The world is reeling with the effects of a coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic that was first reported in a sea food market in Wuhan, China in mid-December. As of March 13th, least 1,25,000 coronavirus cases have been reported from over 100 countries. The death toll has crossed 4,500. India is also combating the virus on a war footing — restricting travel of foreigners to India, shutting down offices, schools, colleges and cinema halls, and advising people to self-quarantine.
But what is the novel coronavirus? What are the symptoms to watch out for? And exactly how bad is the situation in India?
Coronavirus Explained: The Virus Felt Around the World
1. What Is Coronavirus?
Novel coronavirus is a new SARS-like virus which was first reported in Wuhan in China in December 2019. It is a new virus strain which has not been identified in humans before. The disease caused by the virus is called COVID-19. The disease spread fast in China affecting nearly 80,000 people. Researchers across the world are racing to develop an affordable and accessible vaccine for the virus.
By March 2020, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 have shot up across the world with more number of cases now being reported outside china than within. Italy, Iran and South Korea have emerged as new epicentres. The outbreak has now been classified as a “pandemic” by the World Health Organisation. This declaration is a call to action to countries to scale up their efforts to assess, screen and contain the virus.
Expand2. What Are the Symptoms of the Virus?
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties and respiratory symptoms. In severe cases, pneumonia, kidney failure and even death have been reported.
Expand3. What's the Coronavirus Situation in India?
India has reported at least 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with one death reported. A 76-year-old man in Karnataka has been the country's first fatality. Here are the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported in India.
In an unprecedented move, all visas to India - except diplomatic, official, UN or international organisations, employment, and project visas - till 15 April have been suspended. The government has advised people to not panic, and to adopt a “preventive approach” to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Schools, college and universities in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Odisha have been closed to control the spread of the virus. The financial impact of COVID-19 has been severe, with the Sensex tanking over 300 points at opening bell on 12 March, Thursday. The Delhi government has invoked provisions under the epidemic act.
Expand4. What You Can Do To Be Safe From the Virus?
Maintaining personal hygiene is on the top of the list of precautions to take. Other ways to control and prevent infection is to cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, regular hand washing and avoiding contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, according to WHO.
The government has also emphasised on "social distancing" to contain the spread of the virus. India's Ministry of Health Joint Secretary, Lav Aggarwal said, “Mask is not always necessary, if a person maintains effective social distance, mask is not needed.” The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) defines social distancing as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance.” This includes quarantine (voluntary and mandated), self-isolation, avoiding crowded areas, closing schools and offices and isolating cities, if necessary. Workplaces like Flipkart, Dell India and Twitter India have asked their employees to work from home in some offices.
Expand5. What Is the Solution to Fight the Coronavirus Outbreak?
The best bet to manage the coronavirus outbreak is to flatten the curve. The phrase means that with countries taking restrictive steps in the short term, the rate of growth of new confirmed cases can be controlled. This is found to have a greater impact in containing the spread of the pandemic. Here's a graph which explains how “flatten the curve” works.
Governments across the world are also stepping up their efforts to increase testing, in order to detect the virus early and contain the spread of the virus.
Expand
What Is Coronavirus?
Novel coronavirus is a new SARS-like virus which was first reported in Wuhan in China in December 2019. It is a new virus strain which has not been identified in humans before. The disease caused by the virus is called COVID-19. The disease spread fast in China affecting nearly 80,000 people. Researchers across the world are racing to develop an affordable and accessible vaccine for the virus.
By March 2020, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 have shot up across the world with more number of cases now being reported outside china than within. Italy, Iran and South Korea have emerged as new epicentres. The outbreak has now been classified as a “pandemic” by the World Health Organisation. This declaration is a call to action to countries to scale up their efforts to assess, screen and contain the virus.
What Are the Symptoms of the Virus?
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties and respiratory symptoms. In severe cases, pneumonia, kidney failure and even death have been reported.
What's the Coronavirus Situation in India?
India has reported at least 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with one death reported. A 76-year-old man in Karnataka has been the country's first fatality. Here are the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported in India.
In an unprecedented move, all visas to India - except diplomatic, official, UN or international organisations, employment, and project visas - till 15 April have been suspended. The government has advised people to not panic, and to adopt a “preventive approach” to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Schools, college and universities in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Odisha have been closed to control the spread of the virus. The financial impact of COVID-19 has been severe, with the Sensex tanking over 300 points at opening bell on 12 March, Thursday. The Delhi government has invoked provisions under the epidemic act.
What You Can Do To Be Safe From the Virus?
Maintaining personal hygiene is on the top of the list of precautions to take. Other ways to control and prevent infection is to cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, regular hand washing and avoiding contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, according to WHO.
The government has also emphasised on "social distancing" to contain the spread of the virus. India's Ministry of Health Joint Secretary, Lav Aggarwal said, “Mask is not always necessary, if a person maintains effective social distance, mask is not needed.” The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) defines social distancing as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance.” This includes quarantine (voluntary and mandated), self-isolation, avoiding crowded areas, closing schools and offices and isolating cities, if necessary. Workplaces like Flipkart, Dell India and Twitter India have asked their employees to work from home in some offices.
What Is the Solution to Fight the Coronavirus Outbreak?
The best bet to manage the coronavirus outbreak is to flatten the curve. The phrase means that with countries taking restrictive steps in the short term, the rate of growth of new confirmed cases can be controlled. This is found to have a greater impact in containing the spread of the pandemic. Here's a graph which explains how “flatten the curve” works.
Governments across the world are also stepping up their efforts to increase testing, in order to detect the virus early and contain the spread of the virus.
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