ABSTRACT
Excess mortality during the COVID-19 epidemic is a crucial indicator of the health effects. We examined mortality records from government sources in Jakarta, Indonesia, from January 2015 to October 2020: 1) burials in public cemeteries;2) civil registration of deaths;and 3) registration of deaths by health authorities. During 2015-2019, there were an average of 26,342 burials per year between January and October. During the same time frame in 2020, there were 42,460 burials, a 61% increase. Two months before the first official laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Indonesia in March 2020, a surge in burials began in early January 2020. In 2020, an examination of civil death registrations or health authority death registrations revealed insensitive trends. Both the characterization and management of the health crisis in Jakarta are clouded by insufficient laboratory diagnostic and death surveillance capabilities. The public burials data described may serve as a useful indicator of mortality impacts and the efficacy of epidemic interventions.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
We analyze the impact of Covid-19 on productivity in the United Kingdom using data derived from a large monthly firm panel survey. Our estimates suggest that Covid-19 will reduce TFP in the private sector by up to 5% in 2020 Q4, falling back to a 1% reduction in the medium term. Firms anticipate a large reduction in 'within-firm' productivity, primarily because measures to contain Covid-19 are expected to increase intermediate costs. The negative 'within-firm' effect is partially offset by a positive 'between-firm' effect as low productivity sectors, and the least productive firms among them, are disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and consequently make a smaller contribution to the economy. In the longer run, productivity growth is likely to be reduced by diminished R&D expenditure and diverted senior management time spent on dealing with the pandemic.