Viruses are older than mankind and are more numerous than all
other forms of life put together. Although their existence has been
known to man for several centuries, the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 towards
the closing days of 2019 as a new virus of exceptional virulence and
pathogenicity led to a worldwide crisis. Due to its high direct mortality
for such a contagious disease, COVID-19 placed extreme pressure on
the healthcare systems globally. Further, incomplete information
about the virus's behaviour led to a wildly disproportionate reaction from
both the general public and the health authorities. The World Health
Organization (WHO) had to declare it a pandemic of exceptional significance.
- Published in
- India
