The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health crisis without precedent in living memory, and continues to result in a widespread loss of life and severe human suffering. To contain the spread of the virus and save lives, most governments throughout the world imposed stringent containment measures. Activity in many sectors was shut down completely and travel and mobility curtailed. These necessary measures have succeeded in slowing the spread of infections and reducing the death toll, but have resulted in large short-term economic disruption and job losses, compounded by falling confidence and tighter financial conditions. The global economy is now experiencing the deepest recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s, with GDP declines of more than 20% in many countries during shutdowns and a surge in unemployment.