2 min read/Published On: February 17, 2021/323 words/

What we have learned about COVID-19 over the last 12 months

Much has been written over the past year about the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our adult social care sector in the UK. What many have also asked is how we might all learn from the errors that were made and move forward with the new knowledge that we have gained, in particular our new respect for viruses.

No-one knows exactly how an infection with a common virus can cause such mild symptoms (or none at all) in some people, yet such devastating and debilitating symptoms in others. Even the most common, easily recognisable viruses can result in uncommon symptoms and unpredictable outcomes. This is what has driven the fear of COVID-19 over the past year in the UK; infection anxiety has been embedded in most people’s subconscious, whether we like it or not!

Humans living everywhere have found themselves with no protective immunological memory (i.e. immune cells and antibodies) to mount an effective counterattack once they are exposed to it. It has become apparent that infected people who manifest little or no symptoms are just as contagious to others, as those destined for the ICU.

However, we have also proven that we have not been totally helpless in the fight against COVID-19. In fact, we have clearly become better at understanding public health and hygiene over the past 12 months by undertaking:

Regular and thorough handwashing
Social distancing
Greeting each other with elbow bumps, rather than hugs

The above actions, plus regular lockdowns in the general population, has seen the incidence of colds and flu reduce by 90% across England, according to PHE statistics.

As the anniversary of the first lockdown fast approaches, we have this week released our latest version of the COVID-19 Essentials course. Released last March, this module went global and it has now been updated with regard to: