ArticleBMJ open2021
Public health implications of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: a rapid scoping review.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19: evidence beyond the hype.BMC infectious diseases · 2022Pooled it
- Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review.Journal of public health in Africa · 2025Review
- Replication kinetics and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant sublineages recovered in the Republic of Korea.Osong public health and research perspectives · 2024Article
- NASCarD (Nanopore Adaptive Sampling with Carrier DNA): A Rapid, PCR-Free Method for SARS-CoV-2 Whole-Genome Sequencing in Clinical Samples.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- A large outbreak of the Kappa mutation of COVID-19 in Cork, Ireland, April-May 2021.Irish journal of medical science · 2023Article
- Article
- Coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza virus during the 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic in Burkina Faso: A surveillance study.Health science reports · 2023Article
- Global emerging Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2: Impacts, challenges and strategies.Journal of infection and public health · 2023Review
- Structural analysis of spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern highlighting their functional alterations.Future virology · 2022Article
- SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the Military during the Early Phase of the Pandemic-A Systematic Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- At-home sample collection is an effective strategy for diagnosis and management of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers.BMC infectious diseases · 2022Article
- Replication kinetics and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in common cell culture models.Virology journal · 2022Article
- Health system impacts of SARS-CoV - 2 variants of concern: a rapid review.BMC health services research · 2022Review
- A comparative overview of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern.Le infezioni in medicina · 2022Review
- Public health implications of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: a rapid scoping review.BMJ open · 2021Article
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- Article
- Observational
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC; Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta) identified by May 2021 are highly transmissible, yet little is known about their impact on public health measures. We aimed to synthesise evidence related to public health measures and VOC.
designA rapid scoping review. DATA SOURCES: On 11 May 2021, seven databases (MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Central Register of Controlled Trials, Epistemonikos' L-OVE on COVID-19, medRxiv, bioRxiv) were searched for terms related to VOC, public health measures, transmission and health systems. No limit was placed on date of publication. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies were included if they reported on any of the four VOCs and public health measures, and were available in English. Only studies reporting on data collected after October 2020, when the first VOC was reported, were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were screened by two independent reviewers. Data extraction was completed by two independent reviewers using a standardised form. Data synthesis and reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines.
resultsOf the 37 included studies, the majority assessed the impact of Alpha (n=32) and were conducted in Europe (n=12) or the UK (n=9). Most were modelling studies (n=28) and preprints (n=28). The majority of studies reported on infection control measures (n=17), followed by modifying approaches to vaccines (n=13), physical distancing (n=6) and either mask wearing, testing or hand washing (n=2). Findings suggest an accelerated vaccine rollout is needed to mitigate the spread of VOC.
conclusionsThe increased severity of VOC requires proactive public health measures to control their spread. Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence for continued implementation of public health measures in conjunction with vaccine rollout. With no studies reporting on Delta, there is a need for further research on this and other emerging VOC on public health measures.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.