This is a most informative article comparing the coronavirus Covid-19 with many other pandemics that have occurred in the past hundred years.
Did any of them tank any countries entire economies? I remember clearly the swine flu epidemic in the 70s and all the other ones since then but I don’t recall any economies being destroyed or any of the outbreaks being politicized.
Covid 19 is not "over" in China. It's being held at bay by extreme, govt-ordered social distancing and quarantine, at the cost of shutting down their economy.
Since there is no "herd immunity" until 70+% of a population has been infected and recovered, the Chinese (or Italians, or Americans etc.) will be just as susceptible to new waves of Covid-19 in coming months or years. (Spanish Flu also came in waves, the 2nd was more deadly than the first.)
Every govt faces this balancing act, while hoping that the first wave of CV will pass and their economies can be revived, without a return of CV. We are in uncharted waters as to the length and depth of the coming ordeal.
Hopes that CV will go away in the summer may be mistaken. An outbreak by community spread is happening in Manila, now under lockdown.
RE: Did any of them tank any countries entire economies?
The Bubonic Plague in the middle ages not only tanked the European economy, it took DECADES for them to recover.
Nearly a third of Europe’s population was wiped out!