COVID 19 and its trauma, changing the World that was known!

The Original article was written on May 7th, 2020.

Let's get to the basics. What is COVID 19?

Most of us are aware what is a Virus. In a glance, it is a microscopic parasite which infects a living cell to reproduce. The only material available in them is DNA, RNA, a protein molecule and some fat bodies. When they infect the host cell, they try to inhibit the activity of the defence mechanism of the host to make a suitable environment inside the host. This suitable environment is called a symptom or a disease to the host.

A few of the common known viruses are Rhinovirus causing Common Cold, Zika virus which cause Dengue and Chikungunya, Polio virus which mainly affects the infants making a few parts paralysed and Influenza A & B Virus which are known to cause Flu.

COVID 19 is the official name by WHO (World Health Organisation) for the virus, Novel Corona Virus 2019 which cause Coronavirus Disease. It is called Corona Virus because of its receptors (Protein molecules, used to connect to the host) look like a crown over its body. We know 7 (seven) types of Corona Virus that infect Human Beings and the first such virus was identified way back in 1960's. As this strain was identified in 2019, it is called COVID 19 and is a mutation of the previous epidemic called SARS.

The common symptoms of the disease are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhoea. On an average it takes 5 to 14 days to show the symptoms after getting affected. The time required for identifying the symptoms is so extensive, infants and senior citizens (aged above 60 years) having mild defence mechanism are more affected.

Post 1918 during the World War 1, this is the biggest ever such catastrophe we have been exposed to. It has infected more than 3.5million people across the world with a death toll more than 2.5lakhs in the World (Numbers as on May 5th 2020). Due to this, WHO has announced this COVID - 19 as a pandemic.

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Corona Virus and the lockdown.

As the number of infections and deaths have increased rapidly, the World has announced a lockdown. The lockdown is not limited to international borders, and has extended to locality / area where a hotspot is seen. The only way people could avoid this pandemic as decided by WHO has been social distancing due to which people are restricted to their homes and also can move out only for buying essentials. Lets see a few important things which were affected during the lockdown.

Travel: As the lockdown is in enforcement, Government's have prohibited all the known four (4) modes of transport i.e. Road, Rail, Airways and Waterways for passengers, except for essentials and people with health concerns. This has lead to strangling of many people (especially people who have travelled from home towns to newer places for works)

Fashion: Trends during this pandemic, it has been wearing outfits matching masks. A learning for life is washing hands for at least 20 seconds when you come from outside, use gestures which does not involve a handshake and maintaining a minimum distance of 4 to 5 feet between people.

Crude Oil: With the unprecedented swings of the economy the crude oil prices fell less than $0 for the first time ever, this was because there was so much unused oil sloshing around that American energy companies had run out of room to store it.

In Sports: Every sport known to human being was either cancelled or postponed indefinitely to reduce crowding at these venues and risking people's lives. The biggest sporting that happens 4 years once, Olympics which was scheduled in Japan between 24th July to 9th August is now rescheduled to the 5th year i.e. 23rd July to 8th Aug 2021.

People Lives: As the lockdown is enforce, recession gets into act endangering jobs of people. As the economy is crashing down, many companies have taken a decision to offer pay-cuts to sustain during the zero revenue period. This has been the biggest known to us after 2008.

Countries of the World: All the countries have taken this seriously and are fighting in collation to overcome this pandemic and especially the economical effect which has been caused. Many government's have announced economic relief for companies, which has not been enough with the disaster getting extended.

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COVID 19 and the highlights in India.

India has moved into an enclosed shell, likewise other countries to reduce the impact of COVID 19. We have done well till the end of Lockdown 2.0 (i.e. till 3rd May 2020) in terms of number of cases that doubled improved from 6 days to 11 days against the World where the average was 6 days. Even the number of cases identified after 10 Lakh tests in India was 40,000+ cases against the top countries were 60,000+ to 1,00,000+. Let's look at a few changes we have observed specific to India

Work from Home: This is the new norm in India. Many companies are evaluating this option as a permanent solution which might help in reduction of OPEX. The major gainers of the situation are the video conferencing companies who are offering special pricing and free trial periods. Zoom Meetings have over taken Skype on data surge during this period.

