The world has marked five years since the rapid spread of Covid-19 – a virus estimated to have killed at least 18 million worldwide, albeit more with an omertà-like pact of silence than the enforced pomp of military catastrophes.
On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organization declared a pandemic; as of April most of the world’s population was under lockdown; the highest international spike in deaths came in January 2021. The vaccine roll-out which started that year – initially restricted to rich countries – was crucial to recovery. But the impact of the virus and its mismanagement continue to be felt.
