-Shikha Lamsal
Currently we all are in the middle of a global crisis that is pandemic COVID-19. More than 2 million people are infected with Corona virus worldwide and more than one lakh fifty thousand people have lost their lives due to COVID-19. The graphs of total Corona virus cases and total deaths due to COVID-19 are exponentially increasing day by day.
Countries like USA, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Spain are being worst hit due to pandemic COVID-19. New York city of USA has become the new epicenter of this pandemic now. This pandemic poses a threat to the entire mankind so, it’s very essential for us to be united against the battle with this pandemic. The infection with corona virus has reached to 213 countries according to World Health Organization. Many countries and territories are now in nationwide lockdown including India, Nepal, United Kingdom, and South Africa. Due to this pandemic, most of the world’s largest cities and countries are shut down and the transportation services are closed. Many countries have put a global travel ban to prevent the spread of this virus.
The lifestyle of people has been severely affected due to this pandemic. The world’s second biggest economy China has suffered as corona virus forced many factories and businesses to close. China’s virus-hit economy shrank for the first time in decades in the first quarter of the year due to the closed businesses. According to BBC news, the world’s second biggest economy contracted 6.8% according to the official data realeased on Friday. According to BBC news, this is the first time China has seen its economy shrink in the first three months of the year since it started recording quarterly figures in 1992.
Till date there is no any approved vaccine and medicine for this specific disease COVID-19 but scientists all over the world are working hard to develop a vaccine and medicine for COVID-19. As there is no any vaccine the prevention from this disease is a matter of utmost importance to safeguard the lives of millions of people all over the world. We all should be responsible to protect ourselves and our community from this disease. . It is very important for us to be well informed about this virus and disease and methods of prevention from this disease.
COVID-19 is an infectious and contagious disease caused by a new corona virus called SARS-CoV-2 . This virus is introduced to humans for the first time. In December 2019, there was a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan of China caused by a previously unknown virus now known as novel corona virus. Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that cause a wide range of illness from the common cold to more severe diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
A novel corona virus (nCoV) is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. This virus was transmitted from animals to humans which is known as spillover effect. This virus is spread from person to person mainly through the droplets produced when an infected person speaks coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. These droplets are too heavy to travel far in the air, they only travel approximately one metre and quickly settle on the surfaces. This is the reason person-person spread is happening mainly between closer contacts. The people who are at higher risk of infection with corona virus are the people with preexisting medical conditions like heart diseases, diabetes and elderly people, health care workers who are treating Covid-19 patients, family members of Covid-19 patients, people with suppressed immune system and people in close contact with live animals such as live animal market workers. There are a number of symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
The symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and in severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, organ failure and even death. The infection can be diagnosed by performing PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test. This test identifies the genetic fingerprint of the virus. There is no any vaccine for this disease and there is no any specific medicine to treat this infection so patients are being treated with supportive therapy by providing oxygenation and life support with ventilators and also by doing symptomatic management. So, correct preventive measures and precautions are matter of utmost importance to protect ourselves and our community from this disease.
The preventive measures against COVID-19 disease include washing hands frequently by using soap and water or sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for more than 20 seconds, using face masks, avoiding touching our eyes, nose and mouth with our hands, performing social distancing. We should perform hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene to prevent the spread of this virus. In health care settings, health care workers should use medical masks and personal protective equipments (PPE) while providing health care to COVID-19 patients.
Any person who has cough or common cold should cover his mouth or nose by a mask or tissue or if there is no tissue or mask them he should cover his mouth by flexed elbow. This is respiratory etiquette for the prevention against the spread of corona virus. The people having the symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately report to the doctors and health care professionals and self isolate themselves and stay in quarantine. This virus can also survive on surfaces so it is wise to clean and disinfect surfaces regularly particularly in the vicinity of people infected with COVID-19.
Many countries are in lockdown now to prevent the spread of corona virus. This pandemic is risking the most vulnerable populations from lockdowns, economic downfall and rapidly increasing infection, There is also a risk of upcoming recession which is going to hit hard the global economy due to this pandemic. We all should do social distancing, use masks and sanitizer and we should stay home to stay safe. We should follow the rules of lockdown imposed by our respective governments and we should stay home to prevent the spread of corona virus and to protect ourselves and the world from this pandemic.
Researchers have said that acute isolation causes social craving similar to hunger. So, it is very important to cope with anxiety and loneliness amid crisis. Now countries are on lockdown and people are in home quarantine in several parts of the globe amid this global crisis of Covid-19. So, it is very important to take care of our mental health as well during this crisis. So we should share with our families and trusted ones how we are feeling inside and what things we are experiencing. We should practice yoga, meditation, exercises and spend our time with our loved ones and utilize in other works of interest like reading books, watching movies. We should stay home, practice social distancing and be aware about the updates on this pandemic.