Resumo: Esta revisão sistemática utiliza a metodologia PRISMA para abordar as estratégias educativas implementadas durante a pandemia da COVID-19, desde 2020 até ao primeiro semestre de 2023. O principal objetivo é analisar as estratégias educativas que surgiram em resposta à pandemia, considerando aspectos como impactos, obstáculos e oportunidades. No total, foram analisados 67 artigos científicos obtidos nas bases de dados Scopus e ERIC. Os resultados da revisão revelaram três categorias principais de análise. A primeira gira em torno de estratégias educativas de emergência, a segunda aborda barreiras e lacunas no aprendizado e a terceira desenvolve a questão da perda de aprendizagem causada pelo fechamento de escolas. A revisão reconhece o trabalho docente e os ganhos obtidos com as adaptações feitas durante a pandemia. No entanto, também foi encontrada uma relação negativa na saúde mental de docentes, famílias e alunos devido ao isolamento, assim como o agravamento das desigualdades. Além disso, foi evidenciada a falta de preparo da sociedade para enfrentar crises educacionais. Destaca-se a necessidade de pesquisas futuras voltadas para a compreensão da relação entre as estratégias implementadas, a perda de aprendizagem e os resultados acadêmicos

Resumen: Esta revisión sistemática emplea la metodología PRISMA para abordar las estrategias educativas implementadas durante la pandemia de COVID-19 desde 2020 hasta el primer semestre de 2023. El objetivo principal es analizar las estrategias educativas que surgen como respuesta a la pandemia, considerando aspectos como impactos, obstáculos y oportunidades. En total se analizaron 67 artículos científicos obtenidos de las bases de datos Scopus y ERIC. Los resultados de la revisión revelaron tres categorías principales de análisis. La primera gira en torno a las estrategias educativas de emergencia, la segunda aborda las barreras y brechas de aprendizaje, y la tercera desarrolla la pérdida de aprendizaje causada por el cierre de las escuelas. La revisión reconoce la labor docente y los logros obtenidos gracias a las adaptaciones realizadas durante la pandemia. Sin embargo, también se encontró una relación negativa en la salud mental de docentes, familias y estudiantes debido a los encierros, así como la profundización de desigualdades. Además, se evidenció la falta de preparación de la sociedad para afrontar crisis educativas. Se subraya la necesidad de investigaciones futuras enfocadas en comprender la relación entre las estrategias implementadas, la pérdida de aprendizaje y los resultados académicos

Abstract: This systematic review uses the PRISMA methodology to examine educational strategies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to the first half of 2023. The primary objective is to analyze the strategies developed in response to the pandemic, focusing on their impacts, challenges, and opportunities. A total of 67 scientific articles from the Scopus and ERIC databases were reviewed. The findings reveal three main categories of analysis: the first focuses on emergency educational strategies, the second addresses learning barriers and gaps, and the third examines learning loss caused by school closures. This review acknowledges the efforts and achievements of educators who adapted during the pandemic, while also identifying negative effects on the mental health of teachers, families, and students due to lockdowns, as well as the deepening of educational inequalities. The review also highlights society’s lack of preparedness for managing educational crises. Future research is recommended to explore the relationship between implemented strategies, learning loss, and academic outcomes

The high level of inequality in South Africa has widened the gap between rural and urban schools, and the performance of rural schools has been continuously declining compared to urban schools. Poor performance in rural schools is perpetuated by parents being absent from their children's education because the socio-economic conditions and their educational background do not allow them to commit their time and energy towards education. Learners are left on their own to decide their future. The disparity between rural and urban schooling was further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools were closed during lockdown, teaching and learning was suspended in rural schools, however, in urban schools teaching and learning continued through online platforms. The lockdowns gave parents an opportunity to teach, advocate, and create conducive spaces to help their children focus on learning. During lockdowns, parents were expected to act as teachers in their homes to educate their children, and therefore, school closure presented opportunities for parents to actively participate in their children's education. However, their socio-economic conditions and poor educational backgrounds continue to threaten effective parental engagement, posing a threat to the academic success of rural learners. Despite attempts by the government to introduce school governing bodies in schools as a structure to integrate schools and parents, the problem of little parental engagement remains unresolved. The purpose with this study was to empower parents in rural areas to effectively participate in their children's education.

