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COVID-19: Virus that stopped the World

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As of 17 May 2020, more than 4.71 million cases have been reported across 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 315,000 deaths. More than 1.73 million people have recovered.

The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, most often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell and taste. Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, maintaining physical distance from others, quarantine (especially for those with symptoms), covering coughs, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face.

SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to the original SARS-CoV. It is thought to have an animal (zoonotic) origin. Genetic analysis has revealed that the coronavirus genetically clusters with the genus Betacoronavirus, in subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B) together with two bat-derived strains. It is 96% identical at the whole genome level to other bat coronavirus samples (BatCov RaTG13).

Name- During the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, the virus and disease were commonly referred to as "coronavirus" and "Wuhan coronavirus", with the disease sometimes called "Wuhan pneumonia". In the past, many diseases have been named after geographical locations, such as the Spanish flu, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and Zika virus, etc.

The official names COVID‑19 and SARS-CoV-2 were issued by the WHO on 11 February 2020. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained: CO for corona, VI for the virus, D for disease, and 19 for when the outbreak was first identified (31 December 2019). The WHO additionally uses "the COVID‑19 virus" and "the virus responsible for COVID‑19" in public communications

Research: No medication or vaccine is approved to treat the disease. International research on vaccines and medicines in COVID‑19 is underway by government organizations, academic groups, and industry researchers.

Economical effect: The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic in India has been largely disruptive. The World Bank and credit rating agencies have downgraded India's growth for the fiscal year 2021 with the lowest figures India has seen in three decades since India's economic liberalization in the 1990s. The former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India has said that India should prepare for a negative growth rate in FY21. However, the International Monetary Fund projection for India for the Financial Year 2021-22 of 1.9% GDP growth.

Up to 53% of businesses in the country were projected to be significantly affected. Supply chains have been put under stress with the lockdown restrictions in place. Those in the informal sectors and daily wage groups are the most at risk. A large number of farmers around the country are also facing uncertainty. Various businesses such as hotels and airlines are cutting salaries and laying off employees.

On 12 May the Prime Minister announced an overall economic package worth ₹20 lakh crore (US$280 billion),10% of India's GDP, with emphasis on India as a self-reliant nation.

Along with an unprecedented human toll, COVID-19 has triggered a deep economic crisis. The global economic impact could be broader than any that we have seen since the Great Depression.

Domestic violence: Many countries have reported an increase in domestic violence and intimate partner violence attributed to lockdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial insecurity, stress, and uncertainty have led to increased aggression at home.

Educational impact: As we know that due to coronavirus pandemic, the state governments across the country temporarily started shutting down schools and colleges. As per the present situation, there is an uncertainty when schools and colleges will reopen. 

No doubt, this is the crucial time for the education sector because entrance tests of several universities and competitive examinations(engineering, medical, law, agriculture, fashion and designing courses, etc) are held during this period. Due to the closedown of educational institutes, it is estimated to affect around 600 million learners across the world.

Another major concern is employment. Students who have completed their graduation may have fear in their minds of withdrawal of job offers from the corporate sector due to the current situation.

Psychological impact: All of a sudden there is a huge panic about physical health, with mental health being considered an embarrassing afterthought. As a result of lengthy periods of self-isolation and social distancing, as well as massive economic uncertainty and job losses, we could see a huge rise in psychiatric conditions such as depression, obsession, etc.

              Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include staying at home, avoiding crowded places, keeping a distance from others, washing hands with soap and water often.  Due to the lockdown, daily-wage workers (the urban poor and migrant laborers) were left with no work. At the same time, the lockdown restrictions put a stop on the movement of buses and trains. Large numbers of migrant workers ended up walking back to their villages, some journeys hundreds of kilometers long. Social distancing was not possible for these migrants, who traveled together in large groups. According to some of them, they would rather die from the virus at their own village than starve because of no work in the city.

                 The pace and scale of opening up from lockdown for India may depend on the availability of the crucial testing capabilities that will be required to get a better handle on the spread of the virus, and technology to track and trace infections, and the build-up of healthcare facilities to treat patients. It is imperative that society preserve both lives and livelihoods. To do so, India can consider a concerted set of fiscal, monetary, and structural measures and explore ways to return from the lockdown.


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