What have we learned a year after the pandemic?
A year ago, the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, appeared to announce that a state of alarm was in force, home lockdown was imposed, and the movements of the population were restricted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which at that time was already punishing half the planet. Although it was a measure that had been gaining strength in the previous days, the population was in a state of shock. It had been a century since there had been a pandemic of this magnitude or since lockdown had to be put into place, which in the collective imagination was only foreseen for cases of coups d'état or war. The presence of the military added drama (and perhaps authoritarianism) to the press conferences, despite the fact that when it came down to it, the population respected the restrictions.
It was weeks before the situation was brought under control, with hospitals overflowing, no protective equipment and very limited knowledge of how the virus worked. The economy came to a screeching halt, causing unprecedented falls in GDP, which, if they have not led to a real social catastrophe, it has been due to the action of the public sector. However, it is still too early to make a final assessment, because many companies are still in the doldrums and it remains to be seen whether the European funds will arrive in time for many of them.
One year on, and thanks to the vaccine, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The world will never be the same again, because experts say it is impossible to predict when there will be another pandemic. Therefore, states have to prepare and learn the lessons of what has happened this year. The first lesson, which is now unanimously recognised, is that we must act at the first warning sign. Today we know that if, instead of the 14th day, lockdown had been approved on 1 March, the pandemic could have been much better controlled. Therefore, anticipation and good governance is the best recipe for not having to take drastic measures later on.
Secondly, we must strengthen the public health system and ensure, at least at a European level, both the production and the distribution of strategic products such as vaccines and other medicines. This year has also demonstrated the importance of investing in research, as it is scientists, in a record-breaking race, who have found different solutions for both the treatment of covid and the design of effective vaccines. The applause from the balconies of the first wave must now become a strategic commitment to the health sector.
We have learned that nothing can replace face-to-face education either, especially among the very young. There must never again be a school closure like the one decided on a year ago. We have also learned, in a context of reconstruction, that it will be more important than ever to decide on what we spend every public euro. And finally, we have learned that in crisis situations nothing can replace human solidarity. It has been these networks of solidarity that have prevented greater evils. We must be clear on the fact that the sacrifices have been worth it.
