An aerosol (abbreviation of “aero-solution”) is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets that can travel in air or another gas. It also causes one of the main sources of air pollution and associated health risks (Table 2). The origin of aerosols can be natural or anthropogenic in nature [36]. Examples of natural aerosols are fog, mist, dust, forest exudates and geyser steam and some of the artificial aerosols are mucous droplets while sneezing, coughing etc., smoke, stove smokes etc. [37]. It has been noticed that aerosols act as the main source for direct or indirect infection of COVID-19.

Indoor and outdoor smoke is considered to be accountable for 1.6 million premature deaths per year. Therefore, it is considered as one of the largest ecological issues where human does not feel safe even inside home particularly in poor countries who cannot afford clean fuels for daily cooking (Table 2). Although indoor air pollution is being tackled up to some extent by adopting technologies [11], wide ranges of death under it is really alarming as the graph is rising with time. A comparison from 1990 to 2017 for deaths and associated issues under indoor air pollution indicates that it act as the most leading reason of increasing death risk and associated co-morbidities such as cardiac issues, pneumonia, strokes, hypertension, diabetes and several lung diseases including lung cancers.

As per study, about 1.6 million people died prematurely in 2017 under indoor air pollution related health risks and age groups of 60–69 and $\ge$ 70 are more prone to the risk. This death toll number in 2017 under indoor air pollution was four times more than the number of homicides that was close to 400,000 in 2017. As discussed earlier, countries that suffering from low socio-demographic index top the list. Therefore, in such places, COVID-19 has made an outburst, where steps such as social lockdowns may not work as a successful preventive measure [1, 2].

A geometric or arithmetic spreading rate of the disease COVID-19 has been established with the water droplets sourced from the infected persons. The symptomatic patients are noticed to infect with a high rate as compared to the asymptomatic cases. The water droplets are released from the patients due to their various activities such as sneezing, coughing, talking and singing [1, 2]. As per the data from NIH and CDC, many instances are recorded showing the spreading of COVID-19 when healthy subjects came in proximity of asymptomatic cases that even had no idea of the disease with them [38]. Initially, it was hypothesized that only the virus can spread directly as mentioned earlier in this article but it was found that water droplets from the patients (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) can spread the virus rapidly. This has been proved in case studies in Singapore by Wei et al. [16] when the authors had conducted it after conducting research on 243 people within March 2020. Similar reports are also observed from China [39], USA, India etc. [38]. Later on it was accepted by WHO that “SARS-CoV-2 aerosol exposure poses risks of the infection” [11]. Initially maintaining a distance of 13 feet (nearly 4 meters) from each other especially from the infected persons was suggested but later on it was detected that 6 feet distance is sufficient to avoid aerosol especially liquid droplets induced infection of SARS-CoV-2. It is because liquid droplets can’t travel much carrying the virus in them [40].

On the other hand, the survivability of SARS-CoV-2 in water droplets without host is very limited i.e., for few hours only (Table 1). Normal breathing and talking can create water droplets of size in the range of 1 $\mu$m range in majority cases i.e., in 80–90% cases [41]. Therefore, such water droplets cannot travel much leading its fate to drop on the surface. In human expired air, the aerosols can be of 10 $\mu$m. It was mentioned by van Doremalen et al. [28] that “the viable in aerosols throughout the duration of our three hours experiment and the infectious titer attenuating by approximately 6-fold over that time frame”. They have also notes that the results are similar to those of SARs-CoV-1 i.e., “the half-lives of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 were similar in aerosols, with median estimates of approximately 1.1 to 1.2 hours and 95% credible intervals of 0.64 to 2.64 for SARS-CoV-2 and 0.78 to 2.43 for SARS-CoV-1”. It has been confirmed that small droplets of 5 $\mu$m range can penetrate airways down to the alveolar space where they are more capable of replication and potentially can cause more serious infections. So, particles 10 $\mu$m can penetrate past the glottis; while large droplets of diameters of $>$ 20 $\mu$m are described as “a more ballistic trajectory”. From the above statement it is concluded that the chance of infection can certainly be prevented by maintaining social distancing from each other both in indoor and, out door as there can be many asymptomatic cases [1, 42, 43, 44].

