IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE HOTSPOT

COMMUNITIES OF CALBAYOG CITY

A Quantitative Research Study

Presented to

The Faculty of Senior High School Department

Calbayog City National High School

Calbayog City

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements

In Practical Research 2

RESEARCHER:

Hannia Charisse R. Cabral

Mr. Randy Durado

Research Adviser

CHAPTER 1
 The Problem and Its Setting

Introduction

The world today is facing one of the biggest problems that has happened to it. A

problem that made the world stop its motion and made humans vulnerable than ever. And it’s

the pandemic popularly termed as COVID-19. But first, what is a pandemic? According to

the World Health Organization (2020), it is “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very

wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people”.

The classical definition includes nothing about population immunity, virology or disease

severity. By this definition, pandemics can be said to occur annually in each of the temperate

southern and northern hemispheres, given that seasonal epidemics cross international

boundaries and affect a large number of people. However, seasonal epidemics are not

considered pandemics.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new strain

of coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in

Wuhan, China, in December 2019. And on 30 January 2020, the Philippine Department of

Health reported the first case of COVID-19 in the country with a 38-year-old female Chinese

national. On 7 March, the first local transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed. WHO is

working closely with the Department of Health in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak

(World Health Organization, 2020).

The Philippines, one of the high-risk countries from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak,

recorded the first death outside China. The government has announced lock-down of Metro

Manila, followed by the entire Luzon Island and is mulling over more localized lock-downs.

The Philippines government declared a health emergency on 09 March, following a spike in

new confirmed cases and local transmission. The move will release funds to local

governments and healthcare officials to handle any further surge in cases. The Philippines
government declared a state of calamity in the country for six months on 17 March (Duddu,

2020).

For the past six months since the first death occurred the virus has become a

household name that prevented Filipinos from living their lives and has been in quarantine for

the longest time. As of September 17, 2020 the total number of COVID-19 cases rose up to

272,394 with 60,344 being active cases (Hallare, 2020). The risk has really become inevitable

despite all the precautions and safety protocols the government has been imposing on its

citizens.

And the Philippines has emerged as a hotspot in the western Pacific as novel

coronavirus cases surpassed 232,000 on Friday. The health department of the country said in

a statement 3,714 new coronavirus cases were reported, bringing the national total to

232,072. At least 160,549 patients have recovered from the illness, with 29% of the total

cases are active infections in the country. Capital Metro Manila is the epicenter of the virus.

The COVID-19 fatalities climbed to 3,737 after 49 more deaths were reported. There are 113

operational laboratories that conduct coronavirus tests to determine the illness. Philippines

has conducted 2.7 million tests so far since the outbreak of the virus. The archipelago nation

reported its lowest cases in a month on Thursday with 1,987 infections (Khaliq, 2020).

With the current pandemic the world is facing, it seems that no one is safe. Everyone

has to keep their own backs safe from this virus. And to do this every community must then

ensure that proper health protocols be implemented. And this study is then conducted on the

grounds that this would provide a scope of how big the impact of COVID-19 is on the

different communities of Calbayog City, assess the different aspects of communities affected

by COVID-19 and potentially have an output that could help the city to better manage the

situation today and in the future.

 With the first case being reported in Calbayog City, the city has undergone different

levels of quarantine as well as lockdowns. This has certainly created a huge impact in the

communities around and within the city. With this in mind, the researcher is motivated to

conduct this particularly study to determine the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the

hotspots communities of Calbayog City.

Theoretical Framework

This study is based on some theories relevant to community development and impact

assessment. One of the most important theories is the “Sense of Community Theory” which

was first described by the community psychologist Sarason in 1974. This theory was meant
to capture the feeling people experience when they perceive themselves as having an

interdependent connection with a broader community outside themselves. More specifically,

the psychological sense of community is: “the feeling one is part of a larger dependable and

stable structure”. McMillan and Chavis defined a sense of community as a feeling that

members have of belonging; members feel that they matter to one another and the group.

There is a shared faith that members’ needs will be met through their commitment to being

together. Community psychologists measure a sense of community by assessing: 1)

membership, 2) influence, 3) integration and fulfillment of needs, and 4) shared emotional

connection. Membership involves clear boundaries regarding who is in and who is out of the

specific community. Influence refers to the ability one feels one has to impact the broader

community-level and individual-level norms that guide the practices of the community.

