AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC PSYCHO SOCIOLOGICAL LEVELS OF QUARANTINE PERSONNEL’S AT VARIOUS QUARANTINE CENTERS IN TIGRAY REGION- ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (CORONO VIRUS-CoV-2), which was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China.1–3 Currently, this pandemic has infected more than 25 million people in nearly 210 countries around the world resulting in nearly 900,000 deaths. A pandemic of this scale has never been seen since the Spanish Influenza during WWI, and has already created dramatic challenges all over the world in terms of economy, social interactions, and individual lifestyles. Corona viruses are one of the largest (27–34 kilo base) positive-stranded non-segmented RNA viruses, named after the ~120 nm diameter envelop (resembles of solar corona) around the nucleic acid-protein complex. The foremost damage of the virus is on human health, including direct injury to the respiratory system, compromise of the immune system, exacerbation of the underlying medical conditions, and eventually systematic failure and death.4 Due to the COVID-19 attack, tens of thousands of patients have been hospitalized, with additional thousands of millions of people forced to stay in limited space. Conceivably, this dramatic change in lifestyle, resulting from immobilization (hospitalization and bed rest), quarantine, and physical inactivity can cause a second-wave attack on the health and wellbeing of the infected as well as general population. Thus, the goal of this article is three-fold: 1) to highlight the COVID-19 threats and damages to the various human physiological systems; 2) to address the harm of physical inactivity associated with the virus outbreak to the body; and 3) to recommend some practical strategies to mitigate the potential damage.

During the covid-19 pandemic, physical distancing measures (also called social distancing) have been implemented in many countries to interrupt viral transmission and delay the spread of infection. These measures range from mandatory quarantine to voluntary self isolation and have come at a cost of socially isolating many people, putting their mental and emotional health at risk. Key areas of social interaction, connection, and support have been affected by the closure of pubs, restaurants, libraries, sports facilities, and community centers for the elderly, in addition to the cancellation of sporting events, weddings, and funerals. The World Health Organization have issued guidance on the management of mental health aspects of covid-19.1.¹