Although the number of daily cases has decreased significantly since the peak of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a significant global health threat, with an average of 4,000 new cases reported daily. This means that progress made in reducing the number of cases but also emphasizes that the pandemic is still ongoing and poses a threat to global health.

Global Impacts of COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 globally has been significant and far-reaching. Here are some statistics and estimates:

Global Death Toll

Out of the 70 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, between 3 to 7 million people have died*.

Global Economic Impact

The global economy has suffered greatly. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported a 4% drop in global energy demand in 2020, the largest decline since World War II. The global GDP also contracted by 3.5% in 2020.

Global Poverty

The pandemic has pushed millions into extreme poverty. For the first time in 20 years, the number of people living in extreme poverty increased. The World Bank estimates an additional 88 million people were pushed into extreme poverty due to the pandemic.

Global Unemployment

COVID-19 led to significant job losses. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs were lost in 2020. The losses primarily affected the informal economy, young people, and women.

Global Energy Demand

Global energy demand is expected to rebound by 4.6% in 2021, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels. However, this recovery faces significant uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic and varying government responses.

Global Inequality

The pandemic has worsened existing inequalities. Low- and middle-income countries were disproportionately affected. The Wellcome Global Monitor 2020 found that 45% of workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries lost a job or business due to the pandemic, compared to 10% in high-income countries.

Conclusion

Despite significant progress in medical science, human existence remains vulnerable, and the foundations of social life are still shaky.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us crucial lessons:
  • The need for more robust control over medical centers, ensuring they are equipped to handle the demands of a global health crisis.
  • The importance of enhanced global preparedness for future pandemics, which could potentially be even deadlier than COVID-19, with the potential to claim over 100 million lives.
  • Finding a solution for the prevention of the rapid spread of illness worldwide.

Discrepancy in Death Reporting

The source for the global cases and deaths of 7,010,681 is Worldometer. This number is based on cumulative confirmed deaths reported by Worldometer as of April 13, 2024. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the total number of global deaths attributable to COVID-19 in 2020 is at least 3 million, representing 1.2 million more deaths than officially reported. This discrepancy highlights the challenges in accurately tracking and reporting COVID-19 deaths globally.