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The Big Story

Five years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic - what have we learned?

Mar 11, 2025
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an Infectious Disease Specialist renowned for his insightful commentary during the pandemic, shares his reflections five years after the COVID-19 crisis began. He discusses the early mismanagement of responses, the evolving public trust in health authorities, and the emotional toll on healthcare workers. The conversation highlights both the tragic losses and the advancements in vaccine technology, emphasizing the lessons learned about health equity and public health literacy in the wake of such a transformative global event.
25:15

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Experts recognized COVID-19's severity early on, as warnings in late 2019 prompted critical discussions about potential global spread.
  • The pandemic eroded public trust in health authorities, emphasizing the need for transparency and better communication in future health crises.

Deep dives

Recognition of Early Seriousness

Many experts recognized the severity of COVID-19 earlier than the general public. An infectious diseases specialist detailed how a report from ProMed Mail raised red flags on December 30, 2019, indicating a pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan, China. This prompted immediate discussions among colleagues about the potential for a significant outbreak, including analyzing travel patterns suggesting global spread. The early acknowledgment led to the publication of one of the first peer-reviewed papers on the topic, underlining how some health professionals were acutely aware of the looming crisis before it escalated.

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