A hypothetical silver lining

The coronavirus pandemic may have a silver lining — if we take the opportunity to learn critical lessons for the future. The deficiencies of our healthcare system are being exposed in how it handles a national emergency, but weaknesses in other national programs such as labor practices, transportation and education systems are also coming into light.

We may have enough capacity in America to treat usual amounts and severity of illnesses, but we’re seeing an inadequate ability in dealing with extraordinary stresses: what to do if medical personnel are sidelined due to exposure or illness; inadequate amounts of medical supplies, isolation wards, ventilators; and, should effective medications be available for the next epidemic, an adequate supply or a nimbleness to produce more quickly.

The current outbreak is relatively mild so far for our population, and has a known origin. But, far worse would be a bioterrorism incident where there was a deliberate, highly effective spread of a much more severe pathogen. Such a situation would devastating, especially if we have not made ourselves better prepared for the future as part of our response to this current crisis.

The president should appoint a separate task force to gather the lessons learned to better prepare us for the future, and let those who are dealing with the current pandemic focus all their efforts on mitigating this one.

Jesse Samuels, West Hartford