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The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a unique period of social isolation, presenting an unprecedented opportunity to scrutinize the influence of human activities on urban air quality. This study employs ARIMA models to explore the impact of COVID-19 isolation measures on the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in a high-altitude Latin American megacity (Bogota, Colombia). Three isolation scenarios were examined: strict (5 months), sectorized (1 months), and flexible (2 months). Our findings indicate that strict isolation measures exert a more pronounced effect on the short-term simulated concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 (PM10: −47.3%; PM2.5: −54%) compared to the long-term effects (PM10: −29.4%; PM2.5: −28.3%). The ARIMA models suggest that strict isolation measures tend to diminish the persistence of the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations over time, both in the short and long term. In the short term, strict isolation measures appear to augment the variation in the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations, with a more substantial increase observed for PM2.5. Conversely, in the long term, these measures seem to reduce the variations in the PM concentrations, indicating a more stable behavior that is less susceptible to abrupt peaks. The differences in the reduction in the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations between the strict and flexible isolation scenarios were 23.8% and 12.8%, respectively. This research provides valuable insights into the potential for strategic isolation measures to improve the air quality in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. This study shows statistical information regarding COVID-19 in Colombia up to this date (March 1-2022). Specifically, the daily, monthly and cumulative evolution of infections and deaths, correlated with the distribution of the population according to age and gender. Objective. Show statistical information about COVID-19 that allows help to plan and design, in future Pandemics, public health policy strategies in Colombia. Methods. Daily information since the official declaration of Pandemic in Colombia (March 16 - 2020) was obtained by the National Health Institute (INS) and was organized in a database in order to conduct respective analysis. This information was compared to similar studies obtained based on the bibliographical review. Results and Conclusions. Results and conclusions are similar to those found in the reference literature: most part of those dead by COVID-19 are of senior age and male gender. Regarding Case Fatality Rate (CFR), it notoriously increases with age. The most vulnerable population displays an average age of = 52.8 years. The less vulnerable population are young persons under 30 years of age, but specifically, those within the age range of 10 and 20 years. Gompertz and Logistic models can mathematically simulate the evolution of deaths and the evolution of CFR according to age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This article shows an analysis of the evolution up until date (May 4-2021), of official coronavirus cases statistics (CC) and the total number of deaths (TND) due to SARS-CoV-2 in Colombia. Additionally, said information is shown in correlation to other variables such as Case Fatality Rate (CFR), age range of persons, their typical reported co-morbidities and the cities where there has been highest concentration of cases. Materials and Methods: From March 16 2020 until today, information regarding the daily number of new confirmed cases (DNC) and daily confirmed deaths (DD) was registered in a database with the purpose of estimating the evolution of CC, TND and CFR. The age of deceased was also registered, as well as their gender, prior co-morbidities and city of death. The evolution of TND with the time of other countries were compared to that of Colombia. A mathematical equation that represents the epidemiological curve of TND evolution of different countries across time was defined. Results: In Colombia, the average age of people who die due to COVID-19 is of 69.5±14.7 years (median and mode of 71 and 80 years, respectively), and the virus is less lethal amongst a population under the age of 40. The greater part of deaths have taken place in people with prior co-morbidities and of the male gender. Conclusion: Most of the persons that have deceased are those of senior age, mainly with prior co-morbidities, and predominantly of male gender. Epidemiological peaks of COVID-19 are consistent with the rainy and winter seasons, and with the traditional epidemiological peaks of flu or influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]