Impact of Covid-19 and Information Technology as a helping hand to fight Pandemic
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JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021
http://jmscr.igmpublication.org/home/
ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i8.27
Impact of Covid-19 and Information Technology as a helping hand to fight
Pandemic
Author
Vandana Malik1
1
Ph.D. scholar, Department of Computer Science Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
First case of COVID-19 surfaced in China in Senior citizens are the most affected as they
December 2019 and three months later The World have week immunity and co morbidities
Health Organization declared COVID-19 as which make them vulnerable and their
pandemic on March 11, 2020. Complete mortality rate is high. According to WHO
lockdown was necessary Total covid-19 cases 95% of death due to covid-19 is of people
since then there have their jobs and businesses etc. above 60 years of age[3].
Amides of all this chaotic situation information Impact of covid-19 on women can be clearly
technology has played major role in all aspects of seen as many women working in unorganized
life. Impact of pandemic on Socio-economic sectors lost their jobs. During lockdown
conditions of people, change in behavior and household work, care work with limited
cultural practices can be observed. During finance has amplified their problems. Women
complete lockdown in 2020 people used internet are facing issues of domestic violence,
and information technology from getting health inequality, early marriage and dropping out of
facility to groceries. Technology has been boon to school and colleges. According to UN report
mankind and a helping hand in defeating COVID- pandemic will push 96 million people into
19[2]. extreme poverty and out of which 47 million
are women and girls living on USD1.90 or
less[4].
Impact of Covd-19 on children, since 2020
schools and colleges are closed and education
is being imparted online. Weaker sections of
society who are unable to access internet,
who have limited resources are being left
behind even though free and compulsory
education to children from 6 to 14 years of
Social age is a fundamental right under the Article
Impact of Covid-19 can be seen on every section 21A. Digital inequalities, gender biasness and
of society. digital divide is increasing day by day [5]..
Vandana Malik JMSCR Volume 09 Issue 08 August 2021 Page 147JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021
Exams are not being conducted which is the domestic needs for vaccines, oxygen,
again hampering the career prospects of many ventilators, medicine and PPE kits.[9]
aspirants. Children are online for long time Maximum use of online payment mode was
which impacts their physical and mental observed because currency notes and coins
health. 6 to 7 million children below 5 years were considered as virus carries so termed as
of age are suffering malnutrition, wasting and dirty money. People preferred safe and secure
stunting due to poverty [6]. online payment methods.[10]
Economy Culture
Due to pandemic and lockdown businesses Covid-19 has changed the way people greet
like tourism and hospitality has suffered alot. and meet each other with elbow bumps
Supply Chain was broken as international instead of handshakes. People are using
borders were closed no import or export elbow bumps at workplace, politicians uses
waspossible elbow bumps to depict the way we can
Petrol prices in 2020 went down drastically prevent virus from spreading and it is a
because of lockdown there was restriction on constant reminder of following Covid-19
movement and people did not travel therefore appropriate behavior.[11]
demand of petrol was less. Middle East Big fat Indian wedding turned into private
countries major export of natural gas and and small parties because huge gathering acts
crude oil faced economic crisis during like super spreading events.
pandemic[7]. Trami –Centuries old Kashmiri tradition of
Millions of people lost their jobs. eating food from one plate in wedding is not
Migration of people from urban areas to rural being followed due toCovid-19.[8.3]
areas was heart breaking event to see. Where Temples, mosques, churches were closed for
people walked for 300Km to reach their public gathering,prayers.[12]
native places. Migrants were potential carrier Festivals celebrations were allowed but only
of disease to rural areas[8.1]. in home premises without huge gathering in a
Agriculture sector faced shortage of labors peaceful manner.[13]
during harvesting and sowing season.
Farmers switched towards cotton from rice Environment
cultivation because of it being labor intensive. Origin of Covid-19 is still unclear but many
It could have affected our food security[8.2]. scientists believe that it has been transferred
Manufacturing sector also faced a major blow from animals to human. As human animal
as demand of products decreased and interaction has increased because of forest
factories were closed. Positive growth was area converted into agricultural land and
seenin pharmaceutical and medical equipment residential area. Humans have encroached
industries when India tried to manufacture into forest, animal habitat which used acts as
PPE kits (personal protective equipment) and buffer between humans and animals and
vaccination for Covid-19 (Covishield and forest used to contain and hold different types
Covaxin). India had failed to anticipate the of viruses and bacteria’s away from humans.
