Are telemedicine systems effective healthcare solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic?

On 9 January 2020, China’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a novel coronavirus causing a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) had been identified as the causative agent of an aggressive respiratory disease, later referred to as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19).1 As of 18 January 2021, there have been over 90 million reported cases of COVID-19 and the virus has been responsible for nearly 2.5 million deaths.2 The COVID-19 emergency has required continued contingency plans, making it necessary to both rethink the current approach to healthcare as well as how to adapt to the emerging needs of healthcare in the context of a pandemic. We have learned how to mitigate the spread of the virus by implementing social distancing measures, enforcing proper mask compliance, and reducing face-to-face contact in a health setting unless absolutely necessary. Community spread from the virus must be prevented to minimise the risks of infection for health professionals. In this respect, essential telemedicine services may help safeguard public health in significant ways.3 Th