The COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the novel coronavirus is a respiratory disease that spreads from person to person. Currently, the USA is at the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19.To contain the situation, the federal government is working closely with public health partners (Guan et al., 2020). A pandemic refers to a worldwide outbreak of disease. Epidemics occur when a particular disease or condition infects and spreads in between people sustainably. The global spread of the new virus occurs as a result of none pre-existing immunity against the COVID-19. Also, according to CDC, fifty states have reported COVID -19 cases. Among the COVID-19 cases includes travelers, close contacts of known cases, and community-acquired infections from sources unknown.

The most common cause of COVID-19 is a coronavirus. Coronaviruses comprise a large family of viruses typically found in people and different species of animals such as bats, cats, cattle, and camel (Lippi & Plebani, 2020). The spread of COVID-19 traces back from the outbreak in Wuhan in China, which links the live animal markets and seafood with an animal to person spread. Subsequent infections were later reported among Chinese people and other parts of the world, indicating the community spread of the virus. Community spread is the passing on of disease to other people without knowing how and where a person got infected.

The complete clinical feature for COVID -19  is not yet understood. However, reported cases range from mild to severe including death and also some cases asymptomatic. According to the CDC’S weekly report on morbidity and mortality rates among COVID-19 cases in the USA, eighty percent of death’s occurred for those older than sixty-five (Guan et al., 2020). Also, older people and those with underlying conditions or co-morbidities such as diabetes, lung disease, and heart disease. The symptoms for the virus appear within fourteen days after exposure and include cough, fever, and shortness of breath similar to those associated with pneumonia.

The importance of COVID-19 transmission to Global response efforts

In the coming months’ identifications of new COVID-19 cases, including community spread, is likely to occur in the USA. According to CDC, the widespread of coronavirus to other states will escalate levels exposure of COVID-19 to a majority of the USA population (Adams &Walls, 2020). As a result of the widespread transmission of the new virus, large numbers of people will require immediate medical attention. Also, workplaces, schools, and childcare centers may experience more absenteeism. The large gathering may be postponed or scarcely attended. Healthcare and public health systems may become over stained with increased levels of hospitalizations and death. Other crucial infrastructures, such as the transportation industry, law enforcement, and emergency services, may also be affected. Hospital facilities and health care workers may too, be overwhelmed.

Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine against the COVID-19. The most crucial response strategy for reducing the rate of spread for the coronavirus and its impact consists of the non- pharmaceutical interventions (Lippi & Plebani, 2020). The ongoing emergency response for COVID-19 is as a result of the activation of the emergency operations center established under the incidence management system. In response to the public threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak, the USA government has taken necessary measures concerning travel.  Foreign nationals who have stayed more than fourteen days in countries such as China, the United Kingdom, and Europe cannot enter the USA. Also, resident Americans traveling from COVID-19 infected countries within the past fourteen days can only be allowed to enter the US after through monitoring of their health.

Populations at risk of COVID-19 exposure.

For most Americans, the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still low. However, the risk increases with the expansion of the outbreak. A growing number of states are reporting instances of community spread of the novel coronavirus (Adams &Walls, 2020). The risk of exposure has elevated in populations reported with community spread of the virus, which is also dependent on the location. Also, the risk of exposure is high for health care workers attending COVID-19 patients. Individuals in close contact with persons infected with the coronavirus are also at high risk of exposure. Travelers returning from countries where community spread is occurring also are at high risk of contracting and transmitting the COVID-19 infection.

Recommended Solutions for the containment of COVID-19

Increasing the number of staff and supplies for medical support is significant during crisis standards of care implementation. Scoring systems such as sequential organ failure assessment previously used for detecting swine flu in 2009 is also applicable in detecting viral pneumonia caused by COVID-19(Adams &Walls, 2020). The crisis standards of care should allow the integration of administration decision making with clinical input to manage vital health care systems. Crisis care decisions should also involve health care providers at the health care facility level. Hospital facilities should integrate conventional and contingency plans to contain the viral infection. Health care facilities should also plan and anticipate significant adaptations of health care workers, space, and consumption of supplies used in critical care.

Ethical Implications for Covid-19 Pandemic

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ethical considerations for containment of the virus include beneficence, justice, and respect for persons. In the process of mitigating coronavirus infection, communities should decide which interventions to implement before the development and supply of adequate vaccines and antivirals. Non- pharmaceutical interventions consist of conventional public health strategies such as the closure of schools, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine (Adams &Walls, 2020). Voluntary implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions empowers communities and individuals towards protecting public health outcomes. According to past epidemics, non-pharmaceutical interventions work effectively when the healthcare worker respects the individual’s rights and avoid harm to the public. Communities should also benefit from the interventions in a manner that avoids deceptive practices.

References

Adams, J. G., & Walls, R. M. (2020). Supporting the Health Care Workforce During the COVID-19 Global Epidemic. JAMA.

Guan, W. J., Ni, Z. Y., Hu, Y., Liang, W. H., Ou, C. Q., He, J. X., … & Du, B. (2020). Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. New England Journal of Medicine.

Lippi, G., & Plebani, M. (2020). The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak: think the unthinkable and be prepared to face the challenge. Diagnosis.