Two days ago we operated a fully vaccinated, asymptomatic RT-PCR + patient for a totally unrelated injury. Two years ago, treating a SARS COV 2 (+) patient is too risky and dangerous. Treatment is necessarily delayed until patient is deemed non infective. That could take weeks or even a month if the patient luckily survives COVID. Now, with vaccination, precautionary protocols and PPEs, we can proceed with the treatment with little delay. And I felt rather dull, apprehensive and weird. After struggling to adapt to this pandemic, I am once again witnessing another disruption. One that more is desirable but not necessarily easier, than its predecessor- adapting to the new, post pandemic normal.
We all bear witness to our struggles in the new pandemic normal. We all prosletized that the “new pandemic normal” of COVID 19 restrictions will be the “new normal”. We painstakingly used and adapted to digital and electronic communications to carry us through this pandemic. When vaccines and safety protocols came minimizing the risks of COVID among us, we’re now looking at a face to face interactions soon. And there’s anything but the “old normal” in what I saw. A blended lecture, a new weird looking OR with all spacesuits, or dining with friends al fresco (but wet by the heavy rains), I felt weird. And now, I have this conundrum (albeit a lot desirable than its pandemic predecessor) on how to adapt to this emerging, post pandemic normal.
COVID-19 severely disrupted the way we connect socially. Almost all of our social connections were built and maintained digitally during the pandemic. “I lost a few good people this pandemic and all I can say is RIP over the internet” said Dr. M. “That’s too damn shameful for my standards”! Now that we are emerging from this pandemic, I’m still apprehensive about physically, socially mingling even with my family. The mask-less, physical hugging I’m used too is a bit awkward now. I still avoid family dinners for fear of spreading the virus!
T1. How will you rebuild social connections in the new post pandemic normal?
As a distance education student, I am very much comfortable teaching and learning “from a distance” . Yet, I miss giving out face to face talks and the “hands on” teaching at the clinics. At a recent training workshop, I had this awkward dilemma – I don’t know how to talk to a camera and a face to face audience at the same time. I ended up talking to myself.
T2. How will you continue teaching and learning in the new post pandemic normal?
“I’m thinking about retiring early or maybe another less risky career” said one colleague. “I lost my purpose right there when I was gasping for air at the COVID ICU” he lamented. I can empathize with him. My mom died not of COVID but her healthcare needs was severely limited by this pandemic. And I not once blamed my inability to provide all her needs even if I am busy taking care of others. That, tested my career purpose. Finding your purpose in the new post pandemic normal would be difficult for many of us.
T3. How will find or continue your purpose in the new post pandemic normal?
Experiencing how we lived through this pandemic and hopefully soon, a post pandemic world, I had so many questions and realizations. In all these, adaptation has been our greatest ally in rebuilding in the post pandemic normal. The concept is easy to understand but is much harder to implement. This will be the topic of the #HealthXPh tweetchat this March 12, 2022, 9PM Manila time. Join us and share your thoughts!
Image by pressfoto on Freepik
