Nursing Assignment COVID-19

Findings - Coronavirus

Coronavirus has been identified as a Pandemic by WHO. As of March 17th, 2020, there are 180,159 cases worldwide, which includes 7,103 deaths ("COVID-19", 2020b). China, from where it all started, has 80,881 confirmed cases and 3,226 deaths by March 17th, 2020. The United States witnessed the delayed impact of this disease. As of March 19th, 2020, total number of positive cases in the US were 10,000 in which total deaths were 140 (Twohey, Eder & Stein, 2020). In the United States, coronavirus cases have been found in all 50 states. After two weeks of identification of disease in the country, the first PCR test was developed. At present it is part of WHO’s recommended protocol. Around 2 million tests are likely to be available to around 2,000 labs by this week. The goal is to at least conduct 1000 tests per day and deliver tests in around 24 hours.

Coronavirus outbreak is continuously impacting lives around the world. Several countries  around the world including the US, UK, India and European countries have closed bars, restaurants, schools, offices, railways, airlines, and stores in various cities. As per UNESCO data, so far 56 countries are in lockdown and it has impacted 516.6 million children and youth. Restrictions have been placed on people movement at public places and gathering at one place in more than an allowed number of individuals. Italy has been on complete lockdown. As per 19th March, 2020 report, total death toll in Italy had gone up to 3,405 (Noack et al, 2020). In China, however, the situation has somewhat come into control. As per the latest report, China reported no new cases on 19th March, 2020. It seems that this country has now more threat from incoming individuals than inside. Countries around the world have ramped up security measures to ensure that the travellers do not bring viruses into the country and skip monitoring hidden. India, despite being the world's second populous nation after India, is somehow performing acceptably well on containing the virus. Till March 19th, India had reached only 194 positive cases and only four people had died. As of March 19th, 2020, the total number of cases around the world reached 213,254, and death count went to 8,843 ("COVID-19", 2020b).

Several tests are being run in several countries by the researchers but so far no cure has been found yet. In some countries a combination of malarial drug chloroquine and HIV drugs have been tried, but no conclusive evidence has come. At present, the only solution to prevent oneself from getting this virus is to stay isolated from public places and not to come in physical contact with individuals who are showing coronavirus symptoms such as dry cough, fever, sore throat, fever, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. Individuals who are being found by the public health officials to be having the disease are being quarantined for at least 14 day (WHO, 2020). It has been asserted by the researchers that the incubation period of Covid-19 is five days. However, taking measures for 14 days seems appropriate to ensure no chances are spared. 

References

COVID-19. (2020a). Retrieved 19 March 2020, from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china

COVID-19. (2020b). Retrieved 19 March 2020, from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china

Noack, R., Horton, A., Iati, M., Kornfield, M., & Berger, M. (2020). Italy surpasses China’s coronavirus death toll. Retrieved 19 March 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/19/coronavirus-latest-news/

Twohey, M., Eder, S., & Stein, M. (2020). Need a Coronavirus Test? Being Rich and Famous May Help. Retrieved 19 March 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/coronavirus-testing-elite.html

WHO. (2020). Considerations for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Retrieved from http://file:///home/lone-horse/Downloads/20200229-covid-19-quarantine.pdf