AS SOME countries take tentative steps back towards normality, thoughts inevitably turn to the future. What lessons are there from missteps made this time that we can apply to preparing for the next pandemic? Because, even though its nature, timing and deadliness cannot be known, we can be confident that there will be another. The forces that led to this one, including ever-greater international trade and travel and encroachment on wild areas, may be taking a short break, but will be back.

In an ideal world, once the virus was properly under control, leaders …