I never thought of having an experience like the one triggered by this pandemic. I never imagined not being able to hug my dad on his 88th birthday, or not being able to attend my oldest daughter’s Master’s graduation since it has been canceled. I’m sure everyone has their own examples of what they have not and will not be able to do due to the coronavirus. Quarantine, social distancing, social isolation, mandatory immobilization, flattening the curve have become everyday words.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed our lifestyle and will continue to change it. Due to this, doubts and uncertainties arise: When will I be able to return to my routine? When will I be able to work? Until when will the quarantine be extended? We do not have, nor will we have, in a short time, a definitive answer, so we must be resilient, take care of our mental health, that of our family, that of our patients, and, as far as possible, that of the entire community.

The quarantine will end, the mandatory immobilization will be lifted since both are not sustainable in the long term due to the social and economic damage that they can cause to the country. It will take many months to return to “normal” as, most likely, social isolation, hand washing, and other measures will continue. Let us take care of our mental health, the mental health of our loved ones, that of health professionals, and that of the community. These are times when, as human beings, we must take care of others, but it is also our obligation to take care of our mental health as well as our physical.