This document discusses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on three main impacts: disruptions to education access due to school closures, risks to mental health from isolation and changes in daily life, and challenges for families including increased domestic violence and child abuse due to financial stress. The pandemic has caused widespread social and economic problems worldwide and addressing its long-term effects will require global cooperation and support for vulnerable communities.

1. THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
1. Introduction
The novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously
identified in humans. The novel coronavirus has caused severe pneumonia in several
cases in China and has been exported to a range of countries and cities.
Last February 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that
the novel disease is officially called Coronavirus Disease 19 or COVID-19, and the virus
infecting it is referred to as COVID-19 virus. This coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
is profoundly affecting life around the globe.
a. Issue
Days, weeks, and months had passed, and the COVID-19 pandemic had really
brought rapid changes in the whole world. This has led to a huge and dramatic loss of
human life in the whole world and presents unprecedented and unforeseen challenges
to the public health, educational system, food systems and the world of work. The
economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is a total devastation; millions
of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty and a lot of enterprises face an
existential threat.
b. Three main focus points
For this writing, I would like to give emphasis to some of the effects of the Covid-
19 pandemic which are disruptive education access, community-related risks for mental
health, and challenges within the families including domestic violence and child
maltreatment.
c. Thesis statement
This will focus on the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has
created a global health crisis that has had a deep impact on the way we perceive our
world and our everyday lives.
2. Body
Point 1 with support
For the disruptive education access, as the COVID-19 spreads and schools are
forced to close, the government is depriving children of their right to education. Without

2. access to internet & digital devices, participation in remote lessons is impossible, thus
increasing a massive disruption to education access.
Point 2 with support
The second one is the community-related risks for mental health. Several
countries have seen a re-organization of hospital services, with provisional care
(including re-assigning doctors and nurses not usually involved in critical care). There
have been closures, partial closures or reduced services of inpatient and day-care
facilities, with outpatient contacts reduced in some places to emergency cases only.
Some hospitals have been unable to accept new inpatients due to the risk of infection.
There have been concerns for the possible future lack of adequate resources for mental
health services as most resources are directed towards ICU and somatic care.
Moreover, leisure time activities have been limited. In most countries, children have not
been allowed to use regular playgrounds, social group activities are prohibited and
sports clubs are closed. Social relations have been strongly limited to closest family
members. In several countries, contact to peers has been prohibited or severely limited.
This can have a negative impact on children and adolescents given the importance of
peer contact for well-being.
Point 3 with support
When it comes to the family level, the pandemic has led to a re-organization of
everyday life. All family members have to cope with the stress of quarantine and social
distancing. School shutdowns have led to home-schooling and potential postponement
of exams. Parents have experienced increased pressure to work from home, to keep
jobs and businesses running as well as to take care of schooling children at home at the
same time. Family connections and support may be disrupted. Fear of losing family
members who belong to a risk group can increase. In case of death, the pandemic
disrupts the normal bereavement processes of families. Grief and mourning of lost
family members, especially in cases where contact with the infected member is
restricted or refused, could lead to adjustment problems, post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression and even suicide of both, adults and young people. The pandemic also has
major economic implications and puts financial pressure on many families. Additionally,
in economic recessions a significant increase in domestic violence can be seen. Income
loss and economic hardship can lead to feelings of economic stress and consequent
marital conflict. Quarantine can lead to decreased freedom and privacy, and
consequently higher stress. It may also increase existing controlling behaviours by
perpetrators as they struggle to regain a sense of control. Exposure to perpetrators is
increased, and the possibilities of victims to temporarily escape abusive partners are
reduced. Furthermore, a notable increase in physical, emotional and sexualized

3. violence against children during recession has been reported and may possibly
increase.
3. Conclusion
Call to action
Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most
vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world. Only
together can we overcome the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of
the pandemic and prevent its escalation into a protracted humanitarian and food
security catastrophe, with the potential loss of already achieved development gains.
Provide a solution
Let’s help one another. Let’s be the change that we want to be and let’s help in
creating this world a better place. We must recognize the opportunity of building back
better. We are committed to pooling our expertise and experience to support other
countries in their crisis response measures and efforts. We need to develop long-term
sustainable strategies to address the challenges facing the health and agri-food sectors.
Priority should be given to addressing underlying food security and malnutrition
challenges, tackling rural poverty, in particular through more and better jobs in the rural
economy, extending social protection to all, facilitating safe migration pathways and
promoting the formalization of the informal economy.
Gives the reader something to think about
We must rethink the future of our world and our environment and tackle
environmental degradation with ambition and urgency. Only then can we protect the
health, livelihoods, food security and nutrition of all people, and ensure that our ‘new
normal’ or ‘now normal’ is a better one.

4. References:
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https://doh.gov.ph/COVID-
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Open Dialogue Foundation (n.d.). The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on human rights in
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World Health Organization. 13 October 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid- 19-on-people%27s-
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