You should be optimistic about COVID-19. I am.

As COVID-19 continues to grip our communities, cities and country, we are faced with the constant news of exponentially rising cases, hospitalizations and even deaths. The short-view sees this dark period with feelings of angst and uncertainty. But the long-view sees the glimmer of hope on the horizon.

I’m an eternal optimist and will take the latter. While the dire scenario may remind you of what New York encountered this spring, there are reasons for hope, many actually.

• First, we are much more prepared than we were in the spring. The lessons learned from combating an illness we can’t see and with no known treatments have helped us prepare for every scenario, including max capacity in our hospitals. And further dramatic advancements are ahead. We also have treatments that are making a difference.
• Secondly, a vaccine is literally around the corner. With the FDA’s emergency use approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine – which showed 95-percent efficacy in preventing infections with minimal side effects after two doses – we are arming ourselves with our most powerful weapon in this fight. More vaccines will be coming, too, making it more available in the coming months.
• Third, the political warfare that slowed pandemic progress — if not halted altogether —is finally over. A reinvigorated Washington has its eyes set on following science rather than false claims about the virus’ true existence. Once President-elect Joe Biden’s team of the nation’s top infectious disease specialists roll up their sleeves and get to work, we will finally have an adequate nationwide response, which has been perhaps the biggest failure of the previous administration during this crisis.
• Fourth, speaking of federal response, a more rational plan about testing and prevention should be coming. Leaving it to individual states allows too many cracks in the chain. Consistency in Washington will push more consistency from state to state, encouraging mask wearing and social distancing that we know also helps slow the spread. 

Make no mistake, we are in the worst of the pandemic as a country. And there’s still a long road ahead that will require collaboration to finally rid this illness. Don’t let your guard down and continue practicing what we know works — wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing.

It’s said that it’s truly darkest before dawn and I’m confident that we are closer to the end of the pandemic than the beginning. I can see the light on the horizon and am optimistic about the coming months. You should be too.

A version of this op-ed appeared in Modern Healthcare. Read it here.