Remembering the dark days of Covid pandemic

Hyderabad: It was in March two years ago that the first Covid-19 positive infection in Telangana was reported and a few days later, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a pandemic, capable of circulating across the globe, infecting large swathes of the population and claiming lives in its wake. Since March 2, 2020, […]

Hyderabad: It was in March two years ago that the first Covid-19 positive infection in Telangana was reported and a few days later, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a pandemic, capable of circulating across the globe, infecting large swathes of the population and claiming lives in its wake.

Since March 2, 2020, when the first Covid positive case of Telangana was detected in Hyderabad and March 11 when WHO declared it as a pandemic, over 46 crore individuals were infected globally, and close to 60 lakh have died of Covid. In India, over 4 crore people were infected and about 5 lakh died of Covid-19 while in Telangana, the number of Covid fatalities has been a little over 4,000.

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The pandemic has taught us a lot in two years. From the initial days of desperately seeking information and trying to learn the nature of the coronavirus, its transmission behaviour, virulence and genetic make-up, the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 now is far better.

In the early days of the pandemic, it was thought that the main mode of transmission of the coronavirus was through contaminated surfaces, forcing people to zealously sanitise every possible surface. As researchers started to understand the virus better, it became clear that it was air-borne and is primarily transmitted through aerosol transmission.

The pandemic forced us into research and innovation to develop indigenous vaccines, invent cost-effective diagnostics in the form of antiviral drugs, made us understand the nuts and bolts of how the virus behaves, which helped to develop universal treatment protocols and frame vital precautionary measures aimed at preventing transmission.

The Covid-19 pandemic also brought about a lot of behavioural changes too, as people for the first time, started accepting hitherto unusual concepts like wearing masks in public places, washing and sanitising hands, maintaining physical distancing, lining up to get vaccinated and ensuring that the elderly and persons with compromised immunity in the family receive the jabs first.

While so much has been researched and learnt about in the last two years, the coronavirus, however, has continued to remain a strong foe. Each time mankind came up with an innovative solution, like a promising vaccine, a cocktail of drugs like monoclonal antibodies or a strong antiviral drug, the coronavirus has improvised, mutated and morphed into new and more transmissible forms.

The risk of a future surge has continued to remain, despite vaccines, natural immunity and widespread knowledge about the behaviour of the virus. While we reflect on experiences gained in the last two years of combating the coronavirus, there is a sense of foreboding that we have not seen the last of the pandemic yet.

Covid timeline

March 2, 2020: First Covid case in Telangana

March 11: WHO declares pandemic

March 2020 to March 2022

In the world: Over 46 crore cases, 60 lakh deaths

In India: Over 4 crore cases, about 5 lakh deaths

In Telangana: Over 7.9 lakh cases, around 4,000 deaths

March 22: Janata Curfew

March 22: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announces lockdown till March 31 in TS

March 24: PM announces 21-day lockdown

 

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