How we can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with the tools to prevent another one

Shrewd political operators know that a crisis should not be wasted. In the aftermath of a major crisis such as war, a terrorist attack or an economic recession, politicians have a window of opportunity to enact sociopolitical change that supports their worldviews. COVID-19 is one such crisis, and it’s time to start thinking about what that means.

Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. political leaders shrank citizens’ civil liberties in an expansion of the security state, initiated long-term wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to expand foreign influence and increased deportations of immigrants to reduce perceived threats. A desire for security prevailed after the 9/11 attacks, and aggression and suspicion were justified by the argument that they were necessary to keep Americans safe.

Given the immense impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human health and the economy, there will likely be significant sociopolitical change meant to prevent a similar outbreak in the future. Considering the threat of pandemics to human well-being, this change could be similar to what occurred after 9/11: aggressive and suspicious policies enacted in the name of national security.

Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine that the U.S. could emerge from the pandemic with policies that punish the countries we blame for the outbreak, that attempt to seal borders to prevent travel and exchange of goods, and that greatly restrict immigrants, tourists and students coming from outside the U.S. Political polarization between liberal and conservative citizens — and states — could reach new extremes. As that polarization drives a wedge between parties, regions and other groups of people, a new normal could emerge: one in which wealthy individuals and communities stockpile the goods and resources they might need for future emergencies to the detriment of the rest of us.

But none of this has to happen. There are other possibilities for change after COVID-19, and they are emerging in the voices (and tweets and posts) of ordinary citizens, medical professionals and journalists as this pandemic unfolds. They include investing heavily in public health at the local, state and federal levels to prepare for, detect, screen and treat future outbreaks to ensure that the country is not overwhelmed again. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it is inexcusable that delays in testing and the availability of personal protective equipment have resulted in the U.S. giving up the advantage of time that we had to ready ourselves.

The potential changes go further than preparation. Americans are calling for the U.S. to once again be a global leader on issues of human health and well-being. This means leading the world, but also making changes at home. It means restructuring our economy from a system that rewards only growth to one that provides workers the support we need to be both productive and healthy. It means making reforms in industry and transportation to ensure that we don’t need to be under lockdown to have clean air. It means applying the urgency of a global emergency to the fight against climate change, yet another existential threat. It means establishing healthy food distribution plans in communities across the country, particularly for people who are dependent upon systems such as local schools for meals.

We are still in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., and much effort is needed from all of us to fight this virus. Still, it is not too early to start imagining the type of change we want to see in the aftermath.

Take a moment to imagine a different sort of country emerging from the pandemic. In that country, we would invest in the public services, programs and research that can protect human health and well-being during emergencies, but also in the calm periods between crises. In that country, we would structure our economy to support all individuals and families, and we provide the public resources necessary for national preparedness and resilience. In that country, we would use lessons learned from COVID-19 to fight climate change and protect the environment that we all depend on.

That country doesn’t have to be a fantasy — any more than a xenophobic and hyper-polarized America has to be a reality. One of the clearest lessons of this experience is that each of us has a role to play in public health and well-being. We have that same role in ensuring a healthy democracy. As citizens, we cannot let the COVID-19 crisis go to waste. We must be ready to insist on change that will strengthen our neighborhoods, communities, cities, states and the world. We are all in this together.

Brian Houston is director of the Disaster and Community Crisis Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How we can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with the tools to prevent another one."