Changes are being made to rules all the time. How we work and live is different from our parents and their parents and their parents. We have to learn and adapt if we want to continue living our best lives. As we learn more and more about Covid-19 and its existing and possible variants and differing strains, a question keeps rising up. What will happen next time? And there will be a next time, there is no doubt about that. Regardless of the source or permutation of the disease, another episode like the pandemic of Covid-19 cases will arise in the future, and for right now, we don’t have a solid, global plan for such an event. Whether it will be a bacterial infection or an easily spread virus isn’t the point, disease is becoming more and more of an issue because of the resilience of modern diseases. So what is the current plan for our government on the matters of diseases, Personal Protective Equipment, and other methods of stopping this phenomena before they overrun our restrictions, resolutions, and rules and another epidemic like coronavirus occurs. What should we do then is the big question.
Unfortunately, no matter how well we plan and practice, there is going to be a next time, where we will have to fight off another virus, disease, bacteria, or other type of infection on a large nationwide scale. So what will happen then? Do we have a plan for such a time? Does our government, or our hospitals have an idea of what will be the problem, what will happen when the virus either incubates and grows in the U.S. or reaches our borders? These questions are difficult to answer, but they are extremely necessary if we want to be prepared. The biggest question is how soon will the next pandemic hit, and the answer to that is a bit scary. Variants of Covid-19 are already spreading in the United States and around the world, and with them are a range of different possibilities, different strengths and symptoms that the virus could change as it grows. One variant might be able to handle colder weather easier, making it harder to fight off during the winter, or another might be more resistant to stereotypical drugs and vaccines, making it harder to fight off after being infected, or still infect people while they are already vaccinated. These possibilities are already occurring so it is important to keep an eye on the news and check on your area to see what precautions you should take to protect yourself and your family. What should we do though, to give ourselves the best chance against the next pandemic?
First and most importantly, keep yourself well informed, with factual data and inquiry. Coronavirus was able to infect so many people partially because many people didn’t see the virus as a threat until it was too late and the virus had spread throughout the country. Second thing to remember is to practice safe guidelines. While this doesn’t mean wearing masks and social distancing after the virus has left, this does mean taking care to not spread bacteria and germs freely, washing your hands and sneezing into your elbow whenever there is a need to. This won’t stop a virus that is already infecting mass amounts of people, but it should stop yourself and your family from getting sick. Finally, remember to keep yourself and those around you honest. The worst thing you can do in a crisis is remain willfully ignorant.