scholarly journals The Socio-Economic Ramifications of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm ◽  
◽  
...  

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micael Davi Lima de Oliveira ◽  
Kelson Mota Teixeira de Oliveira

According to the World Health Organisation, until 16 June, 2020, the number of confirmed and notified cases of COVID-19 has already exceeded 7.9 million with approximately 434 thousand deaths worldwide. This research aimed to find repurposing antagonists, that may inhibit the activity of the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as partially modulate the ACE2 receptors largely found in lung cells, and reduce viral replication by inhibiting Nsp12 RNA polymerase. Docking molecular simulations were performed among a total of 60 structures, most of all, published in the literature against the novel coronavirus. The theoretical results indicated that, in comparative terms, paritaprevir, ivermectin, ledipasvir, and simeprevir, are among the most theoretical promising drugs in remission of symptoms from the disease. Furthermore, also corroborate indinavir to the high modulation in viral receptors. The second group of promising drugs includes remdesivir and azithromycin. The repurposing drugs HCQ and chloroquine were not effective in comparative terms to other drugs, as monotherapies, against SARS-CoV-2 infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evert Smith

As a response to the viral pneumonias and severe illnesses that were emerging in patients, an ophthalmologist November 2019 a novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, Hubei, China Dr Li Wenliang, working at Wuhan Central Hospital, voiced his concerns only to be severely admonished by the authorities. The accelerated spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Wuhan, and then globally, as a result of the novel coronavirus was acute and pronounced. China alerted the World Health Organisation to several pneumonia cases at the end of December 2019 and the first death was recorded in early January 2020. The respiratory physician Dr Nanshan Zhong, announced human-to-human spread and a few days later on the 23 January 2020, Wuhan was placed under quarantine. The virus spread outside China and the WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency on 30 January 2020. Tragically Dr Li Wenliang died on 7 February 2020 as a result of exposure to the virus, leaving a five-year-old son and a pregnant wife.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1498
Author(s):  
Dhairya P. Nanavaty ◽  
Ankushi A. Sanghvi ◽  
Manav S. Mehta ◽  
Sarbari Gupta ◽  
Gurusharan Dumra

Background: The World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.  The consumption of vitamins, especially C, D, and zinc, hydroxychloroquine, and Arsenicum album 30 (homeopathy), has increased tremendously. However, the clinical trial showing the benefits of these agents is still underway though there have been a lot of discussion about these in print, electronic, and social media.Method: A questionnaire-based observational study was conducted. The participants were inquired about the use of any type of immunity booster by them and the source of information regarding the same. The data was analysed using Excel and Python.Results: Our study included 1147 participants. A dramatic increase of 21.97% in the consumption of immunity-boosting agents after the COVID-19 outbreak was observed, maximally in Ayurveda. The major source of information for immunity-boosters was provided by friends/family/relatives (50.4%). 52.7% of the respondents selected Ayurveda as their preferred choice of immunity booster (prophylaxis). If the respondents were to develop any of the COVID-19 symptoms, the majority (45.1%) decided to contact their family doctor, and 53.7% chose Allopathy as their preferred system for treatment. 91.5% of the respondents agreed to take a vaccine if it develops.Conclusion: There has been a boom in the immunity booster drug market because people are selecting immunity boosters despite no scientific background. It is imperative to educate people regarding the same and also conduct research studies to find benefits, if any.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micael Davi Lima de Oliveira ◽  
Kelson Mota Teixeira de Oliveira

According to the World Health Organisation, until 16 June, 2020, the number of confirmed and notified cases of COVID-19 has already exceeded 7.9 million with approximately 434 thousand deaths worldwide. This research aimed to find repurposing antagonists, that may inhibit the activity of the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as partially modulate the ACE2 receptors largely found in lung cells, and reduce viral replication by inhibiting Nsp12 RNA polymerase. Docking molecular simulations were performed among a total of 60 structures, most of all, published in the literature against the novel coronavirus. The theoretical results indicated that, in comparative terms, paritaprevir, ivermectin, ledipasvir, and simeprevir, are among the most theoretical promising drugs in remission of symptoms from the disease. Furthermore, also corroborate indinavir to the high modulation in viral receptors. The second group of promising drugs includes remdesivir and azithromycin. The repurposing drugs HCQ and chloroquine were not effective in comparative terms to other drugs, as monotherapies, against SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Author(s):  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe ◽  
Juergen Seitz

