[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":337},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-how-covid-19-catalysed-digital-health-trends":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":194,"relatedBooks":336},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":41,"project_category":47,"contact_email_category":53,"yst_prominent_words":54,"class_list":72,"better_featured_image":99,"acf":128,"yoast_meta":138,"_links":141},31127,"2020-11-19T10:00:00","2020-11-19T09:00:00",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=31127&_wpnonce=2f1b4b2146&status=auto-draft&type=post","2020-11-19T17:00:53","2020-11-19T16:00:53","how-covid-19-catalysed-digital-health-trends","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-covid-19-catalysed-digital-health-trends",{"rendered":17},"How COVID-19 Catalysed Digital Health Trends",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Coronavirus has shattered our world and changed nearly all aspects of our lives. It has also changed our relationship to healthcare. It is slowly becoming a cliché to say that COVID-19 has catalysed healthcare trends – but nevertheless, it’s true. Everyone in the world has seen what devastating impact healthcare can have on our daily lives and how underfunded healthcare systems depend on the heroic frontline workers, who are holding the walls from falling apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The windfall of the era of digital health is unquestionable, but it has always been. The hurdle was the adoption of these changes, for they posed infrastructural, operational and cultural challenges – the latter being probably the most challenging, and, probably, this was the ultimate obstacle in the change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But the importance of good healthcare systems is now incontestable. And while the pivotal question is still the fight against the virus, leaders around the world should already look at which of these changes should remain permanent and how the entire industry can ultimately build on the learnings and the developments of 2020. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002FThe-New-York-Times-768x509.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31197\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002FThe-New-York-Times-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002FThe-New-York-Times-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002FThe-New-York-Times.jpg 1630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: The New York Times\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital health before the pandemic\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In a recent article, we outlined our approach and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-we-believe-in-the-medical-futurist-mission-statement\" target=\"_blank\">manifesto on digital health\u003C\u002Fa>. Since 2009, Dr Bertalan Meskó has been taking a stand for the digital health transformation. On \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">The Medical Futurist\u003C\u002Fa> website, we feature the latest technologies and how they can be put to use in public health. Take, for example, digital maps. Back in 2017, we \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-maps-help-fight-epidemics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">wrote about\u003C\u002Fa> data visualisations and  evaluating, monitoring and even predicting health events with this technology. We also featured real-time monitoring of the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-and-the-ebola-epidemic-how-not-to-let-it-go-viral\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Ebola epidemic\u003C\u002Fa>. Or think of artificial intelligence in radiology diagnose and evaluation that was \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-10-medical-technologies-of-2016\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">still utopistic\u003C\u002Fa> a couple of years ago. We talked about science fiction-like scenarios and concepts that were hard to grasp for many. Not anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital health during COVID-19\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The pandemic has brought science fiction down to the ground. We live it, we breathe it, and to move forward we also need to embrace it, too. Upon the first news of a certain virus in China, we were quick to talk about the right use of digital health technologies – check it out \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-digital-health-technology-can-help-manage-the-coronavirus-outbreak\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">here\u003C\u002Fa>. Plenty of technologies have suddenly become widely accepted and interesting not only to medical professionals but to the general public as well. \u003Cstrong>Like a hanging fruit that became ripe from one day to the other, technologies and concepts from telemedicine through A.I. monitoring to network medicine, all came together in an attempt to try to know, understand and forecast the virus.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Let’s see a few technologies that really stand out from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Coronavirus Outbreak in the Era of Digital Health and A.I. \u002F Episode 11 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fr9VeCmM8--4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-sober-state-of-artificial-intelligence-in-the-fight-against-covid-19\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Artificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We can’t emphasise enough how important it was when Canadian startup BlueDot rang the bell on a small-scale outbreak in the region of the Chinese Wuhan. BlueDot used its algorithm to sift through hoards of news reports, airline data, and reports of animal disease outbreaks to detect trends – and was quick to, so to say, connect the dots. Since then, a great amount of research has been going into the possible uses of A.I. in healthcare to \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalxpress.com\u002Fnews\u002F2020-05-hospital-artificial-intelligence-covid-patients.html\" target=\"_blank\">analyse\u003C\u002Fa>, monitor, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcovid.partners.