“THE SMALL BUT TERRIBLE!
Many people could have been wondering what COVID-19 is, how did it start,
where did it come from and where did it get its name. How this very tiny thing that is
hardly seen causing great problems to all the people all over the world?
Reportedly, the new corona virus named COVID-19 is from the family of
coronaviruses that causes disease in animals has spread nearly to every country in the
world since it first emerged in China at the beginning of the year. As of April 20, 2020,
more than 2.4 million people are known to be infected and more than 165,000 deaths
have been recorded.
How did it start? It is believed that it’s from a wet market in Wuhan, China which
sold both dead and live animals including fish and birds. The original host is thought to
be bats which may have infected live chickens or other animals sold there.
On the other hand, various crazy conspiracy theories or fake news have been
circulating that the virus somehow escaped from a Chinese lab, either by accident or by
design. But according to studies made by scientists, it is categorically untrue. Its genetic
code is said to have linked it to bats, and which probably jumped to another animals and
passed it on to humans.
However, COVID-19 was named and announced by WHO on February 11, 2020. It
is a respiratory virus named by the ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of
Viruses) as “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2”(SARS-CoV-2) on the
same date. This name was reportedly chosen because the virus is said to be related to
the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003.
According to the report, this virus is spread primarily through droplets generated
when an infected person coughs or sneezes, through droplets of saliva or discharge from
the nose. In addition, a person can also be affected by breathing in the virus if he/she is
within I meter o f a person who has COVID-19 or by touching the contaminated surface
and then touching his/her eyes, nose or mouth.
The most common symptoms are fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing
difficulties. Moreover, in most severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe
acute respiratory syndrome, and even death.
Who is at most risk for the coronavirus disease? Based on the reported cases,
older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes,
heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
However, people of all ages can also be infected by the said virus.
That is why WHO advises people of all ages of all places to take steps to protect
themselves from the virus by proper and frequent hand washing, or alcohol –hand
rubbing, social distancing, use of facemask, cover the nose and mouth especially when
sneezing or coughing, avoid touching nose, mouth and eyes, and to stay at home.
It is said that there’s no specific treatment for the disease caused by the said
virus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and therefore treatment is based
on the patient’s clinical condition.
How’s the country react to this small, but terrible thing which greatly affect the
whole world?
“Stay at home!” Is the constant cry of the authorities and the people who are
affected if not by theCOVID-19, affected economically, financially, emotionally and
spiritually. Individuals and different groups of people have come out from their shell
trying to reach and help those people who are severely affected. ” Lockdown!” is the cry
of the others. Prayers, Biblical verses are seen in the social media. Some are, crying,
begging for help. Some political agenda took its place, taking advantages of the
situation, pulling down the administration, blaming and pointing fingers to one another…
etc.
In this unexpected, uncalculated, seemingly unsurpassable and undefeatable
situation because of the invisible virus, there is only one thing I have in mind. Nothing
on this earth that won’t come to an end. The government is doing the best it can, with
the help of the frontliners to prevent the spread of diseases to fight this COVID-19
Pandemic. Above all, God sees, God ceases, God is still in control.
How about you? Have you done your part? Stay home, keep safe, and pray..
