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Five years ago – on March 11, 2020 – the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic as a new virus raged around the world, forcing countries to lock down as hospitals and morgues filled up.

Some 7 million died in a crisis that highlighted deep inequalities both within and between countries.

Countless millions lost jobs, children fell behind in education and health services were stretched to breaking point.

Vaccines were developed in record time, but wealthier countries were accused of hoarding doses.

The world's last lockdowns were lifted in 2022, but for many people life has not returned to normal – and may never do so.

Five years on, we look at how prepared we are for a new pandemic, the lessons that have been learned and those that have not.

In Africa, we examine how the continent escaped the high death tolls seen elsewhere, despite its poorly equipped hospitals and underfunded health systems.

In Europe and Asia, we talk to people whose health and finances have been devastated by long COVID, an invisible crisis which economists say is costing countries billions of dollars.