To the Editor:

As New York begins to reopen, and the worst of COVID-19 appears to be behind us, we must take this time to ensure that we are never again caught unprepared to deal with a pandemic.

When 9/11 struck our great state, it was the first responders and military who dealt with the carnage and secured our borders, preventing another attack. With COVID-19, it was our health-care workers who answered the call — putting their own health and safety at risk, as well as their families’, to protect our communities.

For a variety of reasons, they did not have the personal protective equipment, medical devices, medication, and funding to properly battle this invisible threat. The fact that we are past the peak and on our way to recovery is a testament to their grit and sacrifice.

This battle is, however, not over; we still face the remnants of the 1918 flu every year — there may well be COVID-19 spikes in the future. However, if we invest in our health-care systems and providers today, the impact tomorrow can be greatly mitigated.

As Congress develops public policy in the wake of the worst of COVID-19, it must ensure that we are never caught unprepared again. By investing in our health-care infrastructure, we can begin to rebuild our economy, open our schools, and return to the normal we previously knew confident in our ability to prevail against this virus should it re-emerge.

Lee Russo

Altamont