The Impact of COVID-19 on Public Health

The year 2020 saw the world coming to a halt due to the outbreak of a novel virus and disrupted human lives globally. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled people to rethink their priorities and change their course of life. It created havoc in the healthcare sector and upended its functioning. The medical industry struggled hard to cater to an influx of patients battling a new virus that constantly evolved. Although scientists have discovered vaccines and many countries strictly follow SOPs, standard operating procedures, the COVID still lingers in the air. It is continually changing the situation and affecting people’s life.

Coronavirus disrupted many industries but had a substantial impact on the healthcare sector. It forced the healthcare system to change its functioning and affected non-COVID-19 related treatments. People had to limit their visits to healthcare facility centers and catered to their mild health issues through calls or emails. The pandemic and enforced lockdown impacted many people’s psychological health. There was a surge in people reporting mental health problems. The novel virus is still in the air. It presents unprecedented challenges to public health. People sometimes show negligence in following SOPs, and some are not willing to take vaccines.

Public Health

Public health refers to all practices of preventing diseases and improving the health of people and their communities. For example, the department promotes a healthy lifestyle by raising awareness of the consequences of following an unhealthy diet and not being physically active. Public health is getting recognition, and today, an increasing number of people show interest in it.

E-education is booming, and a vast majority prefer it due to its numerous benefits. People can enroll in a masters in public health online and earn skills and insight into the field. Public health workers work to avert health problems or prevent recurring health issues through recommended policies, conducting researches, and implementing educational programs. They also strive to reduce health disparities and promote healthcare equity and accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic has a strong effect on public health as workers are dealing with a still-evolving virus.

Impact of COVID-19 on Public Health

1. Increase in Demand for Healthcare Workers

The sudden rise in COVID-19 cases put a strain on public health, and it suffered from the shortage of healthcare workers. Medical professionals were not ready to battle this disease and struggled to deal with a rising number of cases. It raised the demand for healthcare workers as many medical facility centers felt understaffed to cater to incoming patients. Several healthcare workers put in long hours and have to do double shifts. Many hospitals and clinics now hire short-term workers and encourage people to volunteer.

2. Alarming Rise in Mental Health Problems

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to an alarming increase in people suffering from mental health issues. Several healthcare workers are dealing with psychological problems as they are experiencing a high level of stress. In addition, due to the workload, many healthcare workers cannot take care of their physical health, impacting their psychological well-being.

Moreover, uncertainty about the disease and the rising number of cases has filled healthcare workers with anxiety. They witness an overwhelming number of people succumbing to the virus, and it causes many psychological problems. Besides, healthcare workers are the ones most exposed to the virus as they deal with COVID-19 patients.

3. Derailing of Non-COVID-19 Related Treatments

The world was already witnessing an alarming increase in medical problems, and the novel virus further burdened it. Due to the evolving situation of COVID-19 and its constantly increasing cases, public health focus shifted towards it, and that derailed treatment of other diseases. People feared contracting the virus, and they limited their social interaction and avoided visiting healthcare facility centers even in times of need. While medical workers advised patients to stay homebound and deal with minor health problems, several people felt paranoid and did not consult doctors in emergencies. As a result, their health deteriorated, putting a further burden on public health.

 4. Integration of Advanced Technology

The COVID-19 epidemic led governments to administer lockdown for an extended period. People turned to digital tools to carry on with their regular activities. Many medical organizations did the same and incorporated the latest technology to reach doctors and consult them for their issues. The department of public health also uses advanced technical devices and technology to conduct research, raise awareness of different health matters and organize webinars to educate people. While technology was already a significant aspect of public health, COVID-19 compelled them to devise other ways of resuming their activities through technology. It helped them limit physical contact and maintain social distance while fulfilling their duties.

Conclusion

Public health departments are still coping with the spread of the novel virus. They changed their functioning dynamics to handle an increasing number of coronavirus patients. They brought forward different techniques to deal with the health crisis while limiting physical contact. More than a year and a half has passed since the world is battling this disease, but the virus is still looming and affecting public health. Aside from affecting physical health, COVID-19 has hugely impacted the psychological health of people. Experts say that the COVID-19 pandemic will leave a lasting mark and change many regular practices.