COVID-19: the biggest threat of the world
COVID-19: the biggest threat of the world
Sahar Abdul Karim
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The lethal virus ‘COVID-19’ has changed the scenario of the global village and compelled the subjects to stay indoors by following physical distance. But all in vain. Coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It caused many masses to leave their families and was laid to rest in China.

Later on, the virus spread globally resulting in a pandemic disease. Since then, it has caused a high rate of deaths in most parts of the world. Speaking frankly, the aforementioned disease is spreading hastily worldwide causing the rate of mortality and morbidity to an unforeseen level. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that there are no vaccines nor specific antiviral treatments for COVID-19, therefore, most people, who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatments. Definitely, the infected people experience soft and harsh respiratory problems. There are multifold old sick people who are using medicines for heart diseases or chronic diseases and they are said to be more serious when they are tested positive.

COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets. It enters into the body through the eyes, mouth, nose and mainly by touching or shaking hands with the infected persons. It has many symptoms, but the flu and fever are its most common symptoms. It desperately takes some days to be severely ill after getting the symptoms of Coronavirus.

Likely, the people aged over 60 years with underlying health problems are at the highest risk of this severe disease and death. The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted life and routines of people across the world. However, the administration has imposed lockdown to limit the blowouts of the poisonous virus. Work from home is the new reality for many businessmen as they fight to operate during these uncertain times. The schools and universities are directing online classes to complete their curriculum; social distancing is the new rule in grocery stores and E-commerce companies are making Covid-19 safe deliveries to their customers.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan is at high risk and conditions of coronavirus as the circumstances are worsened day-to-day. The first case of Coronavirus was reported on 26th February 2020 in Pakistan when a student tested positive in Karachi after coming back to the country from Iran. Thereafter, on 18th March, cases were detected in all four provinces. The most cases were recorded in Sindh whereas the most deaths were marked in Punjab.

Subsequently, the Government announced full lockdown in the county by imposing section 144 of Crpc, upon the increasing of the COVID-19 patients in the country.  But all disavail. The total reported cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan by now are 206,51. Sindh province has the highest cases about 78,267, Punjab has 74,202 cases, KPK has 25,380 cases, Islamabad territory has 12,395 cases while Balochistan has reported 10,261 cases.

Till 29th June, the confirmed deaths of COVID-19 in the country are about 4,167 whereas 95,407 COVID-19 patients have recovered. EFFECTS OF COVID-19 IN BALOCHISTAN:
COVID-19 is spreading in Balochistan rapidly as the poverty and lack of knowledge are the sole reason behind its increments.

Secondly, the masses of BALOCHISTAN are always left to suffer as they lack the fundamental facilities to fight with such dangerous disease. The best way to prevent and slow down the transmission of the coronavirus is to be well informed about it. But unfortunately, they have no access to the internet and other standard sources to be updated about any issue.
There are very few COVID-19 test kits available in the province.

In erstwhile, Government of Balochistan sent about 100 test kits in Turbat district which are said to be insufficient. And the other districts neither have sufficient kits nor other facilities. Similarly, the people of the province are destitute who get no facilities to follow the preventive measures proclaimed by the Government. They antecedently suffer to avail the basic necessities. It is generally recognized that one way to prevent COVID-19 is to wash hands perpetually and to get self quarantined.

Wilfully, there are so many destitute people in Balochistan who have no proper place to dwell. They don’t own a proper and well-made house to fully Quarantine themselves. In such conditions, the spread of the corona accelerates.
However, In Pakistan “About 138 healthcare professionals have contracted the coronavirus. Major chunk of infected health care professionals were from Sindh (61.5%), 18.1% were from Baluchistan, 8.7% were from Punjab, and 1% to 5% were from KPK, Islamabad, AJK, and GB.” “Out of 138 healthcare professionals, 48% were from age group 21 to 40 years, followed by 40% from age group 41 and older. Majority of the infected healthcare professionals are male.”

Most of the affected patients of COVID-19 are told to be male. The reason behind this is that male are mostly out of the boundary. They go outside to earn their livelihoods and get very much engaged in their earnings for their family members. They have no means to follow precautions given by experts.
To simplify, the story of one man is the story of all men. They strive hard to feed their family members and go outside to work in such risky situations.

According to a report, the COVID patients in Balochistan are aged 22 to 48 years, in Sindh from the age group 22 to 52 years, and in Punjab from the age group 22 to 44 years.
It is believed that old people and children are to be affected mainly by the virus as they have weak immune systems whereas the teenagers are least affected having a very strong immune system.
COVID-19 AND Economy of Pakistan: With the increasing number of the COVID-19 patients, the country is under the crisis of economic loss. Due to the pandemic, the GDPs have begun to decline globally bringing a huge decrease in global trade by dint of a stoppage in the supply chain followed by small sectors’ shutdown.

This has led the unemployment rate very high in the county.
The terror of fatal disease and the affliction of the economy have come up at the same time which are causing the economy of Pakistan under great decline, that is why, the government has failed to impose complete lockdown in the county by imposing the section 144 of Crpc in each part of the country.
Pandemics, however superficially looked at seem as if they are a health crisis, but studying pandemics from a historic perspective shows that they are more than just the health crisis. Pandemics have implications on each and every aspect of our lives which last not only as far as the immediate crisis exists but even decades and generations afterwards.

Throughout our human history, we have seen pandemics as agents of change. Be it restructuring social and economic structures or accelerating scientific and medical innovations. Pandemics have always turned the human civilization upside down.  The recent COVID-19 pandemic is no different than the historic pandemics.

COVID-19 has busted the bubble of immorality. Human life expectancy today is the highest, and it ever had been and maternal or neonatal mortality rates are the lowest. But, yet again humanity had come across a situation which had brought its wheel of progress to a halt.