The COVID-19 epidemic has altered our planet and touched people from all walks of life. All frontline personnel, especially those in direct touch with patients, have been put in grave danger. Medical services have been severely limited, including the cancellation of elective procedures, in order to reduce disease transmission and safeguard healthcare personnel and patients. This has resulted in a significant hardship for patients and a significant financial loss for hospitals. The use of a robot as a shielding layer, physically isolating the healthcare professional from the patient, is a significant technique for combating pathogen contamination fears and maintaining surgical volumes. We discuss realistic scenarios in pre-, intra-, and postoperative care in this Perspective, in which the employment of robotics and artificial intelligence can reduce infectious contamination and help patient management in the surgical setting during times of high patient intake. Beyond their usage in pandemics, we also explore the cost-effectiveness and advantages of surgical robotic systems. Hospitals are experiencing record demand as a result of the current epidemic. In order to tackle the virus, digitization and machine intelligence are becoming increasingly important in healthcare. Their legacy might outlive the epidemic, revolutionising surgical practise and management.