Pandemonium is a bigger scare than the pandemic
Source: By Dr BS Ajaikumar: Mint
This is not what we expected when we entered the new decade. In China, nobody really predicted this would come, and the rest of the world never imagined it could happen to us, so we were caught off-guard!
Coronavirus has disturbed the equilibrium and is making people, markets and governments tense for the uncertainty it brings. With not much known except for the infection and death count, everyone has taken to social media to predict or advice, and this is intimidating more than the virus itself. The experts and the governments are trying their best to solve this and are coming out with solutions for people. Every individual needs to behave responsibly, and their actions need to speak. We all need to stand united though and ensure social distancing amongst other things.
A lot of people and experts are predicting the world is topsy-turvy, hammering the markets, increasing unemployment, and there is more of the panic situation- pandemonium at the top of a pandemic. We need to take a step back and recall a few years ago when SARS infection did create a panic; the ingenious brains nipped it. We will do it now as well. Covid-19 will get its vaccine too but it will take some time. Many doctors have spoken on this, and we have all reviewed various publications to find ways to cope with this new mutation.
At present, the most affected one is the ground staff who come in direct contact with coronavirus-positive patients. There is a risk to the general population at large but there is no real mortality risk. From what we know, children under nine years have no mortality risk. The risk among the youths is also very less so they will get immunized; and they will live with it.
But the issue is mortality among older people aged over 60 who are already in a compromised health situation. There may be smokers amongst them and they could be suffering from any of the health problems like cardiac, diabetes, lung infection, compromised pulmonary function -- they are the ones who are more susceptible. The government should focus on these people, isolate them, and see how we can take preventive measures for them. For example, there has been some write ups of using preventive medications. Can we do that for these people? Can we try and put them on immune boosters? And how do we isolate these people and take care of them? The other things we should do is increase the screening and isolating the suspects. This will keep the mortality rates in check, and it is important to be addressed immediately.
It is imperative on the ICMR to do a study and devise a national formulary for the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine as a preventive measure for healthcare workers, highly susceptible patients and the general public by fully understanding what the side effects are. Of course, the most important thing is to spread awareness and educate the masses at large, not only in cities but also to those residing in rural areas so that this doesn't become a major contagious disease further, causing health and economic impact. We have to see that proper education is pushed to the last man in the population. The government is doing an excellent job of disseminating information via mobile phones and it will definitely have a positive impact. With all the necessary measures taken, may be as a nation, we have become more hygiene-oriented and healthier.
Equally, we need to worry about the economic impact. Investors would now be susceptible to invest and this will lead to a severe unemployment scenario. The government needs to loosen its purse strings.
Poverty rates will surge and so will the crime rate. We immediately need a social security plan for the vulnerable. Bankruptcy rates could increase, people would be in turmoil which could lead to suicides. As China took three months and looks like they are coming out of this situation, there is no way we are coming sooner. Its impact will spill into 2021.
