
Pandemic ripple effects
The COVID-19 pandemic created impacts beyond the infections themselves. Delays in care and economic hardships further impacted our physical, emotional, and community health.

Personal health drives
community health
Routine health visits decreased during the pandemic. Getting back to routine check-ups, sick visits, and vaccinations is not just personal care, it is also care for the community.
How has the pandemic changed health care?
Physical health
Because of the pandemic, a decrease in routine testing and screening caused other health problems.
Mental health
Due to isolation and economic hardships, the pandemic also impacted our emotional well-being.
Community health
The pandemic magnified problems that were already present in underserved communities.
Physical health
Because of the pandemic, a decrease in routine testing and screening caused other health problems.
Mental health
Due to isolation and economic hardships, the pandemic also impacted our emotional well-being.
Community health
The pandemic magnified problems that were already present in underserved communities.
that treatment could be delayed.
- 64% decrease in diagnostic tests for heart disease1
- 46% decrease in new cancer diagnoses2
- 39% decrease in reported cases of key STIs3
- 70% decrease in new type 2 diabetes diagnoses4
many Americans are at greater risk for having an undiagnosed condition. Returning to routine care is a critical part of returning to our normal routines. After all, detecting disease at its earliest phase provides the best chance to effectively treat it.
Alarming trends reveal the emotional stress caused
by the pandemic.
- 34% of patients were diagnosed with neurological or mental health disorders 6 months post COVID-19 infection5
- 31% increase in symptoms of anxiety or depression reported in US adults during the pandemic6
- 29% increase in drug overdose deaths7
Download our Opioid and Drug Misuse Toolkit here.
- 2.8x more likely to be hospitalized
- 2-2.3x more likely to die
Social determinants of health disproportionately impact communities of color—a truth that has become even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racial and ethnic disparities impact baseline health, risk of exposure, and access to care, which results in disproportionately higher incidence of infection, complications, and death. Equitable access to reliable diagnostic testing is essential as we work to build long-term solutions that address these health disparities.
How does routine care protect communities?
Throughout the pandemic, many people have had to postpone their routine care, like annual check-ups and flu shots. When you compound that trend across a population over an extended period of time, you can have a community health crisis at hand. As we return to regular activities, it is important that we get back to routine health care to prevent illness, protect others, and manage any long-term health effects from COVID-19 infections.
Manage
Post-COVID syndrome
Having COVID-19 can cause long-term health effects.
Protect the vulnerable
Vaccines and testing help keep communities safe.
Prevent illness
Regular exams and testing help communities stay healthy.
Manage
Post-COVID syndrome
The pandemic magnified problems that were already present in underserved communities.
Protect the vulnerable
Due to isolation and economic hardships, the pandemic also impacted our emotional well-being.
Prevent illness
Regular exams and testing help communities stay healthy.
- 10-30% of the people who have had COVID-19 develop Post-COVID Syndrome (also known as
“Long COVID”) - 13% of people with Post-COVID Syndrome have symptoms that last over 4 weeks
It is important for those who have had COVID-19 to follow up with their doctor to get help managing any lasting symptoms. Long-term health effects of COVID-19 are still being researched, so following up also helps the medical community gain a better understanding of this phenomena.
- Flu activity was unusually low throughout the 2020-2021 flu season11, but is expected to increase this year as social distancing and mask wearing decreases
- As of March 2021, cases of RSV have begun to rise, potentially due to decreases in COVID-19 mitigation measures12
As more people get their COVID-19 vaccines and reduce social distancing and mask wearing, communities may become more susceptible to other common viruses, such as the flu and RSV. It is important for individuals to keep up with recommended vaccinations to protect themselves and others. And when someone does fall sick, they can talk to their doctor about getting tested to understand what illness they have, and how to best manage their care while protecting those around them.
- 60% of Americans deferred care during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 44% fewer child screening services that assess physical and cognitive development occurred during the pandemic10
Routine care means seeing the doctor whether
sick or well. With regular check-ups for adults and
children, a doctor can monitor health, prevent
long-term health symptoms from developing,
and shorten the time to getting better.