This coronavirus affects everyone, but not equally. The young often shrug off the virus;
the old often die of it. The rich shrug off the economic shock; the poor cannot.
Because of covid-19, the number of extremely poor people will rise by 70m-100m this year,
the World Bank predicts. Using a broader measure, including those who lack basic shelter
or clean water and children who go hungry, the ranks of the poor will swell by 240m-490m
this year, says the UN. That could reverse almost a decade of progress. If a vaccine is
found, economies will no doubt bounce back. But widespread vaccination will take
years and the very poor cannot wait that long. By then, malnutrition will have stunted
a tragic number of children’s bodies and minds.