One thing is certain: while the plans have been taken down, shaken out and enacted, this is not the end of the process. The wealth of data on the latest pandemic – on its epidemiology, virology, the way people behave in response and the economic impact it may have – is already being analysed. This will help current plans to evolve and adapt and will also prepare for the next pandemic wherever, whatever and whenever that might be.

Jennifer Cole, Research Fellow in the Department of Geography, Royal Holloway

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Image: Reuters