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This field report illustrates the significance of maintaining and forming new mentoring relationships with female researchers during the pandemic. During COVID–19 lockdowns, mentoring transitioned to remote methods. Electronic mentoring or e–mentoring was implemented formally by some universities,8 and informally by independent researchers. In the following section, two mentors share the significance of mentoring and the ways in which they conducted e–mentoring with student researchers. Subsequent sections cover students’ backgrounds and the significance of e–mentoring for them during the pandemic.

ObjectiveTo determine the difference in the total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths between Muslim-majority and non-Muslim countries, and investigate reasons for the disparities. All Muslim-majority countries are considered partly or completely not free (in war), and 80% are LMICs (low- and middle-income countries). MethodsThe 50 Muslim-majority countries have more than 50.0% Muslims with an average of 87.5% Muslims. The non-Muslim country sample consisted of 50 countries with highest GDP while omitting any Muslim-majority countries listed. Their average percentage of Muslims was 4.7%. All data was pulled on September 18, 2020. To measure incidence of COVID-19, three different Average Treatment Methods (ATE) were used to validate the results. ResultsNon-Muslim countries had significantly more COVID-19 cases, 3-times that of Muslim-majority countries. Non-Muslim countries had 1.86-times more COVID-19 deaths than Muslim-majority countries. These percentages were obtained by applying the simulation method to ATE’s results.ConclusionDespite most Muslim-majority countries being poor and all considered partly or completely unfree, 34/50 (68%) countries had shown a decline in active COVID-19 cases. This study shows that Muslims’ practice of tahara (purity or cleanliness) is similar to many COVID-19 containment measures and tawakkul (trust in Allah) helps them remain resilient and hopeful during difficult unpredictable times, such as living through a pandemic. Developed countries can benefit from the knowledge learned in this study. Research should be conducted with Muslims in Muslim-majority and non-Muslim countries to further study the health benefits of adhering to Islamic practices, principles, and beliefs.

This paper serves as a policy recommendation to develop a collaborative public–private interdisciplinary healthcare system known as the Gazan Medical Reserve Corps (Reserves) during the COVID–19 pandemic. Due to the high concentration of educated unemployed in Gaza, the Reserves would draw from recent medical school graduates and unemployed physicians. Although initial funds must be awarded by the government and international community to launch the Reserves, the proposed four evidence–based divisions of the Reserves are designed to make a self-sustaining and financially–sound entity. Our literature review demonstrates that the United Nations, various interest groups, and numerous researchers recommend the work of each of the proposed divisions as necessary aspects of a long–term health sector. The Reserves would work with humanitarian organizations, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and International Medical Corps (IMC), in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a goal to ultimately transition Gaza out of the need for short–term aid and assistance. The Reserves would also work alongside the local health entities and facilities already present inGaza, such as the medical schools, hospitals, and clinics.