Since COVID-19 took the world by storm, the World Health Organisation declared the disease a global pandemic. it has affected almost the entire world with the exception of Antarctic regions where no official cases have been reported. As of April 2020, the global officially reported cases suggest that infections had reached 1, 696, 588 with 105, 952 deaths 34. Within the same period Africa is reported to have 9,728 confirmed cases and 444 deaths. If the trend continues much longer it will render moderate gains made by most countries insignificant thus making already stressed economies worse 30 . Strains of COVID-19 such as Lambada strain, UK strain, Delta Plus strain, South Africa strain, B.1.1.7 (Alpha) strain found in North America; B.1.351 (Beta) initially found in South Africa; P.1 (Gamma) detected in Brazil and B.1.617.2 (Delta) in India suggest we are in a long haul with COVID14.

Regardless of its origins, as Kantarcioglu and others (ibid) have explained, there is something taking place on our blindside. That something remains unknown and can be harmful for public health and well-being. Indeed, global economies have been hit by the pandemic but weaker ones such as African economies which have already been described as fragile and vulnerable may be more weakened and will require increased investment and long-term initiatives to repair and promote their development programmes 26.

From theoretical social functionalism and psychological functionalist perspective33 COVID-19 has taught the world critical lessons ranging from economic, political, social (in terms of kinship, religion and education) to functional needs for adaptation, goal attainment, latency and integration. These are seen in measures offered by authorities as part solution to curb the spread of COVID-19. They argue that to contain the virus, social distancing should be maintained. Within functional parameters social distancing has the ability to exclude and isolate people who may be suspected of being infected by an alien disease like COVID-19. 15

Although Katz et al 15 are critical about social distancing measures, particularly quarantine and isolation, because it is not always supported by good evidence, and the fact that there may be barriers to their use, because lessons learned from its practice can be seen in both developing and developed contexts; I am not particularly sure about the thinking held 15regarding ‘guidance for social distancing lacking sufficient details about its implementation in every social context nor the factors considered by public health officials when making those decisions (p. 150). What I do agree with is that, social distancing is such a complex concept in terms of its application because of its political, ethical, moral and social challenges underpinned by experience and resources. 35 Within these spaces, COVID-19 has demonstrated how narrow the gap between developed and developing countries are in terms of their innovativeness and readiness to fight global emergencies.