KEVIN LINGS: What might the world look like after Covid-19?
The Covid-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc on global health systems, with lockdown measures completely disrupting personal and work lives across the world. People are wondering whether this represents a turning point in the way society functions
History suggests that some of the changes we are experiencing are unlikely to be permanent: the longer-term consequences of both 9/11 in the US and the global financial crisis, for example, were relatively modest and concentrated in particular sectors such as airline travel and the financial services industry – even though many people predicted at the time that these events would radically change social behaviour. This supports the argument that once Covid-19 is mostly under control (perhaps some time in 2021), a large part of our daily lives will return to normal.
However, pandemics have had longer-lasting effects on society. This was certainly evident after the Spanish Flu in 1918/1919, which significantly affected the health-care system and partially contributed to the baby boom in the 1920s...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.