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

[Back to Top]

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

[Back to Top]

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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 

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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.

The research proposes four alternative scenarios for the state’s future and provides policy options:

Scenario 1: California Technocracy
Administrative state grows in size and authority

After a series of crises including rampant homelessness, water shortages, earthquakes, wildfires, and floods that required invoking emergency powers, Californias citizens delegate more authority to elected officials. Direct democracy is regarded as a relic of the Progressive Era, a corruptible process subject to the capture of special interests. Californians support reforms for more independent, technocratic governance and decision-making at the state and local levels. Silicon Valley works to make the California civil service more skilled at every level, but as local media sources dwindle and as Californians increasingly rely on the state for services and information, hints of an authoritarian government spread.

As California's state administration grows, new regulatory agencies are established to combat climate change, expand charter and private school options, and supervise the states healthcare system. Along with this development, the governors power extends, and the new agencies are run by political appointees under their direct control. A united legislature reforms CEQA to limit its scope and impact, and raises the signature thresholds for recalls and elections. Although things get done, some groups argue that California has become a technocracy uninformed by and unresponsive to popular concerns.

Scenario 2: Government Rethought
Governance reforms bring a wave of state action and development

Following a succession of crises, a New Public Compact streamlines government decision-making processes. New election financing laws ensure public involvement while reducing veto points. The government funds nonprofit organizations to mobilize the entire community, strengthens the local media, and holds well-attended deliberative polls to engage the public. Reforms lead to a boom in public works and private property development. Through the referendum process, Californians rethink Proposition 13 and develop a new system for property taxes and graduated income taxes.

Silicon Valley and public schools across California work to improve the technical competence of the civil service and to develop exciting online tools to engage the public. California undergoes a set of reforms and overhauls similar to the New Deal, and local communities build out their information infrastructures, including local media, to connect residents with local resources and services. Californians become increasingly informed about the democratic process as more reform options become available, and their engagement increases through political activism.

Scenario 3: California Vetocracy
Supporting status quo with limited information yet increased direct participation

In California's crisis-ridden landscape, voters are frantic to fix government, making progressive era direct democracy increasingly popular. As veto points increase in state decision-making, so does the difficulty in making significant decisions and developments. Due to the loss of newspapers and media outlets, the public knows little about government. Small groups of reformers become powerful as they use direct democracy to propose one partially thought-out initiative after another. NIMBYism and narrow interests are fueled by CEQA, which applies to every government and private action. Recalls of elected officials increase significantly throughout the state. Each governor faces recall attempts. At all levels, the civil service is weak, poorly paid, untrained, and overwhelmed by the chaos it faces. Trust in government spirals downward.

The California State Supreme Court finally rules against SB 9, which restricted local control over housing developments, and settles the matter for the time being. In response to crisis situations, decisive action is episodic, with one movement after another that leads to new initiatives or recalls, but to no real results. Despite greater local control and increased direct citizen participation, access to information continues to rely on online, national news sources. In the absence of local and community information, misinformation flourishes about the effectiveness and impact of veto points.

Scenario 4: Burbclave California
Local governments demand control for governance over statewide leadership

There is a local demand for action in response to California's environmental, housing, and other crises, in concert with a strengthening of citizen participation. The burbclave movement arises as local communities start demanding greater local control and authority to cope with statewide problems like affordable housing, access to healthcare, and strong education. Through reform of Proposition 13, local governments gain more control over public actions and state finances.

As local control becomes more prevalent throughout the state, local and community media outlets emphasize the immediate benefits of locally-driven solutions. Some communities have solved the housing crisis, water crisis, and other crises, but the solutions are limited to those communities. Additionally, some communities become exasperated when their residents feel they have to participate so much, and residents become burned out due to constant information. Local decisions are usually determined by those with the loudest voices. Some communities flourish, but others struggle to solve issues, particularly poorer communities with limited resources. Consequently, their public infrastructure, safety, and educational systems suffer. Some people can solve this problem with gated communities, private schools, private roads, and private policing, but others who lack resources suffer from bad roads, inadequate housing, and poor schools.

The researchers at CDDRL propose the following policy alternatives for the future:

• Policy reforms to improve the transparency and adjudication of CEQA disputes and litigation. 
• Reforms that will better empower California's elected representatives to take action to address the state's challenges.

Bennon notes that “it has long been recognized that CEQA has a dual purpose in both protecting the environment and promoting informed self-government in California. As we evaluate CEQA practices and policy alternatives today, we should do so against those two original goals of the law.”

Discussing the policy alternatives, Fukuyama adds that “the decline of local media creates particular problems for local participation, and needs to be bolstered if citizen civic capacity is to evolve to meet the state’s governance needs.”

“After months of diligent research by our partners across the state, we are excited to share their findings with the public to kickstart a conversation about the policy options we can take to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable California,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, PhD, executive director of California 100. “Our research partners engaged a diverse group of stakeholders in their work and it will take all of them and all of us to take this work and make it actionable today – to influence tomorrow.”

California 100, incubated at the University of California and Stanford University, released today its next three policy and scenario reports focusing on the future of health and wellness, immigrant integration, and public safety in the golden state. In July, California 100 announced grants to 18 centers and institutes across California to examine future scenarios with the potential to shape California’s leadership in the coming century, with a focus on 13 priority research areas (listed below). In March, California 100 released its first four policy and scenario reports focused on the future of advanced technology, energy, housing, and transportation. 

These research reports were produced as part of California 100’s research stream of work led by Henry E. Brady, PhD, Director of Research for California 100, current professor, and former Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy. 
California 100 announced its diverse and intergenerational Commission in October and its Advisory Council in December. California 100’s core mission is to strengthen California’s ability to collectively solve problems and shape our long-term future—through research, policy innovation, advanced technology, and engagement—by identifying, mobilizing, and supporting champions for innovative and equitable solutions.

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

[Back to Top]

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

[Back to Top]

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

[Back to Top]

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] 

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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

[Back to Top] ​

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.