Lasting scars of the pandemic

Ladouceur discusses the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to natural disasters, pandemics differ not only in magnitude of damage, but in the persistent uncertainties they engender. Natural disasters eventually pass--one day the water ceases to rise, fires die down and are extinguished, and electricity returns. But pandemics feel like they will never end. A second wave is announced, and then another after it;treatments prove ineffective;no one knows for certain whether a vaccine will ever be found. It is not surprising that this pandemic has caused so much fear. Fear has led to take draconian measures.