Integration and fulfillment of needs refer to feeling connected to a network that holds shared

values, that exchanges resources, and meets needs. Shared emotional connection refers to

participation in the celebrations of others, and participation in specified rituals or ceremonies

(Jimenez, 2019).

A community survives upon interrelationship. Different aspects of a community must

be connected in order for people to survive. In this way individuals can properly function.

And when a situation happens affecting this interrelationship, such as the COVID-19

pandemic, the aspects of community is then imbalanced. One of which is culture, that is one

of the assessment variables in the study making the cited theory related to the study.

Another theory of importance to this study is the “Social Climate Theory” develop by

Rudolf Moos (2003). Social climate theory helps to understand how people adapt to their

social environment and how contexts adapt to people. Social climate taps three main

dimensions of how people perceive: 1) how a setting organizes their perceptions of social

relationships, 2) how they are being supported in their personal development, and 3) how the
setting handles the maintenance of norms and supports change processes. From a

psychological measurement perspective, the social climate is very much related to indicators

of individual well-being. This measure has been useful for assessing setting dynamics within

schools and juvenile treatment programs (Jimenez, 2019).

Applying the theory to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the communities of

Calbayog City, the current social climate of the city is unorganized. As used in the study,

social and psychological are used as assessment variables which can be related to the cited

theory.

The “Liberation Psychology Theory”, is based on a more critical perspective that

acknowledges the role of power and the ongoing battle for resources. As part of the critique

of traditional psychology, Liberation Psychology was developed in Latin America during the

1970s as a theoretical framework to better understand oppressed and impoverished

communities. Core components of Liberation Psychology include praxis and

dialectics. Praxis can be thought of as a tool for acquiring knowledge and transforming

oppressive realities involving a conscious integration of theory and practice to make theory

more grounded in reality. Dialectics is a philosophy of praxis emphasizing that knowledge is

not created unless acquired through a method of mediated social discourse. In other words,

we develop knowledge about the world and simultaneously work to bring about change.

Dialogue needs to occur between power holders and the oppressed to raise the consciousness

of all to understand the meaning of oppressive actions. This raised awareness of conditions

challenges the status quo and may create a desire for those in power to be more humane.

Ultimately, the hope is for the encouragement of a rethinking of problems “with and from,

the oppressed; with a commitment to unveil and characterize conditions of oppression and

exploitation suffered by large sectors of the population (Jimenez, 2019).

 The cited theory is relevant to the present study in the sense that it stresses how

communities in times of crisis has a tendency to fight over resources which directly refers to

economic, which is one of the study variables used. Making the cited theory actually related

to the present study.

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1 presents the schematic paradigm of the study. As reflected in the diagram,

the study will adopt the input-process-output (IPO) model of research. These are represented

by three boxes.

The first box is the input of the study. It contains the profile of the respondents in

terms of age, sex, civil status, highest educational attainment and number of relevant trainings

attended.
 The second box is the process of the study. It is focused on the level of impact of the

COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspot communities of Calbayog City in terms of using social,

cultural, economic and psychological as criteria variables. It also contains the problems

encountered by the respondents on the community impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the

hotspot communities of Calbayog City.

The third box is the research output. Which is the proposed pandemic impact

preparedness plan for the communities of Calbayog City The arrows in the diagram indicate

the sequential flow and interrelatedness of the research variables used in the study.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspots

communities of Calbayog City.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 age;

1.2 sex;
 1.3 civil status;

1.4 highest educational attainment; and

1.5 number of relevant training attended?

2. What is the level of impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspot communities

of Calbayog City in terms of:

2.1 social;

2.2 cultural;

2.3 economic; and

2.4 psychological?

3. What are the problems encountered by the respondents on the community impact of

the COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspot communities of Calbayog City?

4. What pandemic impact preparedness plan can be proposed for the communities of

Calbayog City?

Null Hypothesis

The null hypothesis below is advanced to guide the researchers in the analysis of the

problem:

Ho1 There is significant difference on the perception of the respondents the level of

impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspot communities of Calbayog City in terms of

social, cultural, economic and psychological

Significance of the Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made its presence known all over the world.

Affecting everybody from all social classes and making industries to temporarily stop. And
communities from both developed and developing countries are sure witnesses to its impact.

And properly assessing this is what this study is made for. With that, the result of this study is

expected to benefit the following:

City Officials. The findings of this study will inform them as to how much impact

this pandemic has bought to Calbayog City and give them a sense of direction as to how

properly assess the situation in a more effective and efficient way. This will also motivate

them to be more proactive in their duties and responsibilities to the citizens of Calbayog City.

