A post-covid19 future requires foresight to build back planetary health

Throughout history, nothing has killed more human beings than infectious disease. Despite humanity’s long relationship with contagions, the COVID19 virus has shocked the world with panic buying of food and selling of shares, lockdowns and closed borders, reminding us of our vulnerability.

And yet, throughout this tragic health crisis, human endeavor and ingenuity have been on full display. Within weeks, geneticists had sequenced the virus, labs connected digitally across the world began developing vaccines, car manufacturers retooled to make medical equipment and phrases like “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” became part of our lexicon.