K.E.

CARMEL CENTRAL
SCHOOL
MUHAMMA

BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

2024 - 2025

TOPIC: COVID-19 ERA: REFLECTIONS & INSIGHTS

NAME :

REG. NO:
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the original and genuine

investigation project entitled has
been carried out to investigate about subject and the
related data collected and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily by
of class XII- of K.E. Carmel Central
School,Muhamma during his/her course of study at
the same time. I certify that the project work done by
him/her is an independent work under my
supervision and guidance.

Ms.RINI THOMAS
Ms.THUSHARA.M
Biology Lecturer Biology Lecturer
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the original and genuine

investigation project entitled has
been carried out to investigate about subject and the
related data collected and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily by
of class XII- of K.E. Carmel Central
School, Muhamma during his/her course of study at
the same time.

External Examiner
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The project entitled is done

as per CBSE syllabus which is a part of the
curriculum.
I thank the Almighty for showering his blessings
upon me to complete the project successfully on time.
I am also thankful to our honourable principal Fr.
Dr.Samjy Vadakkedom CMI for allowing me to use
the facilities at the school extensively for the
completion of project. I am also thankful to my
biology teachers, Ms.Rini Thomas and Ms.Thushara
M., whose valuable guidance has served as a major
contribution towards the completion of the project. I
also express my sincere thanks to my parents and all
my friends who have helped me in making this
project successful.

Name of the student

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the original and genuine

investigation project entitled has
been carried out to investigate about subject and the
related data collected and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily by
of class XII- of K.E. Carmel Central School,
Muhamma during his/her course of study at the
same time.

Principal
Fr. Dr. SAMJY VADAKKEDOM, CMI
 INDEX

CONTENT PAGE NO

�Certificate (principal )……………………………………...

�Certificate (biology teachers)…………………...........
�Acknowledgment …………………………………………….
�Index………………………………………………………………..
�Introduction …………………………………………………….
�Aim and objective ……………………………………………
�History of covid-19…………………………………………..
�Data shows the efficacy of multiple vaccines …..
�Covid -19 precautions, symptoms, causes, and
Treatment……………………………………………………………..
�RTPCR………………………………………………………………
�Covid vaccine…………………………………………………..
�Vaccination or immunisation……………………………
�Statistical analaysis…………………………………………..
�Interview………………………………………………………….
�Conclusion ………………………………………………………
�Bibliography…………………………………………………….
 INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-

