Coronavirus has become the topic of discussion these days. One doesn’t pass an hour without having a scary thought of the virus.
The virus outbreak that started from Wuhan, from the Chinese seafood and poultry market has now spread to more than 70 countries, killing more than 3.3K and sickening more than 89K people across the world.
What is Coronavirus?
It’s not a disease, it’s a virus. Rather, a group of virus that causes diseases like SARS, MERS, pneumonia, common cold and COVID-19.
New coronaviruses come up over time across the world. For example, the SARS outbreak from China in 2002, the MERS in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
The word coronavirus has a Latin origin from the word corona, meaning crown and coronavirus virions when examined under an electronic microscope gives the appearance of crown-like spikes coming out from the surface.
Initially, this new disease from coronavirus was called novel coronavirus. Later in February, WHO gave it the name COVID-19, where CO stands for Corona, VI stands for Virus, D means Disease and 19 signifies the year 2019 when it all started in China.
COVID-19 in India
It first started in February from Kerela when three people were diagnosed. Now, the total count of diagnosed patients stands at 33, with a majority of them coming in the past few days. This headcount includes the 16 Italian tourists diagnosed with the disease.
There’s definitely a state of fear and anxiety among the citizens thinking about the uncertainty of the future. Especially in Delhi-NCR, a shortage of sanitizers and disinfectants is making it worse.
Everyone has one question in their mind, “Is India ready for a COVID-19 outbreak?”
Measures by the Indian Government
Being the world’s second-most populous country and neighbor of the disease epicenter country, the preparedness of the Indian government would determine the fate in the coming days.
As far as we know, here’s what proactive and reactive measures the Indian Government has taken:
- Screening passengers at air and seaports
- Ban on export of N95 masks
- Health workers being trained for a potential outbreak
- Isolation wards being set-up in state-run hospitals
This is certainly very encouraging. But we are still not sure about the spread of the disease, the incubation period (i.e. from infection to showing any symptoms) lasts up to 14 days, this makes tracking the potential carriers difficult.
What can the citizens do?
The very simple effort of being aware, maintaining a hygienic lifestyle and not spreading rumors.
As directed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, here’s a list of what should all of us do in this situation:
Do’s
- Wash your hands with soap or alcohol-based sanitizers
- Keep 1-3 m distance from those who are not well
- Sneeze or cough only into a tissue or your bent elbow
- Drink plenty of fluid
Don’ts
- Touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands
- Eating uncooked meat
- Stock up masks and sanitizers, people working in hospitals need it more
Avoid
- Traveling
- Large social gatherings
- Going to crowded places
- Believing and spreading rumors
- Outside food
Keep in mind
- First, validate any news or treatment advice you receive, then believe
- Govt helpline number: +91-11-23978046 (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
- Primary symptoms: Fever, tiredness, dry cough
- Secondary symptoms: Runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat and diarrhea
Above all, simply be positive. Have faith, this too shall pass.
