THE PANDEMIC

The outbreak of swine flu, which has already claimed 429 lives around the world, will
undoubtedly damage the already fragile global economy. Although it is impossible at this stage
to make an accurate assessment of the likely impact of the disease, some economists have
suggested a full-scale pandemic could cost more than $3 trillion (£1.9 trillion). As a guide, we
can consider what happened to the economy during past pandemics. Black Death, Probably the
most destructive pandemic in history, killing an estimated 75 million to 200 million people
worldwide in the 14th century. The significant loss of manpower not only depressed the
economy of the time but forced people to change the way they worked. Before the plague, the
main source of income in East Anglia, for example, was growing crops. But the Black Death
claimed so many lives in the region that survivors turned to rearing sheep for wool as that
required much less manpower. I wanted to believe the comforting thought that, when it comes
to coronavirus, we are all in this together. That knowing we’re all equally at risk, we’re pulling
together in the same direction, bearing the strain equally. The false nature of this belief was
initially most obvious in relation to class. Once the lockdown was imposed, a gulf very quickly
opened up between those on full salaries working on laptops from home, fretting about having
to cancel Easter holidays, and those living hand to mouth, fretting about how to feed their
children and avoid being made homeless. People in poor areas were already four times more
likely to die from avoidable causes, and the link between deprivation and life expectancy has, in
some cases, been getting worse. So the potential for Covid-19 to wreak havoc with this disparity
seemed obvious, given that it is a disease which adversely affects people with existing health
vulnerabilities.
3. I think this pandemic will bring a surge of appreciation and enjoyment for life when all is
over. We tend to appreciate things more than we did before when we lose something from it —
a family member or friend, our social outlet, our daily routine, and maybe even ourselves.
People will go out and party with friends, go to more sporting events, attend more concerts,
and so much more.