Abstract During the pandemic, there were a lot of lockdowns that brought changes to the population’s daily routine, reducing social interactions, changing work and study methods, isolating the family at their home, which brought changes to family dynamics. These changes sparked the interest of nursing students in carrying out a research study. Starting from the question: What is the role of the dog in the family dynamics in times of pandemic? and the objective: identify the guardians’ perceptions about the role of the dog in the family dynamics in a period of confinement, a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was carried out, collecting data through a focus group with six guardians from different families. Bardin’s protocol was used to analyze and process the data. Three categories emerged in this study, highlighting the benefits in terms of mental health, physical and psychological well-being of the family with the presence of the dog, its importance in strengthening family ties and the lessons learned from adopting the dogs. We conclude that, in nursing, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the dog in the family since it brings benefits to its dynamics. pandemic populations population s routine interactions methods home question objective confinement qualitative exploratory families Bardins Bardin health wellbeing well being dogs

Resumo Com o confinamento imposto pelo SARS-CoV-2, houve mudanças na dinâmica familiar. Para os estudantes de enfermagem este foi um assunto que gerou interesse em investigar. Partindo da questão: Qual o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar em tempo de pandemia? e do objetivo: identificar as perceções dos tutores sobre o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar num período de confinamento, enveredámos por um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, com recurso a focus group e amostra de seis membros de famílias diferentes. O tratamento e análise de dados seguiu o protocolo de Bardin. Identificámos que a existência de cão numa família influencia a sua dinâmica através dos benefícios obtidos quer a nível da saúde mental e bem-estar psicológico, quer a nível da saúde física. Igualmente, destacaram-se vantagens, apesar de algumas desvantagens. O vínculo afetivo entre cão e família, advém da reflexão sobre legislação portuguesa, proteção dos direitos dos animais, responsabilidades dos tutores e configuração familiar. Concluímos que na enfermagem, é necessário relevar a presença do cão na família uma vez que traz benefícios para a sua dinâmica. Esta torna-se uma visão inovadora quando pretendemos contribuir para a manutenção da saúde familiar focada nas necessidades de cada indivíduo, família e comunidade. SARSCoV2, SARSCoV2 SARSCoV SARS CoV 2, 2 SARS-CoV-2 investigar questão pandemia objetivo qualitativo descritivo diferentes Bardin bemestar bem estar psicológico física Igualmente destacaramse destacaram se vantagens desvantagens portuguesa animais tornase torna indivíduo comunidade SARS-CoV- SARS-CoV

RESUMEN Introducción: La pandemia del COVID-19 alteró la vida de la población infantil. Según UNICEF, 1 de cada 7 niños se ha visto directamente afectado por los confinamientos en todo el mundo. Objetivo: Describir las características de la consulta y los diagnósticos de los pacientes que acudieron al departamento de salud mental del Hospital General Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu, durante la pandemia COVID-19. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron a los pacientes que acudieron al Departamento de Salud Mental del Hospital General Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu con diagnósticos psicopatológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19 en el periodo de marzo 2020 a marzo 2021. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, procedencia, áreas de reclutamiento, tipo de consulta, modalidad de consulta, motivo de evaluación en salud mental, diagnóstico, tratamiento, hospitalización. Los datos se analizaron en IBM SPSS v.21 (demo) utilizando estadística descriptiva. El protocolo fue aprobado por el comité de ética. Resultados: Fueron incluidos 130 participantes, la mediana de edad fue de 13.5 años. El 81.5% procedían del Departamento Central y el 53.8% eran de sexo femenino. El 87.7% eran pacientes en seguimiento y el 69.2% realizaron la consulta de manera presencial. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron, la depresión en un 51.5% y la negligencia o abandono en 27.7%. Se observó asociación de diagnósticos en 58.1%. El 70.8% requirió tratamiento y 10.8% requirió internación. Conclusión: Consultaron con mayor frecuencia adolescentes de sexo femenino. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue la depresión, acompañados de antecedentes de abuso sexual y/o de negligencia o abandono.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic altered the lives of the children's population. According to UNICEF, 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns around the world. Objective: Describe the characteristics of the consultation and the diagnoses of the patients who attended the Mental Health Department of the Children General Pediatric Hospital “Acosta Ñu”, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study that included those patients who attended the Mental Health Department of the Children Pediatric Hospital “Acosta Ñu” with psychopathological diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in the period from March 2020 to March 2021. The variables were: age, sex, origin, recruitment areas, type of consultation, mode of consultation, reason for mental health evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization. Data were analyzed in IBM SPSS v.21 (demo) using descriptive statistics. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee. Results: 130 participants were included with a median age of 13.5 years. 81.5% came from the Central Department and 53.8% were female. 87.7% were patients in follow-up and 69.2% had the consultation in person. The most frequent diagnoses were depression in 51.5% and neglect or abandonment in 27.7%. Association of diagnoses was observed in 58.1%. 70.8% required treatment and 10.8% required hospitalization. Conclusion: Female adolescents consulted more frequently. The most frequent diagnosis was depression, accompanied by a history of sexual abuse or neglect or abandonment.