Particulate matters (PMs) or the suspended aerosols act as few of the main air pollutants. Particulate matters are the sum of all solid and liquid particles that are found in the suspended in air. They have very dynamic role for acting as cargo for various micro-substances [45, 46]. Particulate matters constitute dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets or any other material originated particles. Such heterogeneous composition of PMs is found to be both organic and inorganic in nature. Therefore, diversity in particle origin, size and composition is observed in PMs. PMs are either directly emitted from the processes such as fuel burning or flying dust or can be indirectly produced from the gaseous pollutants previously emitted to air.

Considering the diversity in average diameter of different PMs, they are classified into two categories. One small category of PMs having average aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 $\mu$m and the other one is the larger one with the average diameter of 10 $\mu$m. Less than 2.5 $\mu$m (usually around 0.1 $\mu$m) sized PMs are referred as ultra-fine PMs. PM2.5 is called as the fine PMs and PM10 is referred as the course PMs. Many organizations including WHO, have defined PMs as one of the most influential health risk factors. The PMs with an aerodynamic diameter of $\le$ 2.5 $\mu$m (PM2.5) in outdoor air pollution in urban cities are studied to be in the range from ~10 to ~100 $\mu$g/m${}^3$ and PMs with an aerodynamic diameter of $\le$ 10 $\mu$m (PM10) is found to in the range of $>$ 10 to over 200 $\mu$g/m${}^3$ [47].

The sources of PM2.5 are usually from the combustion of fossil fuels whereas PM10 are generated from the road side dusts. The aerodynamic features of PMs are very important because they determine how PMs are transported in air or their removal strategies. It is because PMs having the same aerodynamic diameter are found to have different dimensions and shapes and vice versa is also true. From aerodynamic properties, their severity of affecting respiratory tracts may also be determined [48, 49, 50].

In relation to COVID-19 spreading, many opinions come from experts across the world regarding the environmental surveillance to detect and monitor the disease [51]. Assessment and treatment of waste water from the hospitals and home of patients those are under self-quarantine was monitored for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Many reports have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA is present in waste such as stools from COVID-19 patients, and subsequently the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewaters was recorded worldwide [52, 53, 54, 55, 56]. For example, initial studies have confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in The Netherlands [57], France [58], USA [15], and Australia [59]. This has increased the risk of rapid spread of the virus via water bodies. In a recent study in Italy, among the world’s worst-affected countries in the COVID-19 pandemic, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in its wastewaters is also confirmed [60]. This was confirmed by considering twelve influent sewage samples collected between February and April 2020 from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Milan and Rome. The authors had confirmed by molecular tests that 250 mL water sample can give a good source for the positive test for SARS-CoV-2 [61]. It gives a strong signal for the treatment of waste water and other waste products including the patient’s dead body and daily used materials before they are released into the environment.

Many studies are done to correlate between the chance or severity of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Many virus show a clear correlation for their internalization and propagation in host cell with temperature and humidity. A study done in five countries i.e., Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, and United States indicated that the average daily variation of environmental factors and new infection was evident [62]. For example, the average temperature and humidity of the infected cities in above countries were found to be ranged from 5 ${}^{\circ }$C to 11 ${}^{\circ }$C and 47 to 79%, respectively, and the optimum temperature and humidity for the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro is 4 ${}^{\circ }$C and 20 to 80%, respectively [23]. In non-of the study area, the temperature had gone below zero degrees Celsius, however, the infection rate was abruptly same or was increasingly recorded in the year 2020. Furthermore, the transmission of the virus was also found to be latitude specific i.e., in the latitude corridor from 30${}^{\circ }$ to 50${}^{\circ }$ north (South Korea, Japan, Iran, and North Italy) and it indicates the directional spreading of the disease via direct or indirect mode [63]. Therefore, it was concluded that although a relationship between temperature and the distribution of the virus could be drawn but finally no significant relationship between temperature, humidity, and the virus distribution was illustrated, comparing the global climate and COVID-19 distribution maps [56, 64].

NO${}_2$ and SO${}_2$ are two of the major health risk factors. They cause many diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), multiple is chronic heart disease, chronic cardiopulmonary diseases in elderly and children, atopic diseases, lung cancer, nerve disorders and along with air pollutants, they may become fatal for many. In extreme conditions, clinical complications may result in dementia, chronic kidney disease, childhood leukaemia, and multiple organ dysfunction, hyper tension etc. [65, 66, 67]. Many co-morbidity conditions under respiratory disorders and COPD are positively correlated with COVID-19 infection, severity and death. Therefore, it is accepted that air pollution has a definite cross talk with COVID-19 or vice versa under the chronic exposure to the emissions of environmental NO${}_2$ and SO${}_2$.

For example, in India, high air polluted states such as New Delhi (Delhi Municipality area, highly polluted), Gujarat (Industrially highly active and polluted), Maharashtra (Mumbai, highly polluted), Tamil Nadu (Chennai, highly polluted), Telengana (high industrialized), Madhya Pradesh (Industrially active), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Industrially active and highly polluted) and West Bengal (Kolkata), have comparatively high number of COVID-19 positive/death cases (62,6086/10,901, 26,1281/4,406, 2,94,537/1,627, 19,9,9982/51,806, 83,2167/12,466, 2,53,763/3,854, 5,91,787/8,716, and 5,60,219/10,251, respectively) as compared to the less air polluted states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Nagaland (having number of COVID-19 positive/ death 16,775/56, 3,396/02, 57,181/995, 28,818/373, 4,379/10, 5,948/135 and 12,089/91, respectively) as on 23.02.2021 [68].

Above information have clearly demonstrated that air pollution has an intricate direct or indirect relation with COVID-19 spreading and therefore, along with clinical approaches, probably environmental intervention to combat air pollution is also required for controlling COVID-19 and any future air borne pandemics [11]. Therefore, countries suffering from such pollution need to rethink to check their air pollution status for a combinatorial medico-environmental intervention plans for COVID-19 management [69].

Globally, the emissions of both NO${}_2$ and SO${}_2$ are found to be positively correlated with the number of COVID-19 new cases and also with the severity of the disease including morbidity. This has been noticed in India, Chia, Italy, and Germany and in many other countries. The main reason is being contributed to the over expression of the ACE-2 that act as receptor for COVID-19 in humans [11]. The death rate under COVID-19 severity has been clearly noticed in many counties including France, Germany, Italy and Spain (Fig. 3). Various mechanisms have been reported behind the cause of the new infection and severity of the COVID-19 cases under air pollution especially under the exposure to high PMs, NO${}_2$ and SO${}_2$ emissions (Figs. 4,5)

Fig. 3.

Effects of NO2 level in COVID-19 deaths in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Figure (redrawn from Ogen [70] under creative common attribution license), indicates that a strong positive correlation exist between NO2 emissions and COVID-19 deaths in four developed countries. The parentage of death is highly upregulated i.e., up to 80% with increased in NO2 emissions in the studied area.

Fig. 4.

Air pollution and COVID-19 severity via ACE-2 expression. Depending upon the level of NO2, PM2.5 level mediated Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2) expression level in alveolar cells of lungs, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients may express the severity into asymptomatic, mild symptomatic and severely symptomatic cases depending on low ($\uparrow$), moderate ($\uparrow$$\uparrow$) and high ($\uparrow$$\uparrow$$\uparrow$) expression of ACE-2. Therefore, the environmental co-intervention is suggested along with clinical care to COVID-19 patients where air pollution and COVID-19 have common hot spots. NO2- Nitrogen dioxide, NOX-Oxides of nitrogen, PM2.5-Particulate matter 2.5 (Redrawn after [11] under creative common attribution license).

Fig. 5.

Possible internalization of the SARS-CoV-2 under high NO2, SO2 and other air pollutants. Air pollution has a positive correlation with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2 that acts as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 attachment receptor) expression in human respiratory epithelial cells and that may accelerate the SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity in COVID-19 patients leading to fatality. ACE-2 found to be upregulated under Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure; therefore, air pollution can be considered as an additional factor for causing severity or new infection of COVID-19. Therefore, environmental interventions along with clinical approach are suggested for the management of the severity of COVID-19. ACE-2- Angiotensin converting Enzyme 2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, S-the Spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 that constitutes two parts namely S1 and S2. RNA-Ribonucleic Acid (Figure redrawn from [11] under creative common attribution license).

This combination drug is usually administered in the case of HIV infection in order to decrease the viral load [79]. This is a protease inhibitor hence it was used in the case of COVID-19 in order to target the enzyme 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro). The inhibition of this enzyme inhibits the replication and thus prevents the release of the virus from the host cell [80]. The drug proved effective in reducing the fever [81] and the duration of the hospital stay [82] but could not obtain desired outcome in open-label randomised clinical trials [83]. Moreover, questions have been raised for the drug’s effectiveness against 3CLpro as its structure is very different from the HIV proteases [84]. Thus, WHO has put off Lopinavir-ritonavir from the solidarity trails for COVID-19 [85].

This drug prevents the viral entry into the cells by modifying the environment around the ACE-2 receptor [86]. It was found that when chloroquine was administered, there has been a reduction in the pulmonary inflammation [87]. However, this efficiency was not shown when randomized clinical trials were conducted [88]. Hydroxychloroquine was also administered alongside Azithromycin, which again blocks the viral entry by binding to ACE-2 receptor [89]. However, this combination has neither improved the recovery time nor showed any benefit in treating COVID-19 patients [89]. Apart from this, there have been reports of hydroxy chloroquine causing neuropsychiatric side effects that can be so serious that it may cause suicidal tendencies [90, 91]. Thus, both NIH and WHO had dropped HCQ from solidarity trails [92].

Favipiravir acts by inhibiting the synthesis of viral RNA [93]. Recent clinical trials showed that patients who were administered Favipiravir showed a faster recovery compared to the standard treatment [94, 95]. However, the drug cannot be prescribed to the patients based on this data and further trails are required.

Remdesivir is a nucleotide analogue that blocks the viral replication by inhibiting the RNA-Dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). It was repurposed for the case of COVID-19 as it showed very good results in case MERS-CoV [96]. It is recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection [73, 97, 98, 99]. In a recent study conducted by NIH including 1062 patients, gave a positive result that lead to the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug by the FDA (https://Www.Fda.Gov/Media/137564/Download). These results were also reflected in the later studies making this the only drug that has been approved for COVID-19 treatment by the FDA [100]. However, care must be taken during administration of this drug as it may cause adverse reactions in liver and kidney [101].

These are mainly administered during the severe cases of COVID-19 infection to reduce the inflammation [73]. Dexamethasone is the most prominently used corticosteroid and have shown good results by reducing the death rate and also the time for recovery [73]. Thus, WHO has recommended this treatment for the patients with advanced stages of COVID-19 [73].

The enforcement of lockdown has resulted in lack of socialization in people. Also, people were confined to their homes that contributed to laziness, improper diet and sleep patterns and lack of physical activity. Additionally, there has been a prolonged exposure to the computer/mobile screens as this was the only mode of work and communication. Even educational institutions were teaching using this mode. All these have contributed to the increased risk of diseases that are caused by lack of mental and physical activity [130]. As a result, there has been a tremendous decline in the physical activity i.e., from 540 min/week to 105 min/week and the screen time has sharply increased by around 30 hours per week. Looking at this, the international fitness centres have been trying hard to enlighten the people about the importance of physical activity in improving the immunity and mental health of people [131].

Currently, this situation is has improved to a certain extent after the lockdown has been lifted by the countries. But the use of masks, social distancing etc. is still enforced. Also, the schools and workplaces are working with very low strength of people. Thus, it can be said that the life to normalcy is still a long journey to make.

The shutdown of industries, halt in the supply chain and the immediate requirement to meet the health emergency due to COVID-19 had severely hit the economy of several countries. This situation demanded a huge investment from the governments to meet the necessity of basic healthcare equipment, hospital beds, ventilators etc. Also, the non-essential industries were closed due to the lockdown thus creating an increased demand for certain goods which ultimately increased their cost. This shut down has also impacted several national and multinational companies due to which the employees were deprived of their jobs. Also, the low-skilled workers were affected by this pandemic as there was no work available. All these factors have contributed to a decreased cash flow in the market which had in turn impacted the economic growth rate [132]. Post-lockdown, this situation is slightly better but the loss incurred is too large to compensate it just by resuming the manufacturing. Hence, governments have to work up on better economic policies to improve their economic condition [133]. Unlike earlier, there must be more focus on healthcare and research to reduce the loss and be in a position to provide better services to the people in case of such conditions.

The education institutions not only impart knowledge and understanding in students but also help them to develop inter-personal skills. These are required to give an overall development for the students. They impart discipline, patience and also improve their emotional well-being. The lockdown in several countries have impacted this routine in children. Hence education institutions have started distant learning programme minimize the educational loss among the students. But this online mode of education has nothing to do with other important aspects that contribute to the over-all development. Also, these programmes depend on internet, mobile/laptops which are not available in remote and economically weaker sections. This might create a socio-economic gap in the society [134]. This has also impacted the employment in current graduate as most of them were not given a job. This again may affect their mental health, decrease confidence and may lead to depression in the younger generation [134]. Post-Lockdown, the schools and educations institutions were the last to open on a full-fledged basis. However, it was not mandatory for the students to attend the school. Even the parents are reluctant to send their children to school due to the fear of infection. Thus, vaccines are the only options that can improve the situation in this area.

