A Preventable Pandemic?

A high-level, independent report, commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic was entirely preventable (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/12/covid-pandemic-was-preventable-says-who-commissioned-report). The report notes that Sars CoV-2 infections have, thus far, killed more than 3.25m people worldwide. The report's authors suggest that, in spite of published guidance on how to prepare for pandemics ('gathering dust' in basements?), most countries were unprepared for any such an event. In particular, they note that February 2020 was a month of lost opportunity. Urgent action was needed to avert the pandemic but many countries elected to 'wait and see'. By the time, Intensive Care Units were filling up in their hospitals, it was too late. The WHO has its flaws but, failing to fund its core activities, was not a sensible move. The world needs early warning systems for likely pandemics. Countries also need to have medical capacities capable of dealing with exceptional (not just routine) challenges. There is not much point in having expert guidance on how to avoid pandemics, if most governments decide simply to avoid spending the necessary money. It's nice to be optimistic but that can come at a cost.