Global Scans · Pandemics · Weekly Summary

• [New] Hotel occupancy in the U.S. is expected to reach 63.38% in 2025, inching closer to pre-pandemic levels but still 2.42 percentage points below the 2019 peak of 65.8%. LightBox
• [New] The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the vulnerabilities of global supply chains, prompting companies to rethink their sourcing strategies and operational efficiencies. EDGAR Index - SEC Filing News
• [New] The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains is leading to shortages of critical components and materials required for tire production. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Growing international support for Taiwan, which also enhances its resilience, was partly spurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, due to extended disruptions of PRC supply chains, China's economic prowess in Europe was suddenly diminished. Asia Society
• [New] The Bank of Canada is in a challenging spot, given that a trade war with the U.S. could push the Canadian economy into a recession in the coming quarters but also reignite inflation, which was only recently tamed following years of rapid price growth coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Globe and Mail
• [New] Analysts forecast a continued annual growth rate of around 2.4% for global seaborne trade, with trade volumes projected to reach approximately 12.8 billion tonnes - a remarkable recovery following the pandemic era. Myjoyonline
• [New] Conservation funding is at risk due to shifting global priorities, economic downturns, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel. TUKO.co.ke
• [New] Increasing US manufacturing of pharmaceuticals emerged as a more urgent priority during the Covid-19 pandemic as supply disruptions and concerns about access to crucial medicines laid bare the vulnerability of relying on imports from other countries. CNN
• [New] A world where pandemics are solved in days rather than years will change the calculus for international trade, production and medical logistics. City AM
• [New] The COVID-19 pandemic and global disruptions have exposed the vulnerabilities of pharmaceutical supply chains that rely heavily on overseas manufacturing. Euro-American Worldwide Logistics
• [New] Global supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of economic risk diversification, making it imperative for New Zealand to reduce its dependence on a few key trading partners. FirstPost
• [New] The COVID-19 pandemic, while less lethal in terms of raw mortality, demonstrated the profound disruption a novel virus can cause to global supply chains, international travel, and even the fundamental fabric of daily life. 2025
• [New] People with disability are overrepresented amongst the poorest and most marginalised people globally, disproportionately affected by health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly at risk from the growing impacts of the ongoing climate crisis. Griffith Asia Insights
• Disruptions in the global supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 25% increase in material costs, significantly impacting fuel cell production timelines. Market Data Forecast
• The Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine exposed the vulnerabilities of supply chains in food, pharmaceutical, energy and manufacturing sectors which still reverberate to this day, it adds. The i Paper
• The global chip shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable the world's supply chains were to disruptions, especially when critical manufacturing relies on distant countries. UNDERCODE NEWS
• Geopolitical and Economic Resilience The ongoing global emphasis on supply chain resilience, amplified by the disruptions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, has made rail an increasingly favored option for its reliability and scalability. Rock Products Magazine - Now Incorporating Aggregates M
• The COVID-19 pandemic led to temporary halts in nearly 15% of global output, underlining the vulnerability of supply chains. Discovery Alert
• As global supply chains continue to face disruptions from geopolitical tensions or pandemics, manufacturers may increasingly prioritise resilience over cost savings alone. Business Case Studies
• Geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, conflict and war, climate change, pandemics and energy and food insecurity threaten an already fragile global coexistence. DIRCO
• Medical oxygen is a highly cost-effective investment to advance global public health that will accelerate the world's progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for health by 2030, and also help countries prepare for the next pandemic. Republic World
• Global supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by recent geopolitical tensions and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, can impact the availability of components necessary for overlay metrology systems. Verified Market Reports

Last updated: 31 March 2025