Not in 100 years has the world faced a global health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic? With more than 31 million (31,798,308) confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 973,653 deaths globally, the pandemic is showing no signs of retreat even after nine months of its first outbreak. Much remains unknown about this insidious virus despite studies in almost every part of the world. The disease which was initially understood to affect the lungs is now known as a multi-system disease affecting the whole human body. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is spread person-to-person through close contact. India now at the global no 2 spot with more than five million cases (5732518) and 91149 deaths. This means India accounts for one in every 8 cases and one in every 11 deaths due to COVID 19. With no effective vaccine or medicine available in the imminent future, we know prevention is our only resort.
Emergency lockdowns were initiated in countries across the globe to slow its spread but its side effects on health, wellbeing, business, and other aspects of daily life are being felt in every region. Therefore we cannot keep going from lockdown to no-lock down in cycles. Coronavirus has been called a “tornado with a long tail” – rising case counts among young people could ultimately spread to vulnerable old people or those with comorbidities and cause an uptick in deaths. People aged 20-49 years are driving the pandemic. The virus is circulating four times more among the under-40 population than in persons age 65 years or more. 87% of COVID-19 deaths in India are among persons of 45 years and above.
Preventing person to person spread is a priority. To reducing the rate of infection or ‘flattening the curve’ COVID-19 prevention relies on pandemic mitigation in community settings. Based on available evidence, optimum distance (1 m or more), use of face masks, eye protection (goggles or face shields) and hand hygiene considerably lowers the transmission of viruses. The use of face masks is highly effective in the reduction of infection, with stronger protection being afforded by N-95 or similar respirators. For the general public evidence shows, disposable surgical masks, or reusable 3 layer cotton ones- are effective too.
It is important to understand that the risk of infection depends upon the distance to the infected individual, exposure time, and the type of face masks and eye protection used. Eye protection has been under consideration but is effective in community settings. High humidity can extend the lifetime of airborne medium-sized virus-laden droplets by 23 times. Scientists have recommended humidity of at least 40% indoors. Ventilation also plays a major role in preventing the spread of the virus. WHO recommends avoiding the three Cs- closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings.
Almost 200 vaccines for COVID-19 are currently in clinical and pre-clinical testing. Once an effective and safe vaccine is finalized, distributing it around the world in a fair manner is going to be a big challenge. WHO plans that in phase 1, the vaccine will be distributed to 20 % of a nation’s population. As per the Serum Institute of India, it will be as long as 3-4 years till everyone is vaccinated.
Nine months since the pandemic hit globally and some countries like South Korea, France, the US, Singapore are seeing a resurgence of cases. Japan is facing a second wave of infections which is larger than the first. Patients are walking into hospitals three months after recovery with complaints of breathlessness, irregular heart conditions, blurred vision etc. India, with the highest number of recovered cases, has to prepare for what lies ahead. We will have a large population with lingering effects. Timely action by KLES Dr.Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC, Belagavi Post-COVID Care & Rehabilitation Centre has been started.
With the last One million cases for India taking place in just 12 days, we have to understand that prevention from Coronavirus is our social responsibility. Every citizen has to make it a mission to prevent the spread of corona by taking simple but effective steps. Hand washing, physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection CAN prevent person-to-person transmission of the virus. These personal protection strategies cannot be neglected. Prevention of the spread of coronavirus demands behavioral change from ALL. We should not hesitate to make others practice the same when we observe that they are not. Together we can and we should. Prevention is better than cure!
About the Author: Prof. Dr. Mubashir Angolkar
Head Dept. of Public Health, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER), Belgavi
Health is wealth.
Perfectly written and most needed article at this time. We have to act from individual level now. Congratulations Ma’am.
Very informative..importance of 3 C’s very well explained in simple terms.thanks mam for sharing .
Very well anaysed and presented
Very well researched & comprehensively written article ma’am. As public health persons we need to focus more on preventive & promotive aspects which is need of the hour in this Covid Pandemic. Thank you ma’am for sharing such an insightful article ??
Very good informative brief summary about very big Covid-19 pandemic explained in very simple words, yes social responsibility is the key step to prevent and by taking simple but effective steps like Hand washing, Social Distancing, use of masks and eye protection in a proper manner to prevent person to person transmission of covid-19, Improper use may lead or cause serious infections….. Thank you Mam for your valuable insight Together we can we should, prevention is better way to cure….
No better way to emphasize the importance of every person’s role in the control of the current pandemic and prevention of death in the vulnerable.Our health and well being is our responsibility. The wide range of symptoms being exhibited,the numerous ways the disease affects different individuals and the post recuperation outcomes are still being oberserved and studied.Thank you for stressing on second wave infections/reinfections and delayed complications being observed.Everyone of us have to be cautious at all times.
All the aspects pertaining to COVID-19 meticulously explained.
Hope this article reaches to maximum people for mass awareness for prevention against the deadly pandemic.
Many congratulations madam and thanks for sharing this wonderful article.
Indeed an eye opener to help us keep patience in these hard times!
Succinct ,crisp and helpful guide. An informed Public is the key to prevention of COVID 19 infection.. “Prevention is better than Cure” is an age old mantra. Congratulations Dr Mubashir for writing an article in simplest words that is lucid to any reader and to emphasize the need of the hour. Keep up the good work!