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">screen\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhbr.org\u002F2020\u002F04\u002Fhow-hospitals-are-using-ai-to-battle-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\">triage\u003C\u002Fa> COVID patients; to support hospital infrastructure in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqventus.com\u002Fblog\u002Fpredicting-the-effects-of-the-covid-pandemic-on-us-health-system-capacity\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">resource allocation\u003C\u002Fa>, or further \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.frontiersin.org\u002Farticles\u002F10.3389\u002Ffrai.2020.00065\u002Ffull\" target=\"_blank\">drug discovery\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhealthitanalytics.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-initiative-uses-artificial-intelligence-for-vaccine-development\" target=\"_blank\">vaccine development\u003C\u002Fa>. MIT even \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fvoicebot.ai\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F31\u002Fmit-open-voice-model-used-to-identify-asymptomatic-covid-19-patients-from-cough-recordings\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">developed\u003C\u002Fa> an A.I.-based voice analyser tool to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients from cough recording. And the list could go on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fnetwork-medicine-in-the-fight-against-covid-19\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Network medicine\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Albert-László Barabási is one of network medicine’s pioneers. Studying biological networks to discover patterns and their behaviour is the key focus of their research. Their data visualisations have even set the artistic language of such data-driven imaging over the past 20 years worldwide. Their work became more important than ever this past April when the BarabasiLab had \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcovid.barabasilab.com\u002F2020\u002F04\u002Fnetwork-based-embedding-of-all-human.html\" target=\"_blank\">a list of promising drugs\u003C\u002Fa> for testing in human cell lines in an experimental lab in less than 10 days since repurposing their network medicine toolset to find a treatment for COVID-19. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F168_tmf-01-768x432.png\" alt=\"Network medicine in finding treatment for COVID-19\" class=\"wp-image-28279\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F168_tmf-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F168_tmf-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F168_tmf-01-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F168_tmf-01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>How is network science contributing to COVID19?\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fget-used-to-it-remote-care-is-the-new-norm\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Remote care, a.k.a. telemedicine\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Telemedicine has been available for quite a while now, but its breakthrough was undoubtedly due to 2020. From being a far-fetched concept for the care of remote areas, the dire need to protect medical professionals and other patients from the virus made remote technologies skyrocket. Due to the coronavirus, medical visits online and over the phone experienced a never-before-seen surge. From \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fa-deeper-look-into-telepsychology-during-covid-19-it-all-depends-how-you-look-at-it\" target=\"_blank\">mental health care\u003C\u002Fa> to emailing prescriptions or school medical certificates for kids – we had known these could exist. But we never expected they could so easily be adopted into our everyday. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-rise-of-at-home-lab-tests\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">At-home lab tests\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After remote care, remote testing was next to be a major disruptor. Waiting in lines for your sample to be taken is out of the question. Today, one can have multiple important tests without even leaving the house. The red tape that prevented at-home testing in the past as good as disappeared with COVID. Certain lab tests are much safer at home as these help avoid exposure to the infection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F208_tmf-01-1-768x432.png\" alt=\"The post delivers at-home lab tests\" class=\"wp-image-30495\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F208_tmf-01-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F208_tmf-01-1-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F208_tmf-01-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F208_tmf-01-1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>The pandemic brought light to a trend we discussed before. To reduce the exposure to risks such as an infection, at-home lab tests are coming. \u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-tech-here-to-stay-after-covid-19\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Smartphones, robots, 3D printing and more\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Disinfectant \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Frobotics.sciencemag.org\u002Fcontent\u002F5\u002F40\u002Feabb5589\" target=\"_blank\">robots\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F2\u002F21498362\u002Fatlanta-mercedes-benz-stadium-falcons-united-nfl-mls-coronavirus-covid-19-disinfection\" target=\"_blank\">drones\u003C\u002Fa> appeared to reduce the risk for humans. We can all leverage the real power of smartphones