Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that may cause a variety of respiratory
disorders in humans, ranging from common colds to more serious conditions including
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome.
COVID-19 is spread from person to person by direct contact with infected people or
through respiratory droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. It's also possible to catch the virus by touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes
after coming into contact with a virus-infected surface or object; however, this isn't
regarded as the major mode of transmission. COVID-19 was labeled as a worldwide
pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, implying serious global
spread of an infectious illness. There have been 118,000 confirmed coronavirus
infections in 110 countries at the time. In January, China was the first nation to see a
widespread epidemic, with South Korea, Iran, and Italy following in February. The virus
quickly spread across all continents and 177 nations (WHO, 2020).
The social and economic repercussions of the epidemic are numerous and
varied, ranging from school closures to destroyed businesses and millions of lost jobs.
Covid-19 has the potential to cause significant disparities throughout the world, as well
as hinder progress on global poverty and sustainable energy. According to UNICEF,
COVID-19 lockdowns have forced the closure of schools for more than 168 million
children throughout the world for over a year. Moreover, more than three-quarters of the
world's youngsters – or one per seven – have wasted more than three-quarters of their
whole schooling. According to the school shutdown report, 14 nations throughout the
world have stayed mainly closed from March 2020 to February 2021. Approximately 98
million pupils are affected by two-thirds of those countries in Latin America and the
Caribbean. Panama have left schools closed the most days out of the 14 countries,
followed by El Salvador, Bolivia, and Bangladesh (UNICEF, 2021).
However, impacts of Covid-19 are not only limited to education. The pandemic
has greatly affected the stability of the economy as well. It has prompted businesses to
rethink how they use contact centers, how staff offer meaningful customer experiences,
where they work, and how digital channels might help them stay in business throughout
the crisis and beyond. As a consequence of the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic, our
experiences as customers, employers, citizens, and individuals have permanently
changed, as have our attitudes and actions. For example, in Portland, Oregon, chefs
have shifted from dine-ins to meal pickups (Ringcentral, 2021). According to Dr.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh, people must also adjust the cities and environments,
particularly as public social and health measures, such as physical separation, are
eased or reapplied depending on local epidemiological research. It is critical that people
all think creatively and restructure the settings to suit the various requirements of our
emerging COVID-19 norm (Singh, 2020).
Even though it is difficult to predict the exact influence of the coronavirus on the
global economy, it is evident that it will be significant and widespread. The worst, it
appears, is yet to come. This virus is unlike anything that the world has ever seen
before, and it necessitates an extraordinary reaction. Obviously, in such circumstances,
the same facts may have been interpreted differently by various organizations. Once
humanity finally turns the page on this pandemic, there will be a need for a period of
reflection to properly comprehend how such health problem has developed and has
spread its destruction rapidly throughout the world.
References
Arriage, P. et al., (2021). COVID-19: The impact and role of mass media during the
pandemic. Retrieved from Frontiers in Psychology:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.7292 38/full
(n.d.) Covid-19: Schools for more than 168 children globally have been completely
closed foor almost a full year. Retrieved from UNICEF:
https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/covid-19-schools-more-168-
million-children-globally-have-been-completely-closed
(n.d.) How 10 businesses are adapting and evolving in the age of COVID-19. Retrieved
from Ring Central: https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/small-business-
adapting-covid-19/
Singh, P.K. (2020). Adaptation is key to meeting the many demands of our new COVID-
19 normal. Retrieved from WHO: https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/opinion-
editorials/detail/adaptation-is-key-to-meeting-the-many-demands-of-our-new-
covid-19-normal
WHO (2020). WHO director-general’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVD-
19. Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/director-
general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-
briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020
