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Alondra M. Vélez Avilés

Instructor: Tatiana Taylor Cruz

INGL 3103 – 023

31 October 2022

A Global Crisis: COVID-19

COVID-19 is considered the global crisis that began in 2019. It is defined as a contagious

respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This virus is believed to be transmitted

from one person to another through particles that are dispersed when an infected person speaks,

sneezes, or coughs. This has become a pandemic that has principally affected the health of

people around the world among other things. Through it, the population has adapted and

professionals have worked to improve the situation. This is why, through the pandemic, three

things have been taken into consideration: the beginning and origin of COVID-19, the damage

caused by this virus, and the population’s reaction to prevent its spread.

First of all, it started when a pneumonia of unknown origin was detected on December

12, 2019 in the city of Wuhan in China. However, after completing a study in February 2021, it

was shown that two months before the coronavirus was known in China, it was already

circulating in France. In December 2019, 27 cases of the coronavirus were reported in China, 7

of them were serious cases. These cases made it possible to identify that this virus was an easy

contagion from person to person. After The World Health Organization (WHO) had studied and

observed how this disease continued to spread, it declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on January

30, 2020. In the article “El País”, on March 11, 2020, Tedro Ghebreyesus, general director of the

WHO said: "We are very concerned about the alarming levels of spread and severity of this

virus." (Global Pandemic, 2020). This caused that depending on the cases and the situation of
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each country, a state of emergency was declared, as happened in Puerto Rico when the governor

declared a period of isolation and quarantine for the protection of the citizens and the economy

of the country. People needed to stay in there houses to protect themselves and others from this

virus.

Second of all, this pandemic has caused countless damages. COVID-19 has caused

collapses in the health system, partial paralysis of the world economy, forced academic recess,

among others. The Department of Health plays an important part in this pandemic case, since the

health of the population was being affected. In the BBC magazine on May 5, 2022 the WHO

says: “COVID-19 has killed almost 15 million people worldwide. Hospitalizations and serious

cases increased. The number of deaths attributed directly or indirectly to the pandemic were

underestimated." (The real number of deaths, 22). This made clear that the pandemic was a

serious problem in Puerto Rico and in other countries. This meant that the government together

with the population needed to establish a plan to prevent the spread. Unfortunately, the economic

crisis in Puerto Rico derived from the pandemic was seen in some sectors. The sectors that were

most affected were retail trade wholesales, hotels, restaurants, etc. In June 2020, " The Economic

Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean" (ECLAC) estimated that more than 2.7

million formal businesses would close in the region. In addition to this, the education took a long

hiatus before moving to the online modernity that not all students were familiar with. This

caused an academic decline.

Last but not least, the population had to respond in a certain way to the pandemic

situation. During this pandemic, various precautionary measures were established. Use masks to

avoid further spreading the disease. Avoid crowding, especially in places with poor ventilation.

Practice social distancing especially with vulnerable people. Vaccination to reduce the risk of
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contagion, death and hospitalization. COVID-19 tests were established in laboratories to identify

if a person contained the virus to keep a count and protocol with cases of contagion around the

world. It was established that washing your hands constantly and disinfecting with alcohol of

public areas plays an important role in preventing contagion since this helps kill germs that can

cause this virus. Also, professionals recommended the use of vitamin C since this vitamin helps

you protect your immune system. These were some of the measures taken in response to the

COVID-19 virus that helped some how to maintain control. Due to the pandemic, protocols have

been carried out within centers, schools, hospitals, among other public places, to safeguard the

health of the inhabitants. “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration” (OSHA)

suggests that employers consider adopting policies that require workers to be vaccinated or

undergo regular testing for COVID-19, in addition to the use of masks and physical distancing, if

they do not get vaccinated." (PR Legal Help, 22). Given the concern of this contagious disease,

the government of Puerto Rico established regulations along with this law so that the economy

and the health of workers would not continue to be affected.

This is why, through this pandemic, the beginning of this virus, its damage, and the

population's reaction to it have been put under observation. In spite of everything, thanks to this,

a better handling of the situation was achieved. However, today we continue to live under the

COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic was a challenge for health professionals and for society.

The passage of this pandemic caused unevenness in academics, health, economics and politics.

Although the cases of contagion have decreased, even today health professionals continue to

work to find different solutions that further reduce this virus. Professionals emphasize that

everything is in the cooperation of the human being, this has helped and will continue to help to

obtain good results in the case.

References

Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico. “Responsabilidades De Los Patronos Ante El COVID-19 Bajo

OSHA.” AyudaLegalPR.org, https://ayudalegalpr.org/resource/gua-de-osha-para-preparar-

el-rea-de-trabajo-para-covid-19.

Bárcena , Alicia. “Impactos De La Pandemia En Los Sectores Productivos Más Afectados

Abarcarán a Un Tercio Del Empleo y Un Cuarto Del Pib De La Región.” Comisión

Económica Para América Latina y El Caribe, CEPAL, 7 July 2020,

https://www.cepal.org/es/comunicados/impactos-la-pandemia-sectores-productivos-mas-

afectados-abarcaran-un-tercio-empleo-un.

BBC News. “Covid: El Número Real De Muertes Por La Pandemia En Todo El Mundo Es De

Casi 15 Millones (y Qué Países De América Latina Tienen Mayor Exceso De

Mortalidad).” BBC News Mundo, BBC, 5 May 2020,

https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-61333739.

“Coronavirus.” Bupa , Mar. 2020, https://www.bupasalud.com/salud/coronavirus.

“Coronavirus ¿Qué Es, Dónde Surgió y Cómo Protegerse?” You Are Being Redirected..., 6 Mar.

2020, https://policlinicametropolitana.org/informacion-de-salud/el-nuevo-coronavirus-que-

es-donde-surgio-y-como-protegerse/.

“Covid-19.” EcuRed, https://www.ecured.cu/COVID-19.

Sevillano, Elena G. “La Oms Declara El Brote De Coronavirus Pandemia Global.” El País, 11

Mar. 2020, https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-03-11/la-oms-declara-el-brote-de-

coronavirus-pandemia-global.html.