The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a crown-shaped, spiked virus, emerged three years ago in Wuhan China in December of 2019. It soon spread to other parts of the globe and delivered great precariousness and fear to the international community. This virus, with the potential to transmit easily from one individual to another, attacks and infects the respiratory system. It is contagious through coughs, sneezes, and other bodily fluids, causing a vast array of severe health issues to many and even deaths to some. The world knew very little about the virus at the time, and, coupled with the devastating repercussions it could bring to those who contracted it, it developed into an international emergency. Many believed that neither SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) nor MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) posed greater risks to health than COVID-19.
Therefore, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus a pandemic; subsequently, many nations globally went under lockdown as the safety of individuals became the number one priority.
Many were fearful of contracting the disease as they had little knowledge of the preventative measures that could be taken to protect themselves from the virus. As individuals become trapped in their homes, however, it has changed society in an unfathomable manner, contrasting greatly today compared to how it was three years ago.
This article will reflect on and explore a few effects and repercussions of COVID-19 that span globally, as countries have learned to live with the new normal through the pandemic and the uncertainties it previously brought.
Deaths/Illnesses/Mental Health/Other Effects:
The effects of COVID-19 have appeared subjective depending on the individual affected by the disease– severe and even fatal to some but mild to others. Nevertheless, it has still caused illnesses and complications amongst millions of people, delivering severe and punishing consequences. The Coronavirus leads to compromised lungs, respiratory issues, heart issues such as myocarditis. It is also no exception to other severe health conditions and complications, including death. Common symptoms may also include cough, sore throat, fever or chills, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Headache fatigue, vomiting, and other similar symptoms to the flu are also not out of the norm.
Not only were the elderly and those with compromised immune and respiratory systems highly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of this disease, but the Coronavirus has also affected and taken the lives of many young and perfectly healthy individuals, which was arguably the most appalling part of the virus itself.
As of July 26, 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 769,774,646 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe, with Europe contributing to more than a third of this number. A lot of cases have gone unreported due to perhaps carriers of the disease appearing asymptomatic as mentioned before; many might have not even known they were infected with the virus despite contracting it. Furthermore, WHO also claims that there have been 6,955,497 documented deaths directly correlated to the effects of the virus itself.
Mental health issues have also intensified and seen a climb due to the pandemic. Due to lockdowns, the economy took a nosedive due to a decline in consumerism and many companies closed their doors; consequently, many individuals were laid off, increasing stress and mental burdens for those out of work who had no income but still had families to feed. Many individuals, despite not contracting the virus, also reported that due to being trapped inside their homes, they experienced stronger feelings of depression and anxiety from being trapped away from society. Children were no exception from these issues as well, as the emotions and development of many youths were impacted negatively and hampered as they lacked formal social interactions with others due to online learning as schools remained closed. Grief was also not uncommon for many due to the loss or sickness of family members.
Unfortunately, many of these feelings were not managed appropriately and they escalated over time, with many of those affected afraid of the negative notions others would hold along with the judgment and stigma of reaching out for help. A study from eClinicalMedicine shows that there were 852,150 suicides across 33 countries during the first 10 months of COVID-19. A lack of mental wellness was traced to many of these numbers, hence, adding to the catastrophe inflicted by the pandemic.
As the ongoing stress and uncertainties of the pandemic continued to mount during the earlier phases of the pandemic, substance abuse and drug usage such as opioid stimulants, fentanyl, heroin use, etc. were especially on the rise as people resorted to other measures to cope with the emotions and stresses of COVID-19. According to the American Psychological Association, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use disorders as a result of stress from the pandemic. Overdoses also spiked, with there being 99,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the first year of the pandemic, which marked an increase of approximately 30% from the previous year.
Overall, the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 observed have impacted the globe to an extent that has never been observed before as individuals attempted to and continue to try and adapt to and live with the virus today along with its aftermath.
