The COVID-19 Impact

The outbreak of Covid-19 has changed the way we work, socialise and communicate with people around us. The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us how vulnerable we all are, how much we depend on each other, on the bravery of our carers, nurses, doctors, call centre employees, delivery drivers, software developers, teachers and support staff. The devastating effects on the eldest and BAME people in our communities has intensified calls about a more equitable public health strategy. Lessons will be learnt from this multidimensional crisis, but we will never forget the shared pain we experienced.

The windows in my neighbourhood were filled with posters of thankfulness; neighbours formed a music band that played songs to honour our NHS workers. A sense of solidarity was born out of the desperation of lockdown. Whatever the future holds, I expect us to carry some of that camaraderie into the post-Covid-19 era. 

For those working with technology, we witnessed more transformation in the 2 months following the pandemic than the previous 5-10 years. Virtual hospital wards were set up; telehealth consultations took place at a rate never seen before. Millions of children connected to their first remote learning session and found creative ways to learn and stay in touch with their educators and their friends. It has been challenging at times, but we have adapted as we have always done as humans.

We discovered we can hold effective remote meetings without travelling for days and polluting the environment. Those who were unable to attend in person have now found a place at the table and their voice is heard. We still have plenty to achieve and I am optimistic that this pandemic will force us to do so faster, more effectively and democratically. Every disaster presents us with an opportunity to reconnect with what matters the most, to change seemingly necessary evils, to protect people at risk, to put lives before numbers. When the human cost is so heavy and our worst fears come true, we are left with no choice but to dedicate our individual skills to serving one another.

Thomas Balkizas, Founder, Alpha Tech Capital, EMEA Healthcare and Life Sciences Lead, Amazon Web Services