Analysing recovery from pandemics by Learning Theory: the case of CoVid-19

Romney B. Duffey; Enrico Zio

The theory is based on the fact that human learning demonstrably reduces error rates (Ohlsson, 1996) : wisdom is gained after an accident. Evidence on this relates to even highly hazardous industries like the nuclear one. A good example is that the safe operation of nuclear power plants has been, and continuous to be, improved from lessons learned from nuclear accidents and incidents. These accidents and incidents, in addition to highlighting the role of human errors in their occurrence and progression, have helped identifying various critical technical elements and contributed to the safer operation of nuclear power plants. Similarly, the observation is applicable to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Improving health systems following epidemic outbreaks and enhancing reliability and safety measures following nuclear power plant accidents have to be handled with objective data and accurate calculations. However, whereas nuclear power plant operation has done this by a world-accepted, high standard of procedures, the "protection system" against pandemics is not there yet. The key is how to design, evaluate and implement the procedures, for reaching a high standard.