Question

Biological Psychology

How might the events of COVID-19 impact our neurological and/or biological processes? Find one relevant article and discuss how the findings may impact your life or the lives of others.

Answer 1

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and has affected every corner of the word. It has been shown to spread through small droplets from the respiratory track (mouth and nose) containing virus is inhaled or contacted by healthy person. The virus belongs to class of respiratory virusus and affects the respiratory track through induction of respiratory distress syndrome. The respiratory distress is due to SARS-CoV-2 influenced filling of liquid in the alveoli of lungs, resulting in decreased respiratory volume.The decreased respiratory volume results in depleted oxygen in the blood stream and thus the organs suffer from hypoxia. Certain evidences also suggests that SARS-CoV-2 also affect central nervous and musculoskeletal system.

The strategies to control the disease are maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks, frequent sanitation of the hands. All the policies and rules designed to contain the disease are based the belief that SARS-CoV-2 spreads through droplets from the respiratory track, which can only reach a small distance when SARS-CoV-2 infected person sneezes or coughs. However,an article on SARS-CoV-2 spread by author named Lidia morawska propose that the SARS-CoV-2 can spread through air and thus alarming medical, regulatory agencies and general public. The article states that when the infected person sneezes or coughs, there are two types of droplets that are formed and are released i.e., Larger and smaller droplets. Larger droplets being larger in their diameter settles near the released place, however the smaller droplets with smaller diameter can travel in air for ten of meters in air. Thus the guidelines have to be reframed so that SARS-CoV-2 can be effectively controlled.

Reference

Morawska L, Cao J. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should face the reality. Environ Int. 2020;139:105730. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105730