Bloomberg: The lessons of the pandemic are clearer in a global comparison. Three years after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 to be a pandemic, we finally have reason to celebrate: Global deaths from the virus have dipped below 1,000 people per day for the first time since March 2020. But with almost 7 million dead, we must figure out a way to do better next time. And there will be a next time. Bloomberg Opinion assessed countries by excess deaths, a measure of actual deaths compared to expected deaths during a given period. It’s considered the most objective metric, because it doesn’t rely on access to tests (which might be unequal) or judgment calls (did Covid really kill this person, or was it a heart attack?). Then we distilled the list down to seven with strong lessons for the next pandemic…

In the US, the staggering toll is a reminder that all the wealth and vaccines in the world cannot save lives in a nation fractured by politics…”