Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (abbreviated SARS-CoV-2), originally known as Covid-19, is a strain of the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2. The symptoms reported include fever, fatigue, dry cough, and breathing difficulties. In most cases of hospitalized patients, vital signs were stable at admission, and patients presented with leukopenia and lymphopenia.

We all live in a time with great impact on world health. Although not much is known about the virus that causes COVID-19, we know for sure that it is transmitted through direct contact with the respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated by coughing and sneezing). People can also be infected by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then by touching the face (for example: eyes, nose, mouth). As COVID-19 continues to spread, it is important that all communities take steps to prevent further transmission, this way reducing the impact of outbreaks and supporting control measures.

But how has this virus changed our lives? What happened to our lives? What about our planet? What were the effects of this pandemic?

"All schools in Romania will be closed from Wednesday, March 11, until March 22, in the context of the coronavirus epidemic." This was the headline we saw in the press, not really knowing what would follow and how it would affect our lives in every way.

Well, the world at that time was isolated in its own houses, going out with a statement on one's own responsibility. It was as if you had to present your passport before crossing the borders of a foreign country, only the only trips we made were to the store to stock up: each of us had toilet paper in the house, disinfectants and last but not least a set of masks and canned food. We had to wear masks, so everyone was hiding their smiles under a surgical mask. Everyone had become addicted to news sites, waiting for another announcement, another press release, any information about our fate in the months to come.

How long will we be in quarantine? How will the economy suffer? Will we end the school year? When will we be able to go to the theater, to the cinema, to restaurants, to concerts? Will we be able to travel again? These questions were on everyone's lips, but humanity is still trying to find the answer to one question: when will everything return to normal? How many more lives will this virus steal? These things are bothering us all. It's like a nightmare without escape.

But the whole lockdown period didn't just mean that. SOCIAL DISTANCING was a real global challenge, with human interaction gradually losing its power. At first it didn't seem so bad not to see our colleagues, friends for 2 weeks, as we had to stay at home until school started again. However, those weeks turned into another 2 weeks, eventually becoming months. Months of staying at home, without seeing our colleagues, friends and even grandparents. The only lifeline, the most interesting refuge, had become social media platforms, including the famous Netflix platform. Also, an attempt to escape from everyday life was reading. I often took refuge in the mysteries of books and tried to travel the world of reading without having to be quarantined for 14 days.

However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus also had some positive effects on the planet, which until then was suffering and trying to overcome pollution and many other problems. So, during quarantine, it managed to flourish. Animals were appearing in the middle of the day in various cities of the world, reflecting the fact that nature had regenerated, healed and felt free from the absence of human actions during quarantine.

So, life was like a game of chess which through hygiene and social distancing tried to win an interesting round with this virus, SARS-CoV-2. People became puppets of the virus, which were controlled on the stage of life. Our lives have changed completely during this period, it is certain, but I hope that, although it has been and is a remarkable experience, in years and years we will remember and talk about how our generation went through a global pandemic. I don't think I'll have enough 767 words to describe the context of the pandemic, but more words would really deepen the subject.

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editorial: Alexia Florete

graphic design: Ioana Butaru

translation: Sofia Ene

DP (desktop publishing): Ioana Butaru