The lifestyles of the rich and the spread of COVID-19

The origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China has led to all sorts of xenophobia, especially against Chinese or Chinese-looking people.  Its origins have been seized upon by the xenophobe-in-chief in the White House, who persists in his 'China virus' trope, for self-interested reasons aimed at feeding the prejudices of his core supporters.

Less attention has been paid to the role of the global rich in the spread of the virus globally.  A disproportionate number of celebrities appear to have been infected.  In many countries the earliest cases detected were amongst the wealthy jetset, especially those returning from skiing holidays.  In South Africa, Patient Zero in early March, was part of a group returning from a skiing holiday in Italy.  In Australia, those skiing in luxury resorts in Aspen appear to have become infected before flying home: they, and many disembarking from luxury cruise ships, have been major vectors of its spread.  Many other countries such as Brazil where it centres on the Rio de Janeiro Country Club, report a similar story.  In poorer countries the early cases have also often included the children of elites returning from education in the Global North.

Even today, in Australia, COVID-19 hotspots are disproportionality in the wealthier suburbs: such as Toorak in Melbourne and Bondi in Sydney. Many of those infected in Melbourne have relocated to their luxury beach houses for the duration of the lockdown.  Not all their neighbours are impressed (see photo below - 'You should of stayed in Aspen') and this report.

Does this matter?  In one sense no.  There is no suggestion that spreading the virus was intentional.  And once the virus has spread into the community more broadly it knows no class, nationality or boundaries.  Well it does ... it affects the poorest much more as they often lack the space to self-isolate, the resources to cope with lockdowns, and equal access to healthcare should they get really ill.

Those linking the speed of the spread of the virus to the acceleration of globalisation are right.  But they don't always go far enough.  The champions of globalisation often conceal an important concrete detail.  It is the hyper-mobility, mainly of the elite, that has especially contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19.

After COVID?  Maybe non-essential, high velocity, globetrotting will become more questionable and maybe we, the elite, can learn that it is possible to holiday and study closer to home.*  Do I need to mention that it would be good for the climate if a whole lot less flying took place.

* Full disclosure: I have been a high velocity globe-trotter so I write this as self-criticism too.