COVID-19, term has become very familiar or part of our daily routine. This COVID-19 virus was first detected on 31st December 2019 among residents of Wuhan in China. An individual can get infected with this highly contagious virus through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an already infected case, when he comes in contact with the case. People can experience common symptoms like fever, cough and myalgia or fatigue (1). The infectivity rate of the virus is so high causing speedy increase in no. of cases globally in no time. On 11th March 2020 World Health Organization labeled as COVID-19 pandemic (2). Government has taken several initiatives to contain this disease globally. Guidelines like social distancing, hand washing, wearing face mask are advised to be followed by each and every individual. Everyone is following these advices to keep themselves safe, physically. Government has implemented complete lockdown across the country.
Initially few people found it as an opportunity to be with their family and pursue their interest. But on the contrary, many experienced this lockdown as isolation, future insecurity, and financial instability as well. This feeling of isolation, stress, depression, uncertainty and unpredictability can be seen in across the entire individual irrespective of their age, gender, socio-economic status, profession.
Treating healthcare personnel are at high risk of getting this infection with shortage of PEP, has to work for long hours and also they have to avoid meeting to their family member to protect them from getting secondary infection. These factors resulted in adverse mental health outcomes like, loneliness, fatigue etc (3).
Lockdown has forced a decrease in work-force across all economic and IT sectors, as a consequences many has to lose their job many got deduction in their salaries. Mostly are worried about their future job security.
Our important pillar or workforces of economy labors are the most affected due to this COVID-19 lockdown. They are struggling to have one portion of meal on every day. They don’t have any work to get paid also not having any savings to spend and get basic necessities full filled. They have to look after their dependents as well. This thoughts or situation compelled them to reach to their native on their foot against all unfavorable variables.
The most effective measure found to curb this infection is social distancing. This measure has adversely affected to our elderly most. Majority of them are already dependent, this social distancing made them to feel more isolated as not all this specific population is techno-friendly. Over-hyped, misleading media coverage makes them more anxious. Behavioral changes, mood swings with age makes more difficult for them to cope this situation with their family and vis-a-vis and hence results in abused and neglected behavior in family.(4)
Considering all above situations collectively, intervention on psychosocial crisis is needed along with keeping health physically safe and healthy.
References
- Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19) [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 21]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
- WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020 [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 21]. Available from: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—11-march-2020
- Rajkumar RP. COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Aug 1;52:102066.
- Gerst-Emerson K, Jayawardhana J. Loneliness as a public health issue: The impact of loneliness on health care utilization among older adults. Am J Public Health. 2015 May 1;105(5):1013–9.