Citizens. This will provide them insights on how much impact this pandemic had on

Calbayog City and not just on individuals and families. This will also encourage them to be

more aware of the pandemic as well as its repercussions and be more prepared.

Researcher. This study can be used as reference by other research investigations

concerning the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as community assessment. To the researcher of

this study, the result of her work may inspire her to pursue a fruitful career in community

development.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study will focus on the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the hotspots

communities of Calbayog City. Specifically, it determines the profile of the respondents and

evaluates the level of impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in terms of social, cultural,

economic and psychological.

The respondents of the study will be composed of the Non-quarantine, Quarantine and

Home quarantine individuals. The study is, likewise, limited to the use of survey

questionnaires through Google forms as data gathering instruments. This will be conducted in

Calbayog City during the School Year 2020-2021.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined conceptually and operationally to help the readers

understand the study better:

COVID-19. Is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus

(World Health Organization, 2020). In this study, this refers to the pandemic whose impact

on the communities of Calbayog City is being assessed.

Cultural.  Is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people,

encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts (Zimmerman, 2017).

For the purpose of the study, this refers to the study variable describing the traditions and

beliefs of the people of Calbayog City which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic.  Is concerned with the efficient allocation of natural resources to

maximize the welfare of society (SOAS, 2020). As used in the study, these refer to the

assessment variable that refers to the financial aspect of the communities of Calbayog City

affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic. Is a disease outbreak that spreads across countries or continents (WebMD,

2010). Operationally, this refers to the center of interest or activity of bakeries to make their

products competitively better than others.

Psychological. Refers to mental or emotional rather than physical (Vocabulary.Com,

2020). In this study, these refer to the study variable describing the mental and emotional

impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the hotspot communities of Calbayog City.

Social. Is the manner in which people behave and influence the world around us

(UKRI, 2020). As used in the study, this refers to the study variable describing the relational

impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the hotspot communities of Calbayog City.

 CHAPTER 2

Related Literature and Studies

This chapter presents a review of articles and studies that are considered relevant to

the study on the innovation strategies of bakeries. These are taken from books, journals, the

Internet and unpublished thesis and are compiled to provide in-depth background about the

research problem.

Related Literature

The world seemed to freeze when the COVID-19 pandemic came into existence. And

communities both from rich and poor countries has felt its impact in one way or another.

Taylor (2020) has reported that, the coronavirus, which surfaced in a Chinese seafood and

poultry market late last year, has spread to at least 177 countries, killing more than 610,200

and sickening more than 14.7 million in a matter of months. And amid thousands of new
cases in China, a “public health emergency of international concern” was

officially declared by the W.H.O. China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that it would

continue to work with the W.H.O. and other countries to protect public health, and the

U.S. State Department warned travelers to avoid China.

The novel coronavirus outbreak, which began in Wuhan, China, in December, has

expanded to touch every corner of the globe. Millions of people around the world have been

sickened and hundreds of thousands of others have died. The World Health Organization has

declared the virus a global health emergency and rated COVID-19's global risk of spread and

impact as "very high," the most serious designation the organization gives (Schumaker,

2020).

The reports of Taylor and Schumaker highlighted the start and initial impact of the

COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. These gave the researcher a broader understanding

of the pandemic she is assessing the impact on her study locale.

According to United Nations (2020) the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has

been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is attacking

societies at their core. And the COVID-19 outbreak affects all segments of the population and

is particularly detrimental to members of those social groups in the most vulnerable

situations, continues to affect populations, including people living in poverty situations, older

persons, persons with disabilities, youth, and indigenous peoples. Early evidence indicates

that that the health and economic impacts of the virus are being borne disproportionately by

poor people. For example, homeless people, because they may be unable to safely shelter in

place, are highly exposed to the danger of the virus.  People without access to running water,

refugees, migrants, or displaced persons also stand to suffer disproportionately both from the

pandemic and its aftermath – whether due to limited movement, fewer employment
opportunities, increased xenophobia etc. If not properly addressed through policy the social

crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic may also increase inequality, exclusion,

discrimination and global unemployment in the medium and long term. Comprehensive,

universal social protection systems, when in place, play a much durable role in protecting

workers and in reducing the prevalence of poverty, since they act as automatic stabilizers.

