“Social distancing.” “Flattening the curve.” “Zoonotic transfer.” “Personal protective equipment.” “Community spread.” “Containment area.” “N95 masks.” Phrases that were meaningless for most of us in January are now used in common parlance.
The changes we’ve witnessed over the last few weeks obviously extend beyond rhetoric. The current crisis has exposed unmet needs not just in medicine, vaccines and diagnostics, but also in telecommuting, home entertainment, remote learning and sanitization. Fulfillment of those unmet needs may require technological innovation (e.g., particulate respirator masks with extended shelf life) or market-based innovation (e.g., improved distribution channels for toilet paper). Despite this need for innovation, society may currently be more averse to risk.
