We all were living peacefully, carrying out our busy lives and chaotic routines until we heard the increasing death toll in 2019 in Wuhan, China. None of us would have thought that we will be witnessing a period of self-isolation, away from our offices, friends, and social circle. To our surprise, the world wasn’t expecting that this virus is going to affect everyone living in a different part of the world. The world is not the same ever since the outbreak of this pandemic has surrounded us. Initially, this outbreak was limited to China only, and now it has spread its root in 86 more countries.
COVID-19 is a contagious disease which is caused by corona virus -2(SARS-COV-2). Common symptoms of this disease include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, muscle pain, sore throat, and abdominal pain. In mild to severe cases, there exists pneumonia and multi-organ failure, which results in death. The overall rate of its prevalence has increased from 0.2 percent to 15 percent. The virus is observed to be spread through respiratory droplets produced due to cough or sneeze.
Scientists and medical health researchers are struggling to find an antidote to prevent this virus from damaging further human species. One can always reduce the risk of being infected by following a precautionary protocol that includes frequent hand washing. Try covering sneeze and cough by tissues or inner elbow, social distancing, and covering faces with masks. People who are a victim of this outbreak and fighting for their breaths are not only physically sick, but they are also undergoing mental stress. Panic of being isolated is not only driving the healthy ones crazy, but it is also affecting those who have contracted viruses. Let us not forget those doctors and paramedics who are there to battle the disease.
In history, when there used to be wars, the army used to take all preparatory measures, today we don’t need armor to fight disease but gadgets that can help us survive this outbreak. Here are a few devices that might be accommodating in this crucial time.
- Electronic thermometer
If you are a healthcare professional and are in direct contact with patients who might be carriers of COVID-19, it will be wise not to use the ordinary thermometer. Using an ordinary thermometer may leave you prone to any sort of physical contact with the mucus by accident. It is suggested to use an electronic thermometer that uses sensor-based thermistors. These thermometers can easily detect the raised body temperature and will give you the accurate digit of temperature on its little screen. This device is a quick temperature detector saving your time and facilitating a rapid testing protocol.
- Mechanical ventilators
Mechanical ventilators are used to relieve difficulty in breathing. Patients infected with COVID-19 have pulmonary stress, which makes breathing difficult. The amount of oxygen required for normal breathing is less than usual, and hence the person faces shortness of breath. Mechanical ventilators are preferred to be used in such a situation to avoid aerosolized transmission vectors. Usually, in this condition, positive pressure ventilation is used to push air into the lungs of patients.
- Mobile apps
Since we are talking about gadgets, our cellphones are also gadgets that can be equipped with loads of different apps. China launched a mobile app to screen people for the disease or infectious outbreak, and the user only has to enter his name and ID and answer a few questions asked, with a combination of artificial intelligence and geostationary sensor, the database can give the numbers of people severely infected, and those who can be the carriers. Singapore and Korea are taking the assistance of mobile apps to ace up the screening process.
- Thermal Cycler
One of the most important tests for diagnosing that either the patient is positive for corona virus or not is done using thermal cyclers. These thermal cyclers are commonly known as PCR machines (polymerase chain reaction). The RNA strand collected from the patient’s nose or throat on a swab is first copied into a DNA strand. That strand is then put into a thermal cycler to check for the density of strands as viruses and microorganisms start multiplying in number. The presence of the virus is detected as a flash of light, and if there are multiple rapid flashes of view, this means that the patient is tested positive for the presence of COVID-19.
Conclusion
The world is currently facing a tough time since it has become a victim of this virus outbreak. Usually, when we fall sick, we know that if we are going to consult a doctor, he or she is going to prescribe medicines. We follow those prescribed medicine dosages, and in a short period, we retain our health state. Unfortunately, in this outbreak, we are helpless as the medicine to cure this disease outbreak does not exist. We all can hope that may this all get over soon and may the scientists, researchers, and tech-geeks together, find a cure to eradicate this outbreak from the world. We can still follow precautionary protocols to flatten the curve.