Aim This present study aims to compare the data from the Brazilian Unified Health System on the number of clinical consultations of Oral Medicine from the first 6 months (March-August 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil with the last 6 months (September-February 2020/2021) to update the data, verify the measures’ effectiveness to return clinical activities in the following months. Methods perform a literature review of recent articles that report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Oral Medicine. Results There was an increase in the number of Oral Medicine clinical consultations in the second half of the pandemic throughout Brazil (+64.2%), representing over 9,235 appointments in this period. Conclusion measures for the return of health assistance and the practice of Telemedicine proved to be effective after the second period of the pandemic. Even so, strengthening security measures against the coronavirus is essential to ward off a new wave since the Omicron variant emerged in the country and, consequently, possible new lockdowns that might affect healthcare in Brazil. MarchAugust March August 2020 COVID19 COVID 19 COVID-1 SeptemberFebruary September February 2020/2021 20202021 2021 +64.2%, 642 +64.2% , 64 2 (+64.2%) 9235 9 235 9,23 so consequently 202 COVID1 1 COVID- 2020/202 2020202 +64.2 (+64.2% 923 23 9,2 20 2020/20 202020 +64. (+64.2 92 9, 2020/2 20202 +64 (+64. 2020/ +6 (+64 + (+6 (+ (

Abstract Objectives The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures adopted worldwide raised questions about the possible health effects of human social isolation. Methods We conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase electronic databases using terms related to human social isolation – defined as the isolation of an individual from regular routines and usual social contact – and psychological stress, searching for simulated or naturalistic isolation environments. We present the main results, as well as the validity and limitations of each model. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021241880. Results Despite the diversity of contexts reviewed, some outcomes almost ubiquitously relate to psychological stress, i.e., longer periods, expectation of a longer period, confinement, lack of social interaction, and support. Based on the results, and considering that most studies were not designed for the purpose of understanding isolation itself, we propose a group of recommendations for future experimental or naturalistic research on the topic. Conclusion Evidence on the impact of different situations in which individuals are subjected to social isolation can assist in development of directed preventive strategies to support people under similar circumstances. Such strategies might increase the general public’s compliance with social distancing as a non-pharmacological intervention for emerging infectious diseases. 201 COVID19 COVID 19 (COVID-19 PubMed Scopus stress environments results model number CRD42021241880 CRD reviewed ie i e i.e. periods period confinement interaction itself topic circumstances publics public s nonpharmacological non pharmacological diseases 20 COVID1 1 (COVID-1 CRD4202124188 i.e 2 (COVID- CRD420212418 (COVID CRD42021241 CRD4202124 CRD420212 CRD42021 CRD4202 CRD420 CRD42 CRD4

