ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 takes readers on a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic, a period shaped by vastly different approaches between and within countries ranging from denial, mitigation to suppression. Some countries had to deal with major weather events and other disasters while also managing the health emergency. The ideologies of governments came to the fore influencing whether health or economies were prioritised, the science was accepted, and whether approaches were informed by individualism or collective responsibility. The first six months of the pandemic highlighted vast inequalities and established the global conditions for the emergence of new variants. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Patricia Fronek and Karen Smith Rotabi-Casares;individual chapters, the contributors.