We've released a NEW set of recommendations focusing on the steps that government leaders and the private sector can take to prevent future pandemics. https://www.heritage.org/press/national-coronavirus-recovery-commission-releases-recommendations-reducing-future-risks

Effective preparedness requires looking back at where big-government policies failed and providing solutions for governments at every level to better understand the scope of both their responsibility and accountability before the next crisis.

Some highlights:

State policymakers, working with Congress as necessary, should prepare a new strategy to better equip hospitals to cope with a major pandemic.

State legislatures should review (and possibly revise) their statutory grants of emergency powers to governors in light of executive actions taken throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

State and local governments should set aside a minimum of two months of operating expenditures or roughly 16% of expenditures for times of crisis as suggested by the Government Finance Officers.

State and local governments should work to reopen K-12 classrooms and take targeted measures to protect student and teacher health.

State and local governments should put in place plans for transit systems to protect the public and workers during epidemics, and should reform transit agency operations to reduce financial vulnerability.

The Trump administration should develop and submit to Congress a plan to restructure and reform federal public health agencies’ functions within HHS to ensure quicker and more effective responses to future epidemics, pandemics, and infectious diseases.

President Trump should develop an Executive Order to task his Cabinet with examining and evaluating the crisis response systems related to this pandemic, and developing recommendations for future preparedness.

Federal agencies should streamline access to spectrum to accelerate deployment of the 5G network.

Congress should pay for some of the stimulus spending with the sale of federal property.

Congress should create a more friendly environment to encourage medical supply and pharmaceutical companies, researchers and investment to return to the United States.