Epicentre shifts: On coronavirus spread (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Health
Prelims level: SARS-CoV-2
Mains level:Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

• With 1,08,394 cases reported from outside mainland China as on March 17, there are more people infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in other parts of the world than in mainland China (81,058).
• Also, as on March 17, the number of deaths (4,279) in the rest of the world is more than in mainland China (3,226).

Rising number:

• On Monday, there was just one new laboratory-confirmed case and 12 deaths reported in Wuhan; outside Wuhan, no new case has been reported from Hubei province for 12 consecutive days.
• Even as Iran recorded 16,169 cases ....................................

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Big lessons:

• There are big lessons that India and the rest of the world can learn from Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea on containing the spread.
• Taiwan began airport screening even before China reported its first case of human-to-human transmission on January 20.
• Together with closing its borders by January-end, it raised awareness about the virus and the disease, and ways to minimise risk through handwashing and the use of face masks.
• Taiwan essentially cut the transmission chain even before the virus could gain a foothold in the country.

Tracing contacts:

• Following the World Health Organization’s guidelines to a tee, Singapore went after all suspect cases by testing all influenza-like and pneumonia cases and aggressively tracing contacts.
• Like Taiwan and Hong Kong, ...............................................

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Conclusion:

• Global efforts to counter the virus have been uneven, with Europe and the U.S. faltering.
• A lesson from the pandemic is how containing an outbreak is dependent on quick public-health responses.

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  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the state of Rampur,located in present day uttar pradesh, consider the following statements:
1. The state of Rampur was founded by Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan.
2. The Rohillas were Afghans who entered India in the 18th century as the Mughal Empire was in decline, and took control of Rohilkhand, at the time known as Katehr.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: .......................................

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Mains Questions:
Q.1)Global efforts to counter the virus have been uneven, in this context what are steps taken by India to tackle the rise of coronavirus pandemic. Explain.