Population behavior and practices during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in low resource-conditions of south Kivu, east of Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: In DR Congo, South Kivu is among cities most affected by Covid 19 with its dense population and common mass movement. This study aimed at investigating the population behavior and practices during the spread period of Corona in South Kivu, East of Democratic Republic of Congo. Subjects dan Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was undertaken in South Kivu province and included 800 hundred individuals. The survey questionnaire was designed and comprised information on independent variables including socio-demographic and socioeconomic parameters, travel history of individuals, and person's history of COVID-19 comorbidity factors. These data were used to explain the dependent variable which was the population behavior and practices which was linked to the COVID-19 positivity or negativity. A rapid test of the COVID-19 antigen for people suspected of having cough and fever followed by RT-PCR tests was conducted. Statistical analyses were performed under R, version 3.5.1.

Sars-cov-2: Pathogenesis, evolution and ongoing efforts in drug and vaccine development

The world is currently battling a pandemic disease that is spreading rapidly due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 19 (SARS-CoV-2) that belongs to a family of coronaviruses. As per 20th December 2020, more than 77 million people have been infected with more than 1.7 million fatality cases reported worldwide. In response to this Pandemic, several efforts are being put in place to identify possible remedies, including therapeutic agents and against this virus. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or drugs against the virus, even though some countries such as Japan have approved the investigational drug Remdesivir as a coronavirus regimen. Other drugs such as chloroquine, which is widely used in treatment, remains controversial as there is no scientific evidence that establishes its effectiveness in the control of SARS-COV-2. This review constitutes a summary of SARS-COV-2 genomics and evolutionary relationship to other viruses, pathogenicity, transmission as well as efforts that have been made in the development of drugs and vaccines against this virus. We envisage that this review will provide an insightful and extensive coverage on the virus as well as support researchers in vaccine development and effective treatment protocol.