In what seems like a script straight out of an apocalyptic movie that Netflix would gladly produce, the world is grappling with a disease that we are yet to find a cure for.
In a matter of months, COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus has been declared as a global pandemic by the WHO. Schools are being shut down, companies are issuing work from home mandates, and stock markets are plummeting.
While life still goes on, masks are being sold at a higher rate, hand sanitizers and tissues are flying off the shelves. We, humans, have found a way to cash in on this as well. There are always two sides to a coin, maybe we should look at the bright side as well. A new $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the testing and scale-up of CELLECTRA® 3PSP proprietary smart device for the intradermal delivery of INO-4800, a DNA vaccine for COVID-19 has been announced by NOVIO Pharmaceuticals.
Governments are taking precautions to arrest the spread of COVID19 by making people aware of basic hygiene practices such as washing hands repeatedly. In a country like India where the rural population numbers are 65.97% more aggressive measures should be taken to disseminate the information connected to the disease.
Personal hygiene is an issue that has plagued the rural population for a long time, access to clean water has been a major problem leading to various diseases and at time loss of lives. A major portion of the rural Indian people with no means to proper toilet facilities, educating them about the COVID-19 virus becomes difficult. But with more cases on the rise, an initiative needs to be taken to reach even the most remote villages and educate people on safe practices to avoid such a pandemic.
While the virus is still urban-centric, it is never too late to be prepared.
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