Rich countries used In the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and physical distancing policies for transmission control. However, are these measures also suitable in countries with a fragile economy resting mainly on the informal sector? The impact of lockdown measures in disadvantaged population strata in six Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) was reviewed using i) systematic review of 17 published papers and ii) review of 90 media reports. Those who most suffered from the lockdown were migrants, workers in the informal sector (which is huge), small businesses, slum dwellers, women and elderly revealing the social, cultural and economic inequalities of societies.Financial and food support for the poor was inadequate and sometimes mismanaged. In the better organized societies, the resilience was stronger (South Korea, Kerala/India) but also here the poor had to suffer most. It is strongly recommended that outbreak response strategies should particularly focus on the poor and vulnerable population.

No abstract

No abstract

Rich countries used in the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and physical distancing policies for transmission control. However, are these measures also suitable in countries with a fragile economy resting mainly on the informal sector? The impact of lockdown measures in disadvantaged population strata in six Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) was reviewed using i) systematic review of 17 published papers and ii) review of 90 media reports. Those who most suffered from the lockdown were migrants, workers in the informal sector (which is huge), small businesses, slum dwellers, women and elderly revealing the social, cultural and economic inequalities of societies. Financial and food support for the poor was inadequate and sometimes mismanaged. In the better organized societies, the resilience was stronger (South Korea, Kerala/India) but also here the poor had to suffer most. It is strongly recommended that outbreak response strategies should particularly focus on the poor and vulnerable population.