Exponential growth impact of COVID-19 pandemic-world scenario, preventive measures and drug preferences (Preprint)
Authors: K V Aneesh Kumar 
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of today, 17 May 2020 around 3,16,520 death and 47,99,266 coronavirus infected cases are reported worldwide. There is about 26,25,463 active cases are now under treatment and several lakhs of people are under quarantine. Therefore, an attempt has been made to explain briefly about the characteristics of the virus, current review, COVID-19 symptoms, precautions, available vaccines etc. In addition, a case study was also conducted to provide the dangerous picture of drastic growth of infected people around the world during the span of time.

OBJECTIVE

World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the COVID-19 outbreak as a global public health emergency and pandemic, spreading fast with an increasing number of infected patients worldwide. At present, no vaccines are available for the treatment of patients with COVID_19 disease. A case study was conducted to provide the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the world to inculcate the awareness of maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene. This effort is made in view of providing awareness to the public effectively to understand and deal with the novel coronavirus situation worldwide. It is also anticipated to provide a reference to future advances in medical anti-virus related studies.

METHODS

A case study was conducted to provide the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the globe. For our study, we preferred five most coronavirus effected countries in the world viz., China, Itali, USA, Spain, India in the month of February and March 2020, and later extended to 17 May 2020. Based on the current published evidence, we precisely summarize the disease, characteristics of the virus, current world scenario, available treatment options and preventive measures to be taken against COVID-19.

RESULTS

Effort is made in view of providing awareness to the public effectively to understand and deal with the novel coronavirus situation worldwide.The medicines like Remdesivir, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, Ritonavir/Lopinavir and combined with Interferon beta are the experimental treatments currently being researched. Treatment with Lopinavir and Ritonavir or Chloroquine should be recommended in older patients with serious symptoms. The main risk factor of COVID-19 is travel and exposure to the virus. Lockdown, quarantine and thereby maintaining the ‘social distancing’ are the suitable method for controlling the out spread of coronavirus. Moreover, it is individual’s responsibility to take prompt measures to control the fast spreading of this virus disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 disease is spreading fast uncontrolled with an increasing number of infected patients worldwide. Our case study details the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the globe. The exact source, characteristics of the virus is unknown and no suitable drugs have been developed as of today. Symptomatic treatments are available and the list is provided, no need to panic. Conclusion is to inculcate the awareness of maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene. Anticipated to provide a reference to future advances in medical antivirus related studies.