for the UAE. It presents an overview of UAE’s history of humanitarianism, conceptual and theoretical framework, methodology, factors enabling UAE’s COVID diplomacy, and the UAE's contribution towards fighting COVID worldwide. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on Some Socio-Economic Sectors in the United Arab Emirates 
Open Journal of Social Sciences, Date Unspecified  
This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on multiple UAE governmental and non-governmental sectors such as the aviation sector, real estate market, tourism, and education.

Enhancing the Policing Response to COVID-19 with Media Engagement: The United Arab Emirates Experience 
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4 April 2022  
This article studies the role of media in the police response in relation to COVID-19 risk management in the UAE. The findings suggest pre-defined conducive legislative and institutional structure, professionalism of media and police, and collaborative approaches among implementing agencies contributed to the success of the early phase COVID-19 risk management in the UAE.

Outdoor Activity in the Daytime, but Not the Nighttime, Predicts Better Mental Health Status During the COVID-19 Curfew in the United Arab Emirates 
Frontiers in Public Health, 4 April 2022 
This study assesses the association between levels of daytime versus nighttime outdoor activity and mental health among a sample of UAE residents during the lockdown period. It reveals that daytime activity, but not nighttime activity, was associated with a lower risk of clinically significant depressive symptomatology.

Mofeed Digest (January – March 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Comoros | Djibouti | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon| Libya| Mauritania| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]

MENA

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Exploration of Early COVID-19 Pandemic Health Care and Public Health Responses in Select Middle East Nations
Rand Corporation, Date Unspecified
This report analyzes the results of a quick turn study evaluating the anti-COVID-19 strategies adopted by Middle Eastern governments, including Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Tunisia.

Impact of COVID-19 on Women in Iraq and Yemen
UN ESCWA, Date Unspecified
Published and compiled by UN ESCWA, these studies assess the impact of COVID-19 on the economic, social, and political participation of women in Iraq and Yemen.

In the MENA Region, Building Back Does Not Need to Cost Much
World Bank, 18 January 2022
This blog-post examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on earnings, poverty, and inequality in the MENA region. It builds on several WB reports, most notably “Distributional Impacts of COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa Region” (available in ARABIC).

What Arabs Think About Education During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Arab Barometer, 21 January 2022
This Arab Barometer article summarizes MENA citizens’ attitudes toward education in their countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This data was collected through surveys held in seven Arab countries during the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality and Food Security in the Arab Region with a Focus on the Sudan and Iraq
Care Evaluations, 7 February 2022
This analysis explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality and food security in the Arab region with a focus on findings from Iraq and Sudan. It is the product of joint collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and CARE International (CARE). 

Assessing Vaccine Hesitancy in Arab Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Scoping Review Protocol 
BMJ Open, 11 February 2022
This article reviews the determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the MENA region, highlighting the importance of geographic, cultural and religious factors.

Egypt and Tunisia Get Covid-19 Vaccine-Making Know-How
The National News, 18 February 2022
The World Health Organization announced Egypt, Tunisia, and four other African states as participants in a program poised to provide countries with training and gear required to produce mRNA vaccines. 

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Quality of Life: Is There Any Effect? A Cross-Sectional Study of the MENA Region
PLoS ONE, 1 March 2022
This study assesses the effect of the pandemic on mental health and quality of life in the MENA region, based on an online survey covering 6,142 adults from eighteen different countries.

Tracing Cultural Relations Through The COVID-19 Crisis
Arab Media & Society, 1 March 2022
This article reviews cultural relations trends during the COVID-19 crisis in the MENA region.

UNHCR MENA COVID-19 Response Factsheet (January 2022)
Relief Web, 10 March 2022
This article reviews the pandemic in the MENA region from the lens of IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. It shows that nineteen MENA countries have included refugees in their local vaccination programs.

Introduction to COVID-19 MELG Special Issue
Middle East Law and Governance Journal, 30 March 2022
The Middle East Law and Governance Journal launched a special edition titled “MENA and COVID19: State and Societal Responses.” This introductory article  summarizes the content of the special issue, which addresses how various political actors appropriated pandemic responses to reassert their power.

Dyadic Analysis of Fragile Middle Eastern States and Humanitarian Implications of Restrictive covid-19 Policies
Middle East Law and Governance Journal, 30 March 2022 
This article compares the policies implemented by various Middle Eastern countries to contain the spread of the coronavirus.  Authors found that fragile states tended to be characterized by a higher proportion of restrictive policies, lower government stringency, and lower compliance. The results identify sectors that would benefit most from humanitarian aid and raise the issue of whether restrictions are disproportionately implemented due to covert political agendas or lack of political and economic power.

Defiant Worship: Religious Liberty Talk and Rights in COVID-19 Pandemic Times
Journal of Church & State, 31 March 2022
This assesses religious liberty claims during the COVID-19 pandemic times. Specifically, the authors draw on interactive social media content collected from Facebook and Twitter during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to examine responses to the public health measures that restricted indoor forms of religious assembly. 

Algeria

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COVID-19 and Algeria’s Labor Movement
The Project on Middle East Political Science, Date Unspecified 
This article discusses the effects of COVID-19 on labor mobilization in Algeria through displaying the challenges that COVID-19 restrictions have created. The article is part POMEPS Studies #45 entitled, “Labor and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa.”

The Natural Resource Curse Unmasked: The Economy and Trade Finance in Algeria in the Shadow of COVID-19
UN ESCWA, February 2022
According to this ESCWA working paper, Algeria’s reliance on oil and gas exports  is limiting the country’s economic growth, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy is in serious need of more diversification away from the oil sector

Spatial Diffusion of COVID-19 in Algeria during the Third Wave
GeoJournal, 3 March 2022
This article analyzes the spatiotemporal variations of reported coronavirus and death cases in Algeria to identify the differential geographic impact of the third wave of the virus.

Diversity Impact on Vaccine Equity in Algeria
Minority Rights Group, 4 March 2022
This report analyzes social media discourse around COVID-19 vaccination in Algeria, including knowledge of, access to, and confidence in the vaccine among the population with a special emphasis on the Amazigh community. 

Bahrain