Will lockdown eliminate COVID-19?

Chinese authorities detected a new outbreak of coronavirus disease in December 2019. The disease has spread rapidly across the world, affecting over 160 countries and claiming more than 12,000 lives.

There are now more than 260,000 confirmed cases-most outside China where the virus originated. Europe has now become the center of the crisis, with cases and deaths rising in an alarming situation.

The increase in the number of daily confirmed cases internationally has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the spread of coronavirus a global pandemic.

While due to tight measures against coronavirus the number of deaths and cases in China has dawdling significantly. The novel coronavirus has also spread in Pakistan rapidly and has affected more than 644 people and claimed four lives.

In keeping with the example of neighboring China, the government of Pakistan wants to lock down more and more areas of the country to control the coronavirus outbreak. However, Pakistani authorities are hesitant to take similar measures, claiming that the situation has not reached that phase. Prime Minister Imran Khan had asserted that the nation cannot sustain a complete lockdown as it is a developing country.

Meanwhile, the situation has changed as Balochistan and Sindh governments had announced complete lockdown and sought Pakistan Army assistance under Article 245 in order to restrain the spread of the coronavirus due to worsening the situation in provinces.

Will lockdown eliminate the COVID-19?

Urging the people to stay at home, European and other several countries across the globe have imposed complete lockdown to restrain the coronavirus. The coronavirus is a rapidly community traumatic disease while medical science still failed to discover medicine against disease. In the case of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the simplest defense, from public health in isolation.

Health experts and doctors believe it likely that there are several more infected, who have gone undetected and it’s probable the virus is even being spread by people who do not have any symptoms.

Efforts are in progress to find a vaccine against the diseases; however, even the most confident timelines suggest several months of scientific development before human clinical trials can begin.

 With no vaccine or treatment, the most useful way to prevent coronavirus’ spread is to limit transmission by identifying infected individuals as soon as possible and isolating them for treatment before they can infect others.

This strategy worked against the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic in 2003. Global and national health authorities are implementing the approaches used during the SARS crisis.

Similar to 2019-nCoV, SARS was a never-before-seen virus that spread to 30 countries, stirring panic and ultimately causing over 8,000 infections and 900 deaths.

coronavirus, like SARS, causes common symptoms such as fever and coughing and can only be illustrious from more routine illnesses with laboratory testing, the same playbook used against SARS could be adapted to counter 2019-nCoV contact tracing.

People who have been around someone with a confirmed infection should be identified and monitored. If they develop any symptoms, they should be isolated and treated until laboratory testing can be done to determine if they have Covid-19.

Government and the public should cooperate with each other during the situation

 The lockdown is needed to cope with the prevailing clammily; however, it is very hard especially for those who are working on daily wages, maybe the stoves of their homes will be quenched. So, it is essential for both government and wealthy people to take comprehensive measures to provide relief for deserving people.

It is noted that China with a combined population of over 50 million defeated the deadly coronavirus by obeying and bearing harsh situations for a long time. As a nation, It is our duty to follow the example of neighboring China and should join hands with each other to beat the situation.