Question

The outbreak of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) around the world becomes a serious issue in many countries. Please discuss how we can do to prevent virus infection? How can scientists help develop drugs and quickly screen infected people? Please describe what molecular mechanisms behind that.

Answer 1

Corona viruses is a group/family of viruses which affects humans as well as animals.

These group of viruses mainly cause respiratory disorders like severe acute respiratory syndrome etc.

Covid-19 is name of disease caused by the new form of corona virus. This disease was first found in Wuhan city of china, after that it is continually spreading in the whole world affecting people.

The main reason of spread of corona virus is that it can easily be transmitted from one person to another through the droplets coming out of nose or mouth of the infected person which can either be directly inhaled by the other person from air or by touching the infected areas where droplets were present. The spread of corona virus is very fast as you contact a lot of people on daily basis.

The spread of corona virus can be controlled if we take care of the things that are recommended by the doctors and health organizations -

1. Social distancing - it is very important that you maintain distance from people when you are outside as droplets from sneezing or coughing can easily be spread through air. STAY HOME

2. By frequently washing your hands - as stated earlier, coronavirus can easily spread from touching the infected areas, so you should wash your hands with soap or any alcohol based hand wash, so that the virus present on your hands is killed.

3. Don't touch your eyes, mouth or nose - never touch your eyes, nose, mouth directly without washing your hands because hands touch so many things and can come in contact with the viruses.

4. Maintain hygiene - well, dirty hands, not covering your mouth while going outside are some things that come under unhygienic habits. It is very important that you cover your mouth and nose with mask or even when you don't have mask cover it up with clean cloth because it will prevent the direct entry of viruses into your respiratory system.

5. Seek help - well, many people don't seek help when they are required to. Don't do that, it is very important for your own sake and others as well. Whenever you will feel any kind of difficulty in breathing, cough or fever or any other health problem. Don't be afraid and ask for medical help. It is not necessary that every cough is covid-19, it can be a flu.

6. Don't trust fake news or follow Instagram,Facebook or any social media information - there is a very strong chance that information can be incorrect or misleading like take this medicine it will prevent corona or pray with people together to remove corona or home remedies. Only trust authentic sources like World health organization sites, All India radio news or any authentic news source of your country. Not following Fake news can be a big support in the prevention of covid- 19.

There are many steps taken up by the government to help scientists so that they can invent medicine for this disease and also to help the health professionals to provide supportive care to patients.

- Governments has started basic training program for health professional like doctors, nurses, other staff so that they can treat patients as well as keep themselves safe.

- Government increased the supply of diagnostic test equipments to hospitals and also opening new laboratories in many major areas of the different states.

- Government is funding more in research like for development of new diagnostic tests & developing medicines &vaccines, portable vscientists .

- Government is providing the materials and equipments required for research by the scientists.

- Clinical trials are started by many health research institutes.

Even students from engineering institutions are provided with materials so that they can help in making portable ventilators or sanitizing machines like in IIT Kanpur, India.

The government had recognized all the hotspot areas where the chances of presence of infection are large & those areas has been sealed so that nobody can leave or enter into those areas apart from the general lockdown in which only pharmacy and grocery stores are open to provides basic requirements.

All the people present in these hotspot areas have been checked for the infection & people with positive diagnosis are isolated from others.

Helplines for medical help has been started nationwide so that anybody who seek help could be helped.

People who came from different countries are diagnosed before sending homes.All the public transport services has been closed.  

Close monitoring has been done in the high risk areas through drones.