This issue of Southasiadisasters.net is titled ‘The Global Impact of COVID-19’, and highlights the consequences, implications, risks and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic on our current world order. The pandemic and its response, in the form of protracted nationwide lockdowns have had several short-term as well as long term impacts on human health, society, economy and environment. For instance, the severe lockdowns imposed in certain countries have actually caused a widespread economic and humanitarian crisis. Therefore, it is important to draw important lessons from this pandemic to amplify our future preparedness and response capacities to similar shocks.