COVID-19-Social Science Research During a Pandemic

in this special issue, several thematic areas were highlighted including but not limited to:\r\n(a) Knowledge, attitude and practices to COVID-19 and its preventive measures— for example,\r\nPurnama et al. noted the continued practice of stay at home, physical distancing, and always\r\nusing face masks for the public to have a supportive attitude, and Albaqawi et al. revealed good\r\nperceptions of COVID-19 knowledge and its prevention among Saudi Arabia nursing students,\r\nand positive perceptions on the government’s effort in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.\r\n(b) Policy interventions to fight COVID-19 pandemic such\r\nas pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical strategies—\r\nfor example, Giudici and Raffinetti suggested Gini-\r\nLorenz concentration approach to monitor COVID-19\r\npolicy interventions and Goldman’s demonstrated\r\nVoluntary Cyclical Distancing as alternative approach to\r\nsocial distancing.\r\n(c) Impacts of COVID-19 and its preventive measures such as\r\nincreased alcohol consumption, mental illness, unintended\r\nbreast cancer, human rights violations, and stigma and\r\ndiscrimination, and diminishing quality of life— for example,\r\nSeptarini et al. reported moderate to very high psychological\r\ndistress and lack of happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic\r\namong MSM in Indonesia, Lunnay et al. depicted increasing\r\nin alcohol consumption among Australian women in the\r\nemerging affluent group who experienced increased feelings\r\nor fear and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and\r\nSantos et al.’s demonstrated collision of fundamental human\r\nrights and the right to health access as a result of the\r\npreventive measures.\r\n(d) Media and COVID-19 pandemic especially on the role of\r\nmedia on framing political consequences and responsibility—\r\nfor example, Jo et al.’s reported media’s framing on quarantine\r\nperformance in South Korea bringing a positive change in\r\npeople’s attitudes toward the government and Thomas et\r\nal.’s added media’s lack of blame of COVID-19 pandemic\r\nin Australia.\r\n(f) Others including Trust during and post-COVID-19\r\npandemic such as strategies to maintain public trust,