with online consultations, mental health care, at-home drug delivery, or even COVID-19 testing; while appreciating the fast-paced printing in 3D to create medical tools, protectors and practically anything else needed when traditional production or supply is scarce and when health institutions are overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fyour-data-privacy-during-a-pandemic\u002F\">Data protection\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This is very uncomfortable. Not just for you – for all of us. Data protection is like when someone farts on a fancy party: everyone knows it’s there. But no one wants anything to do with it. On one hand, we all know sharing data is essential for tracking the virus’ spread. On the other, so many security flaws (and in many countries, probably built-in features) can get you \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Flife-style\u002Flove-sex\u002Fcoronavirus-tracking-app-cheating-partners-married-south-korea-affair-a9514996.html\" target=\"_blank\">exposed\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We already wrote about \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-dark-side-of-health-trackers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the dark side of health trackers\u003C\u002Fa>: dubious tracking from smartphones and wearables by amoral third parties. Today, we need to understand that there is no digital health without sacrificing a part of our privacy. The advanced technologies cannot improve without our data; without it, they can’t be implemented as part of regular medical care. And COVID-19 has only made things worse. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Read \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fleanpub.com\u002Fprivacy-in-digital-health\" target=\"_blank\">our ebook\u003C\u002Fa> on the matter if you want to know more and watch the video below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Your Privacy in the Digital Health Era \u002F Episode 26 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fl6yKFeYSQjA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The post-pandemic era in digital health: what’s next?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter how many mistakes are made, we need to \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-can-we-expect-from-2021-the-covid-perspective\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">think a lot about what is coming\u003C\u002Fa>. Because the question is not whether we have to live with the pandemic but for \u003Cem>how long\u003C\u002Fem>. You yourself need to become a bit of a forecaster yourself (don’t worry \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Flearn-forecasting\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">we can guide you\u003C\u002Fa> on your way). \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This will make it easier for everyone \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwill-there-be-a-second-wave-of-covid-19\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">to prepare\u003C\u002Fa> for what is still to come. By \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Flife-after-covid-19-what-will-change\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">drawing scenarios\u003C\u002Fa> on what might come, you will be better prepared in your professional as well as in your personal life. And don’t worry to be wrong. Just bear in mind what Yoda said: “\u003Cem>The greatest teacher, failure is\u003C\u002Fem>.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">The outtakes:\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\">\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cp>1. The pandemic has facilitated the adoption of many digital health technologies forsooth. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>2. The question is not whether to use them, but \u003Cem>how\u003C\u002Fem> to use these technologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>3. Instead of persuading people about the technologies, we have to focus on using the technologies in practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Coronavirus has shattered our world and changed nearly all aspects of our lives. It has also changed our relationship to healthcare. It is slowly becoming […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,30821,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40],6261,4879,504,798,491,521,490,499,800,516,[42,43,44,45,46],144,207,320,3085,134,[48,49,50,51,52],947,949,950,951,952,[],[55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71],4747,1739,4749,2017,2861,3189,1559,3825,1571,3829,1617,4157,1681,4449,1715,4691,1723,[73,14,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98],"post-31127","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-forecast","category-lifestyle-medicine","category-artificial-intelligence","category-digital-health-research","category-empowered-patients","category-future-medicine","category-future-of-pharma","category-healthcare-design","category-healthcare-policy","category-medical-education","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-digital-health","tag-mit","tag-covid19","tag-ai","project_category-company","project_category-educators","project_category-medical-professionals","project_category-patients","project_category-policy-makers",{"id":24,"alt_text":100,"caption":101,"description":27,"media_type":102,"media_details":103,"post":126,"source_url":127},"How COVID catalyzed healthcare trends","How COVID Catalyzed Healthcare Trends – Coronavirus has changed our relationship to healthcare and the importance of good healthcare systems is now incontestable. The question is not whether to use the solutions listed in the article, but HOW to use these – in