A roadside barber in Hanoi wearing a protective face mask in February of 2020 -- long before the US recommended face masks.
Mandatory Credit:	MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

A roadside barber in Hanoi wearing a protective face mask in February of 2020 -- long before the US recommended face masks.
Mandatory Credit: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

Stories this photo appears in:

Tease photo

Former CDC director: We can prevent the next pandemic

As the United States and the world continue to struggle in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, one truth has emerged -- it didn't have to be nearly this bad.