BALANCING ACT: NAVIGATING THE COVID-19 CRISIS IN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES

In early 2020, a novel flu-like illness, later named Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), emerged and began to spread globally. It posed a significant threat to the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, leading governments worldwide to implement various containment measures. These measures ranged from restricting air travel to imposing lockdowns, with Italy becoming an epicenter for the virus in March 2020. The rapid and asymmetrical transmission of the virus raised concerns, making nursing homes and cruise ships particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.

The World Health Organization and global health experts identified the illness as a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2. This virus could be transmitted in aerosolized form and had a wide incubation period. Understanding the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on different regions and demographics became crucial for public health responses.