The rapid spread of the virus has severely affected the social life of the people during the pandemic [29, 135, 136]. The people were confined to their houses and strict actions were taken to avoid any gatherings in the public. Also, the sudden announcement of lockdown had given no time for the people to get back to their families causing loneliness, worry and anxiety. This situation particularly impacted the elderly people [137] and people who lead a very social life. Additionally, the places of entertainment like restaurants, theatres, shopping malls etc. have been shut down which can further increase the stress and anxiety levels in the people [132]. Although these restrictions have been lifted, visiting these places or involving in any type of public gathering is very risky since the pandemic has not subsided yet.

In this present time, the current society suffers in different ways due to unwisely act. And the highly virulent SARS-CoV-2 that affected the whole world seems as the outcome of unwise human action. As this virus started from China and slowly grasped the whole world and major portion of the society is shocked in just a matter of six months [1, 2, 29]. The virus had contagious and spread very fast, leading WHO to declare it as global pandemic. The major part of the world shutdown the industries, schools, market and many social events [1, 2, 29]. Millions of people leading in a painful period of uncertainty and anxiety as the pandemic has broken their part of normal life and ruptured their work. So, the current society is imbalanced, people suffer with this unprecedented virus COVID-19 and live with anxiety, depression, and uncertainty that came from this contagious virus SARS-CoV-2 [148]. It affected the mega portion of the society. So, it is the time to exercise this operative virtue phronesis at individual level, at public level, at country level and government levels to overcome from the uncertainty. Globally, many governments have took the restrictive measures to control the pandemic situation that has led to a massive global public health campaign to slow the spread of the virus by increasing hand washing, reducing face touching, wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing in public. While efforts to develop pharmaceutical interventions such as drug development and vaccination against COVID-19 are under way, the social and behavioral sciences can provide valuable insights for managing the pandemic and its impacts [149].

People feel a difference between these measures and their freedom of normal lives which is a very challenging under the current situation. People should follow all the guidelines taken by government under this crisis period. But the question arises here that why should people collaborate with the restrictions. The phronetic agent as proposed by Aristotle [150] is to develop ability to correctly and cautiously follows what is beneficial for individual as well as for the society. By the help of phronesis one is able to rationally grasp which actions are good and bad for mankind. For example, it would be bad for every individual to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to infect others in current period. One may not know whether he/she is healthy or an asymptomatic infected case that has not been tested. It would therefore need to follow phronetic act at the individual level, which is not possible under the lack of knowledge, to practice physical distancing [151].

At present Government have been continuously taking numerous measures to save mankind in this current pandemic crisis such as to help policy makers, public, leaders, in time to time, to better comprehend how to manage the anxiety, panic, threats, and uncertainty and create reflective thinking, moral thinking and cooperation in different levels. Government has taken the phronetic decisions like to improve scientific communication that helps individual and collective interests, to give support to every mankind in the form of healthy life [152]. The present crisis was covered on unsettled tensions between mankind and technology, between human being and the planet, between the haves and the have-nots. These tensions were already the causatives to a new generation of inequalities pertaining to the enhanced and new necessities of the 21${}^{st}$ century [153]. But the response to the crisis can shape how those tensions are addressed and whether inequalities in human development are reduced [154]. The phronesis is the key term to develop the ability and capabilities, by taking the wise decisions, moral support, and optimistic work culture positive way to enhance the mind set in this unprecedented situation under COVID-19.

A phronetic person or a phronetic decision always take into account the capabilities approach to document the severity of the unfolding human development crisis. Through a phronetic approach an evaluative framework to assess the crisis and shape the policy response that emphasizes the potential for people to be and do what they aspire in life as opposed to material resources or economic activity. The time when vaccine was under developed condition, most of the measures taken by individuals and government to slow down the spread of this contagious have been non-pharmaceutical interventions [152]. This led to two effective ways, one was to protect from the contamination and other was to decrease the pressure from the health systems. Even countries with high numbers of hospital beds and technologies, people suffered to have poor health services and it was overwhelmed during the peak of a pandemic, therefore, how to protect the public from the disease has been intensely researched (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6.

How to protect one self and others from this pandemic situation (Source. Google images under creative common attribution license).