practice.","image",{"width":104,"height":105,"file":106,"sizes":107,"image_meta":124},1200,675,"2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1.png",{"medium":108,"large":114,"thumbnail":119,"medium_large":123},{"file":109,"width":110,"height":111,"mime-type":112,"source_url":113},"telemed-covid-1-370x208.png","370","208","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-370x208.png",{"file":115,"width":116,"height":117,"mime-type":112,"source_url":118},"telemed-covid-1-768x432.png","768","432","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-768x432.png",{"file":120,"width":121,"height":121,"mime-type":112,"source_url":122},"telemed-covid-1-150x150.png","150","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-150x150.png",{"file":115,"width":116,"height":117,"mime-type":112,"source_url":118},{"aperture":125,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":125,"copyright":27,"focal_length":125,"iso":125,"shutter_speed":125,"title":27,"orientation":125},"0",null,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1.png",{"cta_type":129,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_posts_footer":130,"related_posts":20,"related_books":134},"subscribe",[131,132,133],31091,29237,30583,[135,136,137],30419,24762,25985,{"yoast_wpseo_title":139,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":140,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"How COVID-19 Catalysed Digital Health Trends - The Medical Futurist","COVID-19 catalyzed healthcare trends, and technologies suddenly became widely accepted and interesting not only to medical professionals but to the public.",{"self":142,"collection":148,"about":151,"author":154,"replies":157,"version-history":160,"predecessor-version":164,"wp:featuredmedia":168,"wp:attachment":171,"wp:term":174,"curies":190},[143],{"href":144,"targetHints":145},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F31127",{"allow":146},[147],"GET",[149],{"href":150},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[152],{"href":153},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[155],{"embeddable":26,"href":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[158],{"embeddable":26,"href":159},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=31127",[161],{"count":162,"href":163},15,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F31127\u002Frevisions",[165],{"id":166,"href":167},31203,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F31127\u002Frevisions\u002F31203",[169],{"embeddable":26,"href":170},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F30821",[172],{"href":173},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=31127",[175,178,181,184,187],{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":177},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=31127",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":180},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=31127",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":183},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=31127",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":186},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=31127",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":189},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=31127",[191],{"name":192,"href":193,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[195],{"id":133,"date":196,"date_gmt":197,"guid":198,"modified":200,"modified_gmt":201,"slug":202,"status":13,"type":14,"link":203,"title":204,"content":206,"excerpt":208,"author":23,"featured_media":210,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":211,"categories":212,"tags":215,"project_category":228,"contact_email_category":230,"yst_prominent_words":231,"class_list":240,"better_featured_image":257,"acf":284,"yoast_meta":291,"_links":294},"2020-10-15T10:00:00","2020-10-15T08:00:00",{"rendered":199},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=30583&_wpnonce=7cb19bfeb1&status=auto-draft&type=post","2021-01-21T09:52:52","2021-01-21T08:52:52","what-can-we-expect-from-2021-the-covid-perspective","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-can-we-expect-from-2021-the-covid-perspective",{"rendered":205},"What Can We Expect From 2021: The COVID Perspective",{"rendered":207,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Nearing the end of 2020, we are globally far from seeing the end of the pandemic that ruled (and ruined) 2020. Every day \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcoronavirus.jhu.edu\u002Fmap.html\" target=\"_blank\">we see\u003C\u002Fa> hundreds of thousands of new cases of coronavirus infections, with the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fworld\u002Flive\u002F2020\u002Foct\u002F08\u002Fcoronavirus-live-news-brazil-cases-pass-5m-trump-calls-catching-covid-a-blessing-in-disguise?page=with:block-5f7f49688f08bbf7a1fff588#block-5f7f49688f08bbf7a1fff588\" target=\"_blank\">WHO reporting\u003C\u002Fa> a record one-day rise, while people have a hard time complying with the strict safety measures \u003Cem>again\u003C\u002Fem>. We are all waiting for this \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FlvPjeJbk9V4\" target=\"_blank\">nightmare to stop\u003C\u002Fa>, but will it ever? How long, ‘till we need to keep masks on and stay away from grandma? After this \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F2020-jumanji-or-dystopia\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">dystopian\u003C\u002Fa> 2020, how are we looking at 2021?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No one knows for sure. With countries being knee-deep in the second wave, everyone is waiting for the vaccines to put an end to this all. But they won’t. At least not for a long time. For if we had a tested and proven vaccine in the coming months (which is unlikely, even though there are over \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fworld\u002Fng-interactive\u002F2020\u002Foct\u002F07\u002Fcovid-vaccine-tracker-when-will-a-coronavirus-vaccine-be-ready\" target=\"_blank\">170 research\u003C\u002Fa> groups working on it at a breakneck speed right now, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002Finteractive\u002F2020\u002Fscience\u002Fcoronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">track them here\u003C\u002Fa>), there would still be many open questions. \u003Cstrong>Who will have the first batch? How will it be distributed? Who will lead the distribution and the allocation? How will we reach herd immunity on a global scale?