Given the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic should soon be at its end, a careful calculation of the economic cost induced upon the healthcare units and upon the society on its whole should be made in order to be better prepared for a future pandemic. The aim of this special issue is to recognize the economic impact of COVID-19 and long COVID and to design the set of actions that need to be realized. On the one hand changes have to be made so as to deliver better, safer and less expensive healthcare and new plans regarding the costs of a new pandemic (especially for low-income countries) should be designed. On the other hand, new methods such as tele-health should be expanded as soon as possible, while solving issues regarding the relationships between health and social care. The world cannot afford to “shut down” in the near future, therefore actions must be taken to minimize the costs of the following pandemic.