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Overview Coronaviruses have been known to mankind for years and they cause a wide range of illnesses from mild flu to serious infections like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This novel form of coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. This novel form of coronavirus is named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) and the disease that it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19. It’s an infectious disease that mostly affects the respiratory tract and lungs. The virus has an ability to spread very quickly and since December 2019 when it was first identified it has reached almost every part of the world. In fact, according to John Hopkin’s university count the virus has infected more than 5.5 million across the world and the number is increasing exponentially. Keeping the unprecedented spread of the virus in view and the overwhelming impact that it had across the world, WHO declared it a global pandemic in March 2020. If you are looking for live coronavirus updates and statistics please scroll down. What are the sign and symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19)? According to WHO, the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2-14 days. However, most people develop the first signs of the disease on the 5th or 6th days of infection. Symptoms for COVID-19 can be vague and manifest differently for different patients. There are many patients who are asymptomatic and still carry the infection. However, in general, the most common coronavirus symptoms are, Fever Dry Cough fatigue Other less common symptoms are, Body aches Headache Sore throat Diarrhea Conjunctivitis Loss of smell and taste Skin rashes Discoloration of fingers and toes Most patients (about 80%) do not develop serious complications and recover on their own within a couple of weeks. Yet, there are some patients who experience life-threatening complications (usually after two weeks) and manifest severe symptoms. These are, Breathlessness Chest pain Loss of mobility and speech The question is how dangerous is coronavirus? The virus may cause severe respiratory symptoms and can cause death in some cases. Please WHO guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 because there is no treatment available. What is the incubation period for coronavirus? According to WHO, the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2-14 days but the signs and symptoms may appear on the 5th or 6th days of the infection. You can check the signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease above. Who are at the most risk? It is true that anyone can have the infection, some people are more at risk to contract the infection than others. These are, People have recent travels history especially to places where the virus is more prevalent People who are in direct contact with infected individuals or have someone in their families or surrounding areas with the virus Healthcare professionals are at the front line of the Covid-19 fight and thus it makes them vulnerable to have an infection because of continuous exposure. Those employees who work in businesses that have to remain open across the clock like grocery stores People who share the same living spaces in correctional centers, shelter homes, prisons, old age homes, etc People who live in the congested area Homeless people. Who is more likely to develop serious complications? Covid-19 is a novel illness and we do not have enough information on its risk factors. However, thus far, it has been seen that most aged people and patients with existing health conditions are likely to develop serious illness. Some of the known risk factors are, According to the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), 59% of the infected with age 65 or above requires hospitalization and the mortality rates are almost 11% which is significantly higher than in any other age group People with compromised immune systems are more prone to develop serious life-threatening complications. Also, the duration of the infection may be longer in such patients than in others. Immunity is weakened by chemotherapy, HIV, organs transplant, bone marrow transplant, use of medications such as corticosteroids and hereditary factors. Patients with pulmonary problems such as asthma and COPD are advised to take extra care as COVID-19 can manifest severe complications in such patients People with heart problems could be at greater risk from COVID-19 as it affects lung function which in turn puts extra pressure on the heart to supply enough oxygen to all parts of the body. There is not sufficient test data to support the claim but generally diabetic patients find it difficult to fight viral infections. High blood glucose levels make it an ideal environment for viral proliferation. Severe obesity is another pre-existing risk factor that could increase mortality rates. How is coronavirus transmitted?  Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 ) is a highly contagious virus that can spread from person-to-person in a number of ways. Droplets transmission: Infected people have a significant load of viruses in their bodies and they cough, sneeze, or talk they release droplets. Healthy people in the nearby (approximately 6 feet) can inhale these virus-laden mucus drops through their mouth or nose and thus develop the infection. According to CDC this the major form of virus transmission and thus the social distancing of at least 6 feet is so much emphasized. Aerosol transmission: Smaller virus-laden respiratory droplets (<5 micrometers) can remain suspended in the air for hours and can disperse nearby within closed premises by the air current. These suspended droplets are when inhaled lead infection. Transfer from contaminated surfaces and objects: People can also get infected by touching surfaces and objected that are contaminated with the virus by people carrying the virus. People when touching their face after coming in contact with a contaminated object like a doorknob, they transfer the virus to their bodies either through mouth, nose, or eyes. A study at Nebraska University finds that 76% of personal belongings of people at the university were contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2. Oro-fecal transmission: This is not yet certain that feces can

