The 2019 novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV), has been named SARS-CoV-2[1] and the disease it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The name coronavirus is derived from the Latin corona, meaning “crown”, because of the crown shape appearance around the virus particles. These virus are transmissible in humans and the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30th January 2020 and a Pandemic [2] on 11 March 2020.
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that cause respiratory tract infections that can be mild, such as some cases of the common cold and others can be more serious respiratory illness such as SARS[i], MERS[ii] and COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is the newest coronavirus identified in 2019 while SARS-CoV identified in 2003 and MERS-CoV identified in 2012 are some other viruses of this family.
- [i] Severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) disease
- Virus name: SARS-CoV
- Emerged in Southern China in 2002.
- Spread to 30 countries.
- Total cases 9,437
- Total cases of death 813
- [ii] Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS) disease, also known as camel flu
- Virus name: MERS-CoV
- Emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
- Spread to 27 countries.
- Total cases 2,494
- Total cases of death 858
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly used the phrase “Chinese virus” while talking about the pandemic, since the COVID-19 disease was first identified in 2019 in China’s Wuhan and became 2019-2020 pandemic. Attorney Robert Eglet, who represented victims of the Las Vegas shooting massacre has filed a federal lawsuit against China’s government over the new coronavirus, saying that the Chinese officials hid information about the outbreak and that U.S. small businesses should receive billions of dollars in damages. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of five Law Vegas businesses, claims that China’s government should have shared more information about the virus but intimidated doctors, scientists, journalists and lawyers while allowing the COVID-19 respiratory illness to spread.
In December 2019, a Chinese ophthalmologist, Li Wenliang, warned his colleagues in December 2019 about a possible outbreak of an illness that resembled severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), later acknowledged as COVID-19 and told his colleagues to take care that the the chat does not get leaked. Somehow later their chat got leaked and Dr Li became a whistleblower when his warnings were later shared publicly. The communications apps like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and WhatsApp were widely blocked in mainland China by the government in July 2017, since then they are using the country made apps for entertainment and communication purpose. On 3rd Jan, 2020, police from the Wuhan public security bureau investigated the case and interrogated Li, giving him a warning notice and censuring him for “ making false comments on the internet”.
He was made to sign a letter of admonition[3] promising not to do it again. The police warned him that if he failed to learn from the admonition and continued to violate the law he would be prosecuted. After the admonition, Li returned to work in the hospital and contracted the virus on 8th Jan from an infected patient and later on 7 February, 2020, the hospital announced that Li had died at 2:58 am from the disease, at age 33. The Communist Party formally offered a “solemn apology” to his family and revoked its admonishment of him.
The WHO posted on twitter saying that it was “deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Li Wenliang” and “we all need to celebrate work that he did on #2019nCoV”. The death of Li provoked considerable grief and anger on social media which became extended to a demand for the freedom of speech in China.
The #freedomofspeech , gained over 2 million views and over 5,500 posts within 5 hours before it was removed by the censors.
Leaked chat of Dr. Li with his colleague
So far US has reported most confirmed coronavirus cases and Italy has reported most confirmed coronavirus deaths in world. Confirmed coronavirus cases in the US increased significantly in the third week of March as testing was made more rapid and overtook China’s on 26 March. The first coronavirus case in the US was confirmed on 21 January, but the cases rose from the second half of February. Community spread and delayed testing has been a major concern to Americans as enough test kits are not available across states. Coronavirus continues to be severe in Italy, making it the most-affected in Europe as well as outside Asia. Italy has surpassed China and has witnessed the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the world. Travel to Italy and Italians travelling to other countries during the outbreak has been traced to have caused COVID-19 spread. An article published by the Guardian says that a generation has died in Italy and the Italian province struggles to bury its coronavirus deaths.
A comparison between the population, reported coronavirus cases and reported deaths from coronavirus in China, U.S and Italy:
U.S
- Population: 33 cr
- Total cases 1,23,776
- Total cases of death 2,229
Italy
- Population: 6 cr
- Total cases 92,472
- Total cases of death 10,023
China
- Population: 140 cr
- Total cases 81,439
- Total cases of death 3,300
The below graph shows the fatality rate by age given by Chinese centre for disease control and prevention
There are two main reasons why the above graph shows that the older adults’ are more susceptible to coronaviruses disease-
- First, they are more likely to suffer from underlying conditions that hinder the body’s ability to cope with and recover from illness, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- The second has to do with how our immune response changes with age.
Why was Italy hit so hard?
In Italy, 23% of the population is over age 65, compared to the US, where that population is 16%. 60% of the people in Italy are over the age of 40. Italy has a life expectancy of 82.54 years whereas life expectancy[4] in Indiais 68.54 years.
According to Italy’s national health institute, the average age of those who have died was 81, and many of the deceased had preexisting health conditions. Only one in five coronavirus patients is between 19 and 50 years old, making the older population significantly more impacted by the virus in Italy.
Conclusion
India has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25 and more than 65% below the age of 35. It is expected that, in 2020 the average age of an Indian will be 29 years, compared to 37 for China and 48 for Japan. How India copes with the current pandemic through nationwide lockdown and prevailing health services is yet to be seen.
[1] Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
[2]A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time
[3]a firm warning or reprimand
[4]Life expectancy is a measure of premature death and it shows large differences in health across the world.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51839944
By-
Amit Agarwal