Often after a transformative national event, the U.S. government will commission an investigation that results in a lengthy report outlining what went well and, more importantly, what can be learned to prevent (or improve the response to) such an event in the future. In anticipation of an investigation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of 34 individuals including physicians, historians, epidemiologists, virologists and others whose work focused on COVID-19 created “The COVID Crisis Group” to “lay the groundwork” for such an effort. The government never came calling.
The committee determined that even without a formal government analysis of the response to COVID-19, findings and observations from the big picture view were important to disseminate. Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report is the committee’s attempt to do so, and even if you feel as though you have heard enough about COVID-19 to last a lifetime, this book is worth a look. Chances are you, like me, will learn at least a few things that you were unaware of previously — even if you were “on the frontlines.” All of the authors were. None of us could be everywhere. Chances are you, like me, will recall some things you had forgotten. Some of the reminders may be painful; others, insightful.
The book progressed through topics as they arose chronologically through the pandemic, starting with how the virus originated, followed by early containment efforts; federal, state and local responses; effects in the healthcare system; communication efforts; medications and vaccines; and more. Because the crisis group members worked in a variety of places and because of listening sessions and task forces, each topic is addressed in a multidimensional way, allowing for a more nuanced picture of different, sometimes infamous, situations or events than may have been appreciated by any one individual at the time.
One of the final chapters addressed the global nature of the COVID-19 response, highlighting both the complexity of responding and the opportunities, many of which were not realized. The final, but relatively short, chapter described strategic lessons and lessons for institutions.
Contributed by: Charlotte A. Moser
Often after a transformative national event, the U.S. government will commission an investigation that results in a lengthy report outlining what went well and, more importantly, what can be learned to prevent (or improve the response to) such an event in the future. In anticipation of an investigation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of 34 individuals including physicians, historians, epidemiologists, virologists and others whose work focused on COVID-19 created “The COVID Crisis Group” to “lay the groundwork” for such an effort. The government never came calling.
The committee determined that even without a formal government analysis of the response to COVID-19, findings and observations from the big picture view were important to disseminate. Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report is the committee’s attempt to do so, and even if you feel as though you have heard enough about COVID-19 to last a lifetime, this book is worth a look. Chances are you, like me, will learn at least a few things that you were unaware of previously — even if you were “on the frontlines.” All of the authors were. None of us could be everywhere. Chances are you, like me, will recall some things you had forgotten. Some of the reminders may be painful; others, insightful.
The book progressed through topics as they arose chronologically through the pandemic, starting with how the virus originated, followed by early containment efforts; federal, state and local responses; effects in the healthcare system; communication efforts; medications and vaccines; and more. Because the crisis group members worked in a variety of places and because of listening sessions and task forces, each topic is addressed in a multidimensional way, allowing for a more nuanced picture of different, sometimes infamous, situations or events than may have been appreciated by any one individual at the time.
One of the final chapters addressed the global nature of the COVID-19 response, highlighting both the complexity of responding and the opportunities, many of which were not realized. The final, but relatively short, chapter described strategic lessons and lessons for institutions.
Contributed by: Charlotte A. Moser