The key to avoiding the next pandemic catastrophe is to be prepared. This research represents an attempt to understand the potential effects of lockdowns on completing Masters and PhD dissertations that focus on smallholder farmer's primary data, taking the example of COVID-19. A sample of four South African universities (Fort Hare, Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal, and Western Cape), which mainly research smallholder farmers using primary data, addresses the study objective. Dissertations completed in 2014-2019 (pre-pandemic) were retrieved from the respective universities' repositories. An abstract appraisal was done to identify dissertations that focused on smallholders and used smallholder primary data. Hence, a smallholder dissertation index (SDI) was computed to measure the susceptibility of each university to lockdown interruptions. The results indicated that the master's and PhD research in the selected universities rely heavily on smallholder primary data (shown by >0.50 SDI), with varying proportions between the universities. Dissertations that used smallholder primary data obtained the data using face-to-face field interviews. This implies that in these institutions, the lockdowns could have negatively affected the writing of master's and PhD dissertations. Consequently, the study concluded that adopting online survey methods might help minimise the impact of lockdowns.

This article attempts to establish a synergy between two strands of literature. On the one hand, the findings focused on the elderly, who had already been suffering from mild illnesses and comorbidities, and the poor and rural dwellers, who then represented the population groups most likely to be killed by the virus, as the population groups most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the findings on smallholder farming households, as a population group, share the same attributes as the elderly group. The research data was gathered through an integrative literature review using secondary sources from Statistics South Africa and the Department of Health. Our findings suggest that the smallholder farmers who are elderly with a greater reliance on agriculture and the wage labourers were most vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19. Although our findings suggest a likely impact on all the pentagon capitals of smallholders identified through the SLF lens, the odds are higher in the social, human, and financial capitals. Therefore, in future outbreaks, the available support should prioritise the smallholder farmers largely defined by these capitals.

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led countries’ governments to rapidly establish lockdowns and social distancing, which altered family routines and the quality of family relationships worldwide. Objectives This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to identify the impacts of the social distancing and lockdown in parenting practices of caregivers from Brazil, Mexico, and the USA, and to analyze the continuity of parenting intervention support for children and their families at the beginning of the pandemic in these countries. Methods The sample consisted of 704 caregivers of children (286 from Brazil, 225 from Mexico, and 193 from the USA) who answered an online survey about parenting practices before/after quarantine, caregiver/child routines, feelings related to quarantine, changes in everyday life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact with health professionals, and sources of parenting information. Results Data indicate that caregivers from the three countries experienced similar parenting practices during this time, and did not report significant changes before and after the lockdown. They sought information about parenting predominantly via social media. Those receiving previous mental health care perceived the transition from in-person to telehealth services during the pandemic as feasible and acceptable. Conclusion This study will be helpful for clinicians and parents to contextualize their practices amid long-standing effects that the COVID-19 pandemic can have on children and their families during and post-pandemic from multiple cultural backgrounds. COVID19 COVID 19 COVID-1 worldwide crosssectional cross sectional Brazil Mexico USA 70 286 (28 22 beforeafter quarantine caregiverchild caregiver child professionals time media inperson person acceptable longstanding long standing postpandemic post backgrounds COVID1 1 COVID- 7 28 (2 2 (

ORIENTATION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have significantly impacted the work environment, increasing remote and hybrid work practices. This shift has posed challenges for managers and employees as they adapt to new working methods, impacting employee performance management in hybrid settings. RESEARCH PURPOSE: The study explored how managers have adapted their performance management methods in remote and hybrid work environments. It also sought to understand remote employees' experiences with performance management practices. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY: There is limited research on evaluating employee performance in hybrid work environments. This research identified this gap and explored how managers can best support employees' performance while working remotely. RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD: The study used an interpretivist and qualitative approaches. A purposive sampling technique selected 18 participants, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews following a phenomenology research strategy. MAIN FINDINGS: Key themes included continuous performance communication, team deliverable meetings, the importance of face-to-face engagements, clarity on performance expectations, trust, and well-being. Managers and employees used one-on-one and team sessions to track deliverables, discuss work challenges, and communicate performance expectations. Clearly defined performance expectations are crucial in hybrid and remote settings. PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: The study highlighted the effects of hybrid work on interpersonal relationships and emphasised the need for managers to adapt performance management practices to ensure consistent standards for all employees, regardless of location. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD: The findings can inform the development of performance management guidelines tailored to remote and hybrid work, helping managers enhance their effectiveness and create positive employee experiences.

