IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HOUSEHOLDS

ABSTRACT:
My Objective was to know about the impact of Covid-19 on households. To collect the data, I
filled up 25 Questionnaires from 25 different people with the help of my group members. I collected
this data from a time period of 12 June to 27 June then I analyzed the data through the help of excel and
submitted the report of the data on 29 June approximately at 5 O’clock. After submitting the report, I
also submitted the Questionnaire with my group members on 8th of July.

Covid-19 had Affected the Household of approximately 75% People according to my reports and also
had reduced Salaries of many households too which concludes that Covid-19 had a great impact on
households.

INTRODUCTION:
Covid‐19 first emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan city of central Hubei Province of China.
China announced its first death of 61 year old man exposed to be working in the seafood market by
Covid‐19. Meanwhile, the infection started to spread across the world in a rapid pace and the
accelerative pace of its outspread across the globe forced the WHO to declare it a public health
emergency of global concern on the 30th of January 2020. On the 11th of February, WHO announced a
name for the new Corona virus disease: Covid‐19, subsequently on the 11th of March, WHO declared
Covid‐19 a pandemic, as by then the virus was spread over 114 countries.

In Pakistan, the first case of Covid‐19 has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health, the government of
Pakistan on the 26th of February 2020, in Karachi, and on the same day, another case confirmed by the
Pakistan Federal Ministry of Health in Islamabad. Within 15 days, the number of total (Covid-19
positive) confirmed cases reached to 20 out of 471 suspected cases with highest in the province of
Sindh. Sharing economic, religious, and geographic boundaries with two early hard‐hit countries, Iran
and China, Pakistan was highly vulnerable to the pandemic. As the corona crisis emerged in Iran,
thousands of pilgrims returned to Pakistan making it an emergency situation at borders. Initially, the
government of Pakistan started to impose lockdown restrictions; however, fearful of the economic and
financial impact and swayed by the acute hardships suffered by millions of poor families, the central
government decided to ease in lockdown at the beginning of May claiming that the virus spread has
been well below projections.

Table drawn below depicts provincially dis-aggregated data for the four provinces and other territories.
The table shows that the Province of Sindh has the highest number of cases reported followed by the
Province of Punjab. This situation is justifiable considering the fact that these two are densely
populated provinces of Pakistan. Furthermore, it can be inferred from the data that the recovery rate in
Pakistan is 89% which is significantly higher considering the constraints in the health sector.
Provincially dis-aggregated data (as of July 28, 2020)

Region Confirm cases Active cases Deaths Recoveries Recovery ratio (%) Death ratio
Azad Kashmir 2,055 462 50 1,543 75 2.43
Balochistan 11,654 1,438 136 10,080 86 1.17
Gilgit‐Baltistan 2,042 334 50 1,658 81 2.45
Islamabad 14,963 2,421 165 12,377 83 1.10
KPK 33,724 4,814 1,186 27,724 82 3.52
Punjab 92,452 7,807 2,133 82,512 89 2.31
Sindh 119,398 8,237 2,172 108,989 91 1.82
Overall Pakistan 276,288 25,513 5,892 244,883 89 2.13

Source: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and coordination, 2020

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
Here I will discuss about the 5 research papers I have reviewed:

Ali et al (2020)
The Objective of this research paper was to find about the impact of Covid-19 on Households of rural
mountain areas of Pakistan. The researchers collected their data from various Secondary sources. There
study highlighted that mountain community in GB, Pakistan, is in dire need of immediate help in terms
of direct cash transfer to needy households, food support, price stability of basic commodities of life,
and ensuring sufficient healthcare in the region.

Rasheed et al (2020)
The Objective of this research to analyze the short and long-term effects of Covid-19 peak on the
Socio-economic and environmental aspects of Pakistan. The researchers collected their data from
various research websites. The research illustrated the short- and long-term prospects of the pandemic
on the emerging economy, society and the environment.

Shafi et al (2020)
This article aims to assess the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on the businesses and provide policy
recommendations to help MSMEs in reducing business losses and survive through the crisis. The
researcher collected the data through various Secondary sources. In the survey, Researchers found that
due to the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdowns, many MSMEs have been severely affected. Based on the
findings of the study, different policy recommendations were proposed to ease the burden on MSMEs.

Noreen et al (2020)
In this article, researchers Objective was to examine current state of Covid-19 epidemic and
preparedness in Pakistan using publicly available data and documents on Covid-19 government
dashboard. The data of the article was collected from the Researchers through multiple Secondary
sources. According to the research, three areas need immediate priority, coordinated responses between
federal and provinces, centralized procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical
equipment like ventilators, respirators etc.
Sandesh et al (2020)
The Objective of this article was to examine the impact of Covid-19 on mental health of People. The
researchers collected the data from various mental health sites including WHO. In our study, high
prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among HCPs treating COVID-19 patients were noted,
which is a cause of concern, so it is imperative to invest resources to promote the mental health welfare
of front-line professionals.

METHODOLOGY:
The Objective of my research was to know about the impact of Covid-19 on Households. I collected
the data of my research by filling the Questionnaire up through different people near me. I got 5
Questionnaire filled up and collected 20 from my friends who had those filled up from 20 different
people. I collected this data from a time period of 15th to 27th of July, then analyzed the data through the
help of Excel.

