The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic loss of human life around the world and poses an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems, and the workplace. The pandemic's economic and social impact is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, and the number of undernourished people, which is currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could rise by up to 132 million by the end of the year.
Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Almost half of the world's 3.3 billion workforces are at risk of losing their jobs. Workers in the informal economy are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection, access to quality health care, and productive assets. Many people are unable to feed themselves and their families during lockdowns because they lack the means to earn a living. For most people, no income means no food, or at best, less food that is less nutritious.
The pandemic has impacted the entire food system, exposing its vulnerability. Border closures, trade restrictions, and confinement measures have made it difficult for farmers to access markets, including buying inputs and selling workforce their produce, and for agricultural workers to harvest crops, disrupting domestic and international food supply chains and reducing access to healthy, safe, and diverse diets. The pandemic has decimated jobs and put millions of people's livelihoods in jeopardy. As breadwinners lose their jobs, become ill, or die, millions of women and men's food security and nutrition are jeopardized, with those in low-income countries, particularly the most marginalized populations, such as small-scale farmers and indigenous peoples, bearing the brunt of the burden.
All students have access to lecture videos, a digital edition of the textbook, and links to other study materials. E-learning has proven to be more adaptable for students seeking knowledge. During this pandemic, one can learn and grow with the proper use of technology. However, only the private sector has the resources to provide E-learning to children. The government schools still do not have the necessary measures in place to provide E-learning to each and every student. Apart from learning, many other things developed among the students, such as working for companies and doing online internships.
Work is available online for content writers, web developers, data entry managers, and social media managers. These online platforms assist students in discovering their potential so that by the end of their courses, they will have jobs and work experiences. This online mode of education is an excellent way to fill the void left by the virus's spread between teachers and students.
Countries, including the United States, reported drops in road traffic to levels not seen since the 1950s during the lockdown. The number of vehicles on the road fell by more than 70% at its peak. Air travel has dropped by around 80% globally, with Europe being the hardest hit, and the UK's Heathrow airport reporting a 97% drop in passenger numbers in April 2020 compared to 2019.
The value assigned to various members of the workforce and supply chain has been temporarily redefined. According to Ana Yang, acting executive director of the Hoffmann Centre, there has been some increased recognition of 'key' workers and essential frontline staff, ranging from health and care workers to teachers, supermarket employees, and delivery drivers.
'However, whether or not this translates into better long-term pay and recognition remains to be seen,' she says. 'The virus has also exposed vast societal inequalities, with zero-hours employees being the most vulnerable to job loss and workers in factories, warehouses, and taxis being forced to choose infection over losing valuable income.'
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