Dr Afroz Ahmad Shah
Though the exact source of Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19, reported first in December 2019, is still being debated the popular hypothesis has associated its origin to a seafood market in Wuhan, China. Before going into the depth of COVID-19 let us revise how a typical virus works.
A virus is an infectious agent that is dead outside a host cell. And when it enters an organism (e.g. humans) it hijacks the cell’s machinery by first breaking through the cell wall to penetrate the cell and then it actively replicates. Now the host cell follows the orders from virus, and replicates until it totally destroys organs, and ultimately an organism. So, a typical virus takes full advantage of your weakness, which is usually in our immune system, and allows it to break through the otherwise very protective cell membrane. And that is the reason why sick and elder people are more prone to such a disease. So, this tells us that to overcome a virus attack we ought to have a strong immune system, and for that a healthy, and nutritious life is important.
Regarding the COVID-19 it is actually a family of coronaviruses that are named based on their appearance under a microscope where they resemble a corona, or a crown. Interestingly the viruses are named for their appearance! And previous works have shown that these viruses are common in different animals and rarely an animal coronavirus can infect humans. Various kinds of coronaviruses are known to exist with some causing colds or other mild respiratory related illnesses while others can cause more serious problems that includes disease like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
People that were infected with COVID-19 have usually shown symptoms within 14 days of exposure to the disease. These symptoms are similar to flu and are usually characterised by cough, fever and shortness of breath. Since the virus is new therefore there is no specific cure for it. And it spreads through droplets, which means that anyone who is infected can infect multiple people via droplets, which may be due to sneezing, contact, etc. So, the best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to avoid going out. And if you have to then make sure to take precautionary measures that includes washing hands, face, feet, etc. regularly, which is what you should be usually doing indoors as well as outdoors.
And importantly if you are a healthy individual you ought to take special precautions by following the proper COVID-19 guidelines, otherwise, you will become active carrier of the disease. And that will directly increase the rate of spread of the disease to other people and particularly the vulnerable class, which are sick and elderly. So it is not you who will be directly impacted by your callousness but the vulnerable.
Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic because it has reached global proportions and it is rapidly increasing throughout the world. The number of cases outside China over the past 2 weeks has affected a growing number of countries. The data available at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html show that the total number of infected people as on 15th March 2020 is 156,241 of which more than 5800 people have unfortunately died. And until now three countries (China, Italy, and Iran) have shared the major proportions of the infected and dead individuals but this map may change as the disease is spreading far and wide. So in coming days we will get to know about the rate at which it will spread and that will dramatically depend on how a particular nation or region will react to it.
Since there is no cure therefore our preparedness will radically alter the statistics of infected and deceased people. So any nation that is well prepared to handle the virus will be the winner. So, it is time to lockdown everything. There is no looking back or thinking about when to do it as it is already late, and the virus has 14 days of incubation period, so we are already inside that, and the case can rise exponentially, and then it will spread like fire. People are carriers, so stop or minimise this interaction. Here are a few steps which can be taken immediately:
1. Impose a complete lockdown of populated areas. It may not be feasible given the losses Kashmiris suffered due to unwarranted lockdown by the government last year but as the current crisis is question of life and death for the people, it should be considered as a necessary evil. People should be granted permission to work from home. Authorities should increase internet speed so that people can turn their homes into workplaces or teaching centres. Religious gatherings should be disallowed as they will greatly increase the chances of virus infection.
2. Establish at least one hospital exclusively for COVID-19 patients in every district.
3. Keep COVID-19 testing kits ready and in ample supply. Make sure test results come in hours and NOT in DAYS. Remember virus incubation period, and human to human disease transfer.
4. People should STOP socialising. Stop attendants’ flow in the hospitals or take precautionary measures by using a proper gear while in hospital or outside.
5. Maintain hygiene: Wash hands, face, and feet frequently.
6. Launch a massive sanitisation drive throughout Jammu and Kashmir. Make sure everyone is actively doing it. Everything should be sanitised regularly, buses, trains, public space, hospitals, etc.
7. Temperature scanning is important and it should be carried out inside homes and in public places.
8. Door to door campaign to educate people should be launched forthwith. Volunteers and professionals should be provided with proper protective gear.
9. A media blitzkrieg should be launched to educate people and to solicit their coopeartion in fighting the pandemic.
10. Special arrangements for supply of food and medicine to the doorsteps of citizens should be made on SOS.
Author is Assistant Professor in Structural Geology at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He can be reached at: [email protected]
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