Day 53 | RAS Mains 2025 Answer Writing | 90 Days

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).COVID-19 has had a catastrophic effect on the world, resulting in more than 6 million deaths worldwide. 

Nature of virus: 

• Coronaviruses (CoVs) are positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) viruses with a crown-like appearance under an electron microscope due to the presence of spike glycoproteins on the envelope.
• SARS-CoV-2 has four structural proteins, known as the S (spike), E (envelope), M (membrane), and N (nucleocapsid) proteins
• These viruses can cross species barriers and infect humans as well. SARS‑CoV‑2 has sufficient affinity to the receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on human cells to use them as a mechanism of cell entry.
• Like other RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 adapts with genetic evolution and developing mutations. This results in mutant variants that may have different characteristics than their ancestral strains.
• SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs):

• Alpha (B.1.1.7 lineage) : First variant of concern →  United Kingdom (UK)
• Beta (B.1.351): First reported in South Africa
• Gamma (P.1): First reported in Brazil 
• Delta (B.1.617.2): First reported in India in December 2020
• Omicron (B.1.1.529): First reported in South Africa in November 2021

Control measures taken by india 

On 14 March, 2020 india declared the pandemic as a “notified disaster” under the Disaster Management Act, 2005,

1. India’s 5 fold strategy 

1. Testing : increased testing → minimum 70 % rtPCR tests and use of rapid antigen test in dense
2. Tracing : to break the chain of transmission →launched a smart phone application called Aarogya Setu to help in “contact tracing and containing the spread”.
   1. Infected people were quarantined 
3. Treatment : 
   1. Treatment of COVID-19 is included under AB-PMJAY
   2. Initially used hydroxychloroquine for high risk area
   3. Used antiviral favipiravir for mild to moderate cases
   4. DRDO → 2-Deoxy-D-glucose ⇒ Treating mild to severe cases 
4. covid appropriate behavior : janta curfew
   1. On 24th march, India announced nationwide lockdown to contain the spread. 
   2. Government Divided the entire nation into three zones – Green Zone, Red Zone, Orange Zone.
   3. Popularization of : 2 Gaj ki Doori, Greeting without physical contact, Wear reusable hand-made face-cover or mask, at all times ;Wash hands frequently and thoroughly
5. Vaccination : vaccination drive in 3 phases  → crossed 1 billion 
   1. COVID-19 vaccination campaign “Har Ghar Dastak‟, launched on 3 November
   2. Initiated with Covishield and later indigenous Covaxin
   3. For children : Corbevax, ZyCoV-D vaccine 

2. Humane policy response : 

• Relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor : 
• Economic measure under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package (10% of GDP) 
• mega evacuation of distressed Indian citizens from across the globe called “Vande Bharat Mission“

         3. Digital Public Infra : Use of COWIN portal 

         4. Strengthening Medical Infrastructure :  

• PPEs, ICUs, Ventilators
• Under PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the setting up of integrated public health laboratories in all districts 
• Sanction of PSA Oxygen Generation Plants → PM CARES funds were utilized

During Omicron Variant : 

• Promptly notify “Containment Zones”, “Buffer Zones” in case in new clusters of Covid positive cases
• Utilize the access to “AIR SUVIDHA” Portal to monitor the international passengers
• Utilize funds sanctioned under Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP-II) to ensure that the requisite capacity of health systems is developed at/near hotspots to respond to any emergency.

Measures to minimize threat of any resurgence of Covid-19 pandemic

• established an Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Consortium (INSACOG) for genomic sequencing and tracking the evolution of variant strains of SARS-CoV-2.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is supporting the implementation of two key programmes, the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) and the Ind-CEPI Mission, which have enabled the strengthening of the national vaccine development ecosystem, so as to effectively respond to pandemics

Mission COVID Suraksha – the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission, was launched as part of the third stimulus package, Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0, for promoting research and development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines.