An Evaluation of the Impact of Monetary Easing Policies in Times of a Pandemic

Abstract

This article tests five major economies of the world, United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, Chin and lastly, India, for the changes in the monetary policy decisions that have been implemented following the Covid-19 outbreak. The assessment was undertaken in the form of an event study analysis, further substantiated with a regression analysis conducted for exploring the significance of CPI and real GDP in predicting the policy interest rates in the economy. The results of the event study analysis presented that the abnormal changes in the interest rates were statistically significant in the case of the United Kingdom, Brazil, and China, while the abnormal changes were found to be statistically insignificant in the case of India and Japan.

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in tear and conjunctival secretions of hospitalized patients with clinically-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia

“…The potential for the ocular route of transmission and the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in ocular tissues has been recently investigated. Transfer of the virus to ocular tissues can take place mainly in four ways: (1) by direct exposure to virus containing infectious droplets, (2) by contaminated hands or fomites, (3) by spreading due to viremia to the lacrimal gland and other eye tissues with dense vascularity (controversial), (4) by spreading from the upper respiratory tract to the lacrimal sac via the NLC and from there to the eye (controversial) [ 7 ]. NLC, a functional natural canal that connects the eye and respiratory system, is the main route of transmission from the eye to the respiratory system [ 7 , 11 ].…”

“…Transfer of the virus to ocular tissues can take place mainly in four ways: (1) by direct exposure to virus containing infectious droplets, (2) by contaminated hands or fomites, (3) by spreading due to viremia to the lacrimal gland and other eye tissues with dense vascularity (controversial), (4) by spreading from the upper respiratory tract to the lacrimal sac via the NLC and from there to the eye (controversial) [ 7 ]. NLC, a functional natural canal that connects the eye and respiratory system, is the main route of transmission from the eye to the respiratory system [ 7 , 11 ]. In an experimental animal study published recently, it has been shown that the virus can replicate in conjunctival cells and cause viral pneumonia through the eye [ 12 ].…”

“…Thirdly, SARS like coronavirus is known to be a member of the genus Betacoronavirus and subgenus Sarbecovirus and is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that enters its host cell by binding to the ACE-2 receptor. These receptors have been shown to be present in small amounts (at least 50% lower than other tissues) in conjunctival mucosa cells, and also their ability to bind to the virus is very poor [ 7 , 12 – 14 ]. Moreover, the virus load is thought to be found in ocular secretions much less than in throat secretions and if the virus is present in ocular secretions, it is not known how long the virus may also persist [ 7 , 12 – 15 ].…”

“…These receptors have been shown to be present in small amounts (at least 50% lower than other tissues) in conjunctival mucosa cells, and also their ability to bind to the virus is very poor [ 7 , 12 – 14 ]. Moreover, the virus load is thought to be found in ocular secretions much less than in throat secretions and if the virus is present in ocular secretions, it is not known how long the virus may also persist [ 7 , 12 – 15 ]. Factors such as technical errors and difficulties in sampling, handling, processing, and evaluation, the stage of the disease at the time the samples are taken, and the specificity and sensitivity of the tests may also negatively affect the test results and cause lower positivity rates [ 7 , 14 ].…”

“…Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through infected ocular tissue or secretions has been a controversy, but it is supposed that the nasolacrimal system can work as a natural canal for viruses to pass from the eye to the upper respiratory tract or vice versa. Thus, ocular tissue and secretions may be a potential source of SARS-CoV-2 [ 7 , 8 ].…”