As the United States slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, many questions remain about what communities should do over the long run to keep people safe, get their local economies moving again, and prepare for future outbreaks.

This issue advisory presents three options for moving forward, each coming from a different perspective and each reflecting a different set of ideas about what should be done. Most people will find something to agree with in all three approaches, but each also has trade-offs, risks, or drawbacks that need to be taken into account and worked through.

A year beleaguered by crises, 2020 has left many Americans concerned about what lies ahead for future generations. This advisory is designed to help people deliberate together about what we should do to ensure that future generations can succeed in a greatly changed world.