Covid-19 has changed the lives of all of us. But sometimes it has done so in unexpected ways.
Life in the age of coronavirus had locked down not just people but also crime and pollution.
It has made us reach back to the comforts of the past and forward to a radically changed future.
Bizarrely, it may even be saving more lives than it takes. Here are 20 unexpected side effects of the current pandemic.
School shootings
With most American schools closed, it also means an end to the familiar, if depressing, news of school shootings.
This was the first March since 2002 to not see a gunman open fire in a US school according to an investigation by the Washington Post.
Feeding time at the zoo
A German zoo is warning its financial difficulties may lead it to feeding its animals to each other.
Neumünster Zoo has said money for food is running short due to there being no visitors and that it has made a list of animals it would consider slaughtering first.
Director Verena Kaspari said: "If it comes to it, I'll have to euthanise animals, rather than let them starve.
"At the worst, we would have to feed some of the animals to others."
Divorce in China
As China eases its lockdown, divorce rates are beginning to climb. In Milou, a city in Hunan province, officials complained they couldn’t even grab a glass of water as they processed the growing pile of paperwork.
One Shanghai divorce lawyer reported his case load increasing by 25 per cent as couples decided to call it a day.
“The more time they spent together, the more they hate each other,” he told a local newspaper.
Crime in Peru
Crime has fallen dramatically as a result of Covid 19 lockdowns. In Peru, crime is reported to be down 84 per cent, with a mortician in Lima who normally deals with around 15 murders and traffic deaths on a typical a day, recently saying he was able to take a six hour nap one afternoon.
Smaller earthquakes easier to detect
Scientists are now able to measure even the faintest earthquakes. Normally, the background noise of city life makes some seismic activity hard to detect, but the advent of social distancing means urban life is detectably quieter.
Seismologists say their instruments have measured a decline of up to 50 per cent in human activity in some European cities, and around 80 per cent in Nepal.
Air pollution lives saved
With factories closed and industry at a standstill, many cities are seeing their cleanest air for decades.
In China alone, it has been estimated by a scientist at Stamford University that this has saved the lives of up to 77,000 people that would otherwise be cut short by pollution, compared to around 3,300 deaths caused by coronavirus.
But at the same time, pre-existing conditions caused by poor air may make Covid-19 sufferers more likely to die.
Death of cash?
Could Covid-19 spell the end of cash? Customers are being encouraged to use touch payments for even small purchases.
There is also evidence from the country's biggest ATM network provider, Link, that UK cash usage has more than halved since the start of the outbreak.
With research suggesting that some viruses can survive on bank notes for up to 17 days, the US Federal Reserve has also been quarantining dollar bills known to have been in Asia.
Sales of comfort food soar
Sales of so-called comfort foods are booming, helped by the their longer shelf life.
The New York Times reported that products like instant macaroni cheese, tinned spaghetti and tomato soup have seen an upsurge of sales.
Campbell soups saw an increase of 59 per cent in March compared with a year ago.
Sales of Spam are also reported to have risen by nearly 40 per cent, according to Bloomberg.
Speeding motorists on empty roads
Formula One racing may have been suspended, but Britain’s empty motorways are proving too much of a temptation for some motorists.
Police are still hunting for one driver who abandoned his car after being caught driving at 243kph on the M1 near London - more than twice the official limit.
Elsewhere, a Mercedes was pulled over for driving at 160kph in a 60kph zone.
Google symptom search
Google searches could help track the spread of Covid 19. People who suspect they may have the virus are entering their symptoms as searches, allowing scientists to track the progress of the disease.
Google searches may also provide clues to previously unrecognised symptoms, like a loss of smell, now thought to be experienced in between 30 and 60 per cent of cases.
No more drive time music
Lockdowns have ended the morning rush hour in many countries, but also changed drive time listening habits.
Streaming services like Spotify have reported that peak usage has switched from 7am to more than a hour later as people work from home.
Some songs are also more popular as a result of the disease. Streaming of Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police has risen by 135 per cent, and Abbracciame ("Hug me") by the Italian pop star Andrea Sannino by 820 per cent on March 13 alone.
Curious goats and hungry monkeys
Wildlife has been emboldened by the disappearance of humanity behind closed doors.
The wild goats of Llandudno have become world famous after invading the Welsh seaside town. But the lockdown has not been good for all species.
Monkeys who rely on tourists for food were seen battling for a single yogurt pot in Thailand, while hungry Seka deer roam the streets of the Japanese town of Naga looking for treats.
Seed sales growing
Growing your own vegetables is increasingly being seen as an alternative to going to the supermarket.
Packets of seeds are reported to be flying off the shelves as people attempt self sufficiency.
One Canadian mail order seed firm reported orders increasing by 599 per cent in a single day.
As the Modern Farmer website put it, "seeds are the new toilet paper".
A curse on Covid-19
Language experts in the Netherlands are predicting an upsurge of new curse words based round coronavirus.
Dutch swearing historical draws heavily from disease, with expressions like “krijg de tering” (get consumption) and “optyfussen” (typhus off) among the printable insults.
"Perhaps someday Dutch kids will savage each other on the playground with cries of coronalijer," the Economist magazine observed.
New dictionary words
Meanwhile the English language has already expanded as a result of Covid-19.
New phrases to be added to the Merriam Webster dictionary this year already include Patient zero, Contact Tracing and Super-spreader.
Fashion becomes more formal
Designers are predicting a trend to more formal clothing when life returns to normal.
They believe that people will be fed up with working from home in casual clothes and will want to dress up more.
New York designer Vivian Tam said: “People are telling me we’ll all be tired of staying home, wearing the same clothes.”
Baby names
A couple in India have named their twin boy and girl newborns Covid and Corona, while a baby girl born in the Philippines last month was named Covid Rose.
Not to be outdone, another Indian couple have called their newborn son Lockdown, apparently in tribute to the efforts of prime minister Narendra Modi.
Vimto in trouble
Covid-19 is likely to impact one of Ramadan's most popular traditions.
Soft drink firm Nichols has cancelled share dividends and issued a profit warning as a result of the outbreak.
The reason? Nichols owns Vimto, the beverage of choice for millions during the holy month.
With sales likely to be hit, the company says it is “not currently able to provide financial guidance for the year ended 31 December 2020”.
A Tangled story
Disney fans are claiming that an animated film by the studio predicted the virus a decade ago.
Social media is buzzing with speculation about the 2010 feature Tangled, based on the Rapunzel fairy tale.
In particular they focus on the heroine, locked away in a tower, and unable to go out to visit the nearby town of…Corona.
Emoji crisis looms
Get ready for an Emoji shortage later in the year. Unicode Consortium, the non-profit organisation which encodes new emojis, has announced the postponement of the next group of emojis by six months.
Emojis are typically added to mobile devices in September, but this will now likely not happen until early 2021.
Emojis approved last year could still be added later in 2020, including a gender neutral Santa Claus and a ninja.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
HAJJAN
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Wonka
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Norwich 1
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2-3 on penalties
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
