ESCAP tackles digital divide in policy brief on COVID-19

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in its recently published policy brief ‘The Impact and Policy Responses for COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific’ highlighted the need to step up efforts to ‘reduce the digital divide’ which have come into greater focus with the introduction of social distancing measures. The document specifies that ICTs can help fight the pandemic through better provision of services, access to vital information, but also virtual connectivity that helps overcome psychological and social isolation.