Corona virus disease (COVID-19) dramatically appeared in a Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. While treating the patients, the doctors noticed pneumonia-like symptoms which were difficult to treat. Detailed studies of patients have shown them to be infected with a novel corona virus which the WHO has finally named as ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2). Inconclusive debate is still going on about the origin of this virus and its human transmission; whether from a bat through an intermediate host such as pangolins or some other animal. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 travelled by air to other countries making it a pandemic. The gravity of the situation may be judged from the fact that yearly air-traffic of people greatly outnumbers even the population of the whole world. The lockdowns and restrictions imposed by many countries to contain the disease have resulted in slowing the spread of this virus and hence restricted the infections and deaths of people. However, the fight to combat the disease is still going on a war footing in many countries. It seems that the mankind has to live with the future threats of different new types of viruses because of the huge air traffic across nations which is likely to grow over the years.
The lockdowns have already taken its toll on businesses and made a devastating effect on the economies of many countries although the real effects of COVID-19 may only be known much after the pandemic dies down, and it is going to be very detrimental to the economic health of the nations. Countries are now aiming to protect their people from the virus and its economies by creating firewalls by way of restrictions on travel, trade and tariffs. Much upheavals are likely to be witnessed in human movements in the months to come. Global power equations are likely to change and a fierce struggle to capture the share in the global markets may ensue. On the positive side, we are witnessing the earth and the atmosphere becoming cleaner every day, however, it is yet to be seen till when the air quality remains good. The world may not be the same again.
Professor S. P. Singh, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief, Human Biology Review
Former Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences,
Punjabi University, Patiala, India