Comment by tuatoru

Very different.

It would have spread very rapidly, overwhelming health systems utterly. Do you remember the mask shortage early on in the pandemic? Do you remember the oxygen shortage recently? Have you heard the news about nurses and doctors quitting because of burnout? Imagine all of those dialed up to eleven, all at the same time. Along with shortages of cleaners, orderlies, and basic hospital supplies.

Nearly all the people whose lives have been saved by treatment in intensive care units would be dead, and many more besides: accident victims, cancer patients, etc., etc.

The sickness could have spread rapidly enough that essential services were entirely out of action for long periods of time . No water. No power. No air traffic control. No road repairs. No trains. No food transport. All of these at the same time, for weeks.