Living in an Era of Emerging Pandemics

Abstract

While 2020 was a challenging year, 2021 is set to be equally challenging with the emergence of multiple variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), new SARS-CoV-2 variants 501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7) in the UK and 501Y.V2 (B.1.351) in South Africa. The arrival of vaccines and the advancements in therapeutic remedies have sparked a flickering light at the end of a dark tunnel. But the fact that the rapidly mutating variants evade immunity poses new threats that the world must confront. What are the different paths to end this pandemic?

In our Fall 2021 Special Issue, we asked scholars, researchers, policymakers, advocates and business leaders to think about the relationship between public health and politics, public health and economics, and public health and society in light of the novel coronavirus. What are the economic implications of the coronavirus epidemic? What are the impacts and implications of the coronavirus on systems of governance, economies and society? What have we learned from the emergence of the novel coronavirus, the various interventions, and what are the different ways forward? What are the impacts of coronavirus on specific cities and neighborhoods? What are the impacts of “social distancing” and other interventions adopted to contain the transmission of the virus? How have different regions, countries and the international community responded to the coronavirus pandemic, and what lessons are we able to apply successfully to slow down and even end this stifling worldwide pandemic?

As each of the contributors would agree, there is so much more work to be done to address and manage the COVID-19 challenge. Because it kills without prejudice, perhaps we can learn how to approach, treat and defeat this disease without prejudice of our own. Perhaps we can find a way – we must find a way – to provide equal levels of support to all our brothers and sisters around the world. Maybe we can learn that it is best when we share our research, share our discoveries and share the results; imagine working together as one for the betterment of all. What if COVID could bring us together to act responsibly and unselfishly?

It is our hope that this special issue and the work done by our valued experts will provide you with a better understanding – as seen through the thoughts and perspectives of others – of the evolving health crisis, its economic impact and ways we can design an effective intervention to halt the spread of the virus while also working on an effective vaccine.

Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, delta variant, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, SARS, Africa, Europe, EU, North America, virus, disease