COVID-19 (Pandemic)

Timeline

On December 31, 2019, China informed the World Health Organization of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan City in Hubei province. On January 9, 2020, the WHO issued a statement saying Chinese researchers have made “preliminary determination” of the virus as a novel corona virus. Since then, 14,500 deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 across the world till March 23, 2020, 18:00 GMT+5:30. 2,67,013 Confirmed cases have been reported in 185 countries and territories, including India. The fatality is still being assessed.

Lockdowns, curfews, massive airport screenings, quarantines, and social distancing have become the norm across the globe. In these critical times, access to authentic information is of paramount importance. Let discuss about this WHO declared pandemic in details.

What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses make up a large family of viruses that can infect birds and mammals, including humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These viruses have been responsible for several outbreaks around the world, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic of 2002-2003 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea in 2015. Most recently, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19) triggered an outbreak in China in December 2019, sparking international concern. While some coronaviruses have caused devastating epidemics, others cause mild to moderate respiratory infections, like the common cold.

Many coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans.

[SARS (CoV-2) - The Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, which had assessed the novelty of the human pathogen, has named the virus as “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”].

Novel COVID-19

The new coronavirus first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan appears to be similar to the one that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and there is evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 has been transmitted from the bats.

Causes

All coronaviruses sport spiky projections on their outer surfaces that resemble the points of a crown, or "corona" in Latin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven known coronaviruses can infect humans, including the novel coronavirus identified in 2019.

Beneath a coronavirus's pronged exterior lies a round core shrouded in proteins and a "greasy" membrane, Jan Carette, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Stanford University School of Medicine Explained.

The core contains genetic material that the virus can inject into vulnerable cells to infect them. So-called spike proteins extend from within the core to the viral surface and allow the virus to "recognize and latch onto" specific cells in the body.

"When the spike engages its receptor [on a host cell], a cascade is triggered, resulting in the merger of the virus with the cell". This merger allows the virus to release its genetic material and hijack the cell's internal machinery. "Once this happens, the virus sheds its coat and turns the cell into a factory that starts churning out new viruses."

Several coronaviruses utilize animals as their primary hosts and have evolved to infect humans, too. Precursors to both SARS and MERS coronaviruses appear in bats. The SARS virus jumped from bats to civets (small, nocturnal mammals) on its way into people, while MERS infected camels before spreading to humans. Evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus also jumped from bats to humans after passing through an intermediate carrier, although scientists have not yet identified the infectious middleman creature.

How does the disease spread?

It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people. If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth, nose, or eyes, he may get infected.

The symptoms of COVID-19 appear within 2 to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, a runny nose and difficulty in breathing.

The spread of this new coronavirus is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization and health organizations like Johns Hopkins across the globe.

Who is affected?

While people of all ages can be affected by the disease, people aged 60 and above are at the highest risk of dying due to COVID-19, according to case records analysed by the Disease Control and Prevention Centers in China and South Korea. Victims of the virus with pre-existing medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes have a higher fatality rate than others.

How can it be detected?

The virus can be detected using a PCR test. A PCR or polymerase chain reaction test is DNA-based and can quickly tell if someone harbours the virus. In India, the government facilities to test for the virus include 52 labs belonging to the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 10 labs under the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the NIV.

On 21 March, 2020, Director General of ICMR said, “111 more labs across the country will be functional from today”.

What is the treatment?

There is no current evidence from randomised controlled trial to recommend any specific treatment for suspected or confirmed COVID19 patients. No specific anti-virals are recommended for treatment of those suffering from respiratory ailment due to lack of adequate evidence from medical literature.

INDIA and COVID-19

As on 22 MARCH, 2020, the novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 329, according to Health Ministry data.

Of them, 41 are foreign nationals and Maharashtra is worst hit with 64 confirmed cases. Kerala has the second highest number of cases at 55.

Delhi has reported 27 positive cases, which include one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh records 25 cases, including one foreigner.

Till today, 7 deaths have been reported.

Statistics as on 22.March.2020 at 06:30 PM.

State wise data on Corona virus cases:

How to protect yourself against COVID-19 (Guidelines by the World Health Organization):

1. Clean your hands often:

a) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
b) Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Rub it in your hand often.
c) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick

3. Stay home & Wear a facemask, if you’re sick

4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily like tables, doors, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets and sinks.

What are the impacts of corona virus on Indian Economy?

COVID-19 is expected to have a significant impact on the economy globally including economic slowdown, trade, supply chain disruption, commodities, and logistics.

Asia’s third-largest economy is set to lose steam as travel curbs, closure of malls, theatres and educational institutes, Slowdown in consumption, and other precautionary steps aimed at containing the Covid-19 outbreak in India, have led to a significant drop in economic activity.

On import front, the dependence of India on China is huge. Of the top 20 products that India imports from the world, China accounts for a significant share in most of them. Electronics, organic chemicals, heavy Machinery, vegetable oil, fertilizers etc. are some goods that India imports from China. India’s total electronic imports account for 45% of China. Around one-third of machinery and almost two-fifths of organic chemicals that India purchases from the world come from China. Around 65 to 70% active pharmaceutical of ingredients Comes from China to India.

Tourism and Aviation, Chemical Industry, Shipping Industry, Auto Industry, Textiles Industry, Pharmaceuticals Industry, Solar Power Sector, Electronics Industry, IT Industry are the major sectors impacted due to Corona virus pandemic.

A lockdown in India’s major export destinations such as China and Europe is also impacting India’s export earnings.

