Affecting 203 countries and territories around the world Covid-19 has taken the lives of more than 50,000 people since the outbreak began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, in December.

On Thursday, Coronavirus cases broke the 1 million barrier.

The US tops the list of countries with most Covid-19 cases. As of publication, more than 235,000 cases have been recorded, with the death toll rocketing to almost 6,000. Across the Atlantic, Italy and Spain have each reported more than 110,000 cases, being the epicentre of the pandemic in Europe.

The majority of countries have imposed far-reaching measures and even absolute lockdowns, in a last-ditch effort to halt the spread of the virus. Citizens are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons, such as grocery shopping, medical appointments, exercise and to help those in need. Yet, in various countries, even those reasons are further restricted, with the imposition of time and distance limits.

Dozens of countries have entered the race for a vaccine, working in labs to find the vaccine that could stem transmission of the fast-spreading virus. Others are struggling to relieve their overwhelmed national health systems and to safeguard that they are sufficiently equipped with protective year to protect those fighting in the forefront.

Several scenarios are on the table; the use of an anti-malaria drug, a drug used for HIV treatment, another one that is authorised to treat sclerosis. According to the World Health Organisation, no drug has proved to be effective in treating Covid-19.

Given the unprecedented threat of the pandemic, maybe it’s time for the world to give up unilateral initiatives seeking ‘exclusivity’ of vaccines and to join forces in the fight against Coronavirus and in the race for the cure.