Resumo Com o confinamento imposto pelo SARS-CoV-2, houve mudanças na dinâmica familiar. Para os estudantes de enfermagem este foi um assunto que gerou interesse em investigar. Partindo da questão: Qual o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar em tempo de pandemia? e do objetivo: identificar as perceções dos tutores sobre o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar num período de confinamento, enveredámos por um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, com recurso a focus group e amostra de seis membros de famílias diferentes. O tratamento e análise de dados seguiu o protocolo de Bardin. Identificámos que a existência de cão numa família influencia a sua dinâmica através dos benefícios obtidos quer a nível da saúde mental e bem-estar psicológico, quer a nível da saúde física. Igualmente, destacaram-se vantagens, apesar de algumas desvantagens. O vínculo afetivo entre cão e família, advém da reflexão sobre legislação portuguesa, proteção dos direitos dos animais, responsabilidades dos tutores e configuração familiar. Concluímos que na enfermagem, é necessário relevar a presença do cão na família uma vez que traz benefícios para a sua dinâmica. Esta torna-se uma visão inovadora quando pretendemos contribuir para a manutenção da saúde familiar focada nas necessidades de cada indivíduo, família e comunidade.

Abstract During the pandemic, there were a lot of lockdowns that brought changes to the population’s daily routine, reducing social interactions, changing work and study methods, isolating the family at their home, which brought changes to family dynamics. These changes sparked the interest of nursing students in carrying out a research study. Starting from the question: What is the role of the dog in the family dynamics in times of pandemic? and the objective: identify the guardians’ perceptions about the role of the dog in the family dynamics in a period of confinement, a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was carried out, collecting data through a focus group with six guardians from different families. Bardin’s protocol was used to analyze and process the data. Three categories emerged in this study, highlighting the benefits in terms of mental health, physical and psychological well-being of the family with the presence of the dog, its importance in strengthening family ties and the lessons learned from adopting the dogs. We conclude that, in nursing, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the dog in the family since it brings benefits to its dynamics.

RESUMEN El presente estudio longitudinal se enmarca en la lingüística aplicada a la enseñanza-aprendizaje de lenguas adicionales y su objetivo es determinar el desarrollo de interlengua (IL) en español en un grupo de escolares secundarios haitianos de una escuela chilena. Con este fin, se realizó un análisis del desarrollo de la IL de los escolares mediante la metodología del análisis de errores en dos muestras de textos escritos, recogidas en dos periodos distintos. Los resultados del análisis indicaron que, en ambas muestras, la mayoría de los errores eran de tipo gráfico y gramatical. Desde una perspectiva etiológica, los errores fueron identificados como de simplificación. Desde una perspectiva psicolingüística, los errores se debieron a estrategias de interferencia y neutralización de las formas. Los errores textuales fueron los menos frecuentes, sin embargo, esto responde a la escueta producción de relaciones de coherencia en los textos. Así, el análisis longitudinal entre los muestreos diferidos no indicó ni avances ni retrocesos en el español de los escolares haitianos. Esto debe observarse con precaución porque la pandemia de COVID-19, durante los años 2020 y 2021, impuso confinamientos que hicieron perder casi dos años de clases a niños de escuelas socioeconómicamente vulnerables.

ABSTRACT The present longitudinal study is framed within applied linguistics in the teaching-learning of additional languages. Its objective was to determine the development of interlanguage (IL) in Spanish in a group of Haitian high school students in a Chilean school. For this purpose, we assessed students' IL development using error analysis methodology in two samples of written texts collected in two different periods. The results from the analysis showed that most errors were graphic and grammatical in both samples. From an etiological perspective, the errors were of simplification. From a psycholinguistic perspective, the errors originated from interference strategies and neutralization of the forms. Textual errors were the least frequent; however, this was due to the scarce production of coherence relations in the texts. Hence, the longitudinal analysis between the two samples did not indicate either progress or setbacks in the Spanish of Haitian schoolchildren. These findings should be observed with caution because the COVID-19 pandemic, during the years 2020 and 2021, imposed lockdowns that caused children from socioeconomically vulnerable schools to lose almost two years of classes.

