The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world that challenged all of us.
Along the way, we have learned different lessons that helped us go through the pandemic.
1. Masks as essential tools
Face masks became an essential tool for everyday life which gives us a second look at our practiced preventive measures that are usually ignored. Masks became a key COVID-19 prevention strategy because they provide a barrier that can keep respiratory droplets from spreading.
2. Vaccines are powerful tools
With the recent positive results from vaccine trials, once again vaccines are proving to be powerful for preventing disease. Vaccines are worth getting because they motivated people to keep up with the protection that they are getting.
3. We need to take mental health seriously
There was a rise in reported mental health problems during the pandemic that has been described as “a second pandemic,” highlighting mental health as an issue that needs to be addressed. The number of mental health disorders that were on the rise before the pandemic is surging as people grapple with such matters as juggling work, job loss, isolation, and losing a loved one to COVID-19. The situation can no longer be ignored and continuous measure is needed to address it.
4. Resilience
While everyone’s situation is different and some people have experienced tremendous difficulties, many have seen that it’s possible to be resilient in an earth-shattering crisis. People have practiced self-care in a multitude of ways during the pandemic as they were forced to adjust to new work schedules, change their gym routines, and cut back on socializing. Many started seeking out new strategies to counter the stress.
5. Community and technology go hand in hand
People who were part of a community during the pandemic realized the importance of human connection, and those who didn’t have that kind of support realized they need it. Many of us have become aware of how much we need other people—many have managed to maintain their social connections, even if they had to use technology to keep in touch.
As we have learned these lessons, Kaiser International Healthgroup continues to help us cope with the aftermath of the pandemic, especially in healthcare as we continue to rebuild our lives from the pandemic. Visit https://www.kaiserhealthgroup.com/ for more information.
