Pandemics (coronavirus disease-2019), experiences, lessons learn, and the future Pandemics (coronavirus disease-2019), experiences, lessons learn, and the future

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and
the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its emergence in Asia in 2019, the
virus has spread everywhere except Antarctica. We have now reached the tragic milestone of more than
2 million deaths, and the human family is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss. However,
the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it’s also an unprecedented socioeconomic crisis. Stressing
every one in the countries, it has the potential to create devastating social, economic, and political effects
that will leave deep and long-standing scars. Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no
way of knowing when normality will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have
empty hotels and deserted beaches. We have been supporting countries since the very early stages of
this crisis, donating essential protective medical equipment. As the response evolves, and after assessing
the immediate, medium- and long-term needs, we are moving into the socioeconomic response. It will
require all of society to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to cushion the potentially devastating impact
it may have vulnerable economies. We must rebuild trust and cooperation, within and among nations, and
between people and their governments.