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News Topical, Digital Desk : Exactly six years ago, the world witnessed the onset of a pandemic that forever changed human history. In December 2019, the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Wuhan, China. Initially, it seemed like a common viral infection, but within a few weeks, the virus spread so rapidly that cases were reported in nearly every country around the world.
The situation had become so dire (COVID-19 Pandemic) that all countries had to impose lockdowns, close borders, and people were confined to their homes.
How did the epidemic spread?
COVID-19 spreads rapidly through tiny particles in the air. When an infected person coughs, speaks, or sneezes, the virus spreads to others nearby. This is why the risk of infection is significantly higher in crowded areas. Medical studies have also shown that the virus can remain active on surfaces for some time, further widening the scope of infection.
However, initially, people were poorly informed and didn't take COVID seriously. This led to a rapid spread of the infection, and within a few months, hospitals worldwide began to be overwhelmed. Emergency wards were overwhelmed, oxygen and medicine were in short supply, and health systems in many countries collapsed. The pandemic made it clear that the world was completely unprepared for any major health crisis.
Symptoms of COVID-19
The symptoms of COVID-19 appear differently in different people. The initial symptoms are similar to those of the common flu.
- Fever
- dry cough
- sore throat
- Headache
- loss of taste and smell
In severe cases, patients would have difficulty breathing, lung infection would increase and many people would have to be admitted to the ICU.
Although millions have recovered, many people still struggle with long COVID, which causes persistent symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and brain fog.
Lockdown and global measures
In 2020, nearly every country in the world imposed strict lockdowns to break the virus's chain. Schools, colleges, offices, and markets were closed. Only essential stores, such as medical stores and grocery stores, were allowed to open; all other markets were closed. People were unable to leave their homes for months. Public transportation was halted. All countries closed their borders and international flights were banned.
The global economy ground to a halt, millions lost their jobs, and millions more suffered from mental stress. Many who were away from home were forced to stay in their rooms alone. The loneliness of lockdown significantly harmed people's mental health.
Additionally, precautions like wearing masks, frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers and social distancing became a part of everyday life.
The race to develop a vaccine
In a major effort to stop the pandemic, scientists around the world scrambled to develop vaccines. Several vaccines, including Covishield, Covaxin, Pfizer, and Moderna, were developed in record time. The vaccination drive saved millions of lives and reduced the risk of serious infections. It became the fastest and largest vaccine campaign in human histor
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