Coronavirus disease or the COVID – 19 pandemic impacted several countries,

including the economy, livelihood, and mental health. Psychiatric conditions and mental
health were identified as the tenth most frequent research topic during the COVID – 19
pandemic (Tran and Ha et al.). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the
impact of pandemic on physical and mental health in China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan,
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to understand their concerns and identify protective
and risk factors associated with mental and physical health outcomes to contribute in
developing precautions toward COVID – 19.

Wang conducted this study and Tee et al. (2020), was a cross-sectional study in
seven countries in Asia with the use of Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES – R) and
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS – 21) to measure the mental health of the
respondents. The result of the study emphasized the protective factors for the mental
health of individuals. It includes the importance of wearing a facemask to control the
transmission of the virus from one person to another. The result showed the association
between wearing a facemask and lower the risk for psychological conditions because it
could offer psychological benefits such as relief for being less vulnerable to infection.

In conclusion, the risk factors for adverse mental health include age less than 30
years, high education background, single and separated status, discrimination by other
countries, contact with people with COVID-19, and worries about COVID-19. The
protective factors for mental and physical health include male companions, staying with
six or more people, employment, confidence from doctors diagnosing COVID-19, high
perceived likelihood of surviving COVID-19, spending less time on health information,
hand hygiene practice, and wearing a face mask. Mental health is also an important
factor to identify which host have the highest vulnerability when it come to infection.
Identifying the most vulnerable host may increase the possibility of breaking the chain of
infection by developing an increased level of protective measures and precautions.

The findings of this study recommended for health and government policies.
First, the health authorities should offer psychological interventions to the general
population who are at higher risk of developing adverse mental. Second, as physical
symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection such as rhinitis, persistent fever with cough,
breathing difficulties were associated with high-risk mental conditions. An immediate
need to develop accurate, rapid diagnostic tests in general practitioners’ clinics,
community, and rural settings. Enhancing the capacity of health system for COVID-19
may develop the confidence of public to improve mental and physical health. Third, the
World Health Organizations, governments, and health authorities should provide regular
updates on the effectiveness of vaccines and treatment methods. Misinformation related
to the cause of COVID-19. Local governments, news agencies, professional and
advocacy organizations should all provide health information and advice related to
COVID-19 that are consistent to avoid misinformation such as promoting safety
measures including wearing of face mask, the importance of hand hygiene and social
distancing. It is important to identify group with specific demands to provide proper
information related to COVID-19 to attain the needs of different population groups.
Various governments should offer relief packages to safeguard employment and
economy to protect mental and physical health.

References:
Tran BX, Ha GH, Nguyen LH, Vu GT, Hoang MT, Le HT, et al (2020). Studies of
Novel Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Global Analysis of Literature.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(11):4095.

Wang C., Tee M., Roy A., Fardin M., et al (2021). The impact of COVID-19
pandemic on physical and mental health of Asians: A study of seven middle-income
countries in Asia. Retrieved from: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?
id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246824