The Case for a Temporary COVID-19 Income Tax Levy Now, During the Crisis

Governments’ handling of the novel coronavirus 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic can be debated, but most countries have now implemented strategies that signifcantly restrict social interaction to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Concerns are now growing about the efects of these strategies on the economy and the associated efects on social determinants of health. Governments and communities may be willing to spend to counter the immediate efects of the
crisis on social determinants of health, but the opportunity costs of such spending will be signifcant forgone benefts in the future, associated with reduced access to healthcare and reduced spending to address social determinants of health.