COVID-19 Overview

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2. It has had a devastating effect on the world’s demographics with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. After the influenza pandemic of 1918, it has emerged as the most consequential global health crisis. After the first cases of this predominantly respiratory viral illness were first reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in late December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 rapidly disseminated across the world in a short span of time, compelling the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The outbreak of COVID-19 has proven to be a worldwide unprecedented disaster. It has physically, psychologically, socially, and economically afflicted billions of people across the globe. Its transmission is significantly high. Serious postrecovery has been noticed in a large number of people. The virus is highly mutable and new strains are appearing, with many such as delta, BA1, and BA2 subvariants, as well as their hybrids, considered concerning by the WHO. The virus has exhibited deleterious impacts on bodily systems other than the respiratory system (primary target) such as the brain, hematological system, liver, kidneys, endocrine system, etc. Right after its declaration as a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020, governments in various countries declared lockdowns to combat the spread of disease, causing major disruption to the lives of billions of people.

Impact on Society and Environment

Besides the impact on health and healthcare systems, education was changed with the introduction of online and or hybrid systems to help students continue to learn. Though the pandemic has subsided now, the emergence of new variants continues and lifestyle changes such as online learning and work from home have persisted.

Researchers who successfully mitigated the negative impact of social media and effectively used it for acceptance of medicinal or non-medicinal measures during pandemics developed a real-time information sharing system and assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts to collect and analyze data from social media platforms across the globe. This helped in understanding people’s perceptions and attitudes, as well as spotting early warning signs of errors to correct them before they proliferate. They emphasized addressing people’s perceptions to increase awareness and education, so that social media could be used to promote public trust, collaboration, and improved adherence to epidemic control measures. Overall, the pandemic affected the environment and ecosystem positively due to decreased vehicle traffic and less movement of persons. However, medical waste increased, necessitating new measures for its management. People have had to change their daily habits to live with the pandemic and protect themselves and others.

Focus of the Volume

This volume focuses on the implications of COVID-19 on education, environment, and lifestyle. It includes chapters on the transformation of education systems and the introduction of hybrid modes of education, impact on the environment, management of solid wastes, and development of innovative gadgets and architectural designs to help deal with the pandemic. Other chapters cover diet, family systems, and the adoption of new norms during pandemic times.

Target Audience

This book will be a valued resource for students, teachers, and researchers of social science and science, as well as public health workers.