without mandates to close everything down. I doubt any system would have "been prepared" but a free market system would not actively prevent the implementation of what works like socialist institutions such as the FDA and CDC did. South Korea for instance allowed private development of testing and production of PPE. And they're certainly doing better because of it.

A lot of people are calling to have the US prevent selling PPE on the free market and keep it in the US (at below market prices). Well if you're interested in preparing for the next pandemic (or even trying to get the current one under control) that is exactly the wrong idea. We want manufacturers to increase production. If we don't allow them to make a profit (anywhere in the world they can) we'll end up with less current production and less future production capacity.

As for your other questions about how free markets would "help people" I'll mostly just say this - The main benefit of capitalism and free markets is getting scarce resources to their most productive ends. People who lost their jobs would find something that worked for them. We wouldn't prop up failed business ideas and people would have to quickly find a job (or invest) in something people want or need.

That is why capitalism always outperforms command economies - you have to make good decisions before you can make bad ones. And if you make bad decisions you can't spend other people's money making more bad decisions.