As the world is thrown into disarray in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many countries have taken extreme measures to protect their citizens and address the pandemic. The virus, dubbed SARS-CoV-2, first appeared in the city of Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and has since quickly spread throughout the world and is claimed to have reached a pandemic status by the World Health Organization (WHO). In a matter of months, the virus has spread to every continent and infected millions, causing disruption to businesses, the economy, and causing a global public health crisis.
The virus can primarily spread among people through respiratory droplets or aerosols released when an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs, and for these reasons, social distancing has been regularly advocated, with people being urged to stay home as much as possible and wear masks when out in public. In some countries, including the United States, restrictions on movement and activities such as traveling have been implemented. Additionally, schools and universities have been shut down and many workers have been asked to work from home.
This sudden disruption to the global economy has had a severe and long-lasting effect, especially in countries that are more affected by the virus. The stock markets have been hit hard, with hundreds of millions in investments being lost. In terms of day-to-day life, millions of people have lost their jobs due to businesses closing and/or layoffs. To help alleviate the situation, some countries have implemented income support schemes or provided other forms of cash assistance. Additionally, the governments of some countries have also implemented policies that relax requirements for taxes, extend deadlines, and increase the amount of unemployment benefits to those who have lost their jobs.
As of now, there is no cure or vaccine available yet, and so the primary focus remains on containing the virus and minimizing its spread to fight the pandemic. Different countries have responded to the crisis in various ways, from closing off their borders to stricter health protocols. It is a difficult situation, as every decision has drastic consequences and could have a huge impact on either individual lives or the country’s economy. Nonetheless, countries around the world have acted quickly and boldly to reduce the spread of the virus, although the full impact of the pandemic remains to be seen.
