Gates Package — page 962

Another step is to expand on efforts to understand causes of death in adults and children alike. This work will have a double benefit, giving us new insights into health and illness as well as yet another window into emerging threats. Third, we need to know the enemy we're up against. So governments and funders should back innovative ways to test mass numbers of people in a short time--especially high-volume, low-cost tests designed to work in low- and middle-income countries. New tests should make it possible to link the results back to the patient, with privacy safeguards, so the data can inform both individual care and public health measures. Genetic sequencing needs to expand dramatically. And in a major outbreak, when tests may be in short supply, maps that chart the prevalence of the disease should inform who gets priority--so that tests go to the people with the highest odds of being infected. Finally, we need to invest in the promise of computer modeling. The forecasts produced during COVID have been extremely helpful, but they can be better. More data, more accurate data, and constant feedback on their models will make all of us safer.