Yes, there was, and continues to be much to be gained by having a global phantom menace. Consolidation of authority to a central global governance, liability free introduction of bleeding edge genetically active and engineered medical treatments and pharmaceuticals, an opportunity to assess the strength of dissent and depending on outcomes, an opportunity to manipulate the majority into disarming and cancelling dissidents. Centralized currency, legalized mass surveillance for contact tracing and safety. It’s a fascists fantasy scenario. 💯