History shows that pandemics rarely impact on the population equally - the 14th century Black Death plague reduced the global population by a third, with the greatest number of deaths occurring among the poor.1 Fast forward six centuries, and the same pandemic inequities are prevailing due to COVID-19; with Smith and Judd articulating that "while COVID-19 has the potential to impact everyone in society, these impacts will be felt differentially… the most vulnerable will be hardest hit"2 in their recent Health Promotion Journal of Australia editorial.
People experiencing homelessness urgently need to be recognised as a high risk group for COVID-19.