A memory that pursues us
Five years have passed since the world has been shaken by pandemic. As time progresses, the distance from those critical moments becomes increasing, but their imprints still endure in our collective memory. In this article, we propose to reflect on some figures that illustrate the magnitude of the initial impact and the efforts that were made to deal with it.
The zero zone: matched
Igualada became the focus of the health crisis, revealing the vulnerability of the health system. In the most critical moments, a hospital in the area began to receive a serious Covid patient every four minutes, a ritornell that seemed to come out of a horror movie rather than a reality. The image of that day, with full bars and the apparent normality, contrasts with the anguish that was lived in hospitals.
The dilemma of the decision
In those days, decisions about confinement were a passionate debate. Johns Hopkins University warned that, without drastic measures, the number of deaths could reach frightening figures. In the face of this reality, society was forced to choose between saving lives or preserving the economy, a dilemma that still resonates today.
Forgotten learning
Despite the lessons we should have learned, the current landscape reveals that the deficiencies in governance and the lack of preparation persist. Initiatives such as Erto helped to mitigate the immediate effects, but in the long term, the same policies that caused so many losses have been awarded at the polls. We have to ask ourselves if we really improved as a society.
Revealed inequalities
The pandemic split social inequalities raw. Statistics show that the most disadvantaged neighborhoods suffered a disproportionate impact, with Covid cases tripled by those in the most favored areas. This leads us to think about how the physical environment and working conditions influence public health.
An unsustainable gap
The differences in life expectancy between neighborhoods such as Pedralbes and Trinitat Vella, which range to 11 years, are a clear example of how economic and social inequalities have been reflected in the effects of pandemic. The ability to isolation and housing conditions have determined who has been able to better deal with the crisis.
Looking to the future
In short, pandemic has been a mirror that has shown our strengths and weaknesses. Although we have overcome moments of great adversity, it is essential that we do not forget the lessons learned to build a more resilient and equitable healthcare system. The question we have left is: Are we ready to face future challenges with the acquired wisdom?
