Is the suffering equal for both men and women in Coronavirus pandemic?

COVID-19 is an acute contagious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

The virus was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December in 2019. It is significantly affecting the entire world as the spread is speedy all across the globe.

According to sources of World o Meters, registered affected cases around the globe are 472,907 among which 21,315 have died fighting this war. All the countries are trying to boost their medical and health facilities to combat this crisis.

Women Media Center concerns grows about whole humanity in this testing time. However, we too are wondering that how many women have been affected, died and recovered from this pandemic.

As one of the news sources quoted that a woman died in London due to coronavirus outbreak as she was told that she was not the priority to be treated.

This is surely heart wrenching. We not only as victims or survivors but as nations shall come forward to help those who are vulnerable and less privileged.

It was well mentioned in a news report issued by DW women that medical profession and social care comprise of more women and hence they are the fighters against COVID-19.

As schools have closed globally they are now doubled with the responsibility of childcare and domestic chores along with working from home for the professional women.

A research in China suggested that COVID-19 is affecting men and women equally, but women are less likely to die from the virus.

A study in China of some 44,600 people with COVID-19 from the Chinese Center for Disease Control showed the mortality rate among men was 2.8%, as compared with 1.7% for women.

The disease is said to infect and hit harder to those who are older and have underlying medical issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.

The best precaution to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well aware of the fact that how it spreads and multiply.

Protect yourself and others from infection by maintaining social distance, minimal interaction with others, avoiding public gatherings, taking care of proper hygiene like washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. 

We at Women Media Center encouraged the work from home policy as the disease is spreading quickly. The government of Pakistan has announced lock-down in this situation to counter the spread of COVID-19.

The military and government are busy in managing and arranging health facilities and equipment to deal with the outbreak.