VN July 2020

Vetnuus | Julie 2020 6 COVID-19. For the past three, going four months it has been the central topic of many discussions. Each of us was involved in such a discussions every day, I am sure. Often unwillingly, unwantedly, catching ourselves going back to the topic time after time. Discussions often are less about the virus, and more about the rules and regulations that affect our everyday life. In this issue of VetNews, COVID is mentioned by quite a few of our contributors and in a number of the articles. It will probably be like this for some time to come. We will only know whether the pandemic warranted all the attention when it finally blows over. It is easy to forget the positives during these times. The many blessings we still receive every day, starting with sunrise every morning. The fact that we have technology in our hands, bringing us pictures of loved ones who we cannot visit, allowing us to chat online. Even a simple cell phone that allows us to talk to others. Social media that allows us to share. Webinars recorded on the presenter’s cell phone. Musicians sharing their music. Talk shows continuing on TV, with guests talking from home. The many channels on TV that allow us to still visit far-away places in some way. Being able to call someone to take you to a hospital when needed. Sit back and think how bad the 1918 flu pandemic must have been – with people dying at home and not being discovered for days… Maybe the pandemic will accelerate the move away from traditional lecture halls in the university setting, the move to more self-learning, more online presentations (that can be accessed at any time) and more online collaborative sessions? Yes, we cannot do away with hands-on teaching where practical skills are involved, but the days of a lecturer standing in front of a class reading from his notes surely are over? And will the pandemic lead to telemedicine gaining more ground in veterinary science? Perhaps we now have a better understanding for parents who have children living on the other side of the world? Or for the elderly who live in isolation every day, with few or even no visitors, like the old man in Neil Diamond’s song Morningside? Perhaps we realise that we also are guilty by not setting aside time to be with our loved ones – even those who live under the same roof as us? Time to do some introspection and to change the way we live our lives. There always is a better way to do something – we just need to find it! v Regards, From the Editor Reflections from a DamWall Paul van Dam