The Globe – fighting against the Invisible Invader.

“This is not a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector”- Dr T. Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

COVID 2019 or Coronavirus Disease is now discussed across the globe. Even if you are clueless about COVID 2019, You know it exists taking thousands of lives with no race and no face, caring no boundaries.

The name Coronavirus is derived from a Latin corona meaning “crown“ or “halo”. It was first discovered in the 1930s in animals and human in 1960s.COVID- 2019 or Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). It causes respiratory tract infection that can be mild such as some cases of the common cold or lethal such as SARS, MERS.

On 31st Dec 2019, China reported its first confirmed case of COVID-2019 to WHO. But in Wuhan, China it all started on 12th Dec with its first case coming out with a “Mystery Flu” that put the health authorities on alert. Some reports hinted that the virus spread from a seafood market in Wuhan. The fact that several people who contracted the flu never visited the market complicated the disease’s origin. Soon studies in China reported that it originated from bats that jumped into humans and adapted itself to human transmission. The virus is a new strain from previously encountered one, was called Novel Coronavirus.

Novel Coronavirus started to spread and infect people in China as well as outside the country on a large scale. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO on 30 Jan 2020 with 6065 confirmed cases globally. Novel Coronavirus was officially named as COVID-2019. No sooner, WHO on 11 March 2020 announced the COVID-19 outbreak, a pandemic pointing to 118,000 positive cases in over 110 countries.

COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll on human life. Till date globally, the total number of positive 13,41,907 case, the total number of death 74,565 and with recoveries 2,76,259 are there. China being the epicentre of the pandemic is now in a controlled position with a total number of 81,708 cases and 3,331 deaths, the countries which got affected from China are now at stake and in critical condition with the US topping the list with 3,66,153 positive cases, 10,831 deaths with 19,522 recoveries. Second to the list is Spain with 1,36,675positive cases followed by Italy with 1,32,547 positive cases and 16,523 deaths probably the highest in the count.

Whereas, India a neighbouring country of China and second-most populous country in the world is currently on a safe position compared to others. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in India on 30 Jan 2020 from Kerala, a southwestern state from Malabar Coast, in a student studying at Wuhan. From this the count kept on increasing, affecting around 24 states and till date in India total positive cases are 4,281 with 111 deaths and 319 recoveries. The government was quick and rapid though late but effective. From one day “JANATA CURFEW” on 22 March 2020 to “COMPLETE LOCKDOWN” for 21 days from 24 March. India developed its own first testing kit of COVID-19 in a Pune based MYLAB.

“India had “tremendous capacity “ to deal with a coronavirus outbreak and as the second-most populous country, will have an enormous impact on the world’s ability to deal with it”- said Michael Ryan, WHO, Chief Executive director of Health Emergencies Programme.

But, the Global condition is not at all a matter to be praised with more than 180 countries being affected by COVID-19. At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatment for COVID-19 worldwide. Making people vulnerable in the hands of COVID-19. This battle against the invisible invader is coming to no end but we can’t lose our hopes or give up as positivity is the weapon for every battle to be won .” if winter comes, can spring be far behind?”.