As of this writing, there are 1,521,253 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) around the world. This 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, the name given to the disease associated with the virus, has paralysed the world.
Coronaviruses are viruses that spread in animals and some of them infect humans. These viruses are commonly hosted by bats however, several other species are also the source such as camels (MERS-CoV) and civet cat (SARS-CoV-1).
Covid-19 attacks our respiratory system, which means that we expect the person infected with the disease to experience difficulty in breathing, coughing (persistent dry cough), high grade fever, headache, fatigue and myalgia. This also means that the virus is transmitted through the medium of small respiratory droplets. Coughing, sneezing, and people interacting in close distance makes it possible for the virus to travel and infect other people.
Everybody around the world are doing what they can to stop and treat the virus and prevent other people to be infected. Billions are being spent and economies of each countries affected are plummeting because of this. Rich or poor, young or old, gets infected. A lot of countries are on a lockdown, which means that many are not able to go to their jobs and their salary are on hold because of no work no pay salary system.
Social distancing is one of the proposed prevention of covid-19. Thus, our daily routine are being limited. We can not go out at anytime anymore and this results into panic buying of daily essentials. As we can see on the news everyday, face masks, food, toilet paper, rubbing alcohols, etc., are being sold out in the market. However, families who are indigent can not afford to buy things in bulk as they are also facing an invisible enemy that has been in the community long before the covid-19 disease.
Poverty has been affecting us everyday. This disease also pulls the economy down. This virus, who are only invisible to the rich, has been killing tens of millions every year. Children, teens, adults, this virus will kill them. Poverty results to hunger, failure to afford medical care, homelessness, and many more.
As we fight the SARS-CoV-2, poverty has to be eradicated as well. Let us hope and work together to end both of these virus. We have to be physically distant, but let us not be distant emotionally, spiritually, and to our humanity.
