It shouldnt take a global epidemic to make people realize that paid sick leave is a critical economic policy, but here we are.

As coronavirus sweeps through the country, the fact that the U.S. is one of only a few developed countries that does not guarantee workers paid time off when theyre sick is getting an unprecedented amount of attention.

Editorials from publications around the country Raleigh , San Antonio , Orlando , Washington state and New York are pressing for paid sick leave. House Democrats put the issue at the top of their coronavirus stimulus bill agenda. Congressional Republicans, long opposed to such benefits, are warming to the idea. Even companies long hostile to giving workers these benefits are begrudgingly doing something.

Americans, ever the individualists, are typically wary of paying for someone elses problem. Its an attitude that has held back social policies like universal health care and child care, as well as maternity and sick leave.

But the disease caused by novel coronavirus, COVID-19, cant be solved at the individual level. Its everyones problem, solvable only at the collective level. The health crisis is so big that it actually may burst the American illusion that were on our own.

People are finally coming to see that we are only as safe as the most vulnerable person among us, said Ellen Bravo, a strategic adviser to advocacy group Family Values @ Work, whos been fighting for paid leave for over 16 years. We all are affected by this. Now that people are thinking about the subway and who they sit next to on the plane, its finally getting through.

Bravo stood outside a Milwaukee restaurant years ago trying to drum up signatures for paid sick leave. She asked one man walking out the door if hed sign. He already had sick leave, he told her.

I said, How about the guy who made you lunch? Bravo recalled.

The man turned around and signed.

If a worker gets paid sick days through their job, which about three-quarters of Americans do, its only natural they may not think much about the people, mainly low-income, who dont. Coronavirus changed that. Its as if a collective lightbulb has clicked on. When workers come in to work sick and about half say they do everyone is at risk.

Republicans have long been hostile to the idea of paid sick leave. Even though they concede theres a need for sick leave now, theres resistance. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said recently that he believes companies will simply do the right thing on the issue.

And perhaps some will. Just this week, Uber, McDonalds, Darden Restaurants (which owns Olive Garden) and Instacart all announced some kind of sick leave policy. Many major fast food companies , however, including including Burger King, Chick-fil-A and Panera, still havent implemented paid sick leave for their workers.

And even the policies that have gone into effect likely wont be sufficient to help stop the spread of the virus. Uber and Lyft said theyd compensate workers, but only if they tested positive for COVID-19. That means workers who are sick but cant get tested for a myriad of different reasons will still be out driving.