Rich countries must prepare for the costs of Covid for another 20 years, according to the OECD.
There is also a 50 percent chance that another similar pandemic will occur in the next 25 years.
The health and economic impacts of Covid-19 are expected to last for two more decades, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The pandemic led to increased smoking, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy eating habits, while disrupting care for people with chronic diseases, putting pressure on economies and health systems.
Almost 7 million people died from Covid from 2020 to May 2023, and the global economy shrank by nearly 4 percent in 2020, comparable to the 2008 financial crisis. The OECD report emphasizes the need for early action to mitigate the worst health and economic consequences of future pandemics, which have a 50 percent chance of occurring within the next 25 years.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
