Population health post-pandemic: can the public health community critique the economic approach taken?

Abstract Covid-19 arrived at a time that the UK, and indeed other countries, were experiencing increasing inequalities, stalling life expectancy and a climate crisis – the economic approaches taken to date were not addressing these challenges. In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, far-reaching economic decisions will made in the coming months and years that are likely have a larger impact on the health of nations than the direct impact of COVID-19 itself. Different approaches to economic recovery will serve our citizens’ health and wellbeing in different ways. The public health community needs to be able to advocate for the economic approach that serves the population’s health best.