Unmasking the future

To witness the face of change within these hours of anxiety and resilience, we need only gaze upon the changing faces.

A face mask or two in public was an anomaly just two months ago. As caution itself became contagious with the spread of the coronavirus, masks became as common as eyeglasses, as welcome as a smile.

Their symbolism became more layered once they were mandated in public settings by Gov. Ned Lamont. To be mask- less in a store might be a signal of need, an act of defiance or a statement of ignorance.

The shortage of masks, though, led not to despair, but to innovation. Homemade versions are being made of cherished scarves, or bandannas, or reimagined cotton T- shirts. Many users of home 3D printers are producing masks not only for themselves, but for strangers.

After initial resistance that branding masks was in poor taste, they are transitioning into fashion accessories. On Thursday, Disney announced it would sell masks bearing the likeness of every character from Mickey Mouse to Baby Yoda, with some profits earmarked for charity.

Innovation needs to happen that rapidly to hasten healing from the collateral damages of the pandemic.

Our journalists and guest writers throughout this special edition, “Life Ahead: The Road After COVID- 19,” seek to knit together the threads that would make Connecticut whole again. It’s a daunting list, including — but hardly limited to — the economy, education, transportation, health care, poverty, technology, voting, public safety, the environment and sports.

Some of these themes may seem socially distant from one another, but they share a home every day — in newspapers. There are a breadth of ideas to consider within these pages. These are some we feel must grab the headlines.

THE WORKPLACE

The pandemic highlighted divisions of labor that can shape the future of how we work and how it is viewed.

The importance of support jobs, which had been taken for granted, is evident. Grocery store clerks and shelf- stockers are essential, for example. As a consequence, they should be paid higher wages commensurate with their role in keeping communities going.

The ability of many professions to carry on from home signals a shift away from large corporate offices, not only for health reasons but also for economics. Employees will still need to gather, that’s part of the workplace culture, but not every day. Teleconferencing is a viable method for workplace communication.

Corporate owners are learning lessons and can commit to let more employees work from home to relieve traffic. With distance working comes less reliance on vehicles and highways. Our rail and bus lines must continue to operate, however, and strive for efficiency and safety. Connecticut’s proximity to New York City dictates a modern mass transit system.

Less individual driving translates to cleaner air for all, a welcome change already visible. A focus on stewardship for the environment — reduction of carbons and chemicals for healthier air, drinking water, lakes, the Sound — is vital. POVERTY

SNAP ( Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) has long been a line in the sand between political parties.

Now, instead of merely serving as the nation’s primary way to feed those in need, it could simultaneously offer relief to ailing restaurants.

The idea comes, in part, from our state. U. S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and fellow Democrat Rep. Jimmy Panetta of California have drafted legislation to permit Americans using SNAP to buy discounted meals at restaurants. The voluntary program is already being used in California, Rhode Island and Arizona for the homeless, the elderly and the disabled who qualify for SNAP.

Murphy and Panetta want to open it to all 38 million current SNAP beneficiaries. It’s the kind of thinking we need more of in the months to come. Not only would it expand food options for those in need while supporting the industry, it also would challenge restaurants to expand their menus with affordable options.

EDUCATION

Few issues have revealed the depths of inequality in society quite like education during a time of quarantine. For the better- off among us, there are school- provided laptops to keep students on track, with parents available at home to fill in the gaps. For others, it’s a mishmash of worksheets and online learning that many may not be able to take part in, with the burden that much heavier on students with special needs and families where parents are unable to work from home. The divides that mark our society have never been clearer.

Yet no one would pretend this has been easy for anyone, privileged or not. If we are to find our way to a better educational future, we must acknowledge the challenges and obstacles at every level, and find a way to bridge the gaps that have only become more visible. That means adequate funding for every school child, regardless of district or learning environment.

ELECTIONS

Our election systems are also due for an overhaul, but in this case the solution couldn’t be clearer. Many states have no- excuses absentee balloting that allows people to vote by mail in every election, and that should be the standard nationwide and in Connecticut. There is no need to make people take time off work, wait in long lines and potentially expose themselves to sickness in order to cast a ballot. Voting by mail is secure and reliable, and should be a priority regardless of the pandemic’s status.

HEALTH CARE

Less straightforward is the problem of health care. A post- virus future must allow more people access to lifesaving care that is not tied directly to employment. Connecticut has worked toward that goal with the introduction in recent legislative sessions of a public option that would allow anyone to sign up for the state employee health plan. The virus upended any chance of its passage this year, but it should be a priority once legislative schedules return to normal.

Coverage, however, is only the beginning. As the nation has rightfully saluted frontline health care workers who have borne the brunt of the coronavirus fight, we have also seen the shortages nationwide of vital equipment and paraphernalia. Working to ensure health professionals have the tools they need to provide necessary care takes on even greater importance in a post- COVID future.

The right tools for health professionals must extend to nursing homes. More than half of the COVID- 19 deaths in Connecticut are related to nursing homes, in part because of the vulnerability of the aged. But it also points to the need for greater state oversight to ensure uniformity of safe care, for the employees as well as for the residents.

The history of war has taught us that the worst of human conditions can benefit future lives. Innovations on battlefields have done this for generations, from the invention of the ambulance to casualty care that transitioned to American streets.

So with the profound setbacks of the pandemic comes opportunity. We welcome your own ideas in the form of letters to the editor. While the crisis has caused physical distance, it has also fortified a sense of community, not only in our towns, state and nation, but throughout the world.

We stand together, unmasked, eyes on the future.

Some of these themes may seem socially distant from one another, but they share a home every day — in newspapers.