Lessons from a Year of the Pandemic

View in browser

Outdoor restaurant seating in New York City

A year ago this week, the World Health Organization officially declared the spread of COVID-19 a global pandemic. Few then could've predicted the devastation that the next 12 months had in store.

At the same time, the virus has demonstrated humanity's remarkable ability to take on new challenges, whether it's scientists developing multiple effective vaccines in record time, teachers rapidly adapting to remote learning, or restaurant owners implementing creative forms of socially-distanced seating.

Below, our experts look back at the past year in America and discuss what it may reveal about the months and years ahead.

Biden's address on the anniversary of the pandemic. Last night, President Biden pledged that all American adults will be eligible to register for a vaccine by May 1. Elaine Kamarck weighs in on the speech and the new administration's progress in the fight against COVID-19.

The economic pain may continue for some cities. Using a new projection of national industry trends from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mark Muro and Yang You estimate the pandemic's long-term impacts on states and metropolitan areas through the end of the decade.

COVID-19's uneven spread over the past year. How has the virus moved across America from 2020 to 2021? Which places have been hit hardest? William Frey looks at the trendlines.

Reflections on education a year into the pandemic. From student mental health to college enrollment rates, scholars from across Brookings examine how the pandemic upended the education landscape.

Lessons from pandemic housing policies. Housing insecurity was a widespread problem among low-income renters well before the current crisis. Jenny Schuetz shares four key lessons on housing policy for leaders to keep in mind.

How the pandemic changed civic participation. Virtual public forums and online legislative proceedings were stood up by governments out of necessity, but they should continue even after the pandemic is over, Maya Gros and Norman Eisen argue.

Register to watch next week's webinar

Essential workers: 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic

Thursday, March 18, 2021 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair and former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf will join us for a webinar honoring America's frontline essential workers. The event will highlight innovative local, state, and federal programs that have supported workers during pandemic and identify policy priorities that remain.

Help support Brookings with a donation

In uncertain times, our experts continue to provide vital policy research and recommendations for real-time response and impact. Please consider supporting our work with a gift today.

If you no longer want to receive updates on coronavirus/COVID-19 from Brookings, please enter your email on this form. You will still receive any Brookings newsletters that you previously signed up for.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution’s response, read our full guidance here.