DATA ANALYSES:
Chart 1.1

AFFECTED ROUTINE
ACTIVITIES
REDUCE TRAVELING
INCREASE
HOUSEHOLD FOOD
CONSUMPTION
INCREASE FOOD
SHORTAGE IN
HOUSEHOLD
LIMITED OUR SOCIAL
LIFE

The Chart 1.1 shows how Covid-19 had affected households. The given data on the chart shows that
Covid-19 had affected routine activities of 60% households, Reduced traveling of 35% households,
Increased the food consumption of 40% households, Increased food shortage of 10% households and
limited Social life of 35% of the households.
Chart 1.2

GREATLY AFFECTED
CONSIDERABLY
AFFECTED
MODERATELY
SLIGHTLY
NOT AFFECTED

Chart 1.2 shows how Covid-19 affected the children’s study of different households. Majority of the
children’s studies were greatly affected which includes a percentage of 44% households, 8% of the
children’s studies had been considerably affected, 4% were Moderately affected, 8% were slightly
affected and 12% children’s studies were not affected at all.

Chart 1.3

NO DECREASE
LESS THAN 20%
20-40%
40-60%
60-80%
ABOVE 80%

Chart 1.3 shows how Covid-19 affected the Income of households. According to the analysis majority
of the households Income didn’t decreased. In percentage, 44% households Income remained same (i.e
No decrease), 20% households income decreased by less than 20%, 28% households income
decreased by 20-40%, 4% households income decreased by 40-60%, Not a single household decreased
their income by 60-80% and finally above 4% households income was decreased by above than 80%.
Chart 1.4

GREATLY AFFECTED
CONSIDERABLY
AFFECTED
MODERATELY
SLIGHTLY
NOT AFFECTED

Chart 1.4 shows how Covid-19 affected consumption pattern of food of the family of the households
observed through questionnaire. The consumption pattern of 40% households was greatly affected, 4%
of the households were considerably affected, 16% were moderately affected, 16% were slightly
affected and 12% of the households consumption pattern was not affected.

Chart 1.5

FEAR OF CORONA
VIRUS SPREAD
THROUGH FOOD
LESS EATING
OUT/SOCIALIZING
AVAILABILITY OF
COOKING TIME
PREFERRING
HOME COOKED
FOOD
FOCUS ON EATING
HEALTHY TO BUILD
IMMUNITY

Chart 1.5 shows the reason why many of the households consumption of Junk food/Fast food had been
changed in Pre-Covid times according to survey from questionnaires. 23.52% households feared of
eating fast food due to Corona virus spread through food, 23.52% households started less eating out
and Socializing due to restrictions of government, 5.88% had the availability of cooking, 29.41%
preferred home cooked food and 17.64% focused on eating healthy food to build immunity.
Table 2.1

HELP FROM NGOS

HELP FROM GOVERNMENT

RETURN FROM INVESTMENT

Column K

SAVINGS

SALARY

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Table 2.1 shows how the households managed their living expenses during lock-down period. 44%
households managed their living expenses through their salary, 44% households managed their living
expenses through their savings and the rest of 11% managed their living expenses through their returns
from investment.

Table 2.2
12
10
8
6
4
Column J
2
0

Table 2.2 shows the reason of change in sleeping pattern during Covid. 35% households started day
time sleeping, 50% households sleeping pattern was changed due to stress, 15% had some other
reasons.
Chart 3.1

GOVERNMENT PEOPLE DIDN’T

INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH
MANAGE IT AT THE GOVERNMENT
INITIAL LEVEL AGENCIES
LACK OF TESTING LACK OF
KITS IN HOSPITALS AWARENESS ABOUT
CV-19 SEVERITY
ANY OTHER

Chart 3.1 shows the reasons why current local transmission of Pandemic Covid-19 increased according
to the survey from questionnaires. 20% households thought that it was Government inability to stop it
at Initial level, 68% thought that People didn’t cooperate with the Government agencies, 4% thought
that there were lack of testing kits in the hospital and remaining 8% thought there was lack of
awareness about Covid-19 severity.

Chart 3.2

IMPOSE CURFEW EXTEND THE

FOR A LONGER TIME CURRENT
PERIOD LOCKDOWN FOR A
LONGER TIME
PERIOD
LOCKDOWN WITH COMPLETELY EASE
SOME RELAXATION LOCKDOWN
ANY OTHER

Chart 3.2 shows what households think to be the best strategy to mitigate Covid-19 Pandemic in their
area. 12% think that Government should impose curfew for a longer time period. 16% think that the
current lock-down should be extended for a longer time period, 60% think that the lock-down should
be imposed with some relaxation, 4% think that Government should completely ease lock-down and
4% have other strategies.
The households faced various other problems due to Covid-19 which are written below:

* 88% households usage of Electronic items increased during lock-down and remaining 12% remained
same as usual.
* Electricity bill of every household was increased by a certain percent.
* Income of 52% people was decreased by a certain amount.
* 28% households health expenses reduced while 56%households health expenses increased and 12%
health expenses remained as usual as before CV-19.
* 32% households didn’t have any amount for their savings, 60% households savings amount was
reduced by a certain amount and the remaining 8% never had any money for their savings as before
CV-19.

CONCLUSION:
In my study of 25 questionnaires, I found that most of the households were greatly affected through
Covid-19 in many different ways. The routine activities, Child’s study, Income level, Consumption
pattern, Savings amount, Sleeping pattern of households were greatly affected. Through this survey, I
found that many people realized that people didn’t cooperate with the government agencies which led
to the increased in the local transmission of the Pandemic of CV-19. Lastly, I found that most of the
people agreed that their should be a lock-down with some relaxation to reduce the spread of Corona
Virus Disease.

In Short, through my study, I found how household economy was disturbed due to a Single Disease and
how it was and is still making life really difficult for lower-middle class to lower class households.