Vaccine Development (Preventative Measures):
With the fatal potential of the Coronavirus, many scientists across the globe were determined to protect people from the pandemic. Countries strived to develop preventative and safety measures in hopes of mitigating the repercussions of COVID-19.
As social distancing and mandatory masking were implemented in many places to further enhance the objective of the lockdown in protecting individuals, vaccine development became a quick concern as well and nations continued to scramble to find quick solutions for the virus.
On March 17, 2020, Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation, asserted its intent of developing a COVID-19 vaccine. At this point in time, however, there was still not much clarity as to how the virus was transmitted and how long it would last.
As deaths around the globe increased, everyone recognized the dire circumstances and the need to formulate a vaccine in due time. Other companies such as Moderna and AstraZeneca were also part of the mission of developing vaccine mRNA technology that would alleviate and diminish the effects of COVID-19 on the people who received immunizations for it.
By mid-summer of 2020, Pfizer and Moderna emerged as the leaders in the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Clinical trials soon commenced as vaccines were tested in labs, animals, and other entities to ensure they were safe and effective, rendering the necessary antibodies to curb the effects of the virus. Late in the year, the first doses of the COVID vaccine were rolled out and made available to countries and their people, proving its ability in most instances of being able to reduce the risks of many COVID-19 cases.
However, in some circumstances, people reported suffering severe reactions and side effects following vaccinations, which included headaches, fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, and other similar feelings. There were even a few cases of deaths documented due to the vaccine, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claimed that “people receiving COVID-19 vaccines are less likely to die from COVID-19 and its complications and are at no greater risk of death from non-COVID causes than unvaccinated people.”
Today, more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine continue to be administered as variants of the virus such as Omicron are on the rise. New technology to limit the effects of the pandemic has continued to be explored and tested, with the bivalent booster of the vaccine recently introduced to help target the newest strains of the virus.
Effects on Society Today/Present Day Circumstances/Conclusion:
As mentioned previously, perhaps the most unsettling aspect of COVID-19 was that carriers of the disease could appear asymptomatic– displaying no evidence of symptoms despite being infected. This heavily contributed to “anti-vax” movement beliefs that were disseminated across social media when certain people believed they did not need to get the vaccine and were immune to the virus. There was ultimately a great degree of controversial debate as some individuals recognized the dangers and risks of COVID-19 while others like anti-vaxxers downplayed it as a simple flu. Claims about vaccine safety and its adverse effects began to accumulate and influence many individuals on whether they pursued immunization or not.
Conflict further emerged as hospitalizations due to COVID-19 increased; but despite that, some continued to refuse vaccinations. Healthcare systems across the globe were therefore burdened as the number of patients requiring care due to the virus skyrocketed, especially in 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak. Contentious opinions accumulated as some were adamant that they had the freedom to remain unvaccinated and that forcing them to get vaccinated was a violation of their fundamental human rights. On the other hand, others were upset as they believed that these people were selfish as they disregarded the greater good of society.
Though not as prevalent today, this conflict still remains, as some have yet to be vaccinated. However, as we near a stage in the pandemic today where society is past the pinnacle of the virus and more equipped to cope with its effects, many have come to terms with adapting to the virus as the number of cases has scaled down immensely.
Society has transformed drastically, with many businesses, as mentioned before, shut down and people still transitioning back to mainstream society after the lockdown. Nevertheless, society will never be the same again, as, for example, increased dependence on digital platforms and remote work has become the new norm. Many social interaction skills have also been affected due to being away from face-to-face encounters for years.
Masking mandates have also been lifted for many places, though still recommended in some. As society as a whole looks towards life after the pandemic, we must recognize that it is still possible to contract COVID-19 and that it takes a global effort to contain the spread of it. Cooperation and respect for the beliefs, approaches, and practices of other individuals in relation to living with the pandemic is of utmost significance, as the Coronavirus has impacted the world on an unfathomable scale that has perpetually altered the way each respective individual on this earth lives.
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