Pandemic Experience How is it possible to build a COVID-19 resilience area? Md Billal Hossen

Coronavirus (Covid-19) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan city of Ubei Province in China. Since its inception, the virus has spread to almost every country in the world. Even the most powerful countries in the world have succumbed to the virus. America, Italy, China, Germany, Brazil etc. have become routed. Coronavirus was first identified in Bangladesh on March 8, 2020. Since then, the number of infected and dead people has been increasing steadily. In recent times, the Indian variant of the Corona (Delta variant) has spread rapidly in the border areas of Bangladesh.
All the countries of the world are trying their best to prevent the transmission of this small virus but no country is getting the expected results. On the other hand, the virus is so new that it has not been studied before, so it is not possible to easily find a scientific way to kill the coronavirus. But there is a light of hope that different types of vaccines have already been discovered. We all know that there is no quick cure for this disease without vaccines, it is very sad but true that there are many types of vaccines on the market but poor countries are not getting them properly. The amount of vaccine they are getting is not meeting the needs of the people in any way.

As a result, if we are hoping to get the vaccine, then the people of the country cannot be saved from infection in any way. Being infected means that there is no way out without lockdown, which will lead to a catastrophe in the domestic economy. People are more likely to die of starvation than to be infected with the virus. Which is by no means desirable.
That is why whenever there is a disaster in this world, people have always found a way to survive or have tried to survive by enduring that disaster. For example we can talk about salt or drought tolerant rice, this rice is mainly cultivated in coastal and drought prone areas. This rice variety has been developed in such a way that it can tolerate salt and drought because we do not have the ability to control salinity or drought. That is why we are producing a lot of paddy by achieving salt and drought tolerance and filling the food shortage.

The coronavirus pandemic is just as much a global catastrophe as coronavirus needs to be tolerated by all people on earth. The experience of the Corona pandemic over the past year and a half has shown that corona tolerance can be achieved by adhering to personal hygiene rules, maintaining social distance, changing eating habits and changing lifestyles. And awareness is needed to create the habit of proper practice of all these.
Only if awareness is born in every person in the society, it is possible to avoid coronavirus. Awareness is the best way to achieve tolerance. If we can spread awareness among every person in every area, then it is possible to make the people of the area coronavirus tolerant. Even if there is a pandemic, people will need food, work and go out. So everything has to be done according to the proper rules. If the direct participation of government, NGOs and common people can be ensured, it is possible to implement the concept of building a corona tolerant area.
Recommendations for the formation of coronavirus resilience areas

Develop proper eating habits
The only way to survive during this toughest period is to boost the body’s immune system, which is still the most effective way to prevent coronavirus. Put lots of fruits and colorful vegetables on your daily food list. They contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients that strengthen your immune system. Although it is not possible to get fresh fruits and vegetables due to lockdown, the best method is to cultivate fruits and vegetables in the yard or on the roof. Then just as it will be possible to increase your family’s immunity, you will not have to go to the market, which will reduce the chances of infection. This method will be very effective if implemented. In addition, if you follow the right diet, the chances of getting other diseases are less, so you have to go to the hospital less. As a result, not going to the hospital will reduce the risk of unwanted infections. In other words, proper diet is very important to achieve coronavirus resilience.

Following World Health Organization (WHO) and government guidelines
Coronavirus is an infectious disease that can easily spread from one person to another through a carrier or without a carrier. It is usually spread by sneezing, coughing, touching and contaminated surfaces. So in order to survive from coronavirus, one has to maintain social distances, cover mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing. When you go out, you must use a mask and after coming from outside, you have to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds to reduce the chances of getting infected. When everyone in a certain area adheres to the rules of hygiene properly, that area will gradually become more tolerant. So it is important to follow hygiene rules to achieve coronavirus resilience.
Maintain proper social distance
Direct contact between two people increases the risk of getting COVID-19, so maintain social distance before doing anything. Ensuring that you wear a mask and hand gloves when talking or meeting directly, it will also reduce the chances of infection. When everyone adheres to this provision, the path to corona resilience will be easier.

Arranging area based work for marginalized people
Arranging area based work for marginalized people who leads hand to mouth life. Then no one from other areas will be able to enter those areas, which will reduce the chances of contracting the virus and the people of the area will be able to live in a minimal way.

Raising awareness among mass people
The best way to prevent coronavirus is to raise social awareness. By informing everyone about the harmful aspects of this virus, everyone will be aware and it will be possible to prevent the infection.

Ensure hygiene in school, college or university
If the situation is a little normal, when the school, college or university opens, instruct all students to follow the hygiene rules.
Increasing the use of bicycles as a means of transportation
Bicycles can be used instead of public transport when traveling to ensure social distance and avoid infection. Just as it reduces the risk of coronavirus infection, cycling will also have physical benefits. Cycling helps to lose weight, reduce the risk of heart disease and keep the mind fresh. So bicycle is a safe and environmental friendly vehicle to build COVID-19 tolerant area.

Provide adequate ICU and oxygen cylinders in local hospitals
Adequate ICUs and oxygen cylinders in local hospitals will enable timely treatment of critically ill patients. It is an effective way to manage critically ill patients.

Follow proper hygiene rules in the office
We have to go to the office to save livelihood, so it is possible to prevent coronavirus infection if the World Health Organization and government-guided hygiene practices are followed in the office.

When it is possible to implement area-based coronavirus prevention measures, we will be able build coronavirus tolerant area. As a result of repeating something, people gradually become accustomed to that thing. In the same way, personal hygiene, social distance and eating habits will become a habit at some point in time. Moreover, it is not possible for people to avoid the adverse effects of the environment, so we need to adapt the adverse condition while it is arising. Otherwise our existence will be threatened. To save life and livelihood, it has become really important for us to form a coronavirus tolerant area in the every sphere of our country. The real battle is to be tolerant in the upcoming ‘new normal’ situation. So let’s all fight together against this catastrophic pandemic and achieve tolerance. Awareness is the best way to achieve tolerance against COVID-19.

The writer is a Student of Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Biological Science, Islamic University, Bangladesh. He can be reached by billalanftiu@gmail.com