<p>It has only been one month since the declaration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but already the CIVICUS Monitor is documenting an alarming deterioration in civic space across 40 countries. A&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://monitor.civicus.org/COVID19/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1587444730621000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGC-RwDkf7IVrVGh8EUUfraM74xcg" href="https://monitor.civicus.org/COVID19/" target="_blank">new brief</a>&nbsp;released today by the CIVICUS Monitor, shows that many governments are responding to the pandemic in an unjustifiable and unnecessary manner.&nbsp;</p>