This thought-provoking article places the COVID-19 outbreak into a more accurate setting based on the vast amount of data now collected on its spread and mortality rate over the past year. It emphasises that rather than being a pandemic, COVID-19 is a syndemic that involves biological and social interactions. As is becoming clear with the “second wave” of infections spreading across most countries, the only way to effectively tackle the disease is to act on both causes. The article thus emphasises that to further prevent the spread of COVID-19, it will be essential that much greater emphasis is placed on preventing non-communicable diseases such as obesity-related complications, including diabetes and heart disease, together with socioeconomic inequality. In order to fully understand COVID-19 as a syndemic, it is necessary to focus on its social origins. This is emphasised by the clear vulnerability of older (and less well-off) citizens; Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities; together with key workers, who are usually poorly paid and have very limited control over their working conditions. Ultimately this spot-lights “a truth so far barely acknowledged—namely, that no matter how effective a treatment or protective a vaccine, the pursuit of a purely biomedical solution to COVID-19 will fail.” The consequences of ignoring such factors will ultimately impact on politicians as exemplified by the landslide general election victory for Jacinda Arden in New Zealand, where COVID-19 has so far been effectively dealt with. In contrast, in the United States, where the second wave is currently accelerating and being ignored, it is highly likely that a change of President will follow after November’s election.