Novelty beyond the novel coronavirus

Abstract

Around three years have passed since the first case of novel coronavirus was detected in China. A few weeks later the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic. The creation and dissemination of a vaccine has since brought a slow return to normality. There is no doubt that the pandemic changed certain aspects of our lives. For weeks on end social encounters were curtailed while our plans for trips abroad were shelved or modified. Our personal activities were adapted to an online dimension with all the benefits and challenges this brings with it. Our professional life also changed. Many of us have had to restructure their practice and reorganise patient encounters. Dealing with respiratory cases changed drastically and new ways of practicing medicine, such as telemedicine, were embraced. General practitioner (GP) trainees saw their training programme suspended temporarily, then change with their summative assessment modified in ways unthinkable a few months back. Beyond online lectures, meeting colleagues in a venue for a continuing professional development evening now has competing alternatives. [excerpt]