Empirical association between COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospitalizations, vaccination, and travel: Comparison among different regions and provinces in Belgium between April-July 2021-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Empirical association between COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospitalizations, vaccination, and travel: Comparison among different regions and provinces in Belgium between April-July 2021

Published:2023-08-29 Issue: Volume: Page:
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Author:

Natalia Yessika Adelwin¹^ORCID,Molenberghs Geert²^ORCID,Neyens Thomas²^ORCID,Hens Niel³^ORCID,Faes Christel¹^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium

2. I-Biostat, Hasselt University & KU Leuven, Belgium

3. I-Biostat & CHERMID-VAXINFECTIO, Hasselt University & University of Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract

Abstract Objectives In the absence of definitive treatment or vaccines, non-pharmaceutical interventions remain the major strategy to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, vaccines against COVID-19 had been developed and started as a preventive measure. In this study, we explored the effect of incoming travel rate combined with vaccination rate on COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization in Belgium between April-July 2021. Methods Data on COVID-19 confirmed cases and hospitalizations in Belgium were analyzed using a linear regression model (for data at the regional level) and a linear mixed model (for data at the provincial level). Results We found that incoming travel rate and vaccination rate have a significant effect on COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization at different administrative levels, provided appropriate transformations are applied and interactions added, suggesting non-linear effects of these explanatory variables. Conclusion Our findings suggest that surveillance on incoming travel would have been important to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Funder

KU Leuven

Publisher

Research Square Platform LLC

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