Open AccessThe changing face of Dentistry in the COVID-19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Neil Wood
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
sadj
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2519-0105
pISSN - 1029-4864
DOI - 10.17159/2519-0105/2020/v75no10a10514
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , face (sociological concept) , face masks , health care , infection control , medicine , dental care , disease , history , medical emergency , dentistry , political science , intensive care medicine , sociology , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , law , social science , outbreak
The year is drawing to a close and with it we present to you the final issue of the South African Dental Journal for 2020. This year saw us face the terrible COVID-19 pandemic. As oral healthcare practitioners we have been challenged in many ways, and this placed many of us under extreme pressure. Unfortunately we are just starting to see a new rise, or second wave, in the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases being reported. This means that the pressure is not about to be released, and we continue to navigate these uncharted waters into 2021.
In February we were uncertain about the impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare systems and our country, however we have now seen the course and the progression of this disease in many countries, and we know the reach it has and the devastating infection it causes. In light of this I am reminding you of the required infection control processes and procedures that need to be in place to protect yourself, co-workers and your patients.