Direct and indirect effects of the covid-19 pandemic and response in South Asia

Sun Ah Kim

Deputy Regional Director

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

Chapter 1

Background

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Chapter 1: Background

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the global response to limit its spread and mortality from COVID-19 has been

unprecedented, both in terms of a global health crisis, as well as measures that have been undertaken by countries around the world to combat its spread, including those in South Asia.

Response has ranged from physical distancing measures and school closures to travel restrictions and nationwide

lockdowns, which has resulted in reduced access to essential healthcare services and wide-ranging disruption of economic activities. As of February 2021, South Asia, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has reported more than 12 million cases of COVID-19, with the vast majority being in India, which has reported more than 10.9 million cases (Figure 1) .

Figure 1: Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and test positivity rate using the log scale, in South Asia

In addition to the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of morbidity and mortality, there is growing concern in the global public health community about the extent and scope of the indirect effects COVID-19 pandemic and response on the health, nutrition and social well-being of vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings, especially women and children.

Evidence from past crises, such as the 1997 East Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial, and food price increase crises, and the 2013 – 16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, underscore the vulnerability of these populations and the need for definitive and swift action aimed at alleviating the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (2-5).

© UNICEF/India/UN0380018/Panjwani/2020