Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.
Elderly people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
WHO clearly stated that the COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
2. INTRODUCTION
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a
newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to
moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special
treatment.
Elderly people, and those with underlying medical problems like
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and
cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
WHO clearly stated that the COVID-19 virus spreads primarily
through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an
infected person coughs or sneezes.
3. PRESENT SENERIO PANDEMIC IN INDIA
India has been showing tremendous improvements in the public
healthcare system over the years by eradicating several life-threatening
diseases like polio, yaws, and tetanus.
But still falls short of effective public healthcare for citizens in the country.
India’s health infrastructure is inadequate and needs considerable
improvements.
4. RELEGIOUS AND SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMPLICATIONS
On the contrary, the case of India presents unique concerns owing
to its geographical vastness and the diversity complexity of its
cultural and religious beliefs, and practices coexisting with poor
social indicators, such as lower life expectancy, higher fertility, and
high child mortality.
These health and social indicators underscore the situation that can
worsen conditions in case of a massive community outbreak.
cultural and religious underpinnings that increase the traction of
such misinformation.
Misguidance in the form of suggesting cow urine as a protection
against the virus; religiously-oriented obligations that discourage
social distancing
5. Way ahead
Fighting the COVID-19 crisis essentially requires a holistic approach
that sufficiently integrates the infrastructural, social, behavioral,
psychological aspects to prepare us for any emergency response.
India must increase its public health spending to build a robust
health care system and deal effectively with religious, social beliefs,
etc to enhance the scientific temper of the people.
India has reported a total of 26496 new active coronavirus cases on
April 26, 2020.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 5,803
coronavirus patients have been cured or discharged.
India's total tally of coronavirus has surged to 26, 496, out of which
19,868 are active cases and total deaths 824.
6. CORONAVIRUS SPREAD IN INDIA
Mostly cases in India are of people who had a travel history to
corona virus infected countries or had come in contact with a
person directly or in-directly who had recently travelled abroad, this
is called local transmission.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has maintained that
there is still no concrete evidence of community transmission of
corona virus in India.
7. SOCIAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Self-Help Groups (SHGs)/NGOs are now producing masks that can
be worn, and local ASHA workers are disseminating knowledge
amongst community members.
Civil Society Organisations (CSO), such as PRADAN, have
developed and they are distributing Information, Education, and
Communication (IEC) material, and creating awareness among the
SHG members.
In addition, WHO and other health Institutions have started online
courses on various epidemic including Corona, Covid-19.
8. Proactive measures to curb the
Pendamic
Continuing the supply chain of midday meals and Anganwadi
meals, and delivering them to the families’ doorsteps.
Supplying free ration to rural households through the public
distribution system.
Supporting rural households with 30-50 days’ worth of labour wages.
Take help from the SHG network and ASHA workers.
Extending soft loans to households that lose wage days and/or incur
COVID-19-related health expenses
Rescheduling bank loan repayment cycles for SHGs and individual
agricultural debtors.
9. Conclusion
The paper discusses that despite showing tremendous
improvements in the public healthcare system, there are no specific
vaccines or treatments for COVID-19.
This paper also explored various proactive measures to curb the
present situation including continuing the supply chain of midday
meals, free ration to every reach of households and 30-50 days’
wages to all needy workers.
Other countries also follow Honorable PM Narendra Modi’s view to
delivered thanks to the health workers clapping and lockdown.
Clinical trial is being done in India and other Countries and shortly
we all will see the result by May end or in June 2020.
Acknowledgment
I am very thankful to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organisation
(WHO) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, for making the
resourceful material/information/reports available on the present Pandemic, Corona-Covid-19. This
information is of profound help to the mass.