Jobs and Pay: Similar scenario in India when compared to other countries die to economy crashing down. India is in a better situation as the government has directed all the companies to at least safe guard the lives of people by not to cut-down jobs. But Pay-Cuts have become a norm, as companies (the biggest ones including Reliance) are looking at safe guarding themselves for a financial stability.

Stranded People: As the lockdown is enforce, people especially workers and labourers do not have any modes of transport to reach their respective home towns. Governments are trying to take necessary precautions to protect them with temporary shelters, food, etc. There have been cases where people have travelled by foot or bicycled for hundreds of kilometres.

Politics: There has been no fights seen by Parties relating to religion, but they have unified to work towards upliftment of people especially the BPL (Below Poverty Line) who are at the risk of essentials not reaching them. I feel this should be the scenario for every party going forward as it would help in upbringing the state of affairs and a better country in front of the World.

Gold: Have you ever seen a rocket trail in your own eyes? If not, please search for Gold Rates between 11st December 2019 to 28th April 2020 on Google. Numbers have sky-rocketed from Rs. 37,700/- to Rs. 47,150/- for 10gms of 24K Gold. There have been rumours that the price would exceed Rs. 80,000/- in the expected months which would be a risk.

Bear and the Bull: Stock Markets have gone under a shock with the changes we are undergoing. Numbers started tumbling from 41,945 on 17th Jan 2020 to sloppy 25,981 on 23rd Mar 2020. Post such a trauma, numbers have been fluctuating drastically based on international Sensex's and has reached a high on 30th Apr 2020 to 33,717. With government trying to revive the economy, numbers are expected to reach the golden era sooner or later.

Dine-Ins to Take-aways: Restaurants had been instructed for a complete shutdown, but slowly they were allowed to open for take-aways and deliveries. Based on this, many brands especially came up with 'No Contact Delivery', a new trend in making. Everyone is hoping to see their favourite restaurants to open doors and serve them soon.

The well known Tax-Payers: Yes this had been a speculation for a long time due to the lockdown. Every state government was trying to revive the bars (only for take-aways) thinking it would generate economy for the government which gave such much of reliefs. No doubt when it opened back on 4th May, the long queues that stood metres far showed it does matter and they generate economy for the government.

The saviours: Other than the hospitals and pharmacy, we did have some superhero in form of Neighbourhood Kirana Stores who stood at their stores selling essentials during the hard times, especially where e-com companies couldn't deliver most of the things. Hats' off to them and it is time we change our support towards them. Likewise we did see Petrol Bunks as well supporting the people running around trying to help people in need.

Television: It played a major role during the lockdown, especially when Mann Ki Baat was about to play, as people were eager to get back to their lives, but in vain. Other than this, it was the time Doordarshan played its epic (our childhood) so called series i.e. Mahabharat and Ramayan after 32 and 33 years respectively. This broke the all time record of TRP's across the world with 7 crores viewership. Hats-off!!

What's in News: After all this, we did have some good and bad news that happened. A few listed below:

22nd March - Tablighi Jamaat which hosted a religious with international travellers, event turned out to be a hotspot.

8th April - India was threatened by US for delivery of Hydroxychloroquine, but India turned out to be a sweet saviour which was acknowledged by USA as well.

22nd April - Facebook made a major deal with Reliance Jio by buying 9.9% shares worth Rs. 43,574 crores) which is expected to change the digital industry in India.

23rd April - There was an attack on one of the biggest journalist i.e. Arnab Goswami

29th April and 30th April - We lost two great faces who took Indian Cinema to the World i.e. Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor respectively.

Government means Of the People, By the People and For the People: A true incident which occurred thrice during the lockdown when asked by the honourable Prime Minister, i.e. March 22nd were people stood at their balconies / infront of houses at 5PM to clap for all the saviours during the hardship, then on 5th April when people lighted diyas and switched off lights for the saviours again and finally on 4th May by the Amred Forces (i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force) showering gratitude in their respective manner to honour the health care workers.

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Thank you for reading through this jest of the COVID-19 scenario. Incase you have any queries or want to add anything more, please feel free share it on the below query box. I shall respond as much as I can and true to my will.

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!