Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Today living in a safe and healthy environment is becoming a mockery. Wearing masks has become like our companion since the first phase of Covid-19 till now.
Living in today’s world is a constant battle. It seems like every other day there’s a new disease or pandemic that we have to worry about. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is no exception. This virus causes a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), and it’s been wreaking havoc all over the world.
Amid the Russia and Ukraine conflict, we are going to face the fourth wave of coronavirus pandemic. Recently, a new variant of covid-19 was reported in the Asia continent and a large outbreak is spreading in Asia. Now, the question is whether developed countries can curb the covid-19 fourth wave.
The storyline
Recently, once again the situation of coronavirus pandemic in Europe seems to be deteriorating. A few weeks ago, due to the reduction in restrictions in Europe, the situation of covid-19 once again jumped.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his words said that “We’re seeing 1.5 million new cases each day. Large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. A new wave is sweeping across Europe,” adding that some countries are reporting their highest death rates since the start of the pandemic. He also said that with new XE coronavirus variants emerging every four months on average, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from being normalized and has warned over as large outbreaks are spreading in Asia.
Mr. Guterres also called for governments and pharma companies to work together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere. The numbers have been constantly upswing with reported cases of 1.5 million each day. A new variant of covid-19 is flourishing across the Asia continent, which is also a warning, which is also a warning signal for the US, where cases of coronavirus have been sinking over a couple of months.
The World Health Organization sounded last week that the XE recombinant variant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and more than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since. According to the UK Health Security Agency, XE comes with symptoms such as running noses, sneezing, and sore throats, as objected to the original strain of the virus which typically led to fever, coughs, and a loss of taste or smell.
The number of covid-19 cases, hospitalization, and death rate has been surging in Europe. Over a video message to the GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment Summit 2022 on Friday, The UN secretary said that “One World Protected – Break COVID Now”, the gathering is a critical reminder that the “COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.” Notwithstanding, some countries reported the highest surge in the number of death since the coronavirus pandemic kick-off.
The UN Secretary-General amassed a fresh warning that “new wave in Europe, as new worries have emerged over the XE variant, which is highly transmissible. However, the world is anxious about new variants, the WHO’s weekly update showed a drop in cases for the second straight week.
There was a 16% decline in the Covid cases in the March 28- April 3 week as compared to the previous week, the world health body said in its April 5 streamline, “The number of new weekly deaths also decreased sharply stood at 43% as compared to the previous week”. The highest number of new weekly cases, according to the WHO, “were reported from Europe, Republic of Korea, Germany, France, Vietnam, and Italy. The latest update added a surge in the number of cases with the United States (4,435), Russia (2,357), Republic of Korea (2,336) and Germany (1,592) registered the highest number of deaths in the March 28-April 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, china’s financial hub in Shanghai announced another round of mass coronavirus testing to fight the outbreak. On Saturday, it registered 23,600 new variant transmitted cases of covid. The news agency Reuters of china wrote that shanghai’s reins to battle the outbreak have packed supplies of food and other essential goods for the city of 26 million, with residents also raising concerns about access to medical care. Besides Germany reported 22,647,197 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a surplus of 55,471 cases on Saturday.
Later on, France reported an additional upsurge in the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care as the country’s death toll from the pandemic marked rising. The European nation on Saturday registered 74 new Covid-linked fatalities. So far, 1.14 Lakh people have died due to the infection. The government around the world are taking action, but so far it not been able to curb the virus.
Status of India
With the surge of new coronavirus variant XE across the world, India has reported its first case of a new variant in Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of Mumbai announced on Wednesday that one patient was affected by the ‘XE’ variant while the other one was affected by the ‘Kapa’ variant of Covid-19.
Mumbai has reported 230 cases, whose samples were sent for genome sequencing, of which 228 are positive for Omicron, one for Kappa, and one for XE. Around 21 of the total 230 patients had to be hospitalized, however, no one needed oxygen or intensive care.
Twelve of those hospitalized were unvaccinated and nine had taken both Covid-19 shots. On Monday the centre spoke that there was no need to worried about the new XE variant of coronavirus after cases were registered in Maharashtra and Gujarat. NK Arora, The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chief, said Omicron variants of the X series are not causing serious diseases and do not steer a very rapid sweep in India.
He also added that “I would strongly request all those adults who have still not received their second dose and are due for their precaution dose to take it. Also, they should ensure that children aged 12 to 18 also complete the covid vaccination as recommended under the national programme”. On Friday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal acknowledged that the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was spurting in the Capital, but did not impose a lockdown or any hindrance to control the spike on a day the city reported 3,594 cases, an alarming jump of about 30% over the previous day’s infection tally.
India has registered more than 1.8 billion doses of vaccine so far, fully vaccinating 80% of adults and 94% have received the first dose. Along with the restrictions have been lifted, and much of life and business have returned to normalcy.” India is breathing easy,” says Dr. K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, a Delhi-based think tank.
The study by scientists at IIT has predicted a fourth wave beginning in June and peaking in August. They added that most Indians have acquired defensive immunity to the virus by contracting the infection or by getting the vaccine. Also, a majority of Indians are vaccinated – and many have had breakthrough infections after being jabbed.
The Bottom-line
This article discussed the potential for a global pandemic as the Covid-19 virus continues to spread. A covid-19 outbreak has led to the spread of a new variant of the virus across the globe. For the prevention of coronavirus, the world powers will have to strengthen the health care system by working with mutual cooperation. At the same time, all countries should practically by taking to international organizations and unanimously emphasize improving the health system.
