key: cord-0841715-mia0rw4s
authors: Ahmed Alghamdi, Huda
title: Research and Effectiveness of Anti-Viral Drugs against COVID-19; Global Public Intervention to Prevent Coronavirus and to Improve Human Health
date: 2021-04-20
journal: Saudi J Biol Sci
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.04.031
sha: cb36f15364f06c511dbbc9c8261d53128d3f06cb
doc_id: 841715
cord_uid: mia0rw4s

Since the first case report on COVID-19, its transmission took place rapidly across the globe. Currently, it is reported to be spread into a total of 216 countries and territories. The suppression on industrial and gasoline burning activities accompanied after COVID-19 lock down favorably boosted the nature to restore its deteriorated sections such as in air with the improved Air quality index and in water bodies with the natural tone of purity. Increased use of anti-viral drugs along with herbal therapies has been observed at mass scale as global intervention to prevent the disease. The use of personal protective equipment and disinfection strategies for the control of pandemic has dramatically increased the pollution of plastic and medical waste. This article aims to forecast and highlight the evidence-based impact/changes (+ive and -ive) of coronavirus on the environment, global interventions to prevent the disease along with the levels of effectiveness of personal used protective equipment to stop the spread of coronavirus.

An ancient Greek writing around 400 BC "Book of Epidemics" by Hippocrates accounts for winter epidemics of respiratory infectious diseases [1] . A number of viruses causing respiratory illnesses have been reported so far as the etiological agents of such epidemics. Virology and immunology embraced remarkable advances to expound the fundamental root of such cyclical infections. In spite of remarkable efforts put toward public health, epidemics/pandemics of viral respiratory system infections can prevail even amongst healthy human beings to lead to lethal consequences at worst [2] .

In the recent past (e.g., [2002] [2003] , the outbreaks of acute respiratory syndrome virus epidemics of SARS-CoV and current respiratory viral infection (SARS-C0V-2/COVID-19) were observed in winter season to evidence the blowout of a variety of respiratory tract viral infections [3, 4] . Published reports revealed that seasonal factors in respiratory virus epidemics along with the host determinants affected by causative factors, including absolute humidity (AH), seasonal temperature variation, vitamin status, sunlight, and host behavior [5] [6] [7] . These determinants can be clustered as seasonal variation/changes in environmental conditions, behavioral pattern of human, and viral infection patterns. Environmental determinants impact on host predisposition by curbing air-pathways defensive response and viability, and spread of viruses. Factors of human behavior impact on transmission through contact rate between susceptible and infected bodies. Seasonality, temperature fluctuation, and humidity have been proposed as critical factors among all potential drivers to increase respiratory epidemics [7, 8] .

A current respiratory viral infection of Corona Virus-2019 (COVID-19) was for the first time reported from Wuhan city, China in December 2019 where seafood market was declared culprit of this spread [9] . Since the first report of COVID-19, it has been spreading rapidly to be reported from 216 countries and territories. As such, World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized COVID-19 as pandemic [10] . WHO declared this pandemic as global emergency on 2020 January 30 due to continuous increase in reported/notified cases from many parts of the globe. The detection of COVID-19 cases is increasing day by day as tracked on WHO website and other media sources. China faced high morbidity and mortality rate in the month of February 2020, whereas boosted morbidity and mortality rate was reported from Italy and Spain in the month of March. The highest death and detection cases till April 2020 were reported from the United States of America, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Belgium (Belgium bear rapid deaths) along with the boost of confirmed cases across the majority of global countries (World Health Organization, 2020).

Corona viruses were first time studied in 1966 when Tyrell and Bynoe cultured them from a common cold patient. [11] . In light of projections and shells on outer surface with spherical virion morphology, they were named as coronavirus, whereas corona is a Latin word used to imply crown or wreath [12] . Coronavirus is subdivided into four subfamilies (i.e., α-coronavirus, β-coronavirus, γcoronavirus, and δ-coronavirus). Mammalians, especially bats were proposed as the sources responsible for α and β coronaviruses, while γ and δ coronaviruses are supposed to instigate from pig and birds, respectively [13]. Alpha-coronavirus results asymptomatic or even mildly symptomatic infection while β coronavirus could cause severe infection and mortalities [14, 15] .

