Abstract

Background: An unprecedented and unexpected COVID-19 pandemic resulted appalled lock-downs limiting movement of the entire population of the country and also across the globe. Downtime due to COVID-19 pandemic, led to adjournment of schools, colleges, different institutions, industries and business. This shutdown of work affected physical, mental and behavioral health of mankind from different age groups of different sectors.
Methods- In this cross-sectional study, prevalidated questionnaire using the quick mode of communications like Whatsapp and emails through Google form was used. It was among the quick and inexpensive method to collect data from a wide cross-section of the general public. After ethical committee approval, link was distributed among health care trainee, employees and health care workers (HCWs) of various educational institutes and hospitals. Participants read informed consent for voluntary participation in the survey, which was administered in two parts: The first part asked participants basic demographic characteristics including age, gender, place of residence and in second part questions were asked to determine participation in specific behaviors related to their physical, mental and behavioral health.
 Results: Physical-Significant change in exercise habits was found in 45.3% participants who exercised daily  and 32.7% participants did 2 to 3times exercise in a week but 22% participants did not follow any exercise routine. Mental-This study reveals profound impact of lockdown on mental fitness variables as well. Lockdown induced lack of regular work schedules changed sleep habits of 45.8% participants. Behavioral-As precautionary measure 76% of the participants washed their hands mostly 5-7times throughout the day and 84.2% among them followed 6-steps of hand hygiene. 95.5% of participants used mask compulsorily.
Conclusion: This survey is an attempt to study knowledge and behaviors of people in face of current pandemic where more than 1.3 billion people are inside their homes since lockdown. Although lockdown is effective measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 there are reasons to be concerned. Prolonged home confinement and shutdown of work affects physical, mental and behavioral health of people. People feel socially isolated due to lockdown however social media platforms offer an opportunity to ameliorate social isolation. The effect on lockdown on physical, mental and behavioral routine habits can give inside of how people are living under impact of lockdown and the findings can reveals the impact of these never seen restrictions on life of people.