[Billthedrill]

Nice link. This sort of thing always annoys me:

In 2019-20, several studies, widely publicised in the media, argued that historians had massively exaggerated the impact of the Justinianic Plague and described it as an ‘inconsequential pandemic’.

Controversial claims because the authors wanted to sell books. People who lived through it had very different words for it and it is difficult to exaggerate one's family dying. Here, for example, is what Procopius said about it:

During these times there was a pestilence, by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated. (more at the link) - History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii

[Reily]

It set the stage for Arabic expansion from the East. Roman and Sassanid Persian garrisons were so depleted it was like punching an empty paper bag.

[Antoninus]

During these times there was a pestilence, by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated. (more at the link) - History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii

Yup, Procopius also lived through it and his account is the one that most people are familiar with. Evagrius's account is not as detailed but is more personal.