THE CONVERSATION: Whatever the hardships of COVID-19, let’s be thankful it wasn’t COVID-99

Description

In these difficult times, the press and the public are piling complaints on governments and corporations over their responses to the pandemic. Yet it is amazing how well shutdowns and quarantines have worked so far in the developed world (protests like those in Michigan aside). Supply chains continue to operate. Medical systems are functioning, if sometimes stretched to limits. There have been no large-scale bankruptcies that could start a contagion effect.

A lot of this resiliency is from people doing the right and appropriate thing. But we also need to reflect on what might have happened had this virus struck 20 years ago. Undoubtedly, timing has helped ease the burden.