227
Forty-four confirmed cases were reported from India spread across 10 states as
on 9th March 2020. Of the 44 confirmed cases 16 are foreign nationals. As on 9
March, 941,717 international travelers from 8827 flights were screened at airports
(WHO 2020e). Out of the screened passengers 1921 passengers were recognized as
symptomatic and 177 of them were admitted to hospital. From 10th March 2020,
passengers traveling from the Republic of Korea or Italy and wishing to enter India
required certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 (WHO 2020e).
On 6 March 2020, a National Training of Trainers (ToT) was arranged by
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India (GoI) with
WHO to provide support on COVID-19 with a focus on strengthening Surveillance
and Risk Communication, Infection Prevention Control, and Community
Engagement. On the request of MoHFW, WHO Country Office for India (WCO)
has deployed four teams to support response in four states (WHO 2020e). With
India in the second stage of transmission several states announced closure of
schools, colleges, malls, swimming pools, theatres, cancellation of public meetings.
Even though 594 cases reported as on March 13, 2020 in the United Kingdom
(WHO 2020f) the government has avoided closing schools and banning large events
to encourage “herd immunity” (Tony 2020). Subsequently schools across the United
Kingdom were closed on 20 March 2020 except for children whose parents are key
workers. This was followed by an announcement for the closure of all restaurants,
pubs, and gyms (BBC 2020a, b). To curb the virus transmission the Prime Minister
of India requested to observe countrywide social distancing on 22 March 2020
through “Janata curfew” where in all the citizens of the country was urged to stay at
home (Sushmi 2020).
Considering the above discussions, it is evident that the burden of disease due to
environmental attributes is related to the number and extent of environmental
conflicts.
6.3 Impact of Pollution on Health
Pollution caused since industrial revolution has been contributed to toxic chemicals
in the environment and increased sharply (Fig. 6.4).
Pollution of water, air, soil can affect human health as they enter the human body
through biogeochemical cycles (Fig. 6.5). Water conflicts can affect quality and
quantity of water that can have direct impact on human health.
Briggs (2003) attributed pollution to about 8–9% of the total burden of disease
worldwide. Landrigan et al. (2018) estimated that 16% of global deaths were due to
pollution resulting in 9 million premature demises in 2015 with about 92% of
pollution- related deaths happening in middle-income and low-income countries.
The greatest number of pollution related deaths in 2015 happened in Southeast Asia
(3.2 million) followed by the Western Pacific (2.2 million) (GBD 2015 Risk Factors
Collaborators 2016).
6.3 Impact of Pollution on Health
Forty-four confirmed cases were reported from India spread across 10 states as
on 9th March 2020. Of the 44 confirmed cases 16 are foreign nationals. As on 9
March, 941,717 international travelers from 8827 flights were screened at airports
(WHO 2020e). Out of the screened passengers 1921 passengers were recognized as
symptomatic and 177 of them were admitted to hospital. From 10th March 2020,
passengers traveling from the Republic of Korea or Italy and wishing to enter India
required certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 (WHO 2020e).
On 6 March 2020, a National Training of Trainers (ToT) was arranged by
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India (GoI) with
WHO to provide support on COVID-19 with a focus on strengthening Surveillance
and Risk Communication, Infection Prevention Control, and Community
Engagement. On the request of MoHFW, WHO Country Office for India (WCO)
has deployed four teams to support response in four states (WHO 2020e). With
India in the second stage of transmission several states announced closure of
schools, colleges, malls, swimming pools, theatres, cancellation of public meetings.
Even though 594 cases reported as on March 13, 2020 in the United Kingdom
(WHO 2020f) the government has avoided closing schools and banning large events
to encourage “herd immunity” (Tony 2020). Subsequently schools across the United
Kingdom were closed on 20 March 2020 except for children whose parents are key
workers. This was followed by an announcement for the closure of all restaurants,
pubs, and gyms (BBC 2020a, b). To curb the virus transmission the Prime Minister
of India requested to observe countrywide social distancing on 22 March 2020
through “Janata curfew” where in all the citizens of the country was urged to stay at
home (Sushmi 2020).
Considering the above discussions, it is evident that the burden of disease due to
environmental attributes is related to the number and extent of environmental
conflicts.
6.3 Impact of Pollution on Health
Pollution caused since industrial revolution has been contributed to toxic chemicals
in the environment and increased sharply (Fig. 6.4).
Pollution of water, air, soil can affect human health as they enter the human body
through biogeochemical cycles (Fig. 6.5). Water conflicts can affect quality and
quantity of water that can have direct impact on human health.
Briggs (2003) attributed pollution to about 8–9% of the total burden of disease
worldwide. Landrigan et al. (2018) estimated that 16% of global deaths were due to
pollution resulting in 9 million premature demises in 2015 with about 92% of
pollution- related deaths happening in middle-income and low-income countries.
The greatest number of pollution related deaths in 2015 happened in Southeast Asia
(3.2 million) followed by the Western Pacific (2.2 million) (GBD 2015 Risk Factors
Collaborators 2016).
6.3 Impact of Pollution on Health