Covid-19 Pandemic

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What is corona virus?

Corona virus is the name of a family of viruses that generally attack the respiratory tract. Most of the corona virus family members cause mild respiratory disease symptoms such as salesma or common cold. One of the nature of viruses is mutation. Mutations are changes in DNA that occur when a virus replicates (reproduces itself). The results of this mutation resulted in several new strains of the corona virus which are known to cause symptoms of severe respiratory disease.

In November 2002 in China an outbreak of a lung infection (pneumonia) called Severe Acute Respiratory Sundrome (SARS) was caused by the SARS-CoV virus which is a new strain of the corona virus family. SARS became an outbreak in 2003 with a mortality rate of 11%.

After a decade, in 2012, a new virus strain from the corona virus family first appeared in the Middle East and caused severe respiratory infections with a mortality rate reaching 35% higher than the mortality rate by the virus that causes SARS. The disease is called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the virus that causes it is called MERS-CoV.

In December 2019, a new strain of the corona virus returned. Covid-19 as we know the disease caused by a new strain of virus from the corona virus family. Genetically this virus is related to the virus that caused the SARS outbreak that occurred in 2003 so this new strain was named SARS-CoV-2. Covid-19 and announced as the name of a new disease and declared a pandemic by WHO in March 2020.

Beginning in 2020 Covid-19 became a health problem for almost all countries in the world (pandemic). As of this writing, Covid-19 is still a health problem in several countries in the world. The number of positive cases continues to increase even in some countries already experiencing a second wave of pendemic. Covid-19 is not just a health problem. Overcoming the spread of the disease forced most of the countries in the world to isolate and limit the activities of its citizens (lock down) which impacted on the economic problems of almost all countries in the world including Indonesia.

Why is co-19 a pandemic?

From some of the new strains of the corona virus cause severe respiratory symptoms. Mutations cause this new strain to have a variety of different characteristics. SARS and MERS demonstrate their ability to cause severe symptoms in a short time. Whereas Covid-19 shows a wider distribution capability. SAR-CoV-2 as a cause of Covid-19 is a virus that is "smarter" than its predecessor. This virus has the ability to reproduce itself and spread infection without causing infected humans to become seriously ill or even without symptoms causing humans infected with SAR-CoV-2 virus to be able to continue their activities and interact with other humans while spreading the virus. This is what caused the spread of Covid-19 very quickly and massively throughout the world. This rapid spread has implications for the capacity of hospitals. Many patients who need treatment due to severe symptoms do not get treatment and cause a high number of deaths. Although the mortality rate is lower than SARS and MERS, which is around 5% worldwide. However, due to the very high number of cases, the absolute number of deaths from Covid-19 is far higher than SARS, which is SARS 774 deaths worldwide until the end of the outbreak and as of this writing the number of deaths from Covid-19 was reported to be 509,673 deaths where the outbreak did not end yet .

Should we be afraid?

At present the community has begun to adapt to the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, of course there was anxiety and fear. Which causes turmoil in various fields of life. but over time the community has begun to carry out activities with regard to the Covid-19 preventive health protocol. With this condition we don't need to be afraid, we can move and move the economy again by staying alert by observing the recommended Covid-19 preventive health protocol. By always paying attention to the prevention health protocol Covid-19 in activities is expected to reduce and slow the spread of this disease. Sehinnga hospital capacity is still awake to deal with patients who need treatment and ultimately able to reduce the number of deaths due to Covid-19.

What needs to be done to prevent Covid-19 transmission?

The vaccine is known as the best prevention of infectious diseases to date has not been found for the prevention of Covid-19 infection. Some of the recommended efforts to do in the prevention of Covid-19 are as follows:

1. Handwashing frequently with soap or hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol active ingredients.
2. Avoid touching the face area such as mouth, nose, eyes before washing hands.
3. Not making contact with people who are sick, especially those showing symptoms of respiratory tract infections.
4. Disinfecting the surface of objects that are frequently touched.
5. Use a mask when on the move outside the home.
6. Do not leave the house when sick or lack of rest.
7. Avoid gathering at a distance of less than 1 meter.

Is it true that Covid-19 is a conspiracy?

Covid-19 is a real situation that we face today, the disease exists, the infected can be diagnosed, and those who die from this disease also exist, including health workers. We do not need to debate this is a conspiracy or not what we need to do is let us together make efforts to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 which is recommended starting from ourselves and still praying that this pandemic will soon end (aed).