**1. Introduction**

The outbreak of the novel COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020 was first detected in Wuhan, China [1]. It has endangered millions of lives, especially individuals with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes [2]. COVID-19 causes severe respiratory tract infections. This chapter focuses on the current status of coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide, and the underway efforts to develop a vaccine or a therapeutic drug to the pandemic.

#### **2. The current status of coronavirus cases and deaths**

On the 12th of December 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there were 69 808 588 confirmed cases and 1 588 854 deaths worldwide [3]. From **Figure 1**. America and Europe had the highest number of confirmed daily

#### *Biotechnology to Combat COVID-19*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Number of COVID-19 daily confirmed cases by WHO region from 31 January 2020 up to 30 November 2020 (WHO, 2020).*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Number of COVID-19 daily confirmed deaths by WHO region from 31 January 2020 up to 30 November 2020 (WHO, 2020).*

COVID-19 cases of 29 770 479 and 21 688 472 respectively on the 30th of November 2020. The least numbers of daily confirmed cases are recorded in Africa (1 610 874) and the Western Pacific (952 629).

From **Figure 2**. America and Europe recorded the highest numbers of deaths by the 30th of November 2020 while Africa and the Western Pacific recorded the least numbers of deaths.

## **3. An overview of the successes and failures to contain the virus**

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health, economy, and social mobility of people in countries around the world. Limited mobility through a lockdown and banning international travelers and social distancing, wearing face masks, and health officials and agencies undertook frequent hand washing with soap to slow down the rate of infection. These measures delay the spread of viral infections, reduce the acute pressure on hospital beds, frontline medical personnel, and resources [4]. The measures, thus, prevent the collapse of the national healthcare systems.

Countries like South Korea and Singapore were able to contain the virus due to the rapid and extensive tests carried out accompanied by preventive measures, including early school closures [5]. Furthermore, interviews were conducted by the South Korean government followed by cellphone contact tracing to track down the contacts of new coronavirus patients and ordered those contacts to self-isolate [6]. However, the United States of America's failure to contain COVID-19 is attributed to the slow

*Potential Therapeutics Pathways in Solving the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96283*

rate of testing during the first onset of the pandemic due to the shortage of testing kits [7]. A huge proportion of the population in the USA has chronic conditions [8]. Hence, they easily succumb to the virus. Measures such as lockdown are important to slow down the rate of transmission. However, there is a need to develop a vaccine or a drug that can treat the coronavirus. It is hoped that Biotechnology companies will come with a suitable vaccine or therapeutic drug to ease the pressure of the pandemic.
