Will Our Approach to Research Change After This Epidemic?

//An Epidemic in Episodes//

A highly infectious environment continues to grip society by the scruff and social changes are fast being put into place. Pollution levels plummet as populations come to a standstill, those who live the digital nomad life continue with their productivity. Other businesses arrange working from home systems, keeping their employees on the ball and money flowing. For many others, life offer a harder reality with redundancy and even eviction. It’s a worrying state of the world that truly reveals the selfish and selfless among us. Panic buying is widespread and for those who are working hard or unable to join in with the frenzy, little is left. Media coverage, government responses and general culture towards bio epidemics have shaped the resulting events that are continuing to transpire.

//Specific Awareness//

SARS was an epidemic that swept much of Asia and spread from Hong Kong/South China and went towards Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. Statistics show a four-month cycle, ending with decline in cases and deaths. With the arrival of COVID-19, Asia was once again faced with an epidemic and there has been a difference in response and cultural awareness between those who had been struck by SARS and the rest of the world who eventually came to know the severity of coronavirus. Governments are doing what they can to contain and see decline in cases, putting a freeze on life for the moment and enforcing social distancing.

//Realisation Everywhere//

With all social measures being exercised, scientific research is in full swing. Treatment, vaccines and wilder strategies such as “herd immunity” are being explored. It’s never too late to salvage a situation, we hope, but perhaps our approach to scientific development needs to be rethought. It was thought that the world would be prepared to deal with such an epidemic post SARS, but the response has left much to be desired. For years, epidemics have threatened humanity, and this may be a wakeup call the planet needed. Specifically, the scientific community will be learning and reforming their approach to disease observation and management.

//Continued Effort//

Scientists have known about the severity of the illness since its first discovery in China, yet too little was done too late. Deeper analysis is needed to build a response system that helps to make critical decisions. Economic balancing and other contingencies can always be managed, but loss of life will always remain as such. With piles of funding pouring in from philanthropists, I hope that an active effort will be maintained even beyond the passing the epidemic to build better detection, management and solutions for the mass population.

Sources
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-new-coronavirus-isn-t-like-the-flu-but-they-have-one-big-thing-in-common
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539564/