Abstract:
COVID19 starting as an epidemic last year (2019) from
Wuhan, China got converted into a pandemic within months
with its devastating ravages throughout the world. The
pandemic and its spread with its severity affected both poor
and rich countries equally, which had a larger population.
The measures taken by China, though, were initially
challenged and even termed against the ‘human rights’ for
the complete lockdown but soon were adopted by many
countries. Suddenly, the need for ICUs and ventilators in
them jumped throughout the world 1, the value and demand
for doctors, especially the clinicians managing the
emergencies was brought to the limelight ; all types of
borders within and between the countries were closed for
any movements and above all the social media became
active with all the myths, misinformation and warnings
about COVID19. The WHO, amidst all this chaos, took up
the steering role for addressing and managing the pandemic.
Various SoPs (standard Operating Procedures) were prepared,
which by and large focused on a) social distancing b) wearing
masks, and c) cleaning or sanitizing the hands regularly.2
Suddenly, the soaps, sanitizers, and masks became expensive
to the extent that at many places, they were not available.
All the intuitions or areas where there was a potential of the
larger gathering were closed, including offices, educational
intuitions, markets, malls, and even parks and playgrounds
were closed. Initially, it meant getting locked at home or
getting necessary essential items, including food from
someone else, or taking the risk of going out and getting
these essential items. The various scientists related to
Pathology/virology, public health experts, and health policy
and planners also joined the bandwagon to address this
pandemic. All the businesses, both local and international,
plunged, and countries showed a downward trend.3 Each
day, the number game of in-country and other countries
globally was flashed on TV and social media, giving the
counts of those infected and those admitted in the ICU and
the ones who died. Soon, we came to know some of the
potential risk factors and various theories about the natural
history of the disease and its multiple causations. Various
‘trials’ and/or experiments were conducted claiming a drug
or an approach’s success. Initially, a phase of denial and
conspiracy prevailed among many, including the developed
countries’ leaders. Lack of adequate emergency facilities
prompted the riots, protests, and criticism by political
opponents. Domestic violence, closure essential, and many
other emergencies and surgical services, laying off of workers
in various offices and institutions, were noticed, including
increased sufferings faced by the daily wage workers,
vulnerable population, and the poor