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Character of SARS-COV-2, Economic impact, global health

Character of SARS-COV-2, Economic impact, global health

In December 2019, Wuhan, China, started recording cases of pneumonia with previously unknown origin. The disease caused by a virus was later officially named COVID-19.

A pooled analysis of patients, who reported with COVID-19 between January 4 and February 4, estimated that development of symptoms in those who show signs of the disease occurred within 14 days.

Individuals infected with COVID-19 usually present with uncomplicated or mild illness of upper respiratory tract infection such as dry cough, mild fever, malaise, sore throat, nasal congestion and headache.

Respiratory symptoms of moderate pneumonia such as shortness of breath and coughs have also been documented in some patients.
Severe pneumonia symptoms such as respiratory distress, tachypnoea, hypoxia, sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction and damage are also associated with severe forms of the disease.

There is also a critical phase which is characterised by septic shock, respiratory failure and multiple organ dysfunctions.

Diagnosis, management

Diagnosing COVID-19 is based on clinical manifestation, epidemiological history, CT scan, detection of nucleic acid, immune identification and blood culture.

A recent evidence has shown that the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is effective in detecting the virus in blood and respiratory secretions.

Several researchers are working to discover treatments for the disease. So far, over 30 potential therapeutic agents, including orthodox medicinal compounds, natural products and Chinese medical products have been identified.

Strategies for national responses focus on contact tracing, quarantine or isolation and promotion of public health interventions such as social distancing, handwashing and use of hand sanitiser (WHO, 2020).

Impact on global health

COVID-19 has reduced economic activities of nations globally and negatively impacted many sectors of national economies, including healthcare services delivery.

Richard Baldwin and Beatrice Weder, two health economists, have indicated that the uncertainties around the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the consumption of goods and services, with consumers focusing on goods that are critical to their survival.

These uncertainties will ultimately impact the healthcare sector, for example, in terms of supply of logistics for client care.

The availability of products, such as, personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser are a function of an effective supply chain for healthcare logistics.

Limiting the impact of supply chain gaps on health care will require global collaboration and the involvement of both the public and the private sectors.

Governments all over the world have tried to intervene by increasing public expenditure on health care and support for the vulnerable, as well as providing social relief for persons who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

This is necessary because loss of income can affect the social, mental and psychological well-being of citizens and this has implications on global health.

There is the need for the global community to collaborate in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

A collaborative effort in areas such as research, finance and healthcare delivery will help governments to limit the negative impact of the pandemic on their citizens.

The writer is at the Department of Physician Assistantship Studies & Public Health Unit,
Central University, Miotso.

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