The coronavirus pandemic had an enormous impact on the lives of billions of people simultaneously across the globe, disrupting and straining many of the relationships and support structures that are the sinews of society. Lockdowns exacerbated cases of loneliness and isolation, domestic abuse, and suicides, and shutdowns adversely affected huge economic losses. Many elderly died alone, while children lost precious months and years of the education so crucial to the building of lives. Fear and anxiety became prevalent as 2020 and 2021 became years of collective disruption and trauma. We are only just beginning to come to terms with the enormous ramifications of the pandemic and the first collective trauma of the globalised era.
In this plenary panel, a group of experts will look at the damage that has been done, as well as the lessons we might learn as we seek to recover.
