A year after the coronavirus outbreak, many Americans are struggling to navigate the effects of the pandemic. While the pandemic brought a host of new challenges, it also underscored a need for more flexible policies and better access to reliable information.
The world’s response to COVID-19 sparked a host of scientific developments, ranging from rapid testing and vaccines to social distancing and financial support. But it also revealed inequalities in healthcare access and economic responses that persist to this day. These inequalities highlight the need for more adaptable global public health and healthcare systems that are capable of addressing a range of epidemiological patterns, including new strains of disease.
While a majority of Americans say their local hospitals did an excellent or good job responding to the pandemic, the experience also exposed divisions in America’s two main political parties. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say that the country didn’t put enough emphasis on individual choices, supporting businesses and economic activity during its response to the pandemic.
Throughout the world, the pandemic also highlighted the fragility of food systems and the need for more resilient economies. As breadwinners lose jobs, fall ill and die, millions are at risk of falling into poverty or losing the nutrition they need to thrive. As a result, the number of undernourished people in the world has increased to nearly 690 million, up from about 132 million just before the outbreak began. In addition, border closures and trade restrictions have blocked farmers from accessing markets, putting their livelihoods at risk.
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