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] Labour availability constraints, rapidly rising labour rates and the residual impacts of COVID-19 will compel most companies to invest in cyber-physical systems, especially intralogistics smart robots. Modern Materials Handling
• [New] COVID-19 Antigen Tests: All OTC COVID-19 antigen tests will require prior authorization unless prescribed by a California Children's Services Paneled Provider for a pediatric patient under age 21. cmadocs
• [New] Perhaps unlike any other event in recent history, the coronavirus pandemic has put a magnifying glass over the United States' supply chain vulnerabilities in the context of a globalized world. American Resources Policy Network
• [New] In 2026, health professionals across settings will continue to encounter vaccine wariness and misinformation - not just around COVID-19, but across routine immunizations. Hospital News
• [New] There are many different variants of COVID-19 - some reports say more than 20 - but experts believe that the Omicron variants will be circulating the most in 2026. Newsweek
• [New] The CDC expects the 2025-2026 U.S. autumn and winter respiratory season to have a similar combined peak hospitalization rate for COVID-19, influenza and RSV as last year, although multiple peaks and regional variations are possible. Riskline
• [New] CDC continues to expect that the U.S. fall and winter respiratory disease season will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season. CFA: Qualitative Assessments
• [New] CDC continues to expect that the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season in the United States will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season. CFA: Qualitative Assessments
• [New] COVID-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of December, with Congress adjourning until 2026 without extending them. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] Millions of people across the UK will be offered a free NHS Covid jab in 2026. Manchester Evening News
• [New] Kennedy's FDA may add a black box warning label to COVID vaccines, which agency officials have linked, without evidence, to the deaths of children. Scientific American
• The global health implications are critical: lapsed COVID-19 preparedness, limited surveillance, and low vaccine uptake threaten effective responses. PubMed Central (PMC)
• In a major boost to research on long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome, known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, the German government has announced that it will provide €500 million (US$ 582 million) in research funding to support a National Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases from 2026 to 2036. Science for ME
• CDC continues to expect that the fall and winter respiratory disease season in the United States will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season. Respiratory Illnesses
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are actively tracking cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV to keep Americans informed on the increasing risk of outbreaks. al
• Vaccination rates are disappointingly low, elevating risks of acute infection and chronic Long COVID impairment for many, particularly as the BA. Medium
• Without FCA action, unresolved Covid BI disputes could trigger a higher volume of litigation as some policyholders seek to preserve their position before claims become time-barred. Insurance Business
• A continuing upward trend since the lifting of Covid travel restrictions could see the busiest Christmas on record. The Independent
• Canada lost its designation in late 2025, and we will probably continue to see outbreaks of new and existing diseases such as COVID, whooping cough, bird flu and seasonal flu. Scientific American
• Using advanced imaging and AI, teams at UBC and SFU will create ready-to-use antibody treatments for viruses such as COVID-19 and bird flu. BC Gov News
• Some COVID-era subsidies under individual Affordable Care Act plans are set to lapse in 2026, which would lead patients to accelerate elective procedures, preventive care visits and diagnostic services while their insurance is still affordable. Yahoo Finance
• Building on a decade of work with the CPUC, E3 was re-selected to support California's IRP process, using RESOLVE and related tools to design system plans that have already underpinned nearly 19 GW of reliability procurement and point to ~100 GW of new clean capacity by 2040. E3

Last updated: 04 January 2026