Understanding the Impact of COVID-19: Now and for the Future

摘要

As I write this series introduction, our future with COVID-19 remains uncertain. Overall in the United States new cases had been declining, although rates in most states currently remain higher than during the initial surge of the pandemic in the first 6 months of 2020.1 In addition, some states are seeing increasing numbers of cases caused by variant and more virulent strains2 and all regions of the world, other than Africa, are experiencing concerning new increases in cases.3,4 Even when containment of the virus is achieved through herd immunity, it is likely that COVID-19 will not be completely eliminated, remaining endemic.5 And it is clear that some people who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 will suffer from long-term sequelae. It therefore behooves us and those we care for to learn as much about this disease as we can to understand the disease trajectory and its effects on organ systems, convey innovative lessons learned in caring for those affected, and acknowledge and address the toll this pandemic has taken on frontline health care workers. This symposium series comprises content to help us do all that.