The number of paradigm shifts the COVID-19 pandemic is inflicting on American culture is impossible to calculate.

Yet one of those shifts — limiting public access and input to elected bodies’ efforts to govern in the name of public health — must end as quickly as possible.

It’s important to combat the coronavirus pandemic and protect people. But it’s also disconcerting to democracy that governments of, by and for the people are ultimately spending trillions of public dollars without any chance for the public to weigh in.

Look no farther than the $2.2 trillion federal stimulus package. A handful of elected officials drafted it behind closed doors. Then the U.S. House and Senate — both of which are closed to public access — voted on it and the president signed it. That’s $2.2 trillion of your money spent with no chance for public input.

The Minnesota Legislature followed a similar plan with last week’s $330 million COVID-19 package. The Star Tribune reported it was put together in private meetings with Gov. Tim Walz’s administration and then posted online to the public 10 minutes before members of the House were set to convene and vote on the package.

Like Congress, those legislative sessions and votes came in chambers with no rank-and-file Minnesotans present.

Plus, legislators — in the name of safety — had been meeting in “working groups” and just with their own party members to conduct the public’s business. Such meetings are not covered by public meeting laws because a quorum is not present.

Closer to home, local elected bodies at almost all levels have understandably turned to virtual meetings at which they have officially declared jurisdictional emergencies. Taking such action allows more flexibility with resources to respond to COVID-19 challenges.

Such meetings and declarations are needed. The officials involved simply must make sure of two priorities.

First, the meeting abides by legal requirements for virtual meetings, especially that “all votes are conducted by roll call, so each member’s vote on each issue can be identified and recorded.”

Second, that the practice of virtual meetings end as soon as possible once the danger has passed.

After all, as a nation of governments of, by and for the people, elected officials should be conducting the people’s business with as much transparency as possible and in ways that allow the people direct engagement in this process.

— St. Cloud Times