What is ‘normal’?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a societal shock across the UK (Daly et al, 2020), as well as globally (World Health Organization, 2020). While there have been many losses-such as lost lives, livelihoods and personal liberty; poor healthcare for non-COVID patients; and increased mental health vulnerability-there have also been some gains, such a national collective response, which included unprecedented levels of volunteering and then vaccination, revaluing of public service and essential workers, and the recognition of scientific endeavour with the vaccine development and identification of evidence-based treatments. However, unlike most conflicts, the pandemic will not have a definite end; rather, with time, the virus will be ‘managed’ as part of life, like seasonal influenza is managed. Thus, it is likely that COVID-19 will be treated as a notifiable disease until the illness becomes less severe or treatments become so effective that it no longer presents a serious threat to health.