During 2019, India’s exports to the European Union (EU) stood at $55.7 billion, contracting by 2.9% from the preceding year. India exports chemicals, machines, garments, gems and jewellery, iron and steel and pharmaceutical items to the EU.

China is India’s 3rd largest export partner and accounts for around 5% share. The Pandemic may negatively impact India’s export to China.

India will be the 10th most impacted economy due to supply chain disruptions in China, according to UNCTAD estimates.

The pandemic has hit the economy at a time when growth has slowed to the lowest in a decade, investments are shrinking and a consumption recovery is sputtering. According to CII, India’s projected growth for 2020-21 closer to 5% from about 6% earlier. The lockdown will affect around 500 million people in the country that will deeply impact its consumption of goods. Job losses mainly in labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, handicrafts and carpets are one of its major impacts.

Government needs to immediately announce a set of measures to alleviate the pain of affected workers and companies.

Impact of coronavirus on weaker sections of the society and suggested measures

As the novel coronavirus spreads, a double crisis looms over India: a health crisis and an economic crisis. In terms of casualties, the health crisis is still very confined but the numbers are growing fast. Meanwhile, the economic crisis is hitting with full force, throwing millions out of work by the day. Migrant workers, street vendors, contract workers, almost everyone in the informal sector are being hit by this economic tsunami. This economic crisis calls for urgent, massive relief measures. Lockdowns may be needed to slow down the epidemic, but poor people cannot afford to stay idle at home. If they are asked to stay home, they will need help.

Since time is of the essence, the first step is to make good use of existing social-security schemes to support poor people - pensions, the Public Distribution System (PDS), midday meals, and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), among others. Initial measures could include advance payment of pensions, enhanced PDS rations, immediate payment of MGNREGA wage arrears, and expanded distribution of take-home rations at schools and anganwadis.

We are dealing not only with a health crisis but also with an economic crisis. Even if discontinuing public services helps to contain the health crisis, the economic consequences need to be considered.

Other related information about Coronavirus:

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, it cause respiratory tract infections that can be mild, such as some cases of the common cold and others that can be lethal, such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Symptoms in other species vary: in chickens, they cause an upper respiratory tract disease, while in cows and pigs they cause diarrhea.

Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Coronaviruses contain a positive-sense, single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome. The genome size is one of the largest among RNA viruses.

Scientists first found evidence of human coronaviruses (HCoV) in the 1960s in the noses of people with the common cold. Coronavirus infections most often occur during the winter months. There are four main sub-groupings of coronaviruses, known as alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The seven coronaviruses that can infect people are:

Common human coronaviruses

• 229E (alpha coronavirus)
• NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
• OC43 (beta coronavirus)
• HKU1 (beta coronavirus)

Other human coronaviruses

• MERS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS)
• SARS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS)
• SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19)

People around the world commonly get infected with human coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1. Three recent examples of this are 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV.

These human coronaviruses (HCoV) - 229E, -NL63, -OC43, and -HKU1 continually circulate in the human population and cause respiratory infections in adults and children world-wide.

Expected Prelims Questions

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Corona Virus (COVID)-19:

1. The name “coronavirus” comes from the crown-like projections on their surfaces.
2. The COVID-19 first identified in the Chinese city of Guangdong.
3. People aged 60 and above are at the highest risk of dying due to COVID-19.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 onlybr> b) 2 onlybr> c) 1 and 2 onlybr> d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

The first statement is correct. Coronaviruses make up a large family of viruses that can infect birds and mammals, including humans. The name “coronavirus” comes from the crown-like projections on their surfaces. “Corona” in Latin means “halo” or "crown."

The second statement is incorrect. The new coronavirus first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 and appears to be similar to the one that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), therefore named SARS-CoV-19.

SARS is a contagious disease that develops after infection by the SARS-CoV coronavirus. Typically, it leads to a life threatening form of pneumonia. Scientists first found evidence of human coronaviruses (HCoV) in the 1960s in the noses of people with the common cold. During November 2002, the virus started in the Guangdong Province in southern China, eventually reaching Hong Kong. From there, it rapidly spread around the world, causing infections in more than 24 countries. This time COVID-19 spread more than 188 countries and considers as pandemic by World Health Organization (W.H.O).

The third statement is correct: The WHO reports that the two groups most at risk of experiencing severe illness due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection are older adults, defined as “over 60 years old”, and individuals who have other health conditions that compromise their immune system.

Other related information: The new COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The most likely ecological reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2 are bats, but it is believed that the virus jumped the species barrier to humans from another intermediate animal host. This intermediate animal host could be a domestic food animal, a wild animal, or a domesticated wild animal which has not yet been identified.

2. NL63, OC43, 229E, HKU1, was seen in the news, are:

a) Gene-editing tools
b) Bio-fertilizers
c) Fighter jets
d) Viruses

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Option D is correct.

There are four main sub-groupings of coronaviruses, known as alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The seven coronaviruses that can infect people are:

Common human coronaviruses

1. 229E (alpha coronavirus)
2. NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
3. OC43 (beta coronavirus)
4. HKU1 (beta coronavirus)

Other human coronaviruses

5. MERS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS)
6. SARS-CoV (the beta coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS)
7. SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19)

People around the world commonly get infected with human coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1. Three recent examples of this are 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV which continually circulate in the human population and cause respiratory infections in adults and children world-wide. for example- the recent outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mains Questions

1. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has hugely impacted India’s health and economy. Discuss. (250 Words)
2. How the informal sectors of India are affected by the recent coronavirus pandemic and also suggest measures to counter this problem. Explain (200 words)