ICSW News – June 2020

President’s Message: A Changed World

Eva Holmberg Herrström, President, ICSW After almost 4 months with most of the world in lockdown the COVID-19 virus is still moving around. While Europe and parts of Asia are slowly opening up, much of the rest of the world experience a worsening situation. And even the opening up process have severe restrictions. At this time almost 12 million people have been affected and almost 550,000 died. The figures are probably grimmer in reality as reporting seems to be incomplete in many countries.

We still have a lot to learn about this virus in terms of how long it will last and what effects it will have. It is crucial that the health services are in a position to take care of those who need it. Social distancing and other measures may have to go on for a long time. But the effects go far beyond the illness itself. The global economy is in a huge backlash which it may take years to recover from. Huge support packages are set up, for instance in the European Union.