But there are public policy issues, and different futures that might arise as the crisis unfolds. The virus and the demands it puts on the state and on each of us are testing the limits of our society . From now on, we must ensure that the state and society have the resources, capacity and resilience to be shock-absorbent. The Boer war, and the poor health and education of the soldiers, sparked the birth of the modern welfare state. This, the war against Covid-19, must be the pivotal moment when the primacy of the public is re-asserted.

Source: The Guardian March 19, 2020 19:52 UTC