arrival of second wave which disrupted the Animal based diet, wild and exotic animal
delivery of vaccines to foreign countries. As available in wet market of China as food,
very small population of India was vaccinated frozen contaminated food are considered
when the second wave of Covid-19 hit India some reasons for origin of the coronavirus.[14]
and all the resources where directed to meet Air quality improved during Lockdown all
Vandana Malik JMSCR Volume 09 Issue 08 August 2021 Page 148JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021
around the world as carbon and green house were education related videos; software and
gas emission was limited. Delhi Pollution learning apps are being designed.[18]
Drops by 49% During Lockdown and India's Virtual Reality: can help in improving
CO2 Emissions Fall for First Time in learning experience and enhancing the
40Years[15] content delivered to the children that can help
Biodiversity was thriving with limited human them understand concepts better. It can help
interference during lockdown like Gangetic in Speech training, Skill enhancement in
dolphins were found in Mahananda river of medical education can be done by gaining
Bihar. As water pollution was less due to practical knowledge through experiencing
closed factories, sewage and untreated real environment in 3D. Virtual field trips like
industrial waste was not contaminating the exploring ocean depth, solar system and
river water.[16] experience historical events for better
Negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic on understanding.[19]
environment is that lots of biomedical waste Aarogya setu: is a mobile application used
is generated which needs to be disposed for contact tracing of covid-19
properly so that it may not lead to COWIN app: registration for getting
contamination. Guidelines are provided by vaccinated for coronavirus.
the government for proper disposal of Chat bot: government issued a number where
biomedical waste. Plastic waste, glass waste people can get correct information and
from millions of vaccine doses manufactured, answer to their queries regarding
[20]
masks , gloves, face shield and PPE kit is coronavirus.
hazardous to ours environment.[17] Tele medicine: provide virtual healthcare to
people living at remote location by using
various communication methods so that
Information technology assisted us to fight
everyone gets health care services. It also
Covid-19 in the following ways
Information dissemination: as SARS-COV- prevented spreading of viruses by avoiding
2 was a new virus and limited information mass gatherings at hospitals and in keeping
was available therefore in order to provide medical staff safe from risk of getting
correct and reliable information various exposed to virus. [21]
online platforms were used. Social media was Mental and psychological health: covid-19
used to spread information and Covid-19 has impacted in number of ways during
appropriate behavior. To spread awareness lockdown people were alone facing
among masses internet has played a major depression, financial crises, many lost their
role.[2] near and dear ones which disturbed them
Policy Making: data analysis helps mentally and emotionally. Physical
government take informed decision and build distancing, isolation is worsening the
a strategy to deliver food, essential services to condition of elderly people. Many helpline
people during lockdown and maintained numbers were started where people could
supply chain.[2] discuss their problems and online sessions
Onlinen Education: school and colleges were conducted, counseling was provided.[22]
were closed since March 2020 and 1.2 billion Work from home: IT Sector and many
Children are out of classrooms. Students are businesses shifted to online mode when
studying online and teachers taking Classes pandemic started. It helped in breaking the
on digital platform like Zoom, Google meet chain of spreading corona virus. Work from
etc. Rise of edtech companies can be seen home has become the new normal where
Vandana Malik JMSCR Volume 09 Issue 08 August 2021 Page 149JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021
people are in safe environment, running spread awareness.[1]
businesses, conducting meeting on various E-Courts: During pandemic supreme court
platforms and performing economic and other high courts were providing justice
activities. Many IT employees went back to by conducting proceeding online
their native places, to small towns and Digital Governance: governments are
working from their without any problem. providing services which can be availed from
People are working with flexible schedule, anywhere by using internet and visiting
giving time to their family and are safe from official portals to get benefit of welfare
corona virus. If companies allow their scheme and it also ensures accountability and
employees to work from any location post clear demarcation of work. It prevents
pandemic it will cut down the cost of corruption in government sector because of
infrastructure, transportation and automation of tasks where people cannot
[23]
maintenance. work according to their whims and fancies.[2]
Surveillance: Drones can help in providing Online Summits: governments and
security and surveillance. Robots can do international organizations across the worlds
screening of people by checking their are engaging through online platforms and
temperature in public places and at airports. cooperating with each other and developing
Drones will help in monitoring streets, relationships and strategies to curb
disinfect contaminated places and help coronavirus.