CoV- 2, has drastically altered the course of modern history. Since
its emergence in late 2019, the virus has spread globally, affecting
millions of lives and overwhelming healthcare systems worldwide.
Understanding the origin, history, and statistical impact of
COVID-19 is crucial in evaluating its effects on society, public
health, and the global economy. This investigatory project aims to
explore the virus's origins, trace its rapid spread, and examine the
wide-reaching consequences it has had on people, from the
physical health implications to the disruptions it caused.
 AIM AND OBJECTIVE
AIM: "To understand the impact of COVID-19 and find ways to
address it, improving the lives of individuals and communities
affected by the pandemic."
OBJECTIVES:
1. Learn about COVID-19 and its effects on health, economy, and
society.
2. Identify areas most affected by COVID-19, such as healthcare
systems, small businesses, and vulnerable populations.
3. Find solutions to COVID-19 problems, including ways to
prevent transmission, support affected individuals, and promote
recovery.
4. Share knowledge and ideas with others, including healthcare
professionals, and community leaders. 5. Help communities
recover from COVID-19 by developing and implementing effective
strategies and programs.
 HISTORY OF COVID-19
The novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first
reported in Wuhan, China, in 2019, and subsequently spread
globally to become the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918
flu pandemic. By
September 2021, almost
two years after COVID-19
was first identified, there
had been more than 200
million confirmed cases
and over 4.6 million lives
lost to the disease. Here,
we take an in- depth look
at the history of COVID-
19 from the first recorded
case to the current efforts to curb the spread of the disease with
worldwide vaccination programs
THE FIRST REPORTED CASE AND THE INITIAL
REACTION TO COVID- 19
The first official cases of COVID-19 were recorded on the 31st of
December, 2019, when the World Health Organization (WHO)
was informed of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, with no
known cause. On the 7th of January, the Chinese authorities
identified a novel coronavirus, temporally named 2019-nCoV, as
the cause of these cases. Weeks later, the WHO declared the
rapidly spreading COVID-19 outbreak as a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern on the 30th of January 2020.
It wasn’t until the following month, however, on the 11th of
February that the novel coronavirus got its official name - COVID-
19. Nine days later, the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first person to die of COVID-19
in the country. The individual was a man in his fifties who lived in
Washington state.
DECLARING COVID-19 A PANDEMIC
11th of March, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO.
COVID-19 rapidly transformed from being a severe problem
seemingly confined to China, to a global health emergency almost
overnight. By this time, the situation in Wuhan had been diffused
following the introduction of unprecedented measures to contain
the virus. At the beginning of the outbreak, China was reporting
thousands of new cases per day, which had reduced to dozens by
March. In Europe, on the other hand, cases were rising rapidly day
by day, with Italy recording what was an unprecedented 250
deaths in the 24 hour period between March 12th and March 13th.
As a result, on March 13th the WHO declared that Europe had
become the epicenter of the pandemic. On the same day, the US
declared a state of emergency.
THE RACE TO DEVELOP A VACCINE
To tackle the pandemic strict measures were put in place around
the world. Social distancing and travel restrictions began to come
into force in March, along with advice on proper handwashing
techniques. However, these measures were predicted to only slow
the spread of the virus, scientists understood that to overcome the
pandemic, a vaccine needed to be developed. On the 17th of
March, 2020, the first COVID-19 human vaccine trials begin with
the Moderna mRNA vaccine. It was clear that initial restrictions
were not enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. Quickly,

restrictions in most regions became harsher, with the UK

enforcing a stay-at-home rule on the 26th of March. Many
European countries implemented their own national lockdown
around this time. By the 2nd of April, total global COVID-19
cases had shot up to 1 million. On the 6th of April, the WHO
released guidance on mask-wearings.
NEW VARIANTS CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE
PANDEMIC
Over the summer, many countries saw a drop in cases,
hospitalizations, and deaths due to the restrictions their citizens
had endured to prevent the spread of the virus. However, towards
the end of the summer, in August of 2020, the Lambda variant
was first discovered in Peru. To date, this variant has since spread
to at least 29 countries, according to the WHO. A month later, the
Alpha variant was first identified in the UK in September 2020.
The discovery of these variants was significant, it showed that the
virus was evolving. As a result, symptoms and disease outcomes
were changing. Evidence has shown, for example, that the Alpha
variant may pose a heightened risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes.
With the emergence of these new variants, cases of COVID-19
began to rise again in many countries and by the 29th of
September 2020, there had been 1 million COVID-19 deaths.
DATA SHOWS THE EFFICACY OF MULTIPLE
VACCINES
Vaccinations were developed in record time. On the 9th of November,
trials demonstrated the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines to be over 90%
effective, and the Moderna vaccine was proved to also be effective
just a week later on the 16th of November. Shortly after, the Delta
variant was first discovered in December in India. Concerns over the
potential increased transmissibility of the variants, fueled by a rise in
cases in some counties such as the UK, forced many governments to
once again reinforce lockdown measures to some extent. Finally, on
the 31st of December 2020, the WHO issued its first emergency use
validation for a COVID-19 vaccine, making the Pfizer/BioNTech
vaccine the first to be available for use. The emergency validation
was seen as a positive step towards making COVID-19 vaccines
globally available - a necessary step to ending the pandemic. Since
then, the Moderna vaccine and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine have
also been approved for use and national vaccine rollout initiatives
have begun with full force. As of the 27th of April, 2021, 1 billion
COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. The continued roll-
out of vaccines in all countries is vital to bringing the pandemic under
control and preventing future outbreaks.
 COVID-19 IN INDIA - A SUMMARY

