Some 6.7 million people in 224 countries and jurisdictions have died from COVID-19. Many more will have perished without being diagnosed and others because they were denied treatment for other illnesses in overcrowded hospitals. So far, approximately 653 million cases have been confirmed worldwide.
The pandemic is not over. While statisticians still count high numbers of deaths, neither national publics nor world leaders seem to want to notice. Worldwide, 1,636 died of COVID-19 every day in the week ending December 12. During the same week, COVID-19 killed 2,826 Americans, 370 more than died in the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
COVID-19 has done lasting damage to the global economy. The world’s collective GDP fell by 3.4 percent in 2020—equivalent to every adult and child losing $385.
Spreading first mostly among rich countries, COVID-19 initially reduced global income inequality. But, by the end of 2021, inequality
