In the face of the pandemic.

— By Adrita Bhattacharya

Of all the problems that trouble the world right now, the ongoing pandemic is the newest and the most perilous. The myths surrounding it are myriad. The entire world has come to a standstill due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2 or simply COVID-19.

The Coronavirus can only replicate itself once it enters a living cell. The surfaces it can survive longest on are plastic and steel (approximately 72 hours). It mainly spreads through droplet infection or on direct contact with an individual who is infected. The virus has the most vigorous effect on the lungs, spleen or intestines. It attacks the epithelial cells and creates more copies of itself until the cell completely dissolves. The number of infected cells, hence, increases exponentially.

Corona aggravates the reaction of your immune system. Neutrophils and Killer T-cells kill off infected as well as non-infected cells. Hence, the immune system actually does more harm than good by killing off the perfectly healthy cells as well.

Mostly, the immune system regains control but many cases also become extremely critical. The protective lining of the lungs completely vanishes and alveoli are infected, following which patients get pneumonia, respiration fails and death is not unlikely.

The Coronavirus is highly contagious, more so than the flu. The end result of a fast pandemic will be rapid rates of infection, a failing healthcare system and countless deaths. Many people will get infected at the same time, medical treatment will get costly and the poor will most likely not be able to afford any.

Things like washing your hands frequently and socially distancing yourself from others may seem trivial but can actually go a long way. The Coronavirus is wrapped in a layer of fat, which can be broken apart by soap, hence destroying its potential.

Quarantines are not historically known to be pleasant but given the circumstances we are all required to be sensible until the situation gets better. And to help it get better, stay safe and stay at home. Not all superheroes wear capes. Some just wrap the capes around themselves and fall asleep.