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] The relative stability of TB detection in Africa has been attributed to minimal disruption from COVID-19-related health system shocks, though the possibility of over-diagnosis in some settings cannot be ruled out. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The modifiable nature of occupational risk factors presents a unique opportunity to meaningfully reduce the prevalence of long COVID. Pharmacy Times
• [New] Malaysia's Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 and Sarawak Energy Transition Policy provide predictable frameworks that attract patient capital willing to invest for long-term returns. The Economy
• [New] The Bintulu Industrial Cluster is advancing hydrogen production, carbon capture, and renewable energy projects, supported by the state-level Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 and Sarawak Energy Transition Policy. / Malaysia The Economy
• [New] As businesses increasingly augment knowledge workers with AI, global software spending could accelerate from 14% annually during the past decade to between 19% and 56% during the next five years. ZDNet
• [New] Tokenized assets tripled to $19 billion in 2025 and could reach $11 trillion by 2030 (about 1.38% of global financial assets), anchored by BlackRock's $1.7 B BUIDL fund (20% of tokenized Treasuries) and tokenized gold from Tether and Paxos. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Narrowing the attainment gap: Used purposefully, AI could help close England's entrenched disadvantage gap - now more than 19 months by the end of secondary school. Tony Blair Institute
• [New] 19% of respondents predict Japanese Whisky to increase in popularity in 2026, alongside increased use of Asian flavours such as Yuzu, Matcha, Pandan, Kalamansi, and tea-based infusions. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] By integration type, the secure elements with integrated cryptography engines segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19% from 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] The FDA previously announced in June of 2025 that it will require updated warnings about myocarditis and pericarditis in labeling of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Pandora Report
• [New] The multiyear project is planned to continue until 2028, during which 19 helicopters and 5 firefighting aircraft are scheduled to be added to the national inventory. Daily Sabah
• [New] In 2025 just under 5% of lease turn-ins were EVs; in 2026, that will grow to about 12.5%, then nearly 19% in 2027. Car and Driver
• [New] The COVID-19 pandemic further pushed North American events to drop cash for hygiene reasons, so by 2026 it's widely expected that a concert or game will be a card only affair. Ticket Fairy
• [New] Since COVID-19, contactless card payments have become second-nature in retail and food service globally, so fans often expect to use their card at events. Ticket Fairy
• [New] In the high exposure risk scenario, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine are more salient (i.e., the difference in prevented severe COVID-19 outcomes and caused instances of blood clots is greater than in the low exposure risk scenario). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Compared to the control condition, the perceived probability of blood clots due to the AstraZeneca vaccine decreases in conditions presenting evidence-based information about the comparative risk of severe COVID-19 vs. AstraZeneca's risk of specific blood clots. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Perceiving a higher risk of COVID-19, a lower risk of the AstraZeneca vaccine, having already received a COVID-19 vaccine once, being older and male, and having a higher education led to higher vaccination intentions. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By the end of 2026, for-sale inventory is expected to sit about 12% below pre-2020 norms, a significant improvement from the 19% gap in 2025 and the nearly 30% deficit seen in 2024. Florida Realtors

Last updated: 01 February 2026