https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/prediction-tools-can-save-lives-in-the-covid-19-crisis/

With stunning rapidity, the novel coronavirus upended everyday life in every corner of the world. As the number of cases skyrocketed, hospitals were overwhelmed. Now, vast swaths of the economy remain hobbled, and the night air is eerily quiet. Few predicted either the magnitude or the extent of the disruption, and the response was almost uniformly insufficient.

Yet we can see in hindsight that indicators of vulnerability and other clues were everywhere. This phenomenon has a familiar feel. Warning signs for a succession of crises, ranging from the catastrophic events of 9/11 to the financial crisis of 2007–2009, stand out in stark relief when you look back at how the events unfolded.