Let’s learn from the epidemic

We did a lot right in Norway during the pandemic, but the scars after COVID-19 won’t go away right away.

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I’ve lost a lot life, others have suffered mentally, financially, or in other ways. Therefore, researchers must continue the research even when the epidemic is over. We now have new data and can learn how we can be better equipped for the next pandemic. Because it is coming.

Volunteer work. associations for The word has changed quite a bit since the outbreak of the epidemic in Norway. Instead of mental images of paintbrushes and leaf hoppers, we like to imagine health leaders and the prime minister at a press conference. A national charity.

Norway’s residents lined up in ways hard to imagine when the virus spread. This was important for Norway to do well compared to many other countries.

We stayed home, kids were homeschooling, and Teams and Zoom became commonplace. Neighborhood help groups are set up on social media, we drink, take a shower, and take a shower.

In the same spirit of service Several researchers in Norway have started projects to understand the relationship between the virus, the measures, and our lives. Researchers across the country have commented on what they were already working on.

They began collecting data on issues related to the epidemic. Does wearing a face mask help? How does the pandemic affect law and the economy? How does isolation affect mental health? There were many unanswered questions – and there are still many things we don’t know.

like a lot et al., the researchers took the task above everything else that needed to be done. Several national and regional surveys were conducted, people were interviewed and registration data were linked. The goal was to understand this epidemic and be able to fight future epidemics.

Now the virus is in decline. The work day is over soon. But we know one thing – there will be more epidemics. Now we must learn. We shouldn’t think, guess, follow our gut feeling when it comes to viruses that kill. We have to learn, we have to get new answers.

So the question is What are we going to do now with all the data we have collected? Who should address it, understand it, and develop plans and strategies? Understandably, people are tired of the pandemic, so how are we going to keep researchers and authorities interested now — and who will fund the needed research?

The historical answer is unfortunately not promising. One wants to forget what happened. This is understandable, but then we miss out on a unique opportunity to learn. Plus, we’re failing the people who gave us data to make us better in the future.

We shouldn’t. We must avoid repeating old mistakes, and we must remember what we did right. It can save our children and grandchildren – and generations to come for a long time – so much suffering.

University Epidemiology Center In Bergen it started a year ago. The center’s goal is that we will avoid falling into the same epidemic traps as before. As one of the activities this fall, we are organizing a student conference, where students from all over the country gather and can learn from each other. We want to give them inspiration and support, and invite the public to come; This is something that concerns us all.

But in the future, more targeted efforts are needed for today’s youth to combat the next pandemic in the best possible way. Funding is needed for real research, quite simply.

We expect the Minister of Health and health authorities to be aware of their responsibility now and focus on good research on the pandemic. It has cost society so much, and it’s the only right way to go.