COVID-19: The Enemy of Mankind

Photo: CDC (original), Mapystics (rendering)

No, it won't go away in April with the heat. No, a solid flu vaccine won't have an impact on it. But, it is controllable, preventable and curable.

MAR 07, 2020 |

The COVID-19, like MERS and SARS, is a betacoronavirus of bat origin. But, the global impact of the novel coronavirus is already an order of magnitude higher than both MERS and SARS combined. It has only been 3 months since the coronavirus outbreak started in China, but the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide is now more than 12 times that of MERS (after a year) and SARS (after almost 8 months) combined, and the number of reported deaths so far is more than 7 times that of MERS and SARS combined. In a BBC interview, the Chinese ambassador to Britain aptly called the novel coronavirus "the enemy of mankind".

Photo: Pixabay

As of March 7th, China has 80,813 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus infections, 3,073 of which have resulted in deaths. Geographically speaking, confirmed cases have been reported in all provinces across China, as shown in the Coronavirus Outbreak map below (note that this map will be updated as new data becomes available) and deaths have been reported in most provinces across China, as shown in the Coronavirus Outbreak, Deaths map below (note that this map will also be updated as new data becomes available). The Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, has the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, 67,666, and the largest number of COVID-19 related deaths, 2,959.

An additional 21,114 novel coronavirus infections have been confirmed outside China as of March 7th, bringing the total the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world to 101,927. Countries that have confirmed novel coronavirus infections are shown in the Coronavirus Outbreak world map below (note that this map will be updated as new data becomes available). Further, 3,633 deaths from novel coronavirus infections have been reported outside China as of March 7th, bringing the total the number of COVID-19 related deaths around the world to 6,706. Countries that have reported novel coronavirus related deaths are shown in the Coronavirus Outbreak, Deaths world map below (note that this map will also be updated as new data becomes available).

While the governments of affected countries are declaring emergencies and imposing travel restrictions, some of their leaders are busy downplaying the seriousness of the situation for their political sustenance. The public, on the other hand, is confused, worried, and hoarding masks. The COVID-19 may or may not become the numero uno enemy of mankind, but it sure has changed us. But, has it changed us for the better? Are we working on not touching our face unnecessarily? Are we frequently washing our hands with soap and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds? Are we using a hand sanitizer when we can’t use soap and water? Are we watching out for symptoms and warning signs and seeking medical attention when in doubt? If you are not already doing these, you should start right now! Because, and in the words of the same Chinese ambassador who called the novel coronavirus “the enemy of mankind”, the COVID-19 after all “is controllable, is preventable, is curable”.

Photo: Pexels

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