Very informative brief about CoVID19 pandamic situation across the globe and the steps taken by government as well as KLEs hospital and research centre. Thank you madam for wonderful insight on social responsibility to prevent CoVID19 infection.
Well researched and written.Much needed for present pandemic situation.Let the prevention be by the people,for the people and to the people.
Prevention of covid 19, this is an interesting study which provides valuable information on social responsibility ,thank you Mam for sharing this most needed research work.
Thank you ma’am for Sharing insights about COVID 19 … and our responsibilities to prevent, control and management of Covid ..
An insightful, comprehensive article summarizing the context, preventive measures, and social responsibility on COVID-19. Congratulations Dr. Mubashir madam for wonderful writing. Yes, breaking the chain of transmission and prevention from COVID-19 is an individual and social responsibility. Together we can !
Thank you for providing the information about CoVID19 pandemic.I sincerely appreciate the detail you went into CoVID19.It is giving a much clearer picture of current pandemic situation.I am grateful for the amount of time and effort you put into this.Indeed your insights and summary are beneficial for me as currently am working with a CoVID19 sero survilence project.
A very succinct ,practical and helpful presentation and guide to the prevention of COVID-19. An informed public is key to the success of this mission. The role of personal responsibility cannot be overemphasized. Keep up the good work.
Exquisitely presented the current scenario of novel corona virus. The battle of pandemic can’t be won alone. It’s not about you, I or the nation. It’s high time for solidarity. Sense of responsibility towards one self and others is the utmost need to overcome this difficult period.
Thanks for sharing thebrief informarion about covid 19 ..the goverment is not only responsible for this pandemic …we as a public health professionals have to take small steps to prevent this disease.
It’s Comprehensive summary on COVID-19 with updated facts and figures. It’s very true that we need to be a responsible citizen to contribute in prevention and control of this present pandemic situation. As continuous trial and experiments is on, new challenges also are emerging side by side. So we can do our best at individual and societal level to break chain of transmission. Taking as social responsibility, we can avoid social gatherings and minimize unnecessary visits, wearing mask outside the home etc can help our community and society to prevent the speed of spread of COVID.
The public needs to be reminded again and again, now and then, that we are done with the virus. And it is each one’s social responsibility to contain the spread.
Thank you Dr Mubashir for summarising briefly on the topic and keeping the awareness drive alive.
Thank you Ma’am, for providing us with your valuable insights on the current covid-19 suitation. Beautifully penned down each aspect of the novel virus -the tornado with a long tail and strongly emphasized that prevention has always been the best solution to curb any communicable disease. Fighting the virus is not just a government responsibility, it’s a social responsibility as well. Acting responsibly and sensibily by doing our bit in tackling the suitation can aid in slowing down the current surge of cases. As it is a novel virus still much unknown and fear uncircling within and among the communities, let us stand together united and fight the virus and not the people with stigma and discrimination. Let us work in solidarity to help one another and stop stigmatization against those inflicted with the virus and help each other following our precautionary measures. Let us stop the spread of false information and the waive of with the misconceptions linked with the virus. Everyone can do something and comeup with inclusive solutions to help the society. Remember to maskup always…
Though the COVID pandemic has ruined the daily livelihood of publics in terms of financial etc in the same way publics have to revert the COVID pandemic in eliminating the epidemic
The brief description has well described the importance of individual responsibility towards the health of all and together we can bring the change.
Brief summary of COVID present scenario at national and international level. Thank you Mam for sharing in comprehensive form.
As its a terrible situation, not only Government and Health Workers are accountable for it’s control bt we all can take small steps in our community to stop it’s spread.
Thank you ma’am for a very well researched article which provides us, in a nutshell all aspects of the novel Corona virus. Preventing the spread of Corona virus is a moral as well as social responsibility and hopefully everyone who has read this article will get the message and do their bit towards the community.
The author has given a lucid account of the current COVID situation and importantly emphasised on the need for a collective social responsibility for its prevention.
Very insightful and well researched.
It’s totally a brill piece after a long time… well summed up?
Remember:SMS
S: Social distancing is Prevention,
M: MASK ( Mera Apana Suraksha Kavach ) is Vaccine,
S: Soap/ Sanitizer is Medicine
Excellent well researched and insightful
Very succinctly put, accurate analysis. Brill!
This is a comprehensive account of the situation. Congratulations! Clearly, going forward, it’s up to the individual to exercise maximal prevention. The Govt has done whatever it could but unless the community owns up the responsibility, the pandemic chaos cannot be settled sometime soon.
To control covid – 19 social responsibility is more important to all individuals. All the prevention measure can be followed by all the individual.
All the prevention measure can be explained Very well in this research.
Thanks alot for sharing insights about covid 19.
Dr. Mubashir has explained the epidemiology of Covid19 in very simple and brief. This is important to reach every one so as to prevent & protect.
Truly, motivating from Public Health Professional.
Regards
Very well written Dr Mubashir
Thank you for sharing mam……. During the time of pandamic this is very good information regarding covid19 which focouses on the value of “Prevention”.
Thanks for sharing insights about covid .