Coronavirus COVID-19 is not the end of life, its just a beginning of a new chapter

Lucknow- The challenge for societies is to contain the spread of the virus and that is why we have to cooperate and support our society and government in every possible way that we can.

The chances of acquiring the infection depends on how governments and societies respond and how seriously they take it. If people follow the advice of some Muslim clerics like Ayatollah Tabrizian who advise applying essential oils to the anus as a cure or some people like Hindu Mahasabha leader Swami Chakrapani Maharaj suggests drinking cow urine as a prevention measure, we can expect big trouble.

Thankfully many countries like India are secular democracies and these suggestions are not followed by the mainstream. However Iran a theological state is obliged to follow the Ayatollah.

Is it any wonder that Islamic Republic of Iran is the hotbed of Coronavirus infections.

We humans are very resilient creatures. Just live life normally, some people may get infected all healthy people with some care will survive and humanity will emerge somewhat stronger and ready for the next global crisis which awaits us beyond the horizon.

The challenge for societies is to contain the spread of the virus and that is why we have to cooperate and support our society and government in every possible way that we can.

The illustration used in this article was, created at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the Virion, when viewed electron microscopically.

A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

No one really knows, but here are some facts.

The factors that lead to higher chances of fatality are

Age, pre-existing health issues with Cancer, Cardio vascular disease, diabetes, place of residence and work, government policies and their ability to enforce them.

Age factor

World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a global ‘snapshot’ death rate of 3.4 percent.

China has the most experience and The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CCDC) reported an age wise death rate of patients

80s - 14.8%

70s - 8%

60s - 3.6%

50s - 1.3%

49 and below 0.5%

WHO reports for other countries are

Italy 7% (the epicentre of the pandemic in Europe)

Spain 3.1%

CCDC study also shows the following fatality rates for people with these pre-existing medical conditions.

10.5% - people with cardiovascular diseases

7.3% - for those with diabetes.

6.0% - sufferers of chronic respiratory disease and hypertension

5.6% - for cancer patients was 5.6 percent.

If you fall into any of those categories, it might be time to start ‘socially distancing’ yourself to be on the safe side.

Gender factor

Males are 60% more likely to die from infections than females.