COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS): A GLOBAL EMERGENCY OUTBREAK AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN INDIA

Global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) challenged the medical facilities and services worldwide with more than 200 countries affected by the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2, the seventh virus known to infect the human respiratory system, belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus. It affects the respiratory tract mainly by binding to the ACE-2 receptors chiefly found in lungs and heart. Major countries like the United States, Italy, France, and United Kingdom suffered great loss during the Covid-19 pandemic and large numbers of deaths were reported. At the same time, India too is combating against the virus. Covid-19 arrived in India from the global epicenter Wuhan in late January 2020 when a Kerala student tested positive for the virus. Maharashtra was the worst affected state with maximum number of positive cases and deaths in the country. First death due to Covid-19 occurred in Karnataka state that triggered the alarm of Covid-19 infection. Indian government is taking lots of efforts to control the transmission of the virus that spreads rapidly among humans. Strategies such as self-quarantine, social distancing and 40-days countrywide lockdown helped to slow down the virus which could have spread tremendously otherwise. Our review focuses on the implications of Covid-19 in Indian scenario along with report on active cases, death toll, cured cases, and strategies employed for the pandemic control