Global Scans · Coronavirus · Weekly Summary

Future potential spread of the coronavirus is impacting world trade and threatens a global economic recession and inflection point. For the first time, Illness is now a major driving force. We first reported this virus way back in 2010 and regularly since July 2015 as a predictable surprise: a known unknown to most. It is not a Black Swan; it was foreseen! Forewarned is forearmed and forearmed is protection against unpleasant possibilities and this inflection point will most likely change everyone's future profoundly.

Here are some actions you could take offered by and our friends at WavePoint and BCG and McKinsey.

Companies are asking people to work from home (we have always worked from our homes since 2003). We think the latter will become a long-term and rapidly growing trend as people reduce traveling time, buy more online, and increasingly recognize the benefits to their health of staying home. More emerging, potential behavioral trends here. Begin regularly evaluating predictable surprises, be prepared and act in time, while others lose their shirt through inattention to the future.

• [New] U.S. health regulators cleared use of retooled Covid-19 vaccines that target the latest versions of Omicron, in preparation for a fall booster campaign that could start within days. The Council of Industry
• [New] Ascertaining the prevalence and risk factors of obesity in children aged 3-12 years in Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic will aid in planning early interventions, thus mitigating the health impacts of obesity. LWW
• [New] Most recently, government activity, though not employment, has grown in response to 9/11, COVID, the Afghanistan War, and a perceived nuclear threat from Iran. Mercatus Center
• [New] Hate crimes targeting Asian communities in Canada surged by nearly 300% during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing deep-rooted biases and vulnerabilities. Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• [New] The Reserve Bank of Australia's balance sheet could take until the 2040s to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Peterson Institute for International Economics
• [New] China's exports and imports lost momentum in August with growth significantly missing forecasts as surging inflation crippled overseas demand and fresh COVID curbs and heatwaves disrupted output, reviving downside risks for the shaky economy. The Council of Industry
• [New] Global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, economic shocks and social justice movements have exposed vulnerabilities in sports' traditional models. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As we watch for further COVID-19 increases, another public health threat has emerged: a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Sick Times - Chronicling the Long Covid crisis
• [New] While global R&D growth has moderated compared to the extraordinary levels seen during COVID-19, we expect the environment to be characterized by greater selectivity and capital discipline rather than a diminished appetite for innovation. SEC EDGAR
• [New] Sub-regional aircraft (with fewer than 19 seats) are expected to be capable of supporting the UK's existing route network, particularly in rural and island regions. GreenAir News
• [New] Given limited global storage capacity, the resulting supply-chain stress could rival the magnitude of COVID-era oil disruptions - albeit from the supply side rather than demand. SWBC
• [New] Even before COVID-19, about half of American adults reported measurable levels of loneliness, and that lacking connection brings health risks on par with smoking. News-Medical
• The challenges to Canada's health care systems will continue long after COVID-19 dies down, because we have a huge backlog of procedures to deal with, for which we will need a strong health care workforce. Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
• The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped the context for quantum strategy development due to heightened concerns about technological resilience and supply chain vulnerabilities. RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT
• Achieving the 2030 UN SDGs will require tremendous efforts ahead by governments and industries globally given the considerable setback induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 07 June 2026