The pandemic of 21st century - COVID-19

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND The global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease is mainly caused by the infection of Coronavirus 'SARS-CoV-2'. It is infecting persons of all ethnicity, race and community. Corona viruses are enveloped RNA viruses which range from 60 to 140 nm in diameter with spike like projections on their top. Coronavirus is affecting 199 countries, territories and international transport systems. Covid-19 is a recent pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 and now it is affecting the whole world. WHO declared this outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 infection is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets or aerosols of infected persons, and the incubation period ranges from 5 to 14 days. Viral aerosols remain active for 3 hours in the air, 24 hours on cardboards, and 2 to 3 days on stainless steel and plastic. Symptoms are usually fever, cough, breathlessness, sore throat, malaise and fatigue. In some people, it may progress to pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. People with heart diseases, lung diseases, cancer, old age, diabetics, Immunosuppressed, and pregnant women are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection. To date, there are now more than 2,732,701 cases of COVID 19 globally with more than 191,150 deaths. In India, total cases are 23,502 with 722 deaths. First case of coronavirus was seen on 29 January 2020. On 24 March 2020, the government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, after a 14-hour voluntary public curfew on 22nd March. India is one of the most populous countries of the world. India has the second largest population in the world. Due to the lack of vaccines, ventilators, targeted therapies, mass gatherings, the Indian government started lockdown, the largest exercise in the world with the second largest population. To reduce public movement, section 144 was implemented in many states. A full lockdown will help the collapse of the whole national health system.