Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39615890›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Evaluation of risk-based travel policy for the COVID-19 epidemic in Scotland: a population-based surveillance study.

Isobel McLachlan, Selene Huntley, Kirstin Leslie, Jennifer Bishop, Christopher Redman, Gonzalo Yebra, Sharif Shaaban, Nicolaos Christofidis, Samantha Lycett, Matthew T G Holden and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Isobel McLachlanPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Selene HuntleyPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Kirstin LesliePublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Jennifer BishopPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Christopher RedmanPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Gonzalo YebraPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Sharif ShaabanPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Nicolaos ChristofidisPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Samantha LycettThe Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Matthew T G HoldenPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
David L RobertsonMRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK.
Alison Smith-PalmerPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Joseph HughesMRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK.
Sema NickbakhshPublic Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK sema.nickbakhsh@phs.scot.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9543-7536

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_12014/12
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesWe aimed to assess the effects of risk-based travel restrictions on (1) international travel frequency, (2) SARS-CoV-2 case importation risk, (3) national SARS-CoV-2 incidence and (4) importation of SARS-CoV-2 variants into Scotland.

designPopulation-based surveillance study.

settingThe study utilises SARS-CoV-2 community testing from February 2021 to May 2022 in Scotland, UK and spans the introduction of the UK's 'traffic light system' policy in May 2021. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Travel-related cases of COVID-19 were defined as PCR-positive Scottish residents self-reporting international travel within 14 days of booking a postarrival travel test. The Red-Amber-Green (RAG) status of the reported travel destination was determined through data linkage using country and date.

resultsInternational flight passengers arriving into Scotland increased by 754% during the traffic light period. Amber list countries were the most frequently visited and ranked highly for both SARS-CoV-2 importations and contribution to national case incidence. Rates of international travel and associated SARS-CoV-2 case rates varied significantly across age, health board and deprivation groups. Multivariable logistic regression revealed SARS-CoV-2 case detections were less likely through travel-based than community-based surveillance systems, although increased from green-to-amber and amber-to-red lists. When examined according to travel destination, SARS-CoV-2 importation risks did not strictly follow RAG designations, and red lists did not prevent establishment of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that country-specific postarrival screening undertaken in Scotland did not prohibit the public health impact of COVID-19 in Scotland. Travel rates likely contributed to patterns of SARS-CoV-2 case importation and population incidence.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2TravelAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantMaleMiddle AgedPopulation SurveillanceScotlandEpidemiologyHealth informaticsHealth policyPublic healthRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2 Infection

Identifiers

PMID39615890
PMCPMC11624746

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.