COVID-19: What have we learned?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NO-FEAR project focused on using the vast network of the project, for real time exchange of knowledge, in a new and rapidly evolving situation. Lessons observed from a series of twenty webinars around different COVID-19 related topics, that took place during the first two years of the pandemic were processed, analyzed and discussed as part of the NO-FEAR project activity. The findings of the process emphasized the importance of the psychosocial and the human factor in the healthcare systems during the pandemic and the significant role personal protective equipment stockpile management had on the activity of the healthcare organizations and personnel. The equipment and supply availability and capacity were also an issue considered of high importance. Better incorporating healthcare into crisis management structures was another topic. Finally, strong and good knowledge sharing and links between the healthcare organizations are found to be a useful way for learning from others’ experience and exchanging ideas and practices.