Socio-psychological Implications of the Outbreak of COVID-19: Issues, Challenges and Future Prospects

Abstract

The epidemic outbreak of Corona-virus emerged in the capital of Hubei province of China in December 2019 has engulfed almost all the sections of the society across globe irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, and color. The exposure of Covid-19 has increased the risk of numerous problems like stress, disorder, unemployment, poverty and other numerous challenges. This paper talks about the socio-psychological implications pertaining to the spread of coronavirus and how it has caused deaths in lakhs and how developing cum developed countries alike have imposed lockdowns, curfews, restrictions on public movements, markets, workplace, constructions, and transport and instructed people to maintain social distance which has adversely affected the daily life of common masses; particularly the daily wage earners who have no other alternative to feed their respective family thereby putting them in a state of dilemma. Many health experts have given a warning that if the disease is not controlled, it will take a heavy toll on the global level. The paper discusses about the Covid-19 has created anxiety, stress, strain, confusion, trauma, mental health problems, violence against women, children and encourage the risks of suicidal behavior. It also talks about the effects of Covid-19 on the marginalized and poor sections of the society such as migrant workers, street vendors and daily wage labours and how keeping social distance, avoiding gathering, staying at home, avoid travelling, keeping away from doing daily routine work activities etc. are some of the important challenges faced by common masses.