HealthLinks Charleston July/August 2021

56 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com By Brian Sherman A SILVER LINING WHAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS LEARNED FROM COVID-19 In the past year-and-a-half, COVID-19 has affected virtually ev - ery aspect of American life. More than 33 million peple contract- ed the virus and nearly 600,000 died. The U.S. economy took a major hit, with unemployment remaining a major problem, untold numbers of businesses either gone or struggling to remain viable and entire industries contemplating the possibility of never fully recovering from the devastation wrought by the deadly pandemic. There is, however, a silver lining to the ominous cloud that has threatened the United States and just about every other country since early 2020. Despite the myriad medically-relat- ed and economic issues that made life both dangerous and miserable, the world probably will emerge from the pandemic healthier, wiser and better prepared to battle similar issues in the future.

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