COVID 19: Understanding the Disease to Implement Containment Strategies

Abstract

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus is a global threat which has hit all with the force of a hurricane. The vast biological and economic impact of this virus threatens to crumble our health resources, if not handled with caution. In order to battle this pandemic on all fronts, awareness of nature of virus, its transmission, virulence clinical features, complications and management options is essential. We as comprehensive ophthalmologists and more importantly as responsible clinicians, need to update ourselves with knowledge pertaining to this novel virus to safeguard our human resources including ourselves against this powerful enemy. The article reviews basic information about etiology, transmission patterns, clinical picture, diagnostics, treatment and preventive measures of this infection. This is in concordance with the maxim “Know thy enemy”. It also stresses on the precautions to be observed by all healthcare personnel to ensure safety and contain spread. We bear onus of becoming aware of spreading this awareness to break the chain of contagion.

Keywords

• containment strategies
• covid 19
• morbidity
• ophthalmologist
• personal protection
• treatment options