This uncertain crisis creates the socio-economic inequalities in a very harsh manner. Migrant workers were very much affected by the sudden lockdown. But that time it was needed as an urgent measure to control the spread of COVID-19. And the best example of implement the full lockdown country was India. Following India’s method, other country follow shutdown their country partially but did not receive optimal results. The phronetic decisions by the Government of India gave good results and control over the disease in a large scale. Indian had already felt that it has poor healthcare system and during the shutdown period Government therefore has created awareness among people through the help of social media, news with the help of laws and improved a better health care system (COVID-care centers) in short time span and how to protect the lives and livelihoods of migrant workers. It is now to rest the mind to overcome from the current crisis. Government and policymakers should very deeply focus on reducing the economic inequalities and enhance the growth. So, it was the alarming time for government to monitor every situation and taking phronetic decision at every stage [31].

The whole society has very much affected or one can say after lockdown it has a pause under the current pandemic. The society had two categories of people in relation to COVID-19 i.e., with uncertainty and with certainty. People in an uncertain situation felt that there is no specific information till now on when situations will be stabilized [152]. On other aspect of certainty, people are experiencing worthy lessons through this global crisis and the life after this unprecedented situation will be changed and better and will also adopt a new normal and better life. According to Aristotelian phronesis, “it is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”. Thus, society needs the phronesis for the betterment of new normal life and this is conceivably the right time to look ahead at projected improvements in the post-COVID world [153]. People are realising slowly that human values and practical wisdom are immensely necessary for nurturing the nature. They also realized the necessity of sustainable lifestyle for the strength and health of the planet earth.

So, in future more to save the planet, more environment-friendly paths will be adopted and explore new techniques such as: remote working to save fuel and control the pollution and online paper transactions, give more priority to maintain simple life style, use of artificial intelligence in different sectors etc. The sector where phronesis is strongly needed is to upgrade the Health care sector [155, 156]. Many frontline workers like medical and para medical staffs are in stress in the present times, but future demands for digital health technologies such as the use of contactless thermometers, improving patient care through boosting their will power, robotic monitoring of patients condition and delivering medicines etc. could solve the issues [155]. Similarly, creating more awareness among the public for maintaining social distancing and wearing masks and hand sanitization could be the new hygienic habit because public should learn how to live with COVID-19. Increasing digital tools and methods such the use of telemedicine will convenient access to medical assistance. Such habits need to be practised in the educational institutions and similar hubs where gathering is normal [70, 156, 157, 158, 159]. Therefore, the education institute will create new infrastructure, need to cope of with technology in their teaching skills as to utilise new online different tools and apps to reduce the contamination. Virtual class rooms are only the system to take over the traditional teaching methods. So, the future phronetic need is to be digitally restructuring the education sector. Counselling and medical facilitation with telemetry can reduce anxiety and depression in such sectors to reduce distractions. It will save mental disruption of people under this or any future pandemic. So, development of social connectedness in every sector including medical and educational sectors is essential in a well-formed manner (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7.

Future challenges during any pandemic situation through which one can enhance the mental peace (Source. Google images under creative common attribution license).

Medical/social counselling for productive work, positive thought, critical thinking with patience to engage them in nurturing self and the environment could be the long term goals. Until a vaccine helps to build up immunity in the majority of the population, social distancing is only the measures to adopt by every individual. So, work-from home, meeting through new digital tools and apps such as video conferencing will become the new work culture. Spending time with family and work from home culture may give breaks from work-pressure, nurture to make closer family-ties (Fig. 6).

The virulent virus gives a lesson to the current society. This is the high time to reflect on Aristotelian phronesis to explore the better life. And now people slowly work together in breaking the chain of SARS-CoV-2 infection, a better world is developing. The hard times are sure to pass, leaving behind the phronetic practicing of reflecting one self and find one’s purpose to maintain compassion and caring for what genuinely matters in life, like the welfare of society through science (Fig. 8). By taking the help of phronesis the present world realised in three ways i.e., 1. People do not increase the risk factors, 2. It is not possible and against the human nature but current times need this measure a lot to isolate them for protecting others and 3. Follow all the government guidelines as a phronetic measures and always stay positive and productive and realized the need for precautions and are taking steps against future possibilities, to keep the coming generations safe.

Fig. 8.

Use the phronesis one can monitoring himself/herself and take a good decision in the difficult times and also stay positive and productive (Source. Google images under creative common attribution license).