St.

Martinus University

Faculty of medicine

An appeal to the senses: Impact of

COVID-19 on people’s livelihoods, their
health, food system and
education

Name: Ashok Nayak

course: English
professor: Mr. Andres Ferrero
Due date: November17th,2023
An appeal to the senses: Impact of
COVID-19 on people's
livelihoods, their health, food
system and Education
Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the
common cold to more severe diseases such as middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
and Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was
identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. Scientist first identified a human coronavirus in 1965. It
caused a common cold, later that decade, researchers found a group of similar human and
animal viruses and named them after their crown-like appearance. COVID-19 is a disease
caused by a new strain of corona virus ‘CO’ stand for corona, ‘VI’ for virus and ‘D’ for
disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV’,
COVID-19 is caused by infection with the severe acute respiratory system corona virus 2
[SARS-COV-2] virus strain Retrospective investigation by Chinese authorities have identified
have identified human cases had a link to a wholesale foot market in Wuhan. Some of the
earliest known cause in Wuhan city, China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause
by Chinese authorities on 7 January 2020 and was temporarily named ‘’2019-nCoV’’. The
new coronavirus latches its spiky surface proteins to receptors on healthy cells, the viral
proteins buts into cells through ACF2 receptors. Once inside, the coronavirus hijacks healthy
cells and takes command, Eventually, it kills some of the healthy cells. How easy is it to get
infected? Researchers say that on average, every person who has COVID-19 well pass it on to
2 or 2.5 other. One study says that number is even higher, with one sick person infecting
between 4.7 and 6.6 others.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: The great majority of people with coronavirus will have mild or
moderate disease and will make a full recovery within 2-4 W eeks. But even if you are young
and healthy meaning your risk of severe disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and
cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

Most Common Symptoms:

1) Fever
2) Dry cough
3) Tiredness

Less Common Symptoms:

1) Aches and pains
2) Sore throat
3) Watery stools
4) Conjunctivitis
5) Loss of taste or smell
6) A rash on skin Or discoloration of fingers or toes

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an
unprecedented challenge to public health, food system and the world of work. The
economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. Tens of millions of
people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished
people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the
end of the year. Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s
3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Informal economy workers
are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality
health care and have lost access without the means to earn an income during lockdowns
many are unable to feed themselves and their families. For most, no income means no food,
or, at best, less food and less nutritious food.

The pandemic has been affection the entire food system and has laid bare its fragility. Border
closures, trade restrictions and confinement measures have been preventing farmers from
accessing markets, including for buying inputs and selling their produce, and agricultural
workers from harvesting crops, thus disrupting domestic and international food supply
chains and reducing access to healthy, safe and diverse diets. The pandemic has decimated
jobs and placed millions of livelihoods at risk. As breadwinners lose jobs, falls ill and die, the
food security and nutrition of millions of women and men are under threat, with those in
low-income countries, particularly the most marginalized populations, which include small-
scale farmers and indigenous peoples, being hardest hit.

Millions of agricultural workers-waged and self-employed-while feeding the world, regularly

face high levels of working poverty, malnutrition and poor health, and suffer from a lack of
safety and labours protections as well as other types of abuse. With low and irregular
income and a lack of social support, many of them are spurred to continue working, often in
unsafe conditions, thus exposing themselves and their families to additions risks. Further,
when experiencing income losses, they may resort to negative coping strategies, such as
distress sale as assets, predatory loans or child labour. Migrant agriculture workers are
particular vulnerable, because they face risks in their transport, working and living
conditions and struggle to access support measures puy in places by government.
Guaranteeing the safety and health of all agri-food workers- from primary producer to those
involved in food processing, transport and retail, including street food vendors-as well as
better income and protections, will be critical to saving lives and protecting public health,
people livelihood and food security.
Food crisis: In the COVID-19 crisis food security, public health, and employment and
labour issues, in particular workers’ health and safety, converge. Adhering to workplace
safety and health practices and ensuring access to decent work and the protection of labour
rights in all industries will be crucial in addressing the human dimension of the crisis.
Immediate and purposeful action to save lives and livelihoods should include extending
social protection towards universal health coverage and income support for those most
effected. These include workers in the informal economy and in poorly protected and low-
paid jobs, including youth, older workers, and migrants. Particular attention must be paid to
the situation of women, who are overrepresented in low-paid jobs and care roles. Different
forms of support are key, including cash transfers, child allowances and healthy school
meals, shelter and food relief initiatives, support for employment retention and recovery,
and financial relief for businesses, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In
designing and implementing such measures it is essential that governments work closely
with employers and workers.

Countries dealing with exiting humanitarian crises or emergencies are particularly exposed
to the effects of COVID-19. Responding swiftly to the pandemic, while ensuring that
humanitarian and recovery assistance reaches those most in need, is critical.

Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most vulnerable in our
societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world. Only together can we
overcome the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of the pandemic and
prevent its escalation into a protracted humanitarian and food security catastrophe, with the
potential loss of already achieved development gains.

We must recognize this opportunity to build back better, as noted in the issued by the
United Nations secretary-general. We are committed to pooling our expertise and expertise
to support countries in their crisis response measures and efforts to achieve the sustainable
Development goals. We need to develop long-term sustainable strategies to address the
challenges facing the health and agri-food sectors. Priority should be given to addressing
underlying food security and malnutrition challenges, tackling rural poverty, in particular
through more and better jobs in the rural economy, extending social protection to all,
facilitating safe migration pathways and promoting the formalization of the informal
economy.

We must rethink the future of our environment and tackle climate change and environment
degradation with ambition and urgency. Only then can we protect the health, livelihoods,
food security and nutrition of all people, and ensure that our ‘new normal’ is a better one.
The Effect of COVID-19 on Education

COVID-19 has changed education for learners of all ages. Preliminary data project education
losses at many levels and verify the increased anxiety and depression associated with the
changes, but there are not yet data on long-term outcomes. Guidance from oversight
organizations regarding the safety and efficacy of new delivery modalities for education have
been quickly forged. It is not surprise that the socioeconomic gaps and gaps for special
learners have widened. The medical profession and other profession that teach by
incrementally graduated internships are also severely affected and have had to make drastic
changes.

Keywords: COVID-19, Education, virtual learning, special education, medical school

education.

The transition to an online education during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Pandemic may bring about adverse education changes and adverse health consequences for
children and young adult learners in grade school, middle school, high school, collage, and
professional schools. The effects may differ by age, oversight organizations have tried to
establish guidelines, expressed concerns, and extrapolated from previous experiences.

General educational losses and disparities

Many researchers are examining how the new environment affects learners’ mental,
physical, and social health to help compensate for any losses incurred by this pandemic but
to better prepare for future pandemic. There is a paucity of data at this juncture, but some
investigators have extrapolated from earlier school shutdowns owing to hurricanes and
other natural disasters.

Inclement weather closures are estimated in some studies to lower middle school math
grades by 0.013 to 0.039 standard deviations and natural disaster closures by up 0.10
standard deviation decreases in overall achievement scores. The data from inclement
weather closures did show a more significant decrease for children dependent on school
meals, but generally the data were not stratified by socioeconomic differences. Math scores
are impacted overall more negatively by school absences than English language scores for all
school closures.

The Northwest Evaluation Association is a global nonprofit organization that provides

research-based assessments and professional development for education. A team of
researchers at Stanford University evaluated Northwest Evaluation test scores for students in
17 states and the district of Columbia in the fall of 2020 and estimate that the average
student had lost one-third of a year to a full year’s worth of learning in reading, and about
threequarters of a year to more than 1 year in math since schools closed in march 2020.
 With school shifted from traditional attendance at a school building to attendance via the
internet, families have come under new stressors. It is increasingly clear that families
depended on school for much more than math and reading. Shelter, food, health care, and
social well-being are all part of the children and adolescents, as well as their parents or
guardians, depend on school to provide.

Many families have been impacted negatively by the loss of wages, leading to food
insecurity and housing insecurity; some of loss this is a consequence of the need for parents
to be a at home with young children who cannot attend in-person school. there is evidence
that this economic instability is leading to an increase in depression and anxiety. In 1 survey,
34.71% of parents reported behaviour problems in their children that they attributed to the
pandemic and virtual schooling.

Children have been infected with and affected by coronavirus. In the United States,93,605
students tested positive for COVID-19, and it was reported that 42% were Hispanic/Latino,
32% were non his panic White, and 17% were non-Hispanic Black, emphasizing a
disproportionate effect for children of colour. COVID infection itself is not the only issue that
affects children’s health during the pandemic. School-based health care and school-based
meals are lost when school goes virtual and children of lower socioeconomic class are more
severely affected by these losses. Although some districts were able to deliver school meals,
school-based health care is a primary source of health care for many children and has left
some chronic conditions unchecked during the pandemic.

Many families report that the stress of the pandemic has led to a poorer diet in children with
an increase in the consumption of sweet and fried foods. Shelter at home orders and online
education have led to fewer exercise opportunities. Research carried out by Ammar and
colleagues. Found that daily sitting had increase from 5 to 8 hours a day and binge eating,
snacking, and the number of meals were all significantly increased 0wing to lockdown
conditions and stay-at home initiatives. There is growing evidence in both animal and human
models that diets high in sugar and fat can play a detrimental role in cognition and should be
of increased concern in light of the pandemic.

