The Lingering Impact of Pandemic Outbreaks on Public Health and School Reopenings.

The death of a six-year-old student in a school-based outbreak in Detroit highlights the end of the era of public health. The official response to the outbreak has been inadequate, with no systematic testing for COVID-19 or other pathogens, and no mention of the disease in official statements or media coverage. The policies of capitalist governments signal a revival of the Social Darwinist conception of “survival of the fittest.” The only political party that has continuously opposed the deadly, profit-driven response to the pandemic is the Socialist Equality Party, which calls for a socialist public health program.