Many European countries are making their first steps on the way to restart economic and social activities, balancing their goals to minimise the impact on citizens’ health and to keep capacities of healthcare systems under control. Despite the timing, detailed plans differ between countries depending on the degree of being affected and myriad other factors – though there is a general framework within EU. The ‘Joint European roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures’ has a lot in common with other regions’ plans and strategies.
Exit strategy and “reopening economies” phase
The most critical strategic points are the triggers, which allow countries to move from the first phase of slowing the COVID-19 spread to the second phase of reopening economies, and then to the third phase of lifting all restrictions. Safe vaccine or treatments are the main triggers for the third phase, so the time frame between the second and third phases may last months.
Therefore, it is necessary to rethink and rebuild our everyday life, considering the constant presence of COVID-19. Some of the social distancing measures will need to be in place on a long-term basis, especially for senior adults, people with chronic conditions and other populations at heightened risk from COVID-19. And adopting telehealth, as a key technology for safe and efficient communication, should be a part of this new routine.
During the first phase of slowing COVID-19 spread many healthcare organisations experienced rapid and extremely radical transformation from in-person care to telehealth. They had to embrace and expedite the adoption process, which normally takes months of project planning, pilots, implementing and training. The majority of organisations worked on temporary solutions, while some utlised telephone consultations, Facetime, and Skype etc.
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Source: MobiHealth News