With respect to a pandemic, how do early indicators and changes in commodity prices signal its severity?

Question

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The Answer is Early indicators warn of future economic disruptions. Investments in both assets and industrial production decline. The closing of non-essential businesses and the implementation of intervention policies decrease retail sales. Measured on a quarterly basis, economic contraction occurs. Behavioral changes among households lead to a reduction in travel. A decrease in consumer confidence multiplies the initial decline in economic activity. The public health sector reaches capacity, straining the ability to treat those who are sick. Taken together, early indicators warn of upcoming crises and signal to public sectors to mobilize resources.
The deterioration of economic conditions leads to a decline in commodity prices. With a global economic contraction, the prices of commodities such as oil are likely to fall. With this example, two types of markets exist. In the spot market, barrels of oil are bought and sold for immediate delivery at a specific location at current market prices. In the futures market, contracts that promise a set price for the future delivery of oil are bought and sold. The futures market signals how long the market may experience a relatively lower price. In the oil supply chain, refiners normally purchase oil with futures contracts, either from an exchange or privately negotiated. With this practice, futures markets exist at the center of the oil-pricing system. To establish their positions, speculators use the futures market because it is highly liquid and less vulnerable to distortions. The availability of futures prices enhances the transparency of the market and signals how long commodity prices are expected to remain low.

With Respect to a Pandemic, How Do Early Indicators and Changes