COVID‐19: Moving beyond the pandemic

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is the cause of COVID‐19. As of April 11th, 2020, there were almost 2 million cases of COVID‐19 internationally and over 100,000 deaths (John Hopkins University, 2020). There has been significant effort to increase hospital and healthcare capacity to reduce the number of fatalities associated with this global pandemic (Choi & Logsdon 2020).


| WHAT ARE THE P OTENTIAL LONG -TERM CON S EQUEN CE S OF COVID -19?
Learning from different disciplines suggests the long-term sequalae of severe infection, and the problems associated with the public health measures used to slow the rate of infection of COVID-19, will be multifaceted and will likely encompasses emotional, physical and social problems.
Governments across the globe are actively placing countries in 'lockdown' and asking citizens to socially isolate to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. This, alongside the social isolation faced by hospitalized patients who are not permitted visitors, could lead to, or exacerbate mental health and emotional problems (Usher, Bhullar, & Jackson, 2020). Social isolation is an independent risk factor for mortality and should not be underestimated as a contributor to excess mortality. This was highlighted in a large meta-analysis of almost 150 studies, which revealed social isolation had a risk profile similar to that of well-established physical risk factors, such as obesity and smoking (Holt-Lunstad, Smith & Layton, 2010).
The physical consequences for those who are infected could be significant. This is especially true of patients who require treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which is estimated to be approximately 10% of all patients who are actively infected (Remuzzi & Remuzzi, 2020). Long-term physical problems following critical care are common and include poor balance, muscle weakness, chronic pain and fatigue . These problems may be particularly exacerbated in patients with COVID-19, as the treatment pathway often includes increased sedation usage and muscle relaxants, resulting in limited active mobilization: two activities (or lack thereof) which have direct implications for long-term physical and cognitive outcomes in critically ill patients (Pun et al., 2019).
The long-term social consequences of COVID-19 could also be catastrophic and have major implications for health. This pandemic is likely to bring financial recessions in many countries, with mass unemployment already reported in areas such as the USA (OECD, 2020).
Decades of evidence have shown the socioeconomic gradient which poor health takes; as such we may see widening health inequalities during this pandemic. The implementation of social distancing is also a mechanism by which socioeconomic health inequalities could increase across all generations. Many people on low pay or those who are self-employed may struggle to cope without income for many months; this may result in people risking their health to ensure that they have an adequate income. School closures are likely to have a disproportionate negative impact on attainment and well-being for children living in socioeconomically deprived areas. Finally, there also appears to be an uneven demographic spread of the virus. For example, ICU admission data from the UK demonstrates that there is a disproportionate number of patients from Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic groups admitted as a result of COVID-19 (Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre, 2020). This combination of social problems is likely to cause long-lasting health consequences, which could lead to problems for a generation if they are not adequately and sensitively managed.

| WHAT ABOUT FAMILIE S?
The short-term impact of having a family member admitted to hospital with COVID-19 or supporting a family member who is isolated cannot be underestimated. These individuals are likely to face significant stress and anxiety. This anxiety is exacerbated with the Editorials are opinion pieces. This piece has not been subject to peer review and the opinions expressed are those of the authors. The long-term consequences for family members of survivors will be challenging. In the critical care literature, it is well documented that family members have to make significant adjustments to working life, with up to 20% having to stop working altogether, due to high care-giving responsibilities following ICU admission (Griffiths et al., 2013). The role families play in supplementing formal health and social care provision has a significant impact on the

| IMPROVING OUTCOME S
We have proposed a framework describing potential strategies for supporting patients and families throughout the recovery arc (Table 1) Finally, the role of the Public Health Nurse will be crucial in the coming months and years. This group of nurses will be key to ensuring that younger, vulnerable children are adequately supported to reach their full potential in life.
For patients there is the possibility of post-traumatic growth, a phenomenon seen following serious illness, including post-critical illness, where reflection on the traumatic and acute illness allows personal growth in relationships, living life to the full, recognizing personal strengths and gaining personal insight (Barskova & Oesterreich, 2009;Connerty & Knott, 2013;O'Gara, Tuddenham, & Pattison, 2018). It aligns to the concept of meaning making following significant life events and allows families and patients to regain control of their lives, which will be crucial to recovery post-COVID-19.
Nurses are ideally placed to nurture and support this aspect of recovery.
The large numbers of healthcare workers infected, and the toll of caring for high volumes of patients who die from COVID-19, will also have an impact on both the short-and long-term health and well-being on healthcare workers. As nurses, we have a critical role in leading the changes needed to support the well-being of the healthcare workforce, by ensuring we mitigate against burnout and moral