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in Wuhan, China in late December 2019 was identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020 and has caused tremendous disruption to economies around the world and significant loss of life and serious illness. The current outbreak which has been thought to have originated in an animal wet market in late 2019, being transferred from the horse shoe bat to the pangolin, is well adapted to human cell receptors. This enables it to easily infect people with an R0 of approximately 2.2 causing a respiratory illness (COVID-19) which can develop into pneumonia in moderate to severe cases. Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk. The following outlines a responsible digital health solution.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arohi Jain ◽  
Aswin S ◽  
Jais Jose ◽  
Deepa Nathalia ◽  
Arjun Suresh

Abstract Covid-19 declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on January 30, 2020, is a major disaster which shook the roots of almost all the economies around the globe. The outbreak began in a city of China, Wuhan majorly due to consumption of bats during December. The symptoms, the ways of spreading of infection are quite similar to that of influenza. The areas with higher pollution levels of particulate matter have reported a higher number of deaths as compared to the number of deaths in the cases from comparatively less polluted areas. The meteorological factors have also played a major role in the extent of spread of disease and the ability of humans living in the area to fight against the disease. Social distancing and lockdown all over the nation have proved to be major weapons to fight against the further spread of disease. The lockdown, on the other hand, has given relief from the high levels of pollution resulting in good air quality and clean rivers. This study focuses on the spread of the novel coronavirus all over the world with the trend in the number of confirmed cases, deaths and the cured from the onset and also highlighting the situations in five countries. The study further gives a prediction of the number of cases for ten days and correlates the values with the actual number of cases reported and throws light on the future aspects of the infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rameshwar S. Cheke ◽  
Sachin Shinde ◽  
Jaya Ambhore ◽  
Vaibhav Adhao ◽  
Dnyaneshwar Cheke

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or also known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been recognized as the cause of respiratory infection in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in late December 2019. As of April 5, 2020, this epidemic had spread to worldwide with 12,03,485 confirmed cases, including 62,000 deaths. The World Health Organization has declared it a Global Public Health Crisis. Coronavirus causes respiratory illness coughing, sneezing, breathlessness, and fever including pneumonia. The disease is transmitted person to person through infected droplets. At present, the research on novel coronavirus is still in the primary stage. Based on the published study, we thoroughly summarize the history and origin, microbiology and taxonomy, mode of transmissions, target receptor, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment about COVID-19. This short report writes in hope for providing platform to community and researcher dealings against with the novel coronavirus and providing a reference for further studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-46
Author(s):  
I. I. Arsentyeva

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in studying social stigma. The concept of stigma is also included in political discourse, as evidenced, among other things, by Xi Jinping’s speeches, in which the Chinese President urges to abandon further politicization and stigmatization of COVID-19. In this regard, the main aim of the article is to analyze the correlation between the novel coronavirus and stigmatization, not only from the traditional point of view (stigma associated with certain diseases), but also in terms of world politics. To explain the nature of social stigma, the author relies on evolutionary psychol- ogy, terror management theory and social identity theory. To analyze ongoing processes in international relations, some provisions of “rogue states” concept, leadership theories, and biopolitics are applied. The primary sources are documents of the World Health Organiza- tion (WHO) and the Group of Seven (G7), statements by UN and WHO officials, speeches of Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, public opinion polls, and media publications. During the course of the study, the following scientific results were ob- tained: the works on COVID-19-related stigma have been systematized, the issues consid- ered in them and research gaps are highlighted; the consequences of stigma due the novel coronavirus have been summarized; some differences between stigma during the pandem- ic and stigma associated with other diseases are also identified; it is suggested to consider COVID-19 stigma not only at the level of interpersonal interactions, but also in international relations; the possible impact of the pandemic on the China’s role on the world stage has been revealed. It is concluded that this research approach allows to take a fresh look at the possibility of restoring ties between states and their citizens in a post-COVID-19 world, as well as to assess the likelihood of a change of global leader. In the final part of the article, possible ways of further development of the situation are predicted and prospects for study on the issue are outlined.


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