Call for global leaders to improve their preparedness and response amidst changing dynamics of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak

Abstract

The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak continues to increase in terms of reported cases, attributed deaths and global distribution since the detection of the first case in the Wuhan city of China. The important finding is that China has been successful in minimizing the incidence as well as attributed deaths, but an opposite trend has been observed in rest of the world. As cases have been reported even in those nations which are having a weak healthcare delivery system, we have to ensure that we are ready with a concerted, well-coordinated and a holistic response plan. The need of the hour is to recognize that no one is immune to infection and thus we have to do our part, as an individual, as a community and as a nation as well to protect people from this novel infection. In conclusion, the COVID-19 outbreak is a global public health emergency with a very high risk of transmission. It is extremely essential to improve our level of preparedness and mount a strong and well-coordinated response plan to contain the infection across the globe.