Since the pandemic started, the quality of different environmental segments (including atmosphere, water system, and wildlife freedom) has been reported to improve the deterioration of plastic and medical waste generations and susceptibility of coronavirus prevalence in sewage and fecal matters.

Increased use of anti-viral drugs along with herbal therapies has been observed at mass scale as global intervention to prevent the disease [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] . We aimed to organize a detailed study to forecastimmediate and long-term impact of COVID-19 on environment, global interventions to prevent the disease along with the levels of effectiveness of personal used protective equipment to stop the spread of coronavirus. It is expected that this study will help researchers gain a better knowledge for the assessment of various environmental changes and their corresponding implications.

Further, we also highlighted some effective intervention activities that may help curve the spread of CVOID-19.

2.1.

The COVID pandemic, infect people across the world and considered as a global medical risk to the 

It is reported that coronavirus pandemic is likely to be initiated at Chinese wet markets. Grade N95, powered air purifying respirator and elastomeric respirators are recommended to be used by patients, health care workers and general public. As a reduction measure of coronavirus spread and transmission from affected persons everyone need to use face protective [55] . It is recommended to discontinue the use of PPE if damaged, soiled, compromised, and uncomfortable or in other circumstances [56, 57] . Table 1 

Cleaning along with disinfection is a finest practice to prevent COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings [58] . To lessen the threat of disease spread in the community, it is recommended to prioritize better hygiene practices including washing hands frequently and thoroughly [59] . Individually, people are observed to be using alcohol based hand sanitizer with 60-70% alcohol as suggested by [58] , regularly upon meeting other individuals outside or on return back to home. [60] suggests that an untidy surface must be cleansed with soap or detergent with water followed by the use of disinfectant containing alcohol (70%) or bleach. Vinegar and other natural products are not suggested.

Public is also observed to be disinfected via spraying disinfecting substances in public places, such as super marts, offices, industrial units, massive gathering spots. However, [62] recommended to prohibit drenching of persons with antiseptics (as in tunnel, cabinet, or chamber) in any condition. This exercise is considered to be physically and psychologically damaging and is not effective to decrease a septic person's capability to spread the virus through droplets or contact when speaking, coughing or sneezing. It is reported that spraying of individual with substances such as chlorine is responsible for the toxic influence on entities and lead towards eye and skin irritation, bronchospasm due to inhalation, and possibly gastrointestinal effects such as vomiting and nausea [63] . It is suggested to use EPA-registered disinfectants with label by the employers to clean and disinfect environments potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 [64] .

Contrary to the earlier harsher lockdowns, which led the world economies to a grinding halt in different countries of Europe, now a number of countries are opting for smart or selective lockdowns 

Social distance measures to duck the blowout of this virus is presented in Considering the available studies, quarantine is the most effective measure adopted to control both the number of infected and dead individuals [67, 68] . It is seem to be effective where it was implemented since the outbreak.

Preventing a respiratory infection at origin by a face mask is an entrenched strategy [71] .

Asymptomatic patients in large number unaware of their own infection [72, 73] , the analogous viral load in their upper respiratory tract [74] , droplet and aerosol spreading during talking and breathing [75] , and protracted viral capability outside our body [76] strongly advocate use of face mask as a protective measure to control transmission of COVID 19 at source in mass gatherings and public places during the COVID-19 pandemic [71] .

To manufacture highly effective a tall degree of obedience is required that will maximize the influence of covers used by public [71, 76, It is reported that room ventilation is really effective against the clearance of COVID 19 aerosols.

[51] reported that a single air exchange removes about 63% of virus aerosols and after two fresh air exchange events there is 14% and after five exchanges there is only less than 1% of virus load remains there in the room. After number of air exchanges only 0.37n of virus load remains there. The evidences reveal that improved ventilation is associated with the removal of respiratory droplets from the air in a period of short time and helps to reduce the susceptibility of being ill with COVID-19

(CDCP, 2020).

To . Social distancing and isolation can be effective to control and to reduce the risk of cross infection otherwise it became a cause of second peak in coronavirus pandemic [83] .

A manuscript on available reports of COVID-19 and its impact on environment along with forecasting and to highlight the impact on society and environment was aimed and compiled to ease the access of available information in one draft. Air Quality (NO 2 , SO 2 , PM 2.5 ) and water bodies have been improved in term of pollution reduction (Figure 1-2 

Insights into infectious disease in the era 54

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