Since December 2019, the rapid spread of SARS CoV-2 across the border, shuffled into a world pandemic situation with an alarming rate of morbidity and mortality. Concerns are mounting as the reports indicate tangled circumstances among the COVID-19 patients due to blood coagulopathy followed by organ dysfunction. COVID-19 induced an alteration in coagulation function increase the risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis associated with poor prognosis as well as high mortality. An elevated level D-dimer and other fibrin degrading protein are documented among the patients with COVID-19; especially in severe cases. Differences in coagulopathy among severe and non-severe cases, required prompt attention to adopt a more effective management strategy.

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak had devastating consequences globally with 20,675,770 affected and 749,061 dead. Despite different measures to restrict transmission, the death toll continues to rise. The SAARC group of countries comprising eight nations—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where 23.75% of the world population reside, implemented containment measures at different stages of the outbreak with varying consequences. In this review, we examined the onset and transmission of the virus in each country at an early stage and critically appraised their response with respect to their medical facilities for diagnosis and management. We found that countries that succeeded to contain the spread of COVID-19 were able to do so by prioritizing non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g. early and stricter lockdowns). Currently, the epicentre of COVID-19 appears to be shifting to India (the largest SAARC nation), the death toll is likely to steeply increase if effective and aggressive measures are not taken urgently. The authors believe that authorities of each of the SAARC countries should act decisively and cooperatively as a matter of urgency increasing the regional collaboration in an eloquent and durative way.

Disguising agents for transmitting Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): Mobile phone & Paper currency

Abstract Background: Considering the lack of definitive drug or vaccine, the non-pharmaceutical interventions need to be implemented to control the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, notably in countries with limited resources like Bangladesh. So, the study targeted the university students of Bangladesh as the representatives of the millennials to determine their level of awareness regarding COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices with a co-produced perception section regarding COVID-19 among university students in Bangladesh. The survey was conducted from 16 to 23rd March, 2020. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Result: Among 1393 students participated in the study, about one-third of them had a positive attitude towards COVID-19 issues, although only 6.9% had good knowledge. While the majority of the participants followed sneezing/ coughing etiquette, frequent hand washing/sanitizing, limited body contact and public transport, etc., both good knowledge and positive attitude were significantly associated with respondents’ good practices. But despite the satisfactory hand hygiene behaviors, awareness is required about the type of sanitizers and the importance of washing hands for 20seconds. Promoting health educative activities through Facebook might be considered to improve the knowledge level, especially to raise awareness about rare symptoms and asymptomatic transmission. However, bazaars might be the potential point of the outbreak that needs to be controlled. Conclusion: The study supports the concerning lack of knowledge among the students along with suggesting the issues to be addressed for successful containment of COVID-19.