The first cases of COVID-19 in India were reported on 30 January

2020 in three towns of Kerala, among three Indian medical students
who had returned from Wuhan, the epicenter of the pandemic.
Lockdowns were announced in Kerala on 23 March, and in the rest of
the country on 25 March.Infection rates started to drop in September.
Daily cases peaked mid-September with over 90,000 cases reported
per-day, dropping to
below 15,000 in
January 2021. A
second wave
beginning in March
2021 was much
more devastating
than the first, with
shortages of vaccines,
hospital beds,
oxygen cylinders and other medical supplies in parts of the
country.By late April, India led the world in new and active cases. On
30 April 2021, it became the first country to report over 400,000 new
cases in a 24-hour period. Experts stated that the virus may reach an
endemic stage in India rather than completely disappear; in late
August 2021, Soumya Swaminathan said India may be in some stage
of endemicity where the country learns to live with the virus. India
began its vaccination programme on 16 January 2021 with
AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) and the indigenous Covaxin.Later,
Sputnik V and the Moderna vaccine was approved for emergency use
too.On 30 January 2022, India announced that it administered about
1.7 billion doses of vaccines and more than 720 million people were
fully vaccinated.
COVID 19 :
PRECAUTIONS,SYMPTOMS,CAUSES AND
TREATMENT

 PRECAUTIONS
1. Wear a mask in public
2. Maintain social distancing (6 feet)
3. Wash hands frequently
4. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
5. Stay home if symptoms occur
6. Get vaccinated
7. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms
8. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
9. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
10. Avoid sharing personal items
 SYMPTOMS
1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Fatigue
4. Shortness of
breath
5. Chest tightness
6. Headache
7. Sore throat
8. Runny nose
9. Body aches
10. Diarrhea
11. Nausea
12. Vomiting
 CAUSES
1. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus
2. Spread through: - Respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing) -
Contact with contaminated surfaces - Close contact with an
infected person
 TREATMENT
1. Mild cases:
- Rest
- Hydration
- Over-the-counter medications (fever reducers, cough suppressants)
2. Severe cases:
- Hospitalization
- Oxygen therapy
- Antiviral medications (remdesivir, lopinavir)
3. Supportive care:
- Breathing assistance
 RTPCR

RT-PCR is an application of PCR technology, which is used to

amplify and detect specific DNA sequences. In the context of
COVID-19, RT-PCR is used to detect the viral RNA in patient
samples. Real-time RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase
Chain Reaction) is a molecular technique used to detect the
genetic material (RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes
COVID-19. This test is considered the gold standard for COVID-
19 diagnosis.

WORKING
1. Sample collection: A healthcare professional collects a sample
from the patient's nose or throat using a swab.
2. RNA extraction: The viral RNA is extracted from the sample.
3. Reverse transcription: The RNA is converted into DNA
4. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): The DNA is then amplified
 using PCR, which creates millions of copies of the viral genetic
material.
5. Real-time detection: The PCR process is combined with
fluorescent dyes that bind to the amplified DNA, allowing for
real-time detection of the virus.
 COVID VACCINE

