The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has raged all over the world, killing thousands of people and infecting more than a million. The multilateral agencies have already predicted that the economic depression will hit the world as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. A vast chunk of world’s population is under the lockdown enforced to prevent the transmission of the virus. Physical- and social distancing has been rigorously adopted as part of the effective measure to rein in the contagion. The United Nations has called it the biggest crisis the human beings have confronted since the World War II. As the pandemic knows no border and ethnicity, its impacts are severe and widespread, with enormous economic, social and cultural sufferings. The deadly disease has forced the nations to rethink about the global socio-economic order that seems to be defective when it comes to dealing with the present crisis. It demands to devise a robust resilient system that helps the humanity to overcome the pandemic of this scale.

One remarkable consequence of the pandemic is that it has run wild in the rich and powerful countries supposed to be able to defeat the virus easily. But that was not the case. The death toll from COVID-19 has soared in industrial nations, a strange phenomenon that boggles the minds of scientists and researchers. The global power like the US is struggling to tame the virus. This is indeed a wake-up call for the world to act with a sense of unity and solidarity so that the affected nations can stamp out the coronavirus pandemic and minimise its devastating repercussions. In its recent report on the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, the UN has stated that the coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core, claiming people’s lives and livelihoods. The potential longer-term effects on the global economy and those of individual countries are dire, it asserts.

As the world body says, the ongoing catastrophe demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the globe’s leading economies - and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries. Likewise, more than 193 political parties from across the world, including the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), have issued a 10-point joint open letter, calling for a closer international cooperation to combat the deadly virus. They have stressed on coordinated policies, concerted actions, and mobilisation of resources and forces globally to control COVID-19. It is indeed true assessment that the lives, safety and health of the people is above everything. The countries need to put in place contingency plans and strategies, and strengthen cooperation while adopting an open, transparent and responsible attitude to disclosing related information.

Another important point of the joint letter is that the parties have strongly opposed the politicisation of public health issues and the stigmatisation of other countries under the excuse of COVID-19. This is a rational approach to stand against racist and discriminatory comments and practices against any country, region or ethnic group. It is the time to demonstrate the unity, mutual support and greater solidarity, not the blame game and bickering because the crisis triggered by COVID-19 is of global scale. Only coordinated efforts will enable the nations to be free from the pandemic.