deliver medical supplies to remote SAARC 2020, BRICS Summit 2020, G-20
locations.[2] Leaders’ Summit 2020, Association of
3D Printing: help in making protective Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) 2021 were
medical supplies like masks, face shields and conducted virtually to discuss pandemic and
surgical instruments, PPE kits, testing devices other issues around the world. Virtual Aadi
like nasopharyngel (NP) swabs, training and Mahostav in Madhy Pradesh was organized
visualization aids like medical manikins and by ministry of tribal affairs in order to
bio models etc.[24] celebrate spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine
Research and Development: information and commerce.
technology helped scientists to collaborate, Online Campaigning: to avoid mass
ICT helps in collecting data, sharing data, gathering and by following social distancing
analyzing data and developing efficient norms of pandemic election campaigns could
results.[25] Genome sequencing of SARS- be conducted online and politicians can
COV-2 virus to study different variants and connect to the citizens and ask for their votes
mutations taking place in them to upgrade our by digital modes like social media.
vaccines.[26] E-Commerce: online shopping and grocery
Rise of OTT platform: During pandemic purchase have increased during pandemic.
people moved to OTT (over the top) platform New online businesses have started growing
for entertainment. Where they can watch and providing employment to people.
movies, web series, online gaming etc of their Providing people with all the necessary thing
own choice. It provided job opportunities to at home in order to keep themindoors.
people when economic crunch. [27]
Social media: played a major role in Limitation of Information technology
connecting people to their friends and Privacy and Security Issues: data on digital
families during lockdown. It was a major platforms is not secure it can be hacked, accessed
source of information and a platform to by unauthorized users, data manipulation can
Vandana Malik JMSCR Volume 09 Issue 08 August 2021 Page 150JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021 take place. Recently we have seen many cases of get maximum benefits. India needs data malware, ransom ware which affect businesses. protection and localization laws to secure data of Mobile application takes personal information its citizens. As ICT have helped mankind and which helps in contract tracing and potential risk promoted ease of living. Therefore we can say a of getting exposed to get covid-19 but this friend in need is a friend in deed and technology information can be misused. Cybercrimes, scams, has proven to be our friend and a helping hand at phishing attacks have increased Zoom data leak, the time of crises. By continuous research and solar wind hack cyber attack on US development we can keep evolving and government.[28] improving our heath infrastructure and Digital divide: Pandemic has highlighted the technology which will enable us to defeat corona inequalities that exist in our society where may virus. people are not yet ready to embrace technology and are lacking behind because they cannot References afford it. Online education in rural India is 1. https://covid19.who.int/ difficult because of limited resources and limited 2. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dp access to the internet. Senior citizens are unable ad/publication/un-desa-policy-brief-61- to get along with technology therefore left covid-19-embracing-digital-government- behind. Gap between digital have and have not’s during-the-pandemic-and-beyond/ needs to be reduced by providing children with 3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/artic ICT devices and internet access so that children les/the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic- can continue studying and learning while schools on-older-adults#Old-age-and-preexisting- are closed because of pandemic.[29] health-conditions Fake News: As internet is available to all and 4. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/storie social media was used to spread fake news and s/2020/9/feature-covid-19-economic- misinformation during pandemic and people impacts-on-women trying to cure disease at home with remedies seen 5. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/1 online which may not produce positive result. 0/how-covid-19-deepens-the-digital- Cases of spreading misinformation about education-divide-in-india/ vaccines developed against corona virus were 6. https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/COV seen. Fake news and distortion of information ID-19-pandemic-scarred-world-children can put people at risk and losing their lives.[30] 7. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/featu Deep fakes: manipulated images videos and re/2020/06/08/the-global-economic- audios circulate around to build perception and outlook- during-the-covid-19-pandemic- influence people. a-changed-world Children are online for many hours which is 8. [8.1]https://www.thehindu.com/news/nati impacting their health condition and it’s difficult onal/returning-migrants-a-threat-to-rural- to keep track of their online activities. Children areas- mha/article31446313.ece face cyber bullying which cause psychological [8.2]https://www.thehindu.com/news/nati issues. onal/other-states/punjab-could-see-more- We should be wise and responsible while dealing areas-under-cotton- with technology as it is a double edged sword. cultivation/article31440214.ece India needs to build its infrastructure and [8.3] capacity in order to provide benefit of technology https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ to the last person in the last village. People need other-states/pandemic-puts-on-hold- to learn and increase digital literacy in order to kashmiri-wedding-tradition-of-eating- Vandana Malik JMSCR Volume 09 Issue 08 August 2021 Page 151
JMSCR Vol||09||Issue||08||Page 147-152||August 2021
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