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Is it even possible to prepare for a pandemic?

Well-prepped countries have fared no better in the past, but there are ways to adapt

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In an ill-prepared world, Britain is often thought to have been more ill-prepared than most.

In an ill-prepared world, Britain is often thought to have been more ill-prepared than most.

PHOTO: AFP

Tim Harford

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Be prepared! It’s the scout’s motto. But prepared for what? In The Lion King, the song Be Prepared is a rousing celebration of fratricide, while Tom Lehrer’s song of the same title advised boy scouts: “Don’t solicit for your sister, that’s not nice / unless you get a good percentage of her price.”

Clearly, preparation is not enough; one must prepare to do the right thing.

The United Kingdom’s Covid-19 inquiry

recently began hearings into the country’s “resilience and preparedness”. It’s about time.

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