We are heading to a new normal, working through the SARS-CoV-2 era, adjusting our daily practices with various safety measures. This also means being ready to face future waves of the pandemic and to working amongst a population with a small but still present portion of positives. We have to be prepared to preserve the safety of health care workers and hospital admitted patients, while having dedicated OR, ICU and ward beds to treat COVID-19 patients: indeed, the access to a proper and timely treatment cannot depend on the outcome of a swab.