Five years ago, COVID-19 emerged, turning our world upside down and creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The virus quickly spread, and its impact was felt across the globe. In York Region, like many other places, the early months were marked by a sense of panic and confusion as the health system was stretched to its limits.
While COVID-19 remains a presence today, causing occasional outbreaks and illness—such as the recent one declared by Mackenzie Health Richmond Hill Hospital on March 16 in its C4 Medicine Aqua unit—the virus now presents a much different challenge than it did in the spring of 2020.
As we reflect on the past five years, a pressing question remains: Are we better equipped now to handle the next pandemic?
In the early days of the pandemic, the focus was primarily on identifying individuals with risk factors, especially those who had traveled internationally. At Mackenzie Health, with no confirmed cases yet, the hospital implemented a system in which electronic medical records could “flag” patients exhibiting symptoms who had also recently traveled. These patients were then sent to isolation rooms, explained Dr. Danny Chen, the hospital’s physician lead for Infection Prevention and Control.
However, after the March break of 2020, the situation changed dramatically, marking a rapid shift in the trajectory of the pandemic. The lessons learned since then have shaped our approach to managing the virus and preparing for future public health challenges.