That is, they provide basic income security at all times, thereby enhancing people’s capacity

to manage and overcome shocks.

Only if we end the pandemic everywhere can we end the pandemic anywhere. The

entire world has the same goal: cases of COVID-19 need to go to zero. Responding

successfully means two things: limiting the direct and the indirect impact of the pandemic.

Countries that have responded most successfully were able to avoid choosing between the

two: they avoided the trade-off between a high mortality and a high socio-economic impact

of the pandemic. New Zealand has been able to bring infections down and open up their

country internally. Other island nations were also able to almost entirely prevent an outbreak

(like Taiwan, Australia, and Iceland). But not only islands were able to bend the curve of

infections and prevent large outbreaks – Norway, Uruguay, Switzerland, South Korea, and

Germany are examples. These countries suffered a smaller direct impact, but they also

limited the indirect impacts because they were able to release lockdown measures earlier

(Ritchie, 2020).

With the statements of United Nations and Ritchie describing how different countries

are assessing the pandemic situations individually, these deepened the researchers

understanding on the extent of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on societies, economies and vulnerable

groups is fundamental to inform and tailor the responses of governments and partners to
recover from the crisis and ensure that no one is left behind in this effort. Without urgent

socio-economic responses, global suffering will escalate, jeopardizing lives and livelihoods

for years to come. Immediate development responses in this crisis must be undertaken with

an eye to the future. Development trajectories in the long-term will be affected by the choices

countries make now and the support they receive.” The United Nations has mobilized the full

capacity of the UN system through its 131 country teams serving 162 countries and

territories, to support national authorities in developing public health preparedness and

response plans to the COVID-19 crisis. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the socio-economic

response will be one of one of three critical components of the UN’s COVID-19 response,

alongside the health response, led by WHO, and the Global Humanitarian Response Plan

(United Nations Development Program, 2020).

The World Bank (2020) specifically mentioned that even as Tajikistan suffers a

severe COVID-19 outbreak, the country faces a looming blow from the worst global

economic outlook in generations. Data through the month of May from the Listening to

Tajikistan survey reveal severe disruptions in the labor market, and sharply falling

remittances. More than 41 percent of households reported reducing their consumption of food

(up nearly 17 percentage points over 2019). Among those households seeking any medical

care in May, 17.5 percent report being unable to obtain it. Less than 2 percent of households

report receiving any financial or in-kind support from the government since the outbreak.

Only about 33 percent of households report that their children engaged in educational

activities following mandatory school closures. Work stoppages and unemployment spiked in

May, accompanied by a 70 percent decline in open job listings in comparison to January

2020, and official statistics report accelerating food price inflation.

Furthermore, Nicola (2020) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in

over 4.3 million confirmed cases and over 290,000 deaths globally. It has also sparked fears
of an impending economic crisis and recession. Social distancing, self-isolation and travel

restrictions have lead to a reduced workforce across all economic sectors and caused many

jobs to be lost. Schools have closed down, and the need for commodities and manufactured

products has decreased. In contrast, the need for medical supplies has significantly increased.

The food sector is also facing increased demand due to panic-buying and stockpiling of food

products.

The opinions of the United Nations Development Program, World Bank and Nicola

were focused on the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the

study variables used by the researcher, with these she furthered her understanding of these

variables for her own study.

Empty UNESCO World Heritage sites, cultural events cancelled, cultural institutions

closed, community cultural practices suspended, heightened risk of looting of cultural sites

and poaching at natural sites, artists unable to make ends meet and the cultural tourism sector

greatly affected. The impact of the COVID-19 on the cultural sector is being felt around the

world. This impact is social, economic and political – it affects the fundamental right of

access to culture, the social rights of artists and creative professionals, and the protection of a

diversity of cultural expressions. The unfolding crisis risks deepening inequalities and

rendering communities vulnerable. For the time being, the global health crisis is not being

experienced in the same way across the world. Some countries – particularly in East Asia and

Europe – have been in lockdown for months, while others – particularly in Africa, Latin

America and the Arab States – are just beginning to feel the impact. With public policy

initially rightly focusing on the immediate health implications, the full consequences of the

COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector are just becoming apparent, with the overall

impact still unknown (UNESCO, 2020).

 With confirmed cases of COVID-19 now numbering well above 130,000,

precautionary measures aimed at slowing the pandemic’s spread are becoming more

widespread. Crowds, clamor and even close conversation can elevate one’s chance of

becoming infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which spreads via the droplets produced by

coughs and sneezes. As a result, public gatherings, tourist attractions and cultural institutions

are among the riskiest places to be as the infection spreads. In response to the growing threat,

museums and theaters across the globe have shuttered their doors, while event planners have

canceled festivals and fairs, all in hopes of keeping potential patrons safe. Though some

institutions have come up with creative ways of keeping visitors engaged—including

trialing virtual versions of shows and exhibitions—many worry about the outbreak’s lasting

fallout. These closures, cancellations and delays come out of an abundance of caution, and

the safeguarding of the public remains the world’s top priority. But already, the evidence is

mounting: Long after the outbreak has waned, the cultural world will still be reeling from its

impact (Wu, 2020).

Additionally, Dutton (2020) briefly explained that As COVID-19 spreads across the

world, cross-cultural comparisons are at the forefront of people's minds. Might it be that the

spread of the virus and coping with its impact is affected not only by the population

demographics, health status, healthcare characteristics and the like, but also by cultural

factors, such as models of physical privacy, optimism, altruism, or the structure of social

networks? Cultural psychology is well-equipped to address such questions and has much to

contribute to emerging research on COVID-19. Cultural systems have evolved in part in

response to socioecological threats, such as pathogens. Cultural contexts with high historical

exposure to pathogens have developed shared strategies for limiting contact with outgroup

members, creating stable relational ties, shaping models of cooperation, and increasing

adherence to group norms. As people around the world respond to the ongoing threat from
COVID-19, cultural models of pathogen response continue to have relevance for people's

ability to appraise the threat, coordinate and regulate behavioral responses, communicate

about the threat, process a myriad of changes in their lives, and organize joint action.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated threats and stressors that are shared by a very large

number of people living in different cultural contexts across different scales of analysis (e.g.,

both between societies and within-society). Although this threat unites humankind, it also

highlights inequalities and foregrounds some culturally-shaped ways to respond while

deemphasizing and devaluing others. While it highlights our common identity as vulnerable

humans, it also fans the flame of negative cultural representations of minority groups and

generates cultural conflict.

The articles of UNESCO, Wu and Dutton gave highlights on the cultural and

psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These improved the researchers existing

knowledge on the two study variables used in her own study.

The cited literature in this chapter provided the researcher basic insights about the

COVID-19 pandemic and the variables used in the study. These had given her the proper

direction to conduct of her own study.

Related Studies

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic recently emerged, there has already been a

number of studies has been conducted about it. One particular study is by Chinazzi et. al.

(2020) where they applied a global metapopulation disease transmission model to

epidemiological data from China. They concluded that the travel quarantine introduced in

Wuhan on 23 January 2020 only delayed epidemic progression by 3 to 5 days within China,

but international travel restrictions did help to slow spread elsewhere in the world until mid-

February. Their results suggest that early detection, hand washing, self-isolation, and

household quarantine will likely be more effective than travel restrictions at mitigating this

pandemic.

The research work of Chinazzi et.al. is closely related with the present study as they

have both gave importance to the COVID-19 pandemic. The differed in the purpose as well

as the location of their respective studies.

Kraemer et.al. (2020) conducted a study to find out what sort of measures are required

to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),

which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19. In which rich data from the Open

COVID-19 Data Working Group include the dates when people first reported symptoms, not

just a positive test date. Using these data and real-time travel data from the internet services

company Baidu, Kraemer et al. found that mobility statistics offered a precise record of the

spread of SARS-CoV-2 among the cities of China at the start of 2020. The frequency of

introductions from Wuhan were predictive of the size of the epidemic sparked in other

provinces. However, once the virus had escaped Wuhan, strict local control measures such as
social isolation and hygiene, rather than long-distance travel restrictions, played the largest

part in controlling SARS-CoV-2 spread.

The cited research work of Kraemer et.al. bears semblance to the present study for the

emphasis they both placed on the COVID-19 pandemic. The former although focused on

finding out what sort of measures are required to contain the spread of severe acute

respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) while the latter is on determining the

impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the communities of Calbayog City.

