COVID-19: 3.11M Cases, 217K Deaths and Counting - Essay Sample

Introduction

The coronavirus disease is an ongoing pandemic caused by deadly acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The occurrence was established in China, Wuhan town in December 2019 (Verity et al.). The condition was stated a public health emergency of intercontinental concern on 30 January 2020, and then an epidemic on 11 March 2020 (Verity et al.). The statistics as of 29 April 2020 indicates more than 3.11 million of the reported cases in 185 states, with more than 217,000 deaths recorded (Verity et al.). Besides, the statistics also indicate those who have recovered from the disease as more than 928,000 people (Verity et al.). The virus is mainly transmitted among people through close contact, primarily via small droplets produced when talking, sneezing, and coughing. People may also get infections through touching contaminated surfaces and afterward touching their face (Verity et al.). The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss the summary of the analysis of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Symptoms of coronavirus can be rather non-particular, and the infected persons could be asymptomatic (Ong et al.). The most prevalent indicators include a dry cough and fever, representing 68% and 88 %, respectively (Ong et al.). The less common signs are difficulty in breathing, vomiting, headache, fatigue, sore throat, amongst others. Further development of the coronavirus can result in potentially critical conditions like kidney failure, septic shock, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia. Some of those who have contracted the disease can be asymptomatic, showing no medical signs, but tests confirm infection. Concerning this, scientists have regularly advised those with close interaction with infected people to be carefully examined and monitored to rule out infection (Ong et al.). Some information regarding how the disease is transmitted is still being determined. Studies have found this disease to be mainly spread through close contact with infected persons. Both saliva and sputum can carry substantial viral loads. Coronavirus is most infectious within the first three days after the inception of signs; however, the transmission has been recorded before signs are observable and in later stages of the disease (Ebrahim et al.).

Coronavirus can be conditionally diagnosed based on the symptoms and established using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) examination of the infected samples or CT imaging of the chest. The typical test for the existing infection with SARS-CoV-2 uses RNA examination of respiratory secretions taken with the aid of nasopharyngeal swab, although it is necessary to test other samples (Ong et al.). This kind of examination uses real-time rRT-PCR, which detects the existence of viral RNA fragments. Various companies and laboratories are creating serological tests, which distinguish antibodies formed by the body to curb infection. However, none of these examinations has been adequately verified to be accepted for substantial use (Ong et al.).

Various measures have been put in place to prevent transmission, including self-isolation, social distancing, respiratory hygiene, and wearing face masks, surface cleaning, hand washing, among others. Hand washing is suggested to control the transmission of this pandemic (Phelan et al. 709). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people should often wash hands with soap and clean running water for about twenty seconds, particularly after visiting the toilet or when hands are dirty. This is because the virus is eliminated by soap outside the human body. Surface cleaning is also another strategy. Surfaces can be decontaminated with various solutions like 62 -71 percent ethanol to suppress the virus on those surfaces. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that people cover their nose and mouth using face masks to limit the volume of expiratory droplets emitted when coughing, sneezing, and talking. Masks have also been suggested for those taking care of the infected (Phelan et al. 709).

Social distancing is a measure that includes infection control practices intended to reduce the transmission of disease by minimizing close contact among people. These methods include travel restrictions, quarantines, and closing of shopping centers, theatres, stadiums, workplaces, and schools (Ebrahim et al.). People may practice social distancing through avoiding congregations, staying within their homestead, limiting too many travels and by using non-contact greetings. Many countries are recommending and authorizing social distancing in areas mostly affected the pandemic. Non-compliance with physical distancing measures in some areas has led to the rapid transmission of the coronavirus (Ebrahim et al.).

Strategies for the prevention of the spread include mitigation and suppression or containment. Containment is commenced in the initial phases of the occurrence. It focuses on tracing and isolating those infected and introducing other means of controlling infection from spreading to the rest of the people (Ebrahim et al.). When it is impossible to curb the transmission of the virus, then efforts are directed to the mitigation phase to slow the rate of spreading and reduce its impacts on the society and healthcare system. Both mitigation and containment can be carried out in the same period. Suppression requires undertaking extreme strategies to converse the outbreak by reducing the primary reproduction number to less than 1 (Ebrahim et al.).

Contact tracing is an essential way for health agencies to establish the basis of infection and to control further transmission (Ong et al.). The governments have been using location data from mobile phones to trace the victims. Various mobile phone applications have been proposed and implemented for voluntary use; however, this measure has prompted confidentiality concerns. Concerning this, expert groups have been working on privacy-oriented solutions, including using Bluetooth to record proximity to other cell phone users. Users who might be in close contact with the person who has subsequently confirmed to contract the coronavirus will then receive a message guiding on possible measures to take (Ong et al.).

World Health organization describes increasing capacity and integrating healthcare for coronavirus patients as a basic outbreak response strategy. Besides, it has also issued guidelines for essential healthcare services and hospitals for utilizing resources, especially laboratory services regarding coronavirus testing, guiding elective processes where possible, isolating and separating that testing positive for COVID-19 and increasing intensive care facilities by training individuals and availing more beds and ventilators (Ebrahim et al.). As of 29 April, 2020, there are no particular antiviral medications approved for coronavirus (Ebrahim et al.). However, development efforts are ongoing, including an evaluation of the existing medications. Various approved compounds that have been used for treating related viral infections are currently undergoing investigation for use in treating the coronavirus (Ebrahim et al.).

Conclusion

In conclusion, coronavirus disease is an ongoing infectious disease that is caused by the newly discovered coronavirus. The most prevalent symptoms include a dry cough and fever, representing 68% and 88 %, respectively. The less common signs are difficulty in breathing, vomiting, headache, fatigue, sore throat, amongst others. Coronavirus can be conditionally diagnosed based on the symptoms and established using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) examination of the infected samples or CT imaging of the chest. Various measures have been put in place to prevent transmission, including self-isolation, social distancing, respiratory hygiene, and wearing face masks, surface cleaning, hand washing, among others. There are no particular antiviral medications approved for coronavirus as of 29 April, 2020, but development efforts are ongoing, including evaluation of the existing medications used in treating related viral infections. People should follow the guidelines provided by WHO to stop the spread of the pandemic.

Work Cited

Ebrahim, Shahul H., et al. "Covid-19 and community mitigation strategies in a pandemic." (2020). Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m1066

Ong, Sean Wei Xiang, et al. "Air, surface environmental, and personal protective equipment contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a symptomatic patient." Jama (2020). Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2762692

Phelan, Alexandra L., Rebecca Katz, and Lawrence O. Gostin. "The novel coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China: challenges for global health governance." Jama 323.8 (2020): 709-710. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2760500

Verity, Robert, et al. "Estimates of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis." The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2020). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309920302437