Corona Virus: The Pandemic We Know Very Little About!

It was the turn of 2019 and the world was looking to celebrate the New Year. All the celebrations and preparations were in order in every country of the world, and it was just the moment that the tide turned for the worse.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a deadly virus called COVID-19 (or the Coronavirus) that had spread in a sleepy little town of China and was all set to shake up the world order on its terms soon enough.

No one has ever been the same ever since. This new and deadly pandemic has accounted for thousands of lives so far and it is still on a rampage around the world. Worse, there is little to no awareness in several parts of the world and this has further made the way to its containment a lot harder.

COVID-19: Where Did the First Case of the Coronavirus Disease Originate?

We are taking a satellite view of the rising issue of Coronavirus so that you could stay safe and live through the time in a sane manner. Before that, here’s a recap of all that we know of it and just how you could do your part to stay safe.

Dated 31st December 2019:

China’s Wuhan city was grappling with a virus strain that mankind had never heard or dreamt of, and all the efforts made by the local authorities to contain it were proving futile. To make the matters worse, it showed no similarity with any of the previous strains ever detected.

The Chinese government tried its best to include some tier arrangements like sealing geographical borders and discouraging international air travel but to no avail. The virus continued to spread and it was never in the business of taking prisoners. The World Health Organization too was rattled beyond belief and it shot out a host of precautionary advisories on a cosmopolitan level.

Dated 16th March 2020:

The situation is just all the more alarming now with the virus spreading around the world like a wildfire. Several European countries like Italy and Spain were staring down the barrel with a large number of casualties even as China continues to try its best to contain the issue.

The UK and the US too are clueless with their share of casualties so far. India, with its class-leading medical faculties and reputation of medical tourism, had airlifted its students from China and Iran in February 2020. Anyone infected here is being treated to the best of medical resources available.

Dated December 2020:

The recovery rates have indeed picked up during the third quarter of 2020. A new strain or mutated variant of this virus is found in the UK and it is being observed for further analysis. The vaccines for the older virus are available but their efficiency is not yet certain.

As of January 2021, several countries have started the vaccination process against the pandemic. The efficacy of the vaccines is not yet confirmed because it would take the dosage to create the minimum resistance against the virus. The vaccine consists of two shots and they would increase the antibody and immunity over a period of time.

Guidelines for COVID-19

How should I protect against COVID-19?

Yes, as much as it is important to be aware of the COVID-19 or Coronavirus, it is also important not to press the panic button now. No matter what country you are living in, please rest assured that your respective local government is doing its best to keep you safe and secure.

Your government should also be keeping a tab on all the latest updates on the Coronavirus in China and any medical breakthrough would be communicated to you at the earliest.

Here are the best preventive measures for Coronavirus:

• Do not spread or believe in rumors, especially through WhatsApp or Social media.

• Maintain personal hygiene.

• Wash your hands with antiseptic or antibacterial soap regularly. Alcohol-based hand washes are best when you use them after sneezing or before or after eating or drinking something

• Keep a safe distance of three feet from anyone who is sneezing and/or coughing.

• Avoid touching your face and lips every now and then.

• Try to avoid physical contact with hands at the time of greeting someone.

• Wear N95 or other approved masks.

• Eat foods and practice measures that boost your immunity.

• Most importantly, seek immediate medical assistance if you have a fever, a running nose, or if you are experiencing any difficulties in breathing.

• Also self-quarantine yourself if you have contacted the virus and the same has been confirmed medically.

Pro Tip:

For those who are 60 years or older, it comes highly recommended to get yourself additionally checked for any cardiovascular disease, respiratory ailment, diabetes, or any other health issue.

The reason is that while these diseases may not be directly related to the Coronavirus, they would certainly bring down your body’s resistance to the pandemic itself.

When Will Corona End?

It is difficult to tell conclusively about when the COVID-19 epidemic would end, though several vaccines by reputed pharmaceutical companies has given us all some hope. The clinical trials of these medicines have shown the efficiency of up to 95% and well-defined progress of therapeutics. Several countries like the US, UK, Russia, and India have completed the processes for human trials too.

Leading medical powers have expressed hope that we all would be able to get rid of the coronavirus by Q4 of 2021 or maybe as late as Q1 of 2022. The mortality rates could, however, see a reduction as early as Q2 of 2021. It is worth noting that the recovery rate in several countries is well beyond the acceptable range, for example, India stands at 94.66% as of December 2020. This is a promising sign.

Coronavirus: Symptoms, Myths, and Treatments Available

Coronavirus is a new infectious strain that may be best described as deadly, however, there have been a lot many survivors too. Its consequent symptoms are usually very simple and that often lets people take it lightly- and it is just the mistake that you should not commit.

These are the symptoms of COVID-19 disease or an infection from the coronavirus:

• Sore throat

• Running nose

• Cough

• Fever

• Weakness

• Difficulty in breathing

• Tiredness

• Conjunctivitis

• Rashes on skin

• Loss of speech or movement

• Inability to smell

Debunking Popular Myths about COVID-19:

The virus spread is limited to countries with hot and humid climates.

The virus is spreading across the world at an alarming rate and it makes no distinction based on climates and geographical boundaries.

Extreme temperatures can kill the virus.

There has been no conclusive evidence to suggest that very hot or very cold temperatures can kill the COVID-19 virus and thus cure a patient.

Hot steam bath can keep you safe.

As mentioned above, the temperature does not affect this virus. You might only burn yourself in the process of taking a very hot steam bath under unsupervised conditions.

Note: If you are a fitness professional, you can consider working out at home with a virtual fitness expert. You would need your smartphone and internet connectivity to get online.

The Coronavirus can be transmitted through bugs and mosquitoes.

There are no medical reports so far to confirm that someone could be infected from this virus through bugs or mosquitoes.

Ultraviolet lamps can be used to disinfect hands and kill the virus.

This myth is especially important to debunk. Human bodies are not meant for the consumption of ultraviolet radiations and anyone trying to disinfect oneself through these radiations would only be courting disaster.

Pneumonia and Flu medications can keep one safe.

It comes highly recommended that one should not rely on prevalent medications for flu or pneumonia to deal with Coronavirus Disease. There are no standard and confirmed medications, as prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), for this deadly disease so far.

Eating garlic or cloves can cure the virus.

Stay away from such unfounded home remedies. There is no medically conclusive evidence to suggest that eating garlic, onions or cloves could have any effect on the COVID-19 virus, though they may increase the body’s immunity over some time.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

This virus strain is new and is way more evolved than the previously encountered SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) viruses of the past decade. The mortality rate of COVID-19 is way more than those of SARS and MERS combined and it would take the medical world some time to devise a befitting reply.

Until then, everyone is advised to remain calm, not panic, and continue to receive preventive or supportive medical care as available. We would also advise you to stay in touch with your local medical authorities or consult a qualified healthcare expert virtually and practice the aforementioned WHO-approved safety guidelines to stay safe.