Predictions from data analysis of school absenteeism, summer breaks, and natural disaster
occurrences are imperfect fir the current situation, but all indications are that we should not
expect all children and adolescents to be affected equally. 4,5 although some children and
adolescents will likely suffer no long-term consequences, COVID-19 is expected to widen the
already existing educational gap from socioeconomic differences, and children with learning
differences, COVID-19 is expected to widen the already existing educational gap from
socioeconomic differences, and children with learning differences are expected to suffer
more losses than neurotypical children
 High school, depression, and COVID-19

High schoolers have lost a great deal during this pandemic. What should have been a time of
establishing more independence has been hampered by shelter-in-place recommendations.
Graduations, proms, athletic events, college visits, and many other social and educational
events have been altered or lost and cannot be recaptured

Adolescents reported higher rates of depression and anxiety associated with the pandemic,
and in 1study 14.4%of teenagers report post-traumatic stress disorder, whereas 40.4%repot
having depression and anxiety.26 in another survey adolescent boys reported a signification
decrease in life satisfaction from 92%before COVID to72% during lockdown conditions. For
adolescents girls, the decrease in life satisfaction was from 81%before COVID to62% during
the pandemic, with the oldest teenage girls reporting the lowest life satisfaction values
during COVID-19 restrictions.27 during the school shutdown for COVID-19, 21 of boys and
27%of girls reported an increases in family arguments.26 combine all of these reports with
decreasing access to mental health service owing to pandemic restrictions and it becomes a
complicated matter for parents to address their children’s mental health need as well as
their educational needs.28

A study conducted in Norway measured aspects of socialization and mood changes in

adolescents during the pandemic. The opportunity for prosocial action was rated on a scale
of 1 (not at all) to 6 (very much) based on how well certain phrases applied to them, for
example, “I comforted a friend yesterday,” “yesterday I did my best to care for a friend,” and
“yesterday I sent a message to a friend.” “They also ranked mood by rating items on scale of
1 (not at all) to 5 (very well) as items reflected their mood.29 they found that adolescents
showed an overall decrease in empathic concern and opportunity for prosocial actions, as
well as a decrease in mood ratings during the pandemic

PREVENTION

Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and talking appropriate
precautions. Follow advice provided by your local health authority. To prevent the spread of
COVID-19

1) Clean your hands after. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
2) Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
3) Wear a mask when physical distancing Is not possible.
4) Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
5) Stay home if you feel unwell: if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek
medical attention calling in advance allows your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to
the right health facility. These protects you, and prevents the spread of virus and other
infections.
6) Masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from wearing the mask to others.
Masks alone do not protect against COVID-19. And should be come and with physical
distancing and hand hygiene. Follow the advice provided by your local health authority

TREATMENTS:

Self-care: asymptotic cases. Mild cases of COVID-19:

> Isolate yourself in a well-ventilated room.

> Use a triple layer medical mask discard mask after 8 hours of use or earlier if they become
wet or visibly soiled. In the event of a caregiver

> Entering the room, both caregiver and patient may consider using N 95 mask.

> Mask should be discarded only after disinfecting it with 1% sodium hypochlorite.

> Take rest and drink a lot of fluids to maintain adequate hydration.

> Follow respiratory etiquettes at all times

> Frequent hand wishing with soap and water for at least 40 second or clear with alcohol-
based sanitizer.

> Don’t share personal items with other people in the household.

> Ensure cleaning of surfaces in the room that are touched often (tabletops, doorknobs,
handles, etc.) with 1% hypochlorite solution

> Monitor temperature daily.

> Monitor oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter daily.

> Connect with the treating physician promptly if any deterioration of symptoms.

Instructions for caregivers:

> Mask: The caregiver should wear triple layer medical mask. N95 mask may be considered
when in the same room with the ill person.
> Hand hygiene: hand hygiene must be ensured following contact with ill person or patient’s
immediate environment.

> Exposure to patient/patient’s environment; Avoid direct contact with body fluids of the
patient, particularly oral or respiratory secretion. Use disposable gloves hygiene before and
after removing gloves.

References

1) http://educationresearchalliancenola.org/files/publications/Harris Larsen-Reform-
Effects-2019-08-01
2) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education
3) https://www.coursehero.com/file/p1tkbmr3/Foreign-Studies-COVID-19-Impact-on-Fruit-
and-Vegetable-Markets-Thespread-of/
4) http://news.un.org
5) https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075322/
6) Wolfson J.A., Leung C.W. Food insecurity and COVID-19: disparities in early effects
for US Adults. Nutrient
7) https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people's-
livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems
8) https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/statements-and-speeches/
WCMS_757974/lang--en/index.htm