Global pandemics are known to disturb livelihoods. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an example of such pandemic in the recent past. Its outbreak prompted a global response characterised by unprecedented measures to mitigate its spread. Several preventative measures were recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) such as lockdowns to curtail the transmission of the virus and manage the crisis it caused. These measures hampered the movement and distribution of basic commodities inadvertently triggering a series of socio-economic consequences particularly in rural areas. This study delves into the intricate interplay between the COVID-19 lockdown and its impact on the accessibility, affordability and availability of basic commodities within the context of the Mahikeng Local Municipality, in a rural setting. Quantitative survey data were collected from 260 households, which were randomly selected. The data analysis was performed using chi-square, with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that basic commodities were largely available (99%) in the market during lockdown. There was no significant association between background variables and availability of basic commodities. Accessibility of basic commodities was affected by many factors such as concerns of COVID-19 outbreak. The study demonstrated that prices of basic commodities increased during lockdown, thereby having a ripple effect on accessibility and affordability of basic commodities. However, the availability of basic commodities was less affected. CONTRIBUTION: The case study approach, focusing on Mahikeng Local Municipality, is essential for capturing localised nuances and providing actionable insights to policymakers, researchers and community leaders seeking to mitigate the negative effects of lockdowns on rural populations.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was detected in Wuhan, China. This virus quickly spread throughout different regions and was declared a pandemic late in January 2020. The spread of the virus has affected every aspect of human life as previously known OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the adoption of fintechs in South Africa METHOD: Eighteen financial services experts were interviewed using semi-structured interviews to collect data, and ATLAS.ti 28 was used to analyse the data RESULTS: During the lockdowns, the industry expedited the implementation of fintech to sustain business operations. Online shopping, mobile payments, and digital banking experienced a surge in adoption as individuals steered clear of crowded stores and bank branches. The upswing in online shopping influenced the embrace of mobile payments and contactless cashless transactions. Moreover, with limited access to physical bank branches, there was a marked shift towards digital banking CONCLUSION: Fintech companies have introduced consumers to alternative financial technologies. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of fintech as an essential means of transacting and banking. One limitation of the study is its timing because it was conducted during and immediately after the pandemic, therefore, it does not account for the long-term effects of the pandemic on the financial services industry. Consequently, future research could explore the impact of COVID-19 on the industry 5-10 years after the pandemic to evaluate any significant influence on the industry's transformation CONTRIBUTION: This study will assist the financial services industry to better respond to catastrophes such as COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the far-reaching significance of religion in shaping human interaction within social crises. Efforts to slow down the spread of coronavirus prompted different national governments, including the Federal Government of Nigeria to restrict large density gatherings, enforce lockdowns and promote social distancing, which were largely resisted initially. Organised religion may have influenced citizens' compliance with government directives for curbing the pandemic. Focussing largely on providing economic assistance to people in need, it may have missed out on the reason for recourse to faith. One outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic was the need to understand the application of religious faith in explaining epidemics and health crises. This work predominantly relies on data from secondary sources (library research and internet materials). Just as it critically investigates Christian-Muslim responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seeks also to justify reliance on religion during a health emergency. By the evaluative method of philosophy, we show that although the pandemic triggered dread of annihilation, it brought in its wake a search for ontological meaningfulness. This study therefore argues that Nigerians turned to religion to meet the deep-seated, individual need for meaningfulness ('survivability') that is primary to the need of soul and body, which includes material donations by organised religious entities. The primacy of fulfilling this need precedes sociality both ontologically and epistemologically because meaningfulness is an inalienable property of individuality. CONTRIBUTION: This work presents religion as a rationally defensible need that is fundamentally rooted in individual human nature, even in a pandemic; religion pertains to meaningfulness, which counters human fear of annihilation and meaninglessness