How Asia Pacific can turn COVID crisis into an opportunity

By Victoria Kwakwa

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But none of this is a forgone conclusion. If containment and relief efforts today are informed by their impact on recovery and growth tomorrow, governments can avoid lasting negative outcomes. A few priorities stand out.

First, building the capacity to test, trace and isolate cases of the virus will remain critical not just until the arrival of the vaccine but throughout the prolonged period during which it is being deployed. New research shows that testing-based strategies can magnify the impact of a vaccine. In parallel, preparing to distribute the vaccine efficiently and fairly would not only facilitate economic recovery but contribute to social stability.

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Finally, the recovery needs to be resilient and sustainable. Tomorrow's economies should become more, rather than less, resilient to climate change and natural disasters. Over the last decade, the region has met its energy needs through a scale-up in coal power generation, while the degradation of the natural environment -- including critical forests, rivers and oceans -- has continued.

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