\u003C\u002Fstrong> The questions could go on, but the answers are distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F1120_3_scenarios-01-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31281\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F1120_3_scenarios-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F1120_3_scenarios-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F1120_3_scenarios-01-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F1120_3_scenarios-01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Scenarios for 2021 – an infographic\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For all we know now, is that we can be glad to have more and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-evolution-of-covid-19-rapid-tests-paves-the-way-for-at-home-lab-tests\" target=\"_blank\">more testing\u003C\u002Fa> possibilities on the streets (quite literally). Cheaper and more reliable \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-evolution-of-covid-19-rapid-tests-paves-the-way-for-at-home-lab-tests\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">rapid tes\u003C\u002Fa>ts are available not only for medical but also for at-home use. Experts this year also suggest that it’s even more important to get the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mayoclinic.org\u002Fdiseases-conditions\u002Fflu\u002Fin-depth\u002Fflu-shots\u002Fart-20048000\" target=\"_blank\">annual flu shot\u003C\u002Fa>; and while we now know about the second wave, we can’t tell if there will be a third, just like the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fcompare-the-flu-pandemic-of-1918-and-covid-19-with-caution-the-past-is-not-a-prediction-138895\" target=\"_blank\">Spanish Flu\u003C\u002Fa> had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Predicting the unpredictable? Science is here to help\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Bearing in mind all of the above, it is challenging to give exact estimates – and whoever promises you to do so is wrong. Amidst this turmoil (with the U.S. in election mode, the U.K. struggling internally, Russia and China making a run for global leadership through the vaccine, Japan wanting everything cleared for the Olympics and so on,) all a scientist can do is to draw you the possibilities in line with the scientific consensus – and that’s exactly what I’ll do below. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But first, let’s see what the factors are that have the biggest influence on the scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The dark side rising: first, second, third wave\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We saw it at the beginning of the pandemic how good \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-unlikely-rise-of-science-and-digital-health-during-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\">leadership\u003C\u002Fa> led to good results in flattening the curve and, ultimately, saving lives. Currently, the White House has more coronavirus cases than New Zealand (as of the time of writing it’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fabcnews.go.com\u002FPolitics\u002F34-people-connected-white-house-previously-infected-coronavirus\u002Fstory?id=73487381\" target=\"_blank\">34\u003C\u002Fa> : 0). In case the chain of bad responses continues (particularly in countries like the U.S., U.K., Brazil and India), the subsequent\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwill-there-be-a-second-wave-of-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\"> waves \u003C\u002Fa>will be much greater than the first ones were, probably without a real break in between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"725\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FScreen-Shot-2020-10-14-at-12.32.51.png\" alt=\"Fear of covid-19\" class=\"wp-image-30663\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Image source: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newyorker.com\u002Fscience\u002Felements\u002Fwhat-will-cold-and-flu-season-mean-for-the-coronavirus-pandemic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The New Yorker\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Training the muscles of the immune system: the flu shot\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Every vaccine is like training our muscles, but in this case these muscles are called the immune system. It can’t be trained any other way: either you get really sick, or get a controlled, safe vaccine. We all know that fake news and conspiracy theories around vaccination are thriving. But hold on for a sec and consider this: who would you listen to if your TV was broken, the mechanic or your neighbour working in accounting? (No offence, ask her about taxation and she’ll give you a fine answer.) So in the case of vaccination, it’s obvious that we need to listen to proven science.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Based on far-reaching studies the most prestigious medical journals \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Ffullarticle\u002F2769836\" target=\"_blank\">communicate\u003C\u002Fa> that the flu shot this year is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ucsf.edu\u002Fnews\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F418406\u002Fwhy-covid-19-means-you-need-flu-shot-year\" target=\"_blank\">more important\u003C\u002Fa> than ever. Don’t get confused, it’s not that the flu shot gives you an extra layer of protection against COVID-19: vaccination reduces the intensity of the flu and prevents hospitalisation. In general, flu vaccines reduce infection from seasonal influenza by about 50%. And no, flu shots don’t cause you influenza. They can’t. But they can protect you from getting seriously ill; and if you don’t get sick from the seasonal flu, you won’t need to go to the hospital, pushing already overwhelmed medical capabilities to the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jennifer Garner & Dr. Fauci’s Candid COVID-19 Chat\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FPYPnomjJfyc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Vaccine: more like the annual flu shot?