Lockdown 3.0

Social Concern by Malay Kumar

Most probably everyone started this year by saying goodbye to 2019 and offering a warm welcome to 2020 just like other regular years. As usual, this year's first day was also spent with much joy gathering friends, family, and so on. 2020 was important for everyone for their reasons. This year may be a turning point for certain people for their studies, jobs, or even for their lives. Those people started with their vision this year. Though the first few days were completely normal, it did not take too much time to change the situation for the whole world. 

It was Thursday, 30th January 2020, and the state was Kerala. Where a man was sick and as a result of this he was tested positive for COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). Many of this country's population were completely unaware of this virus where some of them didn't even get the name here. But, it is a fact that on that day, the most dangerous virus entered India. The number of days the Indians have spent till now after that incident is not natural. Slowly this virus starts to spread among the population, with more population being infected by the rise in Coronavirus. And now it has become a major headache for the country. 

At first, 5 to 10 people a day were affected, then this number rapidly increased. Nearly 500 reported positive cases of Coronavirus found in India within a very short period, out of which 450 are active cases. As a result of this, India observed a 14-hour "Janata Curfew" under our honorable prime minister Narendra Modi on 22nd March 2020. Two days later the government of India announced nationwide lockdown for the next 21 days to protect the country from Novel Coronavirus, affecting the entire 130 crore population of India. 

We are in the most difficult period of our life, where everything is under restrictions. During this complete lockdown schools, colleges, offices, bus, train, flight ✈, cinema halls, temples, shopping malls, even local stores remain closed excluding raw vegetable shops. Only emergency services like the health department including medical stores remain open. People can understand it will affect our economy heavily but we don't have any other options but to stay at home and keep avoid public gathering. As there is no particular medicine for COVID-19, therefore social distancing considers only remedy for this. 

To make sure that people get enough food in this crisis period, both state and the central government already announce the ration package for the economically weaker section. In addition to this, govt already spent a huge amount of money on making the quarantine center. Plus all Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff are continuously fighting to protect people from Coronavirus. But despite all the efforts, the government could not stop Coronavirus from spreading. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then agreed to extend another 19 days of nationwide lockdown.

In the next few days, we will be completing 40 days of long lockdown but still more than 34,800 confirmed cases already identified in our country, of which nearly 24,600 are active cases, where we have lost more than 1,150 people due to COVID-19. That's because of almost 1700-1800 people are getting affected every single day nowadays. This extended nationwide lockdown, as per the order of the Indian government, is effective until 3rd May. Still, our most complicated condition demands that this lockout is extended once again. We all hope the GOI (Government of India) will once again take the right step to stop the virus and hopefully, we can see one more lockdown as a "Lockdown 3.0."

The outbreaks of Novel Coronavirus

Social Concern by Malay Kumar

Novel Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that can cause animal or human disease. It can spread from human to human. There are also many people carrying this virus but have no signs. That makes the situation even more difficult to control for the medical team. But people who have the symptoms can easily be caught by the medical test. 

The Coronavirus source is thought to be a common market in China's city of Wuhan. Where animals, such as fish, birds, bats, etc. are sold. There is a considerable risk the virus will travel from such animals to the human body. Though the exact source has not been identified yet, it is believed to be bats. Bats are also the cause of other viruses such as HIV, rabies, and so on.

The first people tested positive for Novel Coronavirus was a 55-year-old on Nov 17, 2019, according to China. Nearly 83,000 cases have been reported in China since. The  outbreaks in India first came when  on January  30th, 2020, a student from Kerala who had tested positive for Coronavirus  (COVID-19). However, he is recently recovered and released by the hospital after  the treatment. Yet, nearly 14,500 cases of COVID-19 has been found in India until now. Where we have lost more than 475 people so far. West  Bengal (affected - 255 till date) records the first positive case of coronavirus in March where an 18-year-old  man came back from England. He is also  recovered recently and sent home quarantine. 

Ever since the Coronavirus outbreak comes out, it's becoming a major headache for the entire world as people are getting affected by this dangerous virus from almost every part of the globe. Now the question is there any medicine to prevent it? The answer is no, not yet. However, those who are affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. 

Any individual can catch Novel Coronavirus from people who have the virus because the disease can spread from person to person through nose or mouth spreading small droplets. Such droplets can hit anything. Some people then catch Coronavirus by touching the objects or surfaces concerned. Therefore it is important to stay at least 1 meter away from a weak person.

The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and so on, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO also adds some patients may have pain, nasal congestion, etc. If someone has these symptoms then they should contact the doctors. Also, if you think you've got the virus you can isolate yourself by staying at home and completely avoid public gathering as this is the only way you can protect yourself.

The most important jobs are to stay at home, avoid public transport and wash your hands properly. Also, use hand sanitizer and mask for protection.