Question

According to the WHO, the recent Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) outbreak was firstly reported on December 31, 2019 in China. This virus is growing rapidly, and the health organizations are working hard to reduce the number of cases.

As a public health official, using the Public Health Pyramid levels, explain how we can plan, implement, and evaluate a certain plan of your own. Think about how you can contribute the individual and the community level to help reduce the number of cases.

• History of the virus. (1 Paragraph)
• Describe the recent statistics and data of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (1 Paragraph)
• Explain how you can use the Public Health Pyramid to identify the planning, implementing, and the evaluation process to reduce the number of cases. (2 Paragraphs)

 

Answer 1

CORONA VIRUS

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses include some cases of the common cold (which has other possible causes, predominantly rhinoviruses), while more lethal varieties can cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

HISTORY OF COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In December 2019, a pneumonia outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China. On 31 December 2019, the outbreak was traced to a novel strain of coronavirus,[61] which was given the interim name 2019-nCoV by the World Health Organization (WHO), later renamed SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Some researchers have suggested the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market may not be the original source of viral transmission to humans.

As of 8 April 2020, there have been at least 88,338 confirmed deaths and more than 1,511,104 confirmed cases in the coronavirus pneumonia pandemic. The Wuhan strain has been identified as a new strain of Betacoronavirus from group 2B with approximately 70% genetic similarity to the SARS-CoV. The virus has a 96% similarity to a bat coronavirus, so it is widely suspected to originate from bats as well. The pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions and nationwide lockdowns in several countries.

The virus is mainly spread during close contact and by small droplets produced when those infected cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets may also be produced during breathing; however, they rapidly fall to the ground or surfaces and are not generally spread through the air over large distances. People may also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their face. The virus can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours. Coronavirus is most contagious during the first three days after onset of symptoms, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear and in later stages of the disease.

Describe the recent statistics and data of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Location	How long did it take for the number of total confirmed deaths to double?	Total confirmed deaths . Up to date for 10 AM (CET) on April 8.	Daily new confirmed deaths . Up to date for 10 AM (CET) on April 8.
World	doubled in 8 days	81,478 totalApril 8	+7,412 newApril 8
Italy	doubled in 12 days	17,129 totalApril 8	+604 newApril 8
Spain	doubled in 9 days	13,798 totalApril 8	+743 newApril 8
United States	doubled in 5 days	12,895 totalApril 8	+1,906 newApril 8
France	doubled in 5 days	10,328 totalApril 8	+1,417 newApril 8
United Kingdom	doubled in 5 days	6,159 totalApril 8	+786 newApril 8
Iran	doubled in 14 days	3,872 totalApril 8	+133 newApril 8
China	doubled in 52 days	3,337 totalApril 8	+2 newApril 8
Netherlands	doubled in 7 days	2,101 totalApril 8	+234 newApril 8
Belgium	doubled in 5 days	2,035 totalApril 8	+403 newApril 8
Germany	doubled in 6 days	1,861 totalApril 8	+254 newApril 8

Corona virus deaths.

Explain how you can use the Public Health Pyramid to identify the planning, implementing, and the evaluation process to reduce the number of cases.

PREVENTION

Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include staying at home, avoiding crowded places, washing hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds, practising good respiratory hygiene and avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. The CDC recommends covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and recommends using the inside of the elbow if no tissue is available.They also recommend proper hand hygiene after any cough or sneeze. Social distancing strategies aim to reduce contact of infected persons with large groups by closing schools and workplaces, restricting travel and cancelling mass gatherings.Distancing guidelines also includes that people stay at least 6 feet (1.8 m) apart.

As a vaccine is not expected until 2021 at the earliest, a key part of managing COVID-19 is trying to decrease the epidemic peak, known as "flattening the curve".This is done by slowing the infection rate to decrease the risk of health services being overwhelmed, allowing for better treatment of current cases and delaying additional cases until effective treatments or a vaccine become available

For countries with imported cases and/or outbreaks of COVID-19

1. Immediately activate the highest level of national Response Management protocols to ensure the all-of-government and all-of-society approach needed to contain COVID-19 with non-pharmaceutical public health measures;

2. Prioritize active, exhaustive case finding and immediate testing and isolation, painstaking contact tracing and rigorous quarantine of close contacts;

3. Fully educate the general public on the seriousness of COVID-19 and their role in preventing its spread;

4. Immediately expand surveillance to detect COVID-19 transmission chains, by testing all patients with atypical pneumonias, conducting screening in some patients with upper respiratory illnesses and/or recent COVID-19 exposure, and adding testing for the COVID-19 virus to existing surveillance systems (e.g. systems for influenza-like-illness and SARI); and

5. Conduct multi-sector scenario planning and simulations for the deployment of even more stringent measures to interrupt transmission chains as needed (e.g. the suspension of large-scale gatherings and the closure of schools and workplaces).

For uninfected countries

1. Prepare to immediately activate the highest level of emergency response mechanisms to trigger the all-of-government and all-of society approach that is essential for early containment of a COVID-19 outbreak;

2. Rapidly test national preparedness plans in light of new knowledge on the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures against COVID-19; incorporate rapid detection, largescale case isolation and respiratory support capacities, and rigorous contact tracing and management in national COVID-19 readiness and response plans and capacities;

3. Immediately enhance surveillance for COVID-19 as rapid detection is crucial to containing spread; consider testing all patients with atypical pneumonia for the COVID-19 virus, and adding testing for the virus to existing influenza surveillance systems;

4. Begin now to enforce rigorous application of infection prevention and control measures in all healthcare facilities, especially in emergency departments and outpatient clinics, as this is where COVID-19 will enter the health system; and

5. Rapidly assess the general population’s understanding of COVID-19, adjust national health promotion materials and activities accordingly, and engage clinical champions to communicate with the media.

For the public

1. Recognize that COVID-19 is a new and concerning disease, but that outbreaks can managed with the right response and that the vast majority of infected people will recover;

2. Begin now to adopt and rigorously practice the most important preventive measures for COVID-19 by frequent hand washing and always covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing;

3. Continually update yourself on COVID-19 and its signs and symptoms (i.e. fever and dry cough), because the strategies and response activities will constantly improve as new information on this disease is accumulating every day; and

4. Be prepared to actively support a response to COVID-19 in a variety of ways, including the adoption of more stringent ‘social distancing’ practices and helping the high-risk elderly population.

For the international community

1. Recognize that true solidarity and collaboration is essential between nations to tackle the common threat that COVID-19 represents and operationalize this principle;

2. Rapidly share information as required under the International Health Regulations (IHR) including detailed information about imported cases to facilitate contact tracing and inform containment measures that span countries;

3. Recognize the rapidly changing risk profile of COVID-19 affected countries and continually monitor outbreak trends and control capacities to reassess any ‘additional health measures’ that significantly interfere with international travel and trade.