COVID-19 : AN OUTBREAK

Coronavirus is an infected disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome. It was first
reported on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan, China. More than 7.7 million cases have been
reported with 429,000 deaths across the world. The virus is primarily spread between people
due to close contact. The symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of
smell, progressing to ARDS, multi-organ failure and blood clots. The incubation period ranges
from 2 to 14 days.
To prevent its spread, WHO has recommended basic hygiene like frequent hand wash using
soap or alcohol based sanitizers, maintain social distance, quarantine and using facemasks. The
government has made it mandatory to download Aarogya Setu app which helps in contact
tracing, syndromic mapping and self assessment.
Corona virus has largely affected the economics and has hit the country’s manufacturing
industries. It has even brought down the stock prices on the market. The world’s GDP is
expected to fall down by 3.9%. The migrant workers are the worst affected. The government
has taken measures like running of Shramik express, NREGA scheme, etc for their welfare.
The ongoing health crises is like an ever-rising tide which is testing the patience, energy and
forcing the people to distance themselves. The global emergency has changed the way of living
and has lead to digitalization (work from home, online classes). The doctors, paramedics, police
and armed forces and sanitation workers have played crucial role to ensure everyone’s safety.
The world must salute these unsung heroes.
Covid19 shows nature’s fury. Studies show that 80% of global wastewater goes untreated to
the oceans and most of the cities don’t even match the air quality guideline. It is the result of
human ignorance to the nature which has lead to such a devastating outbreak. It is said “It might
be stormy now but the rain doesn’t last forever.” The whole world must be united to fight
against the crises then only the disease can be curbed.