Epidemiological Concept of Coronavirus (COVID-19) And Measures for Eradication: The Perspective of a Health Economist

Abstract

The study discusses the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in context. By its nature, the Coronavirus (or COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, which was first detected in China but subsequently detected in almost 70 geographical locations internationally. The pandemic nature of COVID-19 has caused many countries, including the United States of America, to embark on stringent health measures. Consequently, all affected countries have utilized such preventive measures as travel restrictions, official and self quarantines, event postponements as well as cancellations, curfews and facility closures. In order to assist policymakers to combat this pandemic, my study has utilized the concept of epidemiology to assist all stakeholders to have a better understanding of the epidemiological concept of coronavirus (or COVID-19) and its possible eradication measures. Furthermore, the study strongly recommends that, for successful eradication to be effected, all COVID-19 preventive care must be free (or demand at a zero price), while COVID-19 treatment (or medication) must also be either free or at a subsidized rate and COVID-19 screening must be motivational for individuals to buy into the idea through public campaigns and, also, there should be adequate information flow about the COVID-19 and its prevalence rate. Above all, governmental or   public interventions must outweigh private intervention measures in order to make COVID-19 eradication possible.

Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Epidemiology, Prevalence, Hazard, Eradication, Interventions, Subsidy, Health, Healthcare, Practitioners, Respiratory, Susceptible, Infected.

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-3-08

Publication date:March 31^st 2020