The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has sparked a global health crisis that has altered our perceptions of the world and our daily lives. Not only has the velocity of infection and transmission patterns undermined our feeling of agency, but the safety measures to restrict the virus's spread also demanded social and physical separation, prohibiting us from seeking solace in the company of others. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on daily life and normal activities as well as having serious health, economic, financial, and societal consequences Lockdowns and physical/social distancing measures were enforced in numerous countries throughout the world beginning in March 2020. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. This high death toll, combined with the rapid changes in daily life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, may have a negative impact on child and adolescent mental health. Individuals' reactions to the security measures adopted to combat the epidemic varied depending on the social roles they played. Some segments of the population seem to be more exposed to the risk of anxious, depressive, and post-traumatic symptoms as the population is more susceptible to stress. COVID-19 pandemic has generated a situation like mass hysteria or fear. This mass fear of COVID-19, termed as “Coronaphobia”, has generated a plethora of psychiatric manifestations across societies. In India, the first and foremost responses to the pandemic have been fear and a sense of clear and imminent danger. Fears have ranged from those based on facts to unfounded fears based on misinformation circulating in the media, particularly social media. All of us respond differently to the barrage of information from all the available sources. It is equally important to consider the impact of the various phases of the pandemic on children, the elderly and pregnant women. The worries of adults can be transmitted to children and make them anxious and fearful. They can become very easily bored, angry and frustrated. Without an opportunity for outdoor play and socialization, they may become increasingly engrossed in social media and online entertainment, which can make them even more socially isolated when they emerge out of this situation. Parents need to know means of keeping the children engaged, providing an opportunity to learn new skills at home, as well as encourage children to participate in activities, get them engaged in “edutainment” and hone their extracurricular skills as well. Children with special needs may need innovative approaches to engage them and keep them active at home. For the elderly, they can feel further isolated and neglected, become more worried about their families, and increasingly worried about their health. They may not have the support systems to care for them, particularly in terms of their medical needs. This can aggravate into anxiety and depression.
The Influence of Map Projections on People’s Global-Scale Cognitive Map: A Worldwide Study