GLOBAL COVID-19 VACCINES

- Multiple vaccines are available worldwide, including Pfizer,
Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson
- India is a significant producer of vaccines, with the Serum
Institute of India being one of the largest manufacturers
- Vaccination programs vary by country, with different rollout
strategies and coverage rates
COVID-19 VACCINES IN INDIA
- India started vaccinating in January 2021, beginning with
healthcare workers and expanding to the general population.
- Over 2.2 billion doses administered, with a focus on protecting
high-risk groups and achieving herd immunity.
- Multiple vaccines approved, including Covishield (AstraZeneca),
Covaxin (Bharat Biotech), Sputnik V (Russia), and Corbevax
(Biological E) - High vaccination coverage, with over 95% of the
eligible population (12+) receiving at least one dose.
VACCINATION OR IMMUNISATION
The principle of immunisation or vaccination is based on the
property of ‘memory’ of the immune system. In vaccination, a
preparation of antigenic proteins of pathogen or
inactivated/weakened pathogen (vaccine) are introduced into the
body. The antibodies produced in the body against these antigens
would neutralise the pathogenic agents during actual infection.
The vaccines also generate memory – B and T-cells that recognise
the pathogen quickly on subsequent exposure and overwhelm the
invaders with a massive production of antibodies. If a person is
infected with some deadly microbes to which quick immune
response is required as in tetanus, we need to directly inject the
preformed antibodies, or antitoxin (a preparation containing
antibodies to the toxin). Even in cases of snakebites, the injection
which is given to the patients, contain preformed antibodies
against the snake venom. This type of immunisation is called
passive immunisation.
 STATISTICAL ANALAYSIS

 WORLD

GRAPH 1 GRAPH 2
  INDIA

GRAPH 3 GRAPH 4
 INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW I
Interviewer: Thank you for agreeing to speak with me today. Can
you introduce yourself and share a little about your experience
with COVID-19?
Patient: Of course. My name is Sarah, and I’m 34 years old. I
contracted COVID-19 in early January 2023.
It was quite an experience that I’m still processing.
Interviewer: What were your initial symptoms, and how did they
develop?
Patient: At first, it felt like a regular cold. I had a slight cough and
some fatigue. But within a couple of days, I developed a high fever
and loss of taste and smell, which really hit me hard. It was
alarming how quickly things escalated.
Interviewer: That sounds tough. Did you seek medical attention
right away, or did you try to manage it at home?
Patient: I decided to stay home and monitor my symptoms for a
few days, thinking it was mild. But when my breathing started to
feel labored, I called my doctor. They advised me to come in for a
check-up.
Interviewer: What was the experience like at the doctor’s office or
hospital?
Patient: It was overwhelming. There were strict protocols in
place—everyone was wearing masks, and the atmosphere was
tense. The staff was amazing but clearly stressed. I got tested, and
the results came back positive.
Interviewer: How did your symptoms progress after that?
Patient: They worsened. I struggled with shortness of breath and
fatigue. I was prescribed medication and told to rest. It was hard to
feel like I was doing everything I could and still struggling.
Interviewer: Did you face any long-term effects after recovering?
Patient: Yes, I experienced what people are calling "long COVID."
I still deal with fatigue and occasional brain fog. It’s frustrating,
especially since I was always very active before getting sick.
Interviewer: How has this experience changed your perspective
on health and wellness?
Patient: It’s definitely made me more aware of my health. I used
to take it for granted, but now I prioritize self-care and listen to my
body more. I also appreciate the importance of community and
support during tough times.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to someone who may
be facing a COVID diagnosis now?
Patient: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help, whether it's from a
doctor or loved ones. And take yourself mentally and physically.
It’s a challenging journey, but you’re not alone.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for sharing your story, Sarah.
It’s important for others to hear about these experiences.
Patient: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share. I hope
it helps someone out there.
 CONCLUSION

COVID-19 has left an indelible mark on the world,

reshaping the way societies function and how
governments respond to global health crises. From its
origins in Wuhan, China, to its widespread impact

across continents, the virus’s effects have been felt in

nearly every aspect of life. This investigatory project
has shed light on the historical progression and
statistical realities of the pandemic, highlighting its
profound impact on human health as well as mental
well-being. As we continue to adapt and recover, the
lessons learned from COVID-19 will serve as a critical
foundation for managing future pandemics and health
challenges.
 Bibliography

 www.iaea.org
 https://www.news.medical.net
 https://en.wikipedia.org
 https://www.worldometers.info