In the year since the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the world has joined together to initiate a colossal, global response to COVID-19 in the effort to lessen its impact on vulnerable populations.

While COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to be reported around the world, the rollout of vaccines and the continuation of public health guidelines — such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing — are resulting in falling case counts in most regions, according to the BBC.

There is a lot that still needs to be done before the COVID-19 pandemic officially ends, but global cooperation has resulted in the fastest development of vaccines in human history, as well as promises to ensure equitable distribution to lower-income countries.

“The world has been staggered by the damage and death done by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Arthur Caplan, founding director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Global Citizen. “But the world has also managed to mount an incredible response to the carnage and resulting economic chaos led by science and medicine through their unprecedented international cooperation, exchange, funding, and coordination.”

As we ring in this grim milestone, here are three noteworthy achievements that global cooperation has helped bring about in the face of COVID-19.

  1. More Than $20.8 Trillion Has Been Committed to a Global COVID-19 Response
  2. The World Launched COVAX to Ensure Equitable Distribution to Vaccines Worldwide
  3. Countries Have Learned How to Prevent Future Pandemics

Read the full article about KEYWORD by [u'Jaxx Artz'] at Global Citizen