March 19th 2020

By Vicki Mozo

Interspersed between our need for personal seclusion is the requisite for social interaction. We decide on how, when, and up to what extent our dealings will be; the decision is primarily up to us to make. This changed, however, when Covid-19 emanated as a massive global health issue and the coronavirus causing it was found to be transmissible between humans through exposure to infective respiratory droplets. 

Self-isolation, necessary

The situation subsequently called for mandatory social restrictions, such as self-isolation, community lockdown, and social distancing not only across international borders but also within communities. Apparently, we are left with no other feasible option but to set a “safe” physical distance from everyone, including colleagues, friends, and kin. 

As soon as the disease reached pandemic status, social gatherings have become restricted and those manifesting symptoms have to be isolated. We surround ourselves, this time, not with people but with invisible walls that are built upon the fear that we might acquire the virus and then transmit it to susceptible people, especially those we care about the most. 

Since the virus is all new to us, our body is not immunologically prepared for it. Thus, the coronavirus brings significant irreparable damage upon its target, such as the host’s lung cells and tissues. 

According to one study, some patients who recovered from COVID-19 had reduced lung function, gasping as they walked a little bit more quickly. A drop of 20% to 30% in lung capacity was observed in some of them. (1) 

What’s more appalling is that the survivors of COVID-19 can get re-infected again, and therefore, require another long period of hospitalization, self-isolation, and community lockdown. (2)

Numbers don’t lie

Humans are not the natural host of the coronavirus but wild animals like bats and pangolins. Unfortunately, the coronavirus eventually found its way to us and now epidemiological data worldwide imply how the dreadful virus is never partial. No matter what age, gender, or status its human host holds,  the virus is set to use the host’s biological machinery as it is genetically programmed to do so. It thrives and propagates even if the cost is the life of its human host. 

As of this writing, the death rate of COVID-19 is 3.4% according to WHO. (3) It is not as high as the past coronavirus outbreak, for instance, SARS in 2002 with a 15% death rate. However, COVID-19 appears to be deadlier than the common flu, which has about a 0.1% death rate. Based on these data, COVID-19 is about 34 times deadlier than the common flu.  

Isolation, is it effective?

Harvard epidemiology expert Marc Lipsitch forecasted that 40% to 70% of the world’s adult population could get COVID-19 unless strong preventive measures would be taken to curb such projection. (4) Otherwise, COVID-19 cases could go up to at least 3 billion cases. Thus, he believes that social interventions like quarantines and self-isolation can slow down, if not stop, the escalating number of COVID-19 cases. 

These interventions could significantly halt the spread of coronavirus. Will it be effective? Consider this scenario. A hundred people with COVID-19 symptoms arrive at the same hospital on the same day. This will undoubtedly demand more health care professionals monitoring and caring for them all at the same time. There will also be an increased need for medical drugs, materials, and facilities. This could easily lead to exhaustion and scarcity. But if the spread is slowed down by restricting social interactions, then, the virus can be purposefully contained. The number of patients will stop increasing and reach peaks that can be feasibly handled with more efficiency. It could also implicate more time for scientists to come up with effective countermeasures and treatments, like vaccines. 

Suffice it to say, the situation can become tameable when a strong preventive measure is implemented and coursed right on track not just locally but also globally. Otherwise, the virus can be expected to kill millions of people.

The paradox

The rapid swelling of COVID-19 cases worldwide necessitated the banning of social gatherings, the shifting of office work to a work from home scheme, and switching to online classes. However, social restrictions come with repercussions. While they help halt the spread, they deprive us of accruing the benefits of an unbridled social connection. The assertion and support from the people we trust gives us strength amidst the chaos and the paranoia. This proves essential especially when we seek mental and emotional shelter from other people. 

While the intent for social distancing is to preserve life against the disease, it paradoxically heightens the risk of contributing negatively to the overall health of a person. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can potentially lead to health-related issues, such as depression, hypertension, and heart disease. Loneliness is also correlated to decreased immune function, which, in turn, can make the person more susceptible to other microbial infections and diseases. (5)

While people are encouraged to isolate themselves from the others, a deplorable societal crisis is emerging. Some people take their personal circumstances high up to the pedestal. They begin hoarding for food and items without considering other people’s needs, not even the dire consequences it could bring to the economy in the long run. In such a situation, social distancing and self-isolation, unfortunately, extended their meaning to an injudicious self-entitlement, by upholding one’s interests above the others. 

Self-isolation, its true essence

Self-isolation means isolating yourself to prevent the virus from spreading. It is not just about protecting yourself but it is also about protecting other people. 

If a person comes in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case or has a travel history from places with such cases, then self-isolation is imperative for up to 14 days. 

According to Public Health England, this can be done by: (6)

• Staying at home or at the hotel

• Not going to crowded places and public gatherings

• Using personal transport and not the public transport unless a member of the port of the public health team advises that it is safe 

• Not accepting visitors

• Asking others to do errands, e.g. procuring food, medications, and groceries for you

While in self-isolation, cardinal signs, such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath, have to be monitored. Other symptoms to watch out for are chills, body aches, and runny nose. (7) When these symptoms appear, contact a doctor for an urgent appointment to seek proper assessment, medical advice, and treatment. If going outside is prescribed by the doctor, wear a mask. Our current plight has reached a point when one’s health becomes everyone’s health.

References:

1. Bostock, B. (2020, March 13). Coronavirus can damage lung function after recovery, HK doctors find - Business Insider. Business Insider; Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-recovery-damage-lung-function-gasping-air-hong-kong-doctors-2020-3?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sf-insider-main&fbclid=IwAR3kXzYER1laBflWq5sJrHGRn3MJNBgFahyzWmFHi00aWfoNWo0B8t5Sj3E

2. Su, A. (2020, March 13). They survived the coronavirus. Then they tested positive again. Why? Los Angeles Times; Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-13/china-japan-korea-coronavirus-reinfection-test-positive

3. ‌Perper, R. (2020). WHO Says The Coronavirus Global Death Rate Is 3.4%, Higher Than Earlier Figures. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/covid-19-s-death-rate-is-higher-than-thought-but-it-should-drop

4. ‌Aylin Woodward. (2020, March 4). Coronavirus could hit at least 3 billion adults, Harvard expert says - Business Insider. Business Insider; Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-outbreak-could-hit-3-billion-adults-harvard-expert-2020-3

5. ‌Opinion | Coronavirus and the Isolation Paradox. (2020, March 13). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-social-distancing.html

6. ‌Young, S. (2020, March 16). Coronavirus: What is self-isolation and who needs to do it? The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-self-isolation-symptoms-outbreak-uk-cases-death-toll-a9360246.html

7. ‌Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2020, from https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-isolation-guidance_2.pdf

Vicki Mozo is an editor of https://www.biologyonline.com/. Being a researcher by nature, writer by passion, she is happy to share her life experience and professional knowledge with the people around.