Research ArticleVolume 14 Issue 4 - October 2020DOI:10.19080/JFSCI.2020.14.555893J Forensic Sci & Criminal InvesCopyright © All rights are reserved by RK KumawatAn Overview on Covid 19 Pandemic and its Impact on Forensic Investigations

Abstract

The novel corona virus or COVID 19, created a pandemic throughout the world due to its transmissibility, highly virulent nature and severe pathogenicity. It has been established that it transmits through liquid droplets during coughing, sneezing, loud speaking, and spitting out. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the viral particles persist on the various surfaces up to 5 days depending upon the environmental conditions and nature of surfaces. These long-lasting persistence and airborne transmission of Corona viral particles impose serious threat for forensic investigators as well as for all the law enforcement agencies. In this article, we explore the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on forensic investigation at the scene of a crime, sample collection, transport, storage, and laboratory examination. This article also helps to understand the overview of the novel corona virus and to adopt the best biosafety practices by the forensic science community and other law enforcement agencies, which will help in the balancing to conduct the investigations and protection against novel viral infections by following the safety guidelines formulated by the concerned central and state government.