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We know by now that one can catch the coronavirus more than once. There’s thus a chance that the COVID vaccine won’t give lifetime protection. If that is the case, it means that a coronavirus vaccine is likely to become something closer to a flu shot, not like the jabs you got when you were a child that protected you for a lifetime. If so, the coronavirus shot will probably need to be repeated annually, and this is what the medical systems need to prepare for on a global scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Trust science, not politics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As mentioned above, scientists around the world are working round the clock to find a vaccine. Opinion poll analyst site \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffivethirtyeight.com\u002Ffeatures\u002Fhow-to-know-when-you-can-trust-a-covid-19-vaccine\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">538 asked\u003C\u002Fa> leading scientists \u003Cstrong>how we’d know if the vaccine will be safe to take\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The message back was simple: trust science, not politics. “\u003Cem>There’s lots of information that could (and should) be available now but isn’t\u003C\u002Fem>” – cardiologist and star scientist \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scripps.edu\u002Ffaculty\u002Ftopol\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Eric Topol\u003C\u002Fa> answered, reminding us that we are going to have to be a bit more patient and cautious with the news of the new vaccine – and that it should be fully transparent and available. But nobody reasonably expects a vaccine before the end of this year. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F160_tmf-01-768x432.png\" alt=\"How Life Will Change After COVID-19\" class=\"wp-image-27697\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Who’s going to get the vaccine first?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This is an issue that will probably receive massive media attention when the time comes. Without a global task force, countries individually (should) have their own guidelines on the vaccination order. In general it should be 1) frontline workers 2) the elderly 3) people with a weakened immune system 4) the rest of the population. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In an attempt to buy and thereby ensure fair and transparent vaccine distribution worldwide, at least 80 countries \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhealth-54027269\">signed up \u003C\u002Fa>to the global vaccine fund called COVAX. The U.S. is not among them. However, the CDC does have a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fvaccines\u002Fimz-managers\u002Fdownloads\u002FCOVID-19-Vaccination-Program-Interim_Playbook.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vaccination playbook\u003C\u002Fa> that seems pretty reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And gatekeeping is much needed indeed. While countries are trying to seem generous in their communiqués, on the other hand, many of them are vehemently trying to close out the rest of the world of the yet-unknown vaccine. Global NGO Oxfam published a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oxfam.org\u002Fen\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fsmall-group-rich-nations-have-bought-more-half-future-supply-leading-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\">report warning\u003C\u002Fa> that “\u003Cem>a small group of rich nations have bought up more than half the future supply of leading COVID-19 vaccine contenders\u003C\u002Fem>.” And it’s not only nations that are hungry – we’re likely to see news headlines about some rich people who got the coronavirus vaccine ahead of their line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FBBC-vaccine-768x616.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30641\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FBBC-vaccine-768x616.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FBBC-vaccine.png 1347w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: \u003Ca class=\"img\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fichef.bbci.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002F624\u002Fcpsprodpb\u002FF740\u002Fproduction\u002F_114269236_distribution_plan_global_vaccines_rollout_640-nc.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\u003C\u002Fa>BBC\u003C\u002Fa>\u002FWHO\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Looking at these factors above, here are the three scenarios I foresee for 2021:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>#1: A fairy tale too good to be true\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to this scenario, we’ll have a vaccine by the end of 2020. This extremely optimistic version is calculating with hundreds of millions of shots available, vaccinating the most important groups (healthcare workers\u002Fover-65ers\u002Fpeople with other medical conditions) within a matter of months – and we’ll have the second part of 2021 for ourselves to make up for 2020.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What you can expect:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>Extremely quick and safe vaccine development and delivery\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Gear up for a worry-free 2021 and get plane tickets ready for post-summer\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Start forgetting the masks by summer of ‘21\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Will have the Olympics with no worries in Japan\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>CHANCES ARE: 10%  \u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>Come on, you sure know it’s too good to be true!