COVID-19: The virus that shut down the world

The world had to get used to a “new normal”. Lockdown saw a virtual world of social media platforms flourish, but mis- and disinformation spread as quickly as the virus itself. In much of the world, empathy and kindness also spread, as neighbours helped each other cope with mental health issues, loneliness, and loss. The global economy froze. The UN General Assembly moved online, where its 193 Member States met to chart a path out of the deadly pandemic, but the gap between the haves and have-nots, also widened.