Over the first half of 2020, COVID-19 has expanded across the globe, officially declared a pandemic on March 11th. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives and livelihoods, and on its disruption to the economy and society. A vast majority of national governments and their health agencies are trying to combat the pandemic by placing restrictions on mobility and encouraging social distancing. We share our appreciation of their efforts, as these measures contribute to a reduction in the likelihood of human mortality, severe health consequences, and the spread of the disease, especially among vulnerable people and communities.