\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FIMG_20200414_174825_033-768x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30643\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FIMG_20200414_174825_033-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FIMG_20200414_174825_033-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FIMG_20200414_174825_033.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>(c) Casey Drake via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thenational.ae\u002Farts-culture\u002Fart\u002Fhappily-ever-after-artist-reimagines-fairy-tale-characters-living-in-the-time-of-covid-19-1.1012189\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The National\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>#2: Cautious optimism\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Upon reckoning with moderate optimism, several vaccines will go through the final phase during the first couple of months of 2021. Within a few more months, mass production begins and results in hundreds of millions of doses available for distribution. Then, led by the WHO, we will start vaccinating those who need to get it first. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The first round of global vaccination will take several months. If the vaccine needs repetition like the flu shot, by the time that it’s done, the next round of vaccination may begin. Everyone considers a successful vaccine trial to put an end to the pandemic, but it won’t. Even with this cautiously optimistic scenario, I expect 2021 to be pretty similar to 2020: masks, social distancing, handwashing and limited travel. This means that our everyday life and thinking will be interwoven with the epidemic as a whole in 2021.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What you can expect:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>Globalized travel and tourism will not return in 2021\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Many industries will continue to suffer\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Those suffering from chronic illness and cancer will continue to be at a disadvantage in hospitals because they won’t receive adequate care due to COVID-19\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Telemedicine will be the norm as it will be difficult to see a doctor in person\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-evolution-of-covid-19-rapid-tests-paves-the-way-for-at-home-lab-tests\">Home lab tests\u003C\u002Fa> are coming\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Prepare for more e-sports and relatively strict limits on live sports and cultural events\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>LIKELIHOOD: 60%  \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>This means not going to the cinemas either – but we’re used to this by now, aren’t we?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"578\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FScreen-Shot-2020-10-13-at-22.45.44.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30645\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>(c) Chris Ware: “Last Days” for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newyorker.com\u002Fculture\u002Fcover-story\u002Fcover-story-2020-09-21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The New Yorker\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>#3 The pessimistic version\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I am going to give a gloomy take on 2021 as well, simply because this can not be ruled out entirely. According to this model, there will be reliably safe vaccines (tested definitely on more than those 70 people \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fworld-europe-54036221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">as in Russia\u003C\u002Fa>) by mid-2021. It’ll take many months to vaccinate the ones in need; vaccination of the wider population is yet impossible due to distribution and delivery issues. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What you can expect:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>Expect multiple waves of the virus throughout 2021\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Wearing masks will remain compulsory across the globe for years to come\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Sometime around 2022-23, we’ll reach the level of The New Normal\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Live cultural and sports events are off for years: prepare for more online MET streams and another Disneyland NBA finals\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>PROBABILITY: 30%  \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>We must work hard to avoid this!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002FF828BB5A-8C17-45E5-BFAD-F5DEF53BB4D6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30647\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Image: Miroslava Chrienova on Pixabay\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Every single day that we follow the rules, we are moving towards safety and reason that is depicted in the second scenario. Given the current situation and global developments, that one is a forecast that I could live with. But we as individuals are all needed for this to happen.