1. Background

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first reported in December 2019, was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. The COVID-19 disease caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has been among the most disruptive public health emergencies in this century, affecting the wellbeing of humanity and disrupting the social and economic fabric of all nations.  As of 4th September 2021 more, more 220 million people worldwide had contracted the disease, of which more than 4.5 million have succumbed to the disease.

Advancements in science and technology have demonstrated the potential to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 through improved application of technological tools to improve the welfare of the society. Application of Science and technology through the use of artificial intelligence and data science provides opportunities for improved fast-tracking diagnosis, containment, analyzing, and predicting the trends of the pandemic. The use of robotics deployed in healthcare settings and at the airports has leveraged the potential for rapid tracking of pandemic cases and eased pandemic management through provision of efficiency and reduction of workload. Drone technology has also been used in various scenarios from the transportation of medical supplies and has eased lab sample pick-up time from remote rural areas for testing. Drones have also been used for aerial spraying of public areas to disinfect any potentially contaminated places, as well as public space monitoring and guidance during lockdown and quarantine measures.

In addition to the dramatic loss of human life worldwide, the pandemic has presented challenges to public health, and the social-economic development of all nations. All nations, especially developing countries have implemented intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the spread of the pandemic and minimizing the negative impact on the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a crisis to society due to the uncertainty of normal business operations businesses is to be rising to the challenge of corporate and commercial social innovation to ensure that businesses remain functional now and in the future. The need for scientific deliberation on how science and technology would support the wellbeing of society, and better respond to adjustments of commercial social innovation so that businesses can have a positive impact through a thriving and/or advocacy is vital.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how globally interdependent the world is, and how extreme inequalities in Science Technology and Innovation (STI) capacity effect productive capacity across countries and regions in a manner unfavorable to humans. It is evident that more research, data, and knowledge are required through collaboration to share best practices and evidence-based policy decisions to cope with the immediate impacts of the current COVID-19 crisis and go beyond it.  Data based on science, technology, and innovative programs play a central role in sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific collaboration has been accelerated and scaled up in an exemplary way to develop screening and diagnostic materials, treatment, and vaccines that offer the best opportunity for defeating the pandemic. Furthermore, research and development (R&D) capabilities in most countries have created practical knowledge that quickly created new world medications for COVID-19. However, R&D networks for developing vaccines and treatments have been more dominated by researchers and firms in high-income countries with the strongest R&D and economic capacity. This lack of productive capacity is having a hugely detrimental impact on developing countries including Africa. Most developing countries have been unable to produce the required medicines and vaccines that the continent needs to quickly cope up with COVID-19 recovery.

Advances in scientific immunology, genetics, and microelectronics have created opportunities to improve human health through vaccination. Currently, trends in COVID-19 vaccination are not at the desired pace especially comparing developed and developing countries. The main challenge to date is limited access to vaccines in most developing countries mainly in Africa, where less than 2% of the population have access to vaccines compared to some developed countries, which have achieved vaccine rollout of 2nd doses to over 75% of their populations. Although there are debates on the efficiency of vaccines to enable populations and society to return to the full potential of social dynamism, COVID-19 vaccination programs that were fully implemented have tremendously saved lives and drastically reduced hospitalization rates. The rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the pandemic have also markedly reduced in countries with access to vaccinations. In the meantime, even after the 2^nd dose of COVID-19 the communities are advised to maintain public health measures such as appropriate use of masks, physical distancing, handwashing, adequate hygiene, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation.