LEARNING LESSONS FROM THE PAST IN COMBATING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

Abstract

In the biggest pandemic of the 21st century, which is still visible in the world, we aimed to compile the past preparations and the effects of these preparations on the new coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19). Pandemics have caused millions of people to become ill, disabled, and killed for centuries. Thanks to past pandemics that deeply affect society's health, socially and economically, preparations were made again against possible pandemics. Preparations may not go as planned. Desperation may occur for unforeseen situations. Despite these despair, the tool that can contribute to practice besides the basic principles in combating pandemics can be obtained from the past. Like any epidemic, a pandemic would end one day eventually. Those applied and not implemented would be evaluated after the outbreak and would remain as a lesson from the past for future outbreaks.