Why Collaboration Is Key During COVID

 

Some of the first things we are taught as children are the concepts of cooperation and sharing. There are solid reasons for this and these lessons really need to carry on throughout our lives if we want a functioning and successful society.

Nowhere does this become more evident than in crises.

We are currently facing an epidemic few people living can say they’ve experienced, a (so-called) plague that hasn’t been seen since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Millions are suffering and our healthcare systems are suddenly expected to move mountains and work miracles.

This is when cooperation becomes imperative. Our brightest minds and greatest supporters need to work together to ensure the right breakthroughs are made and are made on time.

Let’s look at the partnerships being made in our COVID world.

Top on so many minds right now is the vital need for treatment or a vaccine. This is the weapon and asset we need to take control of the crisis and return our world to a secure state.

According to data from the World Health Organization as of the end of May over 124 potential treatments are being explored.

Not surprisingly these methods cover a wide range of concepts, running the gamut from repurposing to the creation and harnessing of new technologies.

This search for treatment is resulting in amazing partnerships and collaborations and the most important partnerships are likely the ones being made between various governments and major corporations. The biggest one may be the partnership(s) between the U.S. Government and major pharmaceutical companies. Dubbed Operation Warp Speed the initiative aims to speed up the process in order to get treatment to Americans faster.

Canada also has a strong presence in the race, partnering up with Coronavirus Global Response in order to best develop treatment.  As well the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is working with interested parties to help amass vital information on the virus and its effects.

These collaborations should be of great interest to any citizens of these countries as our access to eventual treatment will depend on how we work together.

Of course it’s not just countries and governments seeking answers. HealthTech and pharmaceutical companies have all geared up and are now exploring partnerships that will provide them with the knowledge, influence and power they need to develop and launch successful treatments and therapies for COVID-19.

Look at the partnerships Merck has been making in order to best hunt out the COVID-19 solution. The company is serving as the posterchild of the different routes you can take.

First it acquired Themis Bioscience, using this takeover to catapult itself into the COVID race by way of Themis’ vector platform. With this technological advantage the company will be able to better run its trials.

Merck also partnered up with IAVI, a non-profit seeking out solutions to global health crises. This partnership will help increase Merck’s knowledge and extend its reach as it continues to explore treatments.

It shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that major players in the business world are also aiming to find solutions and are reaching out to develop partnerships.

Apple and Google teamed up to develop a plan, using Bluetooth technology to launch a contract tracing platform.

Given the infectious nature of COVID-19, the radically different ranges of reactions people have and the incredible importance but difficulty of social distancing we need the ability to see where COVID is going and who is in danger.

Recently launched in Switzerland the SwissCovid app is being used by a high-risk control group (army, hospital workers and civil servants) before wide release is issued. The app uses key codes to register contacts make in everyday life and then sends out an alert to the key codes if the owner contracts COVID-19.

Although this may raise concerns regarding anonymity the system is set up to protect the identification of those using the app.

I am interested to see what solutions other powerhouse teams bring forth.

When fighting a pandemic there is a real strength in numbers. Yes, social distancing currently limits the direct contact groups can have but this doesn’t take collaboration out of the equation.

Team efforts are what are going to get us through this. Humanity has shown the amazing things we can do when we combine our ingenuity and energy and we will need all of this to overtake this modern plague.