Essay: Coronaviruses: A Family of Zoonotic Viruses That Have Caused Pandemic

They are all part of the coronavirus family of viruses, and they nearly have the same symptoms.
Coronaviruses are a large family of zoonotic viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to severe respiratory diseases.
Zoonotic means these viruses are able to be transmitted from animals to humans.
There are several coronaviruses known to be circulating in different animal populations that have not yet infected humans. Research evidence suggests that SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV originated in bats, and it is likely that COVID-19 did as well.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus that may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. First identified in a cluster with pneumonia symptoms in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China, in December 2019.
Scientists have known of the human coronavirus since the 1960s. But only rarely has it garnered wider recognition over the past half a century.
In 2003 the SARS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome, spread in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Another case was in 2012, when the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), led to an outbreak in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Korea, and other countries.
They have also been associated with significant reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, air quality levels in the world’s major cities improved dramatically in March and April.
Air quality increased largely because of a reduction in factory and road traffic emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Local waste problems have emerged as many municipalities have suspended their recycling activities over fears of virus propagation in recycling centres.
The first confirmed case of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United Arab Emirates was announced on 29 January 2020.
It was the first country in the Middle East to report a confirmed case. The first patient, a 73-year-old Chinese woman, was released on 9 February after recovering. The first two deaths were confirmed on March 20.
On 22 March, Dubai started an 11-day sterilisation campaign as an effort to contain the coronavirus. Night curfew was imposed 4 days later while the country began disinfection.
School closure was first announced on March 8 for 4 weeks. 3 weeks later, it was announced that school will be closed until the end of the academic year
The biggest social impact of COVID-19 on the UAE was the lockdown.
The UAE imposed night curfew as disinfection in the country began.On 28 March, the country announced that curfews and disinfection would be extended until April 5
On March 31, Al Ras area, one of Dubai’s densely populated areas that’s home to the gold souk and museums, was placed under lock down for two weeks starting 31 March preventing all residents from leaving or entering the area.
On 4 April, a 24-hour curfew was imposed on Dubai, with stricter restrictions on movement imposed, which was reduced to 10-hours from 10:00 pm and 6:00 am starting April 24
Several churches in the UAE had announced temporary closures and the suspension of Mass starting March 12. St Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi and St Michael’s Church in Sharjah said last week that all group services and activities were postponed until further notice.
On March 16, prayers at mosques and all other places of worship in the UAE have been suspended as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
On 24 March, TRA unblocks Skype for Business, Google Hangouts amid the coronavirus outbreak. The TRA explained that residents will now be able to use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Blackboard, which are available on all networks in the country. Microsoft Skype for Business and Google Hangouts are compatible with fixed Internet networks.
On 23 March, the government shut malls for two weeks. Fish, meat and vegetable markets also closed for a renewable period of two weeks.
On 23 April, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments announced that some restrictions were being reduced in respect to mall closures with their respective economic departments stating that they were consulting with stakeholders in opening malls in line with government plans for a gradual increase in economic activity in the country.
The types of shops allowed to reopen is very limited with regulations to not exceed 30% capacity at any time.