  Medical robots can play an important role in mitigating the spread of
infectious diseases and delivering quality care to patients during the COVID-19
pandemic. Methods and procedures involving medical robots in the continuum of
care, ranging from disease prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and
homecare have been extensively deployed and also present incredible
opportunities for future development. This paper provides an overview of the
current state-of-the-art, highlighting the enabling technologies and unmet
needs for prospective technological advances within the next 5-10 years. We
also identify key research and knowledge barriers that need to be addressed in
developing effective and flexible solutions to ensure preparedness for rapid
and scalable deployment to combat infectious diseases.