Gatto et.al. (2020) conducted a study where they examine the effects of drastic

measures for transmission containment for the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-

19) in Italy, based on modeling of the unfolding epidemic. They test modeling options of the

spatially explicit type, suggested by the wave of infections spreading from the initial foci to

the rest of Italy. They estimate parameters of a metacommunity Susceptible–Exposed–

Infected–Recovered (SEIR)-like transmission model that includes a network of 107 provinces

connected by mobility at high resolution, and the critical contribution of presymptomatic and

asymptomatic transmission. They estimate a generalized reproduction number (R0R0 = 3.60

[3.49 to 3.84]), the spectral radius of a suitable next-generation matrix that measures the

potential spread in the absence of containment interventions. The model includes the

implementation of progressive restrictions after the first case confirmed in Italy (February 21,

2020) and runs until March 25, 2020. They account for uncertainty in epidemiological

reporting, and time dependence of human mobility matrices and awareness-dependent

exposure probabilities. They draw scenarios of different containment measures and their

impact. Results suggest that the sequence of restrictions posed to mobility and human-to-

human interactions have reduced transmission by 45% (42 to 49%). Averted hospitalizations

are measured by running scenarios obtained by selectively relaxing the imposed restrictions

and total about 200,000 individuals (as of March 25, 2020). Although a number of
assumptions need to be reexamined, like age structure in social mixing patterns and in the

distribution of mobility, hospitalization, and fatality, we conclude that verifiable evidence

exists to support the planning of emergency measures.

The cited study of Gatto et. al. is has a close relationship with the present study as

they both dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. The cited study however is focused on the

effects of drastic measures for transmission containment for the spread of coronavirus disease

2019 (COVID-19) in Italy while the present study is focused on determining the impact of

the COVID-19 Pandemic in the communities of Calbayog City. Dwivedi (2020) studied a

collective insight to many of the key issues and underlying complexities affecting

organisations and society from COVID-19, through an information systems and technological

perspective. The views of 12 invited subject experts are collated and analysed where each

articulate their individual perspectives relating to: online learning, digital strategy, artificial

intelligence, information management, social interaction, cyber security, big data, blockchain,

privacy, mobile technology and strategy through the lens of the current crisis and impact on

these specific areas. The expert perspectives offer timely insight to the range of topics,

identifying key issues and recommendations for theory and practice.

The cited study has a close connection with the present study for they both focused on

the COVID-19 pandemic. However they differed in their methodology used and the

objectives of their respective studies.

McKibbin and Fernando (2020) conducted a study where they explored seven

different scenarios of how COVID-19 might evolve in the coming year using a modelling

technique developed by Lee and McKibbin (2003) and extended by McKibbin and Sidorenko

(2006). It examines the impacts of different scenarios on macroeconomic outcomes and

financial markets in a global hybrid DSGE/CGE general equilibrium model. The scenarios in
this paper demonstrate that even a contained outbreak could significantly impact the global

economy in the short run. These scenarios demonstrate the scale of costs that might be

avoided by greater investment in public health systems in all economies but particularly in

less developed economies where health care systems are less developed and population

density is high.

The study of McKibbin and Fernando is similarly close with the present study as they

both have the subject of the COVID-19 pandemic and the usage of economic as a research

variable. The however differed as to how they use their study variable in their own respective

studies as well as the objectives of their studies.

Bonaccorsi et.al. (2020) conducted an investigation where they performed a massive

analysis on near–real-time Italian mobility data provided by Facebook to investigate how

lockdown strategies affect economic conditions of individuals and local governments. They

model the change in mobility as an exogenous shock similar to a natural disaster. They

identify two ways through which mobility restrictions affect Italian citizens. First, they find

that the impact of lockdown is stronger in municipalities with higher fiscal capacity. Second,

they find evidence of a segregation effect, since mobility contraction is stronger in

municipalities in which inequality is higher and for those where individuals have lower

income per capita. Their results highlight both the social costs of lockdown and a challenge

of unprecedented intensity: On the one hand, the crisis is inducing a sharp reduction of fiscal

revenues for both national and local governments; on the other hand, a significant fiscal effort

is needed to sustain the most fragile individuals and to mitigate the increase in poverty and

inequality induced by the lockdown.

The aforementioned study is closely related with the present study for the fact they

gave focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and use economic and social as their study
variables. They somehow differed in how they use the study variable in their respective

studies as well as the objective of conducting the study.