Introduction For businesses to survive in the modern-day world, they need to adapt to quick decision-making strategies centralized management systems and streamline their business processes. To facilitate this forward movement, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and ERP software is the most useful tool. It is true that depending on the nature of operations, each business industry will have its own set of requirements for choosing ERP software relevant to their work. The pharmaceutical industry and every clinical trial supply company under it is not different in this regard and it too has its unique set of requirements. However, one fact that remains the same is that like every other global industry, the pharmaceutical one too relies largely on ERP for its processes. In this article, we will delve into the details of why ERP is crucial for pharmaceutical processes. ERP- A Solid Support for Pharmaceuticals If we look at the statistics of the pharmaceutical industry from the past few years, we’d note what drastic transformations have occurred. Perhaps the stringent production regulations and the extreme competition in markets is much responsible for it. However, the truth remains that pharmaceutical companies are now no longer dealing with uninformed customers. This very reason makes it imperative for each to ensure the highest quality of standards in all of the pharmaceutical processes. In fact, it is not only the presence of highly informed customers now: the pharmaceutical companies also have to pit against global players for which they need highly organized processes and faster production. When companies can manage to do these two vital things while complying with every regulation that exists, only then can they gain a competitive edge in the market. And here is where ERP software plays the biggest role. The software ensures that the pharmaceutics has a robust tool to automate and integrate all of their key functions and processes. ERP not only helps this particular industry integrates and consolidate their manufacturing processes across several units but also helps them trace sensitive operations. Such operations include everything that’s happening across the organization, including costing, formulation, quality, productivity, expiry management, compliance, and lots more. We know the pharmaceutical industry is an exceptionally dynamic one yet we cannot disregard the fact that its practices have a very stringent compliance system. Therefore, the ERP that pharmaceuticals use is a system that never fails to deliver actionable and accurate information in record time. By choosing a competent ERP system, each pharmaceutical company can ensure that their business is benefitting from the highly organized procurement processes as well as the slashed production and delivery time. Not just that in fact, a robust ERP will also help the organization manage its finances competently while keeping a firm check into its overall supply chain and payments. Here is a summary of all the key benefits of an ERP system for a pharma company: Sending automatic alerts across multiple departments to reduce operational work. Running microbiology tests by managing outsourced lab testing. Running information reporting across various levels. Ensuring quality management, including Certificate of Analysis, in-process inspection, and IPQC. Eliminating wastage by consuming FEFO based material and sending expiry alerts. Managing BPR/BMR quite effectively according to the GMP. Using yield reconciliation for WIP’s batch tracking. Tracing bi-directional material in real-time. Compliance management. ERP Increases Productivity- A Closer Look Like we mentioned above, the fastest way forward for pharmaceutical companies is to keep expanding their productivity, optimizing their competitive advantage, and streamlining their operations. Since all of this is nearly impossible to manage virtually, they need to rely on modernized solutions, such as ERP to manage it all. Here the ERP solutions are proving the most advantageous because they assist in vital functions such as sales, quality assurance, batch production, accounting, and inventory control. Here are some of the most predominant challenges that all pharmaceutics encounter in the absence of an ERP system: Increasing efficiency of distribution and supply chain collaboration Making production processes more flexible Tracking their batches accurately and completely Having an absolute overview of all their processes An ERP is that one marvelous solution that helps pharmaceutics overcome all of these challenges. Describing ERP as the skeleton of the pharmaceutical business wouldn’t be wrong. It is the backbone these days to ensure the business runs smoothly on a daily basis. Let us not forget at this point how very difficult it is to manage just any segment of the pharmaceutical business. There is no margin for error at all in this business and one must have the utmost control of departments, including discrete manufacturing, process-focused manufacturing, supply chain planning, product traceability, HR/payroll, inventory, and quality control. Hence, when a pharma business uses the ERP software correctly, they will see a positive impact on virtually all of the departments. In the long term, the business will enjoy streamlined workflows, improved productivity, enhanced efficiency, and reduced production costs. ERP Solution- How to Choose it ERP is primarily a solution for all pharmacy management and its main objective is to reduce the workflow of every such company. If you belong to a pharmaceutical organization and need a solution to dramatically improve your business operations, then this software is what you need. Here are some things to consider when you need an ERP system for your company: Consider how far your budget can stretch. Have you allocated enough amounts to cover its expenses? Do you think you can manage with a lesser good yet more cost-friendly alternative solution? Your answers will help you determine how much you need an ERP solution. List down your requirements and the extent of regulations under which your operations are running. Then determine which ERP is necessary for your level of operations, which modules you want to add, and to target, you wish to achieve with the software. Final Thoughts Markets are running at the highest competition currently and ERP software is the essential component that can help pharmaceutical businesses stay afloat. The massive global competition demands that pharmaceuticals consider re-engineering their core processes and bringing