The Great Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an unparalleled collapse in global solidarity at a crucial moment in human history when international cooperation was most needed. A novel coronavirus exposed the world’s shared vulnerability and deep interconnectedness. By virtually every measure, global solidarity failed—from nationalist leaders fuelling distrust in science to a weakened World Health Organization (WHO) and shockingly inequitable global distribution of life-saving medical resources. Even the most basic global health functions failed, including timely reporting of the initial Wuhan outbreak, sharing scientific information, and complying with WHO guidance and binding legal norms. Stepping back, the only constant was the gravitation to a “my nation first” mentality—the exact opposite of the global cooperation and coordination needed for an effective response. This chapter describes important areas in which global health solidarity failed, the reasons for those failures, and reforms to advance global cooperation and equitable responses for when the next novel outbreak, which we call Pandemic X, occurs.