The contingency would be to control the virus so it doesn’t overwhelm the health system presumably.
The reference to Flu is ambiguous, COVID 19 kills about 3.5% of those infected whereas flu kills about 1%. So some form of control is warranted. It also puts a lot of people in hospital with a lot of seemingly variable symptoms. (I’m supposing that’s is down to the persons immune system and genetic disposition)
Melbourne is now trying to control the virus so it doesn’t rage out of control (ref. New York, São Paulo, Northern Italy and parts of UK and Spain). Those unfortunate areas got caught out but still did and are trying to get to grips with a very virulent virus and they are making headway.
But at some point it will, if no antidote is found, gradually find its way around the communities of the world. How it is controlled to do that is very important.
It’s a good question and, as noted by others, a lot of minds are tuned to the tasks. antidotes, management, healthcare priorities etc.
