Today we move into Recovery Mode Movement Control Order. Interstate borders are kept open and movement is not restricted. The economy should get a chance to recover. Are we ready? Yes we should be. Today we had the lowest number new cases [of 2] and we hope for zero soon. But the important fact that we must remember is creating new clusters if appropriate care is not taken. Public must still follow all Standard Operating Procedures including social distancing, wearing mask and washing hands. There should be no large crowd gatherings.
What has Co-Vid 19 taught us?
We have learned to re-set our lives completely from the killer speed we were at before this pandemic. Family time? It never existed in many of us. We chased our goals pretty blindly without any care towards our families and our own health.
Co-Vid 19 was not the best example to get us healthy but at least it brought us to a reset mode. However it has also lead to a lot of uncertainties and there are progressing mental health issues. Some of the reasons causing this is because of zero income. Many suffered extreme mental agony because of the restriction. Hopefully in this recovery period the economy regains momentum and most of us should be on tract.
Preparedness
This pandemic also taught health care providers world wide to be better prepared in managing huge numbers of patients. Many counties in the world had near disaster situation when there were no beds available for Co-Vid 19 patients who required ICU care. https://www.globalhealthnow.org/2020-05/covid-19-and-critical-shortage-critical-care
We must look at planning future healthcare facilities with possibilities of converting normal care wards to intensive units. Countries should now work on combined data houses to detect infrastructure for intensive care in the entire healthcare system particularly in dual system healthcare like in Malaysia. The possibility of converting space for pandemics should be seamless.
Digitalisation
Digitalisation was proven to be a game changer during Co-Vid 19. Video conferences made its main presence during this pandemic. It was very poorly accepted in the past. We all preferred  ‘face to face encounters’ and assumed it was the most effective way. Today we realise that digital technology works well in engagements.
In healthcare there are some restrictions using digital technology in providing complete treatment but initial consults and follow ups may be useful using technology. https://www.beuc.eu/blog/covid-19-and-digital-health-five-risks/
What do we expect in the next few months?
A lot of adjustments. We have newer norms to follow. Once the pandemic recovers world wide, I believe we should get back almost near normal as it use to be. International borders have to re-open soon as we still need globalisation to move economies.
Vaccines maybe an answer. But if we recover well before it’s invention then we need to question ourselves the value of a vaccine. Are we going to have more isolated new clusters of Co-Vid 19 in the future? How do we mange them? Lock downs again?
Will we accept the virus like other corona viruses we had in the past? Did we overact in the past few months just because the spread was too fast? Mortality seems to be still very low comparatively. https://ourworldindata.org/mortality-risk-covid#the-current-case-fatality-rate-of-covid-19
We now hear there are evidences that asymptomatic patients are of no threat. So we have to change our testing protocols. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/08/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread-who-bn/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1ISs9-hGqcax_-C72zDMDvtM7nD9Obt88xR8FU4Vvpzgfo8XQcVlZ164s
So we have a lot to think about in the next few months…
Conclusion
End of the day Co-Vid 19 has left us a lot to ponder. It was a disaster to some and many experienced it as a game changer. I think it has an impact to all of us. Looking at it positively, perhaps it has made us better in totality. But for those who had it bad, we hope it will have a silver lining soon.
