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| SOCIAL DISTANCING: MITIGATING COVID-19 | | |
Dr. Parveen Kumar, Dr. D. Namgyal
The Corona Virus Disease-19 referred to as the COVID-19 that has pushed the world into a health crisis causing more than 7000 deaths worldwide, the first disease to be declared pandemic by the ‘World Health Organization’ and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is an infectious disease caused by Corona Virus-2 also called as the novel corona virus. The technical name of the virus that causes COVID-19 is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2, abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 is genetically related to, but not the same as, the virus that led to the SARS outbreak in 2003. SARS is deadlier than COVID-19, but less infectious. The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally resulting in the preset day pandemic situation.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: The infection is typically spread from one person to another via respiratory droplets produced during coughing and sneezing. Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between two and 14 days, with an average of five days. The source of the new corona virus is believed to be an animal. The virus spreads through droplets from the mouth and nose of a person with COVID-19 after coughing, sneezing, and exhaling. Other people can then pick up the virus by breathing in these droplets or coming into contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the droplets such as by touching an object and then touching parts of the face.
SYMPTOMS: The Common symptoms of the COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Muscular pain, sputum production and sore throat are less common. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to severe pneumonia. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea have also been seen in a minority of cases while in some cases the disease may progress to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and ultimately death. The lungs are the organs most affected by COVID-19 because the virus accesses host cells via the enzyme ACE2, which is most abundant in the type II alveolar cells of the lungs. The virus uses a special surface glycoprotein, called ‘spike’, to connect to ACE2 and enter the host cell. As the alveolar disease progresses, respiratory failure might develop and death follows. ACE2 might also be the path for the virus to assault the heart causing acute cardiac injury. People with existing cardiovascular conditions are therefore more susceptible.
MORTALITY RATE: Whilst the virus infects people of all ages, there is evidence that people over the age of sixty and those with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are at a higher risk of susceptibility to COVID-19. The rate of deaths per number of diagnosed cases is on average 3.4%, ranging from 0.2% in those less than 20 to approximately 15% in those over 80 years old.
SOCIAL DISTANCING: Till date the disease has now control measure. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Management involves treatment of symptoms, supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 include social distancing, a term used for taking measures such as avoiding mass gatherings to reduce close contact between people. Social distancing is a non-pharmaceutical infection prevention and control intervention implemented to avoid/decrease contact between those who are infected with a disease causing pathogen and those who are not, so as to stop or slow down the rate and extent of disease transmission in a community. This eventually leads to decrease in spread, morbidity and mortality due to the disease. The protective measures like social distancing can help in flattening the curve. ‘Flatten the curve’ means slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so that the capacity of the healthcare system doesn’t become overwhelmed. The curve represents the number of cases over time, and flattening that curve means preventing a huge surge of new cases in a very short period of time which is extremely challenging for health officials to handle. Slowing the spread of an epidemic in this way is also known as mitigation.
The World Health Organization has also reiterated its call for countries to detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their citizens, to ensure that those with just a handful of cases can prevent wider spread throughout the community. Tedros Adhananon Ghebreyesus, the head of World Health Organization (WHO) has called on the world not to fixate on the word “pandemic”, but to focus instead on five other words or phrases, beginning with ‘P’: Prevention, Preparedness, Public health, Political leadership and People. Even if one is not in an area where COVID-19 is spreading or have not travelled from an area where the virus is spreading, have not been in contact with an infected patient, his/her risk of getting infection is low but we all have a shared responsibility to protect ourselves as well as others. Everyone needs to frequently wash their hands thoroughly with soap use a sanitizer, maintain at least one meter distance from anyone coughing or sneezing, and avoid physical contact when greeting, avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth; cover the mouth and nose with a bent elbow or disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing and should stay home. One should also seek medical attention if symptoms like coughing, sneezing, fever, headache, body ache are observed in body. People in the high risk categories should take further measures that include ensuring that any visitors wash their hands, regularly cleaning and disinfecting home surfaces, and making a plan in preparation for an outbreak in their community.
At the same time it is also important that peoples do not believe in myths and not get trapped in many scams going on. Common circulated myths now days are that that cold weather can kill the virus, taking a hot bath or eating garlic can prevent infection, mosquitoes can spread the virus. World Health Organization does not reports of any evidence in favour any of these claims. Infact there are reports of some notorious elements in the society taking advantage of this panic and stealing money or getting sensitive information from the common masses. In fact if anyone is contacted by a person or organization claiming to be from the government, any health or any other organization, he/she should take steps to verify their authenticity.
The world agencies like the United Nations have also underlined the importance of solidarity, and avoiding stigmatizing community members in the face of the pandemic. ‘We’re in this together’, as said by WHO chief Tedros while urging everyone to ‘do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable.’ The Hon’ble Primeminister of the country has also called ‘not to panic but to take preventive measures’ |
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