The Invisible Victims of Coronavirus

Covid-19 threatens lives not only through infection, but social and financial disruption

While the fear of this pandemic’s impact on our health spread first, it’s the hip pockets of the masses who will be the other victims of this disease.

Nightmare scenarios of people being welded into their homes have drawn headlines, and denialists have sown confusion by calling governments’ responses over-the-top, but there is no doubt the effects of Coronavirus will be felt long after we develop a vaccine.

It seems announcements on cancelation of large gatherings are being made every minute, in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, with major casualties including touring events and festivals. {Tone Deaf — Live Nation / AEG Postpone All Tours}

YOU can’t … but a virus CAN stop the music

Using a music festival cancelation as an example allows us to see the huge number of people involved in running these events.

Take a quick look at the following, as all these people have lost precious income.

• Musicians — most income these days comes from gigs and merchandise sold at events.
• Roadies — a band can’t set up a gig without a team of professionals. Just like other touring events, you only get paid if it goes ahead and this army of workers won’t see a cent.
• Technicians — lights and sound don’t adjust themselves. There’s not only the team working the lighting board / sound mix, but those who set everything up.
• Bar & food staff — there is a literal army of behind-the-scenes workers at big events who make sure you can eat and drink and have a great time. Those selling it are only the front line, don’t forget the team preparing food in the background, the suppliers who provide everything, and the original businesses that sell them the raw ingredients. There’s an entire supply chain being disrupted.
• Security & Front of House — sure, you may not miss seeing bouncers, but they’ve got to put food in their mouths too.
• Cleaners — someone’s got to clean up your mess. Now they won’t. No gig, no pay.
• Airlines, hotels, transport — if you’re not going on tour, you’ll cancel your travel plans. Hotel staff, drivers, the list goes on.

Just a single month of events being canceled will see the loss of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars being pumped into the local economy according to Evelyn Richardson, CEO of peak music body Live Performance Australia. {The Music — ‘It Is Vital Government Acts Now’: Music Industry Calls For Support Amid COVID-19 Outbreak}

Mass cancelations and their consequences

Now think of other events being canceled, from massive sporting events like the Melbourne Grand Prix to Hillsong’s annual gathering in Sydney (oh, that’s right, Hillsong attendee and Australian Prime Minister [Scott Morrison] didn’t advise against mass gatherings until the Hillsong monster event concluded — as cheekily reported in The Shovel) (can you say sycophant, Scotty?).

You may think the fast food outlets in the suburbs would celebrate people staying away from work, but even they are suffering. If staff are sick, quarantine can force stores to close in the short term, like a KFC that also had to contact local schools to inform them of an outbreak amongst staff. {7 News — KFC Store In Brisbane Closed After Worker Tests Positive}

Global businesses like Google are asking staff to work from home, but as reported in The Guardian, this doesn’t extend to temps and subcontractors, or include everyday workers like cleaners.

With workers being told to work from home (if deemed worthy of such duties), or not being called in and therefore not receiving pay, they aren’t spending at their regular food haunts.

The effect on support businesses in the physical vicinity of now vacant offices will be staggering.

As noted in the New York Times, mega chains like Starbucks have already noticed drop-off in trade, as even those in the vicinity become anxious about congregating in spaces where there might be a crowd, and therefore, a virus carrier.

On the flip side, workers like baristas are now on the front line of potentially catching the disease from customers unaware of their infection.

Starbucks have reopened most their 2,000 recently closed stores in China, yet are already warning investors of a potential drop in earnings of 50%.

From macro to micro

But for smaller business who don’t have the financial backing of large chains, the slowdown caused could be devastating. Local cafés and restaurants which rely on regular trade are at risk.

The popular Death Star Canteen in inner-city Brisbane has noted a drop in trade of 10% this week, and almost 15% last week as fear of the virus hit. It may not sound like much, but 10–15% is the difference between viability and loss in the hospitality industry.

Café owner Glenn Morris noted Friday the 13th trade was “busy like usual, but overall it’s been quiet … and we’re expecting worse and taking steps to cut costs like reducing staff rosters and opening hours”.

Local stories, global effects

Glen’s story is but one of millions being told by small businesses globally.

Consider the impact on businesses in Italy where only essential services have been allowed to continue trading. What happens to their fixed running costs like electricity, security, and rent?

Will tenants and other service providers accept that businesses can’t pay when they haven’t had the ability to source income?

Individuals are also facing uncertainty with the possibility of lower or even no income with businesses temporarily closing. With many part-time or casual workers already skirting close to the poverty line, how will they ride out Covid-19’s aftermath?

All of this has happened before …

While the potential for illness and death from this highly contagious virus are an enormous concern, quick action to contain its spread will have major benefits for not only those at highest risk, but also the medical systems that are already straining to cope.

Let’s not forget about the millions of others economically effected without even having contact with Covid-19 … or any of the pandemics that WILL happen.

History has seen many plagues, and plans need to be in place to contain and treat not only the diseases themselves, but the economic aftermath they leave behind.

About The Author

Stephen Scott. Writer of Words. Yet Another Creative. Many names, some printable in decent company. He’s been plying his trade in copywriting and creative management since, well, before you were born (if you were born in the 90’s). Yes, he’s obviously a Star Wars fan. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.