Rahman (2020) investigated a data-driven dynamic clustering framework for

moderating the adverse economic impact of COVID-19 flare-up. Through an intelligent

fusion of healthcare and simulated mobility data, we model lockdown as a clustering problem

and design a dynamic clustering algorithm for localized lockdown by taking into account the

pandemic, economic and mobility aspects. We then validate the proposed algorithms by

conducting extensive simulations using the Malaysian context as a case study. The findings

signify the promises of dynamic clustering for lockdown coverage reduction, reduced

economic loss, and military unit deployment reduction, as well as assess potential impact of

uncooperative civilians on the contamination rate. The outcome of this work is anticipated to

pave a way for significantly reducing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19

spreading. Moreover, the idea can be exploited for potentially the next waves of corona virus-

related diseases and other upcoming viral life-threatening calamities.

The cited study bears a close connection with the present study for the both assessed

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and using economic as a study variable. The two

studies however in the scope of their study and the intended outcome of their respective

studies.

Fernandes (2020) investigated the economic impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19

crisis across industries, and countries. It also provides estimates of the potential global

economic costs of COVID-19, and the GDP growth of different countries. The current draft

includes estimates for 30 countries, under different scenarios. The report shows the economic

effects of outbreak are currently being underestimated, due to over-reliance on historical

comparisons with SARS, or the 2008/2009 financial crisis. At the date of this report, the
duration of the lockdown, as well as how the recovery will take place is still unknown. That

is why several scenarios are used. In a mild scenario, GDP growth would take a hit, ranging

from 3-6% depending on the country. As a result, in the sample of 30 countries covered, we

would see a median decline in GDP in 2020 of -2.8%. In other scenarios, GDP can fall more

than 10%, and in some countries, more than 15%. Service-oriented economies will be

particularly negatively affected, and have more jobs at risk. Countries like Greece, Portugal,

and Spain that are more reliant on tourism (more than 15% of GDP) will be more affected by

this crisis. This current crisis is generating spillover effects throughout supply chains.

Therefore, countries highly dependent on foreign trade are more negatively affected. The

results suggest that on average, each additional month of crisis costs 2.5-3% of global GDP.

The study of Fernandes is closely related with the present study as they focused on the

economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study utilized economic as one of

its study variables to determine the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the communities of

Calbayog City. They also differed in their study locale and their methodology used.

Guan et.al. (2020) conducted a study to develop a comprehensive and systematic

understanding of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' career development and

possible coping strategies, they adopt a cultural psychological perspective to analyze: (1) how

internalized cultural orientations (e.g., values, thinking styles, regulatory focus) may shape

individual responses and coping strategies to COVID-19 pandemic; (2) how national culture

influences the collective actions and norms during COVID-19 pandemic; (3) how to integrate

insights from cultural psychology to enrich research on career management strategies in

response to a fast changing environment. While this paper primarily focuses on the role of

national culture (i.e., the shared meanings and practices in a nation), these discussions can

largely be applied to other cultural settings.

 The cited study of Guan et.al. bears semblance with the present study as they focused

on the impact of the COVID-19 and both using cultural and psychological as study variables

in their own study. However, the aforementioned study is on a comprehensive and systematic

understanding of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic through a cultural psychological

perspective while the present study determines the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the

communities of Calbayog City with cultural and psychological as its study variables.

Cao et.al. (2020) conducted a study where they sampled college students from

Changzhi medical college by using cluster sampling. They responded to a questionnaire

packet that included the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and those

inquiring the participants’ basic information. We received 7,143 responses. Results indicated

that 0.9% of the respondents were experiencing severe anxiety, 2.7% moderate anxiety, and

21.3% mild anxiety. Moreover, living in urban areas (OR = 0.810, 95% CI = 0.709 - 0.925),

family income stability (OR = 0.726, 95% CI = 0.645 - 0.817) and living with parents

(OR = 0.752, 95% CI = 0.596 - 0.950) were protective factors against anxiety. Moreover,

having relatives or acquaintances infected with COVID-19 was a risk factor for increasing

the anxiety of college students (OR = 3.007, 95% CI = 2.377 - 3.804).

Results of correlation analysis indicated that economic effects, and effects on daily life, as

well as delays in academic activities, were positively associated with anxiety symptoms

(P < .001). However, social support was negatively correlated with the level of anxiety

(P < .001). It is suggested that the mental health of college students should be monitored

during epidemics.

The cited study is closely related with the present study for they both dealt with

COVID-19 as a main subject and used psychological as a study variable in both of their own

respective studies. They differed however in their respondents as well as the locale.
 The studies included in this chapter provided the researcher inputs about the COVID-

19 pandemic as well as the assessment variables of the study. These helped her in the

conceptualization of their own study.