Origin of Covid-19
Despite many theories and rumors about where the pandemic originated, coronavirus has long existed. Virologic, epidemiologic, veterinary, and ecologic data found that SARS-CoV-2 developed directly or indirectly from a β-coronavirus in the sarbecovirus (SARS-like virus) (Morens et al., 2020). This group of viruses inherently infects bats and pangolins in Asia and Southeast Asia regions (Morens et al., 2020). However, the genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, also known as Covid-19, was never seen in humans or animals before 2019 (Morens et al., 2020). “In December 2019, China reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown causes in Wuhan, linked to the Huanan seafood wholesale market where aquatic animals and live animals were sold” (Dhar et al., 2020, p. 4). SARS-CoV-2 was deemed the third fatal bat virus–associated human disease due to host-switching determinants that genetically distinguish itself from animal to human (Morens et al., 2020).
Covid-19 Data Analysis with the Use of Epidemiological Tools
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks disease prevalence and frequency. Frequency is an epidemiological tool that can measure a health event. The frequency of Covid-19 in the United States, followed by the CDC, showcases the number of hospitalizations for the first week of July 2023 was 6,220, down -0.8%; 1% of people died over this last week, which is down -9.1% (CDC, 2023). The Florida Department of Health (DOH) does a bi-weekly report that includes the number of positive cases, deaths, locations, vaccination reports, and demographics (DOH, 2023). By tracking all of this data, the DOH in Florida can measure the epidemiology and look at the association and potential impact of the virus. For example, 40% of Holmes County accounted for new positive cases within this timeframe which was the highest rate out of all of the counties in Florida within this period (DOH, 2023). The DOH can look into the association in this area, assessing the relationship between the disease exposure and this population/location.
Principle of Epidemiology
Epidemiologists will track patterns, and as Covid-19 evolved, different variants showcased diverse patterns. The initial wave of Covid-19 impacted older adults more predominantly. The symptoms were very similar in most people: fever, dry cough, hyposomnia, loss of taste and smell, myalgia, dyspnea, and gastrointestinal symptoms (Dhar et al., 2020). There were also trends in disease progression; the median time was five days from the onset of the first symptom to dyspnea, then hospitalization was within seven days, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurred within eight days for patients that became critically ill (Dhar et al., 2020). As each wave of Covid-19 came about, so did the pattern presentation regarding symptomology and demographics.
Ethical and Regulatory Influences
One ethical issue was determining who receives care. Difficulties accessing healthcare because of inadequate and inequitable distributed healthcare services led to health system and patient care challenges (Dhar et al., 2020). This issue caused ethical dilemmas with providers and healthcare workers to decide who would receive life-saving measures. Regarding treatment, regulations hindered people from receiving potentially life-saving therapies such as monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, only a trace of the available monoclonal antibodies in the USA and European Union were authorized for use in poorer countries despite their effectiveness in treating various diseases, including Covid-19 (Gieber et al., 2023).
Evidence-based Practice Measures
The World Health Organization reported a 30% reduction in healthcare-associated infections due to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) (Pradhan et al., 2020). PPE, such as proper masks, gowns, gloves, and hair and shoe coverings, can prevent the spread from the patient to the healthcare worker, hindering the spread from the healthcare worker to their loved ones. Secondly, proper hand hygiene and sanitation will help halt the spread. Hand sanitizer, hand soaps, and surface disinfection are crucial for preventing and reducing infection.
Proper training and education are significant for healthcare workers and the community to reduce viral spread and improve outcomes.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). CDC Covid Data Tracker. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/index.html#datatracker-home
Department of Health. (2023). COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report: State Overview. http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/covid19-data/covid19_data_latest.pdf
Dhar, Chowdhury, S., & Oommen, A.M. (2020). Epidemiology of COVID-19. Journal of Digestive Endoscopy. 2020 Mar;11(1):3–7. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1712187. PMCID: PMC7364648.
Gieber, L., Muturi-Kioi, V., Malhotra, S., & Sitlani. A. (2023). Clinical and Regulatory challenges and Opportunities for Monoclonal Antibodies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Lessons from COVID-19 and Beyond. Pharmaceut Med. 2023 May;37(3):203-214. doi: 10.1007/s40290-023-00473-z. Epub 2023 Apr 28. PMID: 37115494; PMCID: PMC10141866.
Morens, D.M., Breman, J.G., Calisher, C.H., Doherty, P.C., Hahn, B.H., Keusch, G.T., Kramer, L.D., LeDuc, J.W., Monath, T.P., Taubenberger, & J.K. (2020). The origin of COVID-19 and why it matters. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Sep;103(3):955-959. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0849. PMID: 32700664; PMCID: PMC7470595.
Pradhan, D., Biswasroy, P., Kumar, Naikm, P., Ghosh, G., & Rath, G. (2020). A review of current interventions for COVID-19 prevention. Arch Med Res. 2020 Jul;51(5):363-374. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2020.04.020. Epub 2020 Apr 30. PMID: 32409144; PMCID: PMC7190516.
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