COVID-19: A Perspective

COVID-19 or SARS-CoV2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a novel virus known to affect humans since the outbreak started in November 2019. Prior to this outbreak, humans had no immunity against this virus. COVID-19 has a great affinity for the respiratory tract, but can also affect several different organ systems. Originating in the Wuhan province in China, COVID-19 has spread to almost every country in the world over the course of the last seven months. The entire world has watched in disbelief as humankind has gone through various challenges and is slowly starting to accept the restrictions to travel and daily life, due to the ongoing pandemic.

Several countries proud of their excellent medical care were shaken to their core and had enormous difficulty containing this virus. Drastic measures were implemented to contain COVID-19 and further prevent its spread. Measures included statewide and country wide lockdowns, social distancing by at least 6 feet, wearing masks in all public spaces and self quarantining for those affected. The death rate rose to about 121,000 in the United States at the time of writing this article, with resurgences of the virus still happening across the country as states slowly reopen.

Containing the spread of the virus has been a challenging task, as many feel that their freedom is being limited and are forgetting their social responsibility and obligations. In the United States, every state has their own guidelines and directives to follow. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has done an excellent job providing instructions and guidance to our community. Even though there were limitations in regards to access of personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks, Massachusetts has done an excellent job containing the virus. For up to date statistics regarding COVID-19, please view the COVID-19 updates and information page on mass.gov.

Treatment for COVID-19 has mostly been supportive. There are many controversies regarding treatment, as this is a new disease and therefore, there is no official protocol being followed across the country. However, I have seen tremendous success with patients recovering smoothly from COVID-19, without disease related complications, when administered a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, especially if started in the very early stages of the disease. Severe fatigue is very common, after one has recovered from the illness. Other commonly used medications at different institutions for treatment include Remdesivir (an antiviral drug), Tocilizumab (an Interleukin 6 receptor inhibitor), convalescent plasma treatment and Dexamethasone. Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc also have been found to be beneficial along with the above treatment regimens. The challenge is that only tertiary hospitals have availability of all the treatment regimens mentioned above. In the United States, scientists are working as fast as possible along with the federal government to develop a vaccine, which should hopefully be available by the end of this year.

As we all know, healthcare professionals on the frontlines, mainly medical and nursing staff of our community, have been under immense stress during the last several months. Professionals working in the hospital or nursing home settings are worried about getting exposed to COVID-19, in turn getting infected with the virus, and potentially infecting their close contacts, including family members. Several of my colleagues in the healthcare field were infected by COVID-19 and recovered, even though few required hospitalization. Few of the admitted patients succumbed to their illness. My heart goes out to all the families affected by the pandemic and especially to those who have lost their loved ones.

We should continue to pray together as a family, as we have been doing during this time. My special thanks to our Vicar, Fr. Tony Xavier Pullukattu for checking in on the medical community staff working on the frontlines and for holding prayer services on a regular basis. I strongly feel that prayers can do wonders, and our community, as a family, rallied together and did prayer, fasting and sacrifices during this difficult time.

Let me elaborate on each of these suggestions. Washing one’s hands is so important right now, as contact is the main way of spreading the virus. Everyone taking care of COVID-19 patients should wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to limit the spread of the virus. All those working from home should also wash their hands frequently, especially when returning home from anywhere outside, for example, upon returning home from the grocery store. I have seen my colleagues wearing two masks, an N95 and a surgical mask, but still come down with COVID-19. Although most of the medical and nursing staff are washing their hands frequently and following all the necessary precautions, frequent manipulation of masks with infected hands can give the virus a quick pass on to the respiratory tract, and subsequently infect someone with COVID-19. It is really uncomfortable to keep a mask on for hours at a time, and it is easy to manipulate your mask without thinking about it, so it is important to be aware of this. In addition to washing your hands, using a mask in a public space is an extra measure that prevents air droplets that may contain the virus from spreading from person to person during conversation or encounters in close proximities, especially where the prevalence is high. Finally, in my opinion, my third suggestion is the most important: although we have increased awareness and everyone has been practicing the recommended guidelines, what we ultimately need is the divine protection which only our Almighty God can provide, so trust in Him.

COVID-19 has been an eye opener for us regarding the frailty of humankind and the need to be more dependent on the Almighty. Through experiences shared with me, I know that these trying times have allowed many people to grow closer to God, and also to their families and friends. No one knows when the pandemic will end, but this is likely going to continue for several more months. We should all pray for strength, trust in God’s protection, and for all people around the world, with extra intentions for healthcare providers and their families.