Specialists speak about the lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic leaves after almost two years and the challenges to combat it in 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 30,000 deaths in Ecuador from March 2020 to December 2021. In its wake, the coronavirus left a trail of pain among the families of the deceased.

At the national level and during the complex months, full hospitals, a shortage of medicines, a lack of leadership and a scarce presence of authorities to face the attacks of the virus were evident. In 2021, although the pictures of 2020 were not observed, there were spikes in infections and, almost at the end, the appearance of the omicron variant establishes new risks.

After almost two years of the presence of COVID-19 in Ecuador, three specialists in different areas carry out an analysis of the lessons it has left. They also warn about the challenges that the State and citizens must face to combat the virus in 2022 and the new strains that could appear in the future.

They agree that vaccination is one of the most effective measures to counteract the onslaught of COVID-19.

Daniel Simancas, epidemiologist

Daniel Simancas is the director of research at the UTE University. He explained that the pandemic made it clear that the national health system is fragmented, weak and vulnerable.

“That is why we are faced with being on a waiting list (to receive external help), the impossibility of generating a rapid response as the WHO (World Health Organization) says, the impossibility of having a permanent committee of experts to assist decision-making with scientific evidence, ”said Simancas.

He indicated that with regard to medical professionals, they should be provided with job stability with the delivery of appointments.

“We are also seeing that there is an absence of leaders in public health, we have very few epidemiologists, who are the ones who should really lead the pandemic, we have very few programs, the professional of epidemiology and public health is not considered a professional of the health, is considered an administrative professional, there are not enough items for us to have leaders in public health, young people who are being trained to face the pandemic from each locality, from each EOC, according to its indicators, which they know how to interpret ”, explained Simancas.

The specialist indicated that one of the challenges facing the country is to rethink the structure of the health system, carry out training and information plans for the early detection of diseases.

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“Not be rejoicing because thousands of more operations have been done, or that thousands of more attentions have been made. Each care that goes to the hospital, with a very sick person, would be a failure for the public health system because it failed to detect in time, control its patient, “said Simancas.

He added that one must also bet on technology, science and strengthen human talent. “Science does not see politics, it does not see religion but rather tries to adequately direct decision-making. That does not happen here, here a representative changes, a political appointment, the leaders are not visualized. There should be a health career that the boys are training from small sectional directorates, national program directorates, then passing through undersecretariats, vice ministries, so that they have not political figures but public health, “he said.

Alberto Campodónico, intensive care physician

Alberto Campodónico, an intensivist doctor, highlighted the work of the professionals having faced the coronavirus with little information in the first weeks. He described COVID-19 as a “silent enemy” and that we continue to learn as we go.

“At the beginning, in 2020, when we had no idea of ​​the extent of the virus, there was a lot of uncertainty. We began to greatly value the issue of scientists who began to investigate and produce medication in the sense of controlling the viral load, of being able to give certain treatments for the information caused by the virus and finally, that these laboratories produced the vaccines in a period of time short and quite appropriate ”, explained Campodónico.

He indicated that citizens also adapted to the context of the pandemic, such as carrying out their work and activities electronically, improving their health practices and constantly consulting with doctors in the face of various pathologies.

He explained that one of the challenges for 2022 is to immunize the largest number of citizens against the coronavirus with the third dose.

“Without a doubt, the challenge is to reduce the incidence of coronavirus at a general and hospital level, so that the desired herd immunity is reached and the third dose is finished in a shorter time, from two to four months, because in other countries it is already a fourth dose is being placed, as it is considered that this third dose is useful for new strains but their immunity falls to avoid contagion for ten to twelve weeks, ”said the specialist.

Omicron variant and requirement of vaccination certificate generate more movement in anti-COVID-19 inoculation points

Campodónico explained that with a high number of vaccinated citizens it is possible to think of a real economic reactivation at the national level.

“I believe that we must follow the guidelines regarding vaccination until this virus begins to weaken and become more endemic,” said Campodónico.

Carlos Oporto, data analyst

For Carlos Oporto, COVID-19 data analyst, the country must be better prepared for various emergencies that arise, from diseases to natural disasters.

“I think it would be important to review studies, data, do a lot of research on anyone, be it a pandemic, virus, a tsunami, whatever crisis there is. You have to review the scientific part of the data and the evidence, that part is important and it was not done in March 2020. I think it is more important to rely more on evidence than on political decisions, ”said Oporto.

He added that another aspect in which the authorities need to improve is the delivery of open data on the figures and incidents of the virus to the public. For example, he said, the first weeks in which the virus was discussed in the national territory, the lack of data led to uncertainty among the population and little reaction from the authorities.

“That part is still a problem, it has not been fixed at the moment and I think the fight is every day to have open data. To make decisions, if we don’t have data, how can a COE make decisions? How does an administrator make decisions without having data? That is fundamental ”, said Oporto.

He stressed that the authorities should work on prevention plans and structures for these types of emergencies.

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“The case of variants occurring or that vaccination may decrease effectiveness and the third dose is needed was not foreseen, those parts I think there was no forecast and that is what we are seeing more or less at the moment. We have no idea how many cases in Guayaquil, we are seeing an exponential increase, there is definitely insufficient evidence, I heard someone from the MSP say that there are 18,000 tests for Guayaquil, that is nothing for a city of millions of inhabitants, I see that burials are going up so there is definitely no such access to information, perhaps at the beginning of 2022 we will find out what is happening, “said the data analyst.

Porto said the biggest challenge for 2022 is to avoid another collapse in the health system, maintaining a balance in managing the pandemic.

“Hospitalizations and deaths will increase, I already believe that at this time there is no way to avoid it, but it is not such a high wave, we are on time for that, I think that is the biggest challenge, to avoid confinement, so Unless these hospitalizations are divided into about 2 or 3 months and they do not feel so much, “said Oporto. (I)