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Voting responsible leaders is step number one. In order to decode who’s responsible and who’s acting on false bases might take time. But believe me, it’s worth it. Choose politicians you believe can handle such an unprecedented crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Don’t share false news and don’t accept the half-truths that seem too comfortable: it’s probably because they are indeed untrue. Listen to professionals and scientists, whose words might not be so compelling but who take decisions based on their knowledge and experience. And don’t let the media (or anyone) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fcoronavirus-herd-immunity-great-barrington-declaration-scientists-signatures-fake-names-b912778.html\">fool you \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fcoronavirus-herd-immunity-great-barrington-declaration-scientists-signatures-fake-names-b912778.html\" target=\"_blank\">into\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fcoronavirus-herd-immunity-great-barrington-declaration-scientists-signatures-fake-names-b912778.html\"> \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fcoronavirus-herd-immunity-great-barrington-declaration-scientists-signatures-fake-names-b912778.html\" target=\"_blank\">hoaxes\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fcoronavirus-herd-immunity-great-barrington-declaration-scientists-signatures-fake-names-b912778.html\">.\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>It’s going to be tough. But it’ll definitely teach us things about ourselves, our family, the people and the societies around us that we didn’t know existed until now. Try to take it as a good thing.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh5>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join the conversation\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fembed\u002Ffeed\u002Fupdate\u002Furn:li:ugcPost:6727104525750075392\" height=\"791\" width=\"504\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" title=\"Embedded post\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n",{"rendered":209,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Nearing the end of 2020, we are globally far from seeing the end of the pandemic that ruled (and ruined) 2020. Every day we see […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",30541,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[213,31,34,36,214],6479,515,[216,45,217,218,219,220,221,222,223,224,225,226,227],3083,6263,6265,717,6267,6269,884,6271,6273,4247,6081,382,[50,51,52,229],953,[],[232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239],3095,3157,3167,3611,4101,4103,5243,1593,[241,14,74,75,76,77,78,242,79,82,84,243,244,92,245,246,247,248,249,250,251,252,253,254,255,96,97,98,256],"post-30583","category-covid-19","category-science-fiction","tag-covid","tag-forecast","tag-hoax","tag-fake-news","tag-flu","tag-oxfam","tag-vaccination","tag-covax","tag-olympics","tag-pandemic","tag-vaccine","tag-science","project_category-researchers",{"id":210,"alt_text":258,"caption":259,"description":260,"media_type":102,"media_details":261,"post":282,"source_url":283},"What can we expect from 2021?","We depicted 3 scenarios of how life will be in 2021.","Every single day that we have followed the rules, we are moving towards safety and reason.",{"width":262,"height":263,"file":264,"sizes":265,"image_meta":281},1920,1080,"2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01.png",{"medium":266,"large":269,"thumbnail":272,"medium_large":275,"1536x1536":276},{"file":267,"width":110,"height":111,"mime-type":112,"source_url":268},"212_tmf-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01-370x208.png",{"file":270,"width":116,"height":117,"mime-type":112,"source_url":271},"212_tmf-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01-768x432.png",{"file":273,"width":121,"height":121,"mime-type":112,"source_url":274},"212_tmf-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01-150x150.png",{"file":270,"width":116,"height":117,"mime-type":112,"source_url":271},{"file":277,"width":278,"height":279,"mime-type":112,"source_url":280},"212_tmf-01-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":125,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":125,"copyright":27,"focal_length":125,"iso":125,"shutter_speed":125,"title":27,"orientation":125},30531,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F212_tmf-01.png",{"cta_type":129,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":285,"related_posts_footer":287,"related_posts":20},[135,286],27927,[288,289,290],29929,27367,27467,{"yoast_wpseo_title":292,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":293,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":203},"What Can We Expect From 2021: The COVID Perspective - The Medical Futurist","We depicted 3 scenarios of what might come in 2021. And every single day that we have followed the rules, we are moving towards safety and reason.",{"self":295,"collection":300,"about":302,"author":304,"replies":306,"version-history":309,"predecessor-version":313,"wp:featuredmedia":317,"wp:attachment":320,"wp:term":323,"curies":334},[296],{"href":297,"targetHints":298},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F30583",{"allow":299},[147],[301],{"href":150},[303],{"href":153},[305],{"embeddable":26,"href":156},[307],{"embeddable":26,"href":308},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=30583",[310],{"count":311,"href":312},24,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F30583\u002Frevisions",[314],{"id":315,"href":316},31283,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F30583\u002Frevisions\u002F31283",[318],{"embeddable":26,"href":319},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F30541",[321],{"href":322},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=30583",[324,326,328,330,332],{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":325},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=30583",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":327},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=30583",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":329},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=30583",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":331},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=30583",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":333},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=30583",[335],{"name":192,"href":193,"templated":26},[],1789237972568]