The world of Tzu Chi June 2020 (Vol.123)

09 TZU CHI 123 later discovered traces of the coronavirus in the camels. The viral disease was named the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) after the region most affected by the outbreak. Those infected with the disease were characterized by symptoms of coughing, fever and shortness of breath. The transmission of MERS was limited to the Middle Eastern region, culminating in over 2,000 infections and a fatality rate of 35 percent. In late December 2019, the novel coronavirus, now known as the Covid-19 virus, caused an outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China. Within the next three months, the virus spread across the world at an unprecedented rate, prompting the WHO to declare the escalating Covid-19 situation as a pandemic. As of May 28, 2020 more than 200 countries and regions have fallen victim to the virus that had claimed over 350,000 lives and infected over 5.6 million globally. Researchers suspected that the virus resided in bats as its original host. The Covid-19 outbreak evolved into a global pandemic partly due to the enduring ability of the novel coronavirus to adapt to various environments. Furthermore, the symptoms exhibited by those infected with Covid-19, such as fever, cough and a runny nose, are similar to those of the common flu, hence potentially evading detection – which is particularly the case for those who are asymptomatic. In addition, the virus is transmitted through airborne respiratory droplets, enabling the virus particles to easily travel across communities and increasing exposure. The WHO elevated the status of the Covid-19 outbreak from an epidemic to a pandemic, defined as the spread of a disease that occurs over a wide geographical area and affects a significant proportion of the population. Avaccine has yet to be invented to treat or provide immunity against the disease, compelling governments worldwide to take decisive action to contain its transmission. On January 23, 2020, local authorities in Wuhan, China declared a city-wide lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 – the first large-scale, territorial isolation of its kind in the modern history of public health. Many countries and regions followed suit, enforcing various containment measures of varying degrees and advising citizens against participating in social gatherings. Mankind has been fighting a perpetual battle against viral diseases for centuries. The cumulative number of deaths caused by infectious diseases has even exceeded that of wars waged in human history. For instance, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic led to over 40 million deaths globally. The destructive consequences of the pandemic prompted governments worldwide to establish healthcare institutions and pay more attention to public health concerns. As we prepare for a post-Covid-19 world, how has the pandemic impacted public healthcare systems worldwide? Note: The field of public health encompasses efforts to defend the well-being of a community, including preventing, controlling and treating diseases, particularly infectious diseases; the regulation of food safety standards, the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and public sanitation; raising awareness on healthcare and vaccination initiatives. Are We Ready for the New Normal?