EFTHYMIOS THANASIAS
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Health and safety in the COVID-19 era
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequent effects on all levels of political, economic, social and cultural life, create a framework of crisis, from which modern societies will hardly escape. What differentiates the ongoing pandemic from others of the past of human history is that it takes place within an unprecedented interdependence of people, countries, and entire continents.
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is so widespread and so significant in impact that it forces us to rethink our relationship with the natural environment, the way we deal with climate change, our economic growth models and the culture that we have developed both individually and as a society in terms of prevention and health and safety and the SARS-CoV-2 crisis is likely to be a turning point in the transition of modern societies to a new paradigm.
In addition, the modern pandemic highlighted the weaknesses of Public Health structures around the world and changed the traditional working model with the introduction of the modern version of teleworking. As the ultimate mission of Occupational Medicine is to protect the health and safety of workers, it is more urgent than ever to ensure health in the new fluid and volatile environment that is taking shape.