ABSTRACT
The global health community had anticipated a global pandemic for many years, though it was not possible to anticipate the emergence of this particular virus. In the United States during the first phase of the pandemic, health care in hot spots such as New York City was overwhelmed with patients. Public health officials advised that people stay away from each other, wear masks, and frequently wash their hands. Large public gatherings were prohibited. Business establishments such as bars, restaurants, and movie theaters were closed. The air travel and associated tourist industries saw huge decreases in revenue. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, many of whom were young, healthy individuals before they were infected. For many, the risk of death is unacceptably high in spite of the fact that there are major uncertainties around what that risk is.
