We are living in strange, uncertain and worrying times. The pandemic of COVID-19, with the measures put in place both in the UK and globally to attempt to slow its spread, have changed our lives: from the cancellation of BSAVA Congress to the elderly and those with certain disease conditions being asked to stay at home for possibly 12 weeks or even longer. We are all being asked to minimise physical contact and physical proximity to others. Some jobs can be carried out from home, but others require close physical contact — the physical contact that we are being asked to avoid.
With our veterinary education, including teaching on epidemiology and disease control, we have a better understanding than most of the potential numbers involved if the pandemic were to be allowed to continue unchecked. It is evident that while many people are affected relatively mildly or develop unpleasant but moderate symptoms, some people develop severe and life-threatening disease, requiring intensive care and respiratory support. If numbers of infected increase and the number requiring such support exceeds the support available, then many severely affected people will die. The present lockdown is necessary to enable the severely affected to be treated, while avoiding overwhelming medical services and healthcare workers. However, it is not without a price. Many people are finding they no longer have a job, either being furloughed for the present or being made redundant. Businesses from freelance photographers to airlines, and including veterinary practices, are struggling to survive.
Veterinary surgeons are navigating a difficult line between providing emergency and essential care to their patients on the one hand, while on the other hand avoiding, as much as possible, close interactions with other people — colleagues as well as owners — that risk spreading the coronavirus. The announcement that veterinary practices are explicitly exempted from closure is welcome. However, social distancing (I prefer the phrase physical distancing) measures still need to be applied and face-to-face contacts with clients minimised. The RCVS has developed guidelines including FAQs (https://bit.ly/RCVS_Covid-19FAQ), while the BSAVA has produced a downloadable, printable triage chart (https://www.bsava.com/TriageTool) to assist vets in deciding whether a particular animal needs urgent care, potentially needs such care, can be dealt with via teleconsultation, or whether the client can be advised that consultations are not presently being provided for such cases, but the client will be informed when this changes, and in the meantime should contact the surgery again if their pet's condition changes.
During these difficult times, it is important to be kind. Physical distancing may be necessary, but social interaction is probably more important than ever. Reach out to your family, friends and colleagues by telephone, email, social media or any other method where physical contact is not presently possible, and be kind to one another. Smile and call a greeting while keeping a safe physical distance from people you pass on the street. Check that your older or more vulnerable neighbours are managing to get food and other essentials, and offer to help if that is needed.
And, whether still working or not, be kind to yourselves also. Go out for your daily run, walk or cycle. Do exercises at home, or your daily yoga practice (or both). Meditate. Make time for whatever helps you, whether that is reading, knitting, doing crossword puzzles or playing an online game. Keep well.