The Air Rescue Team of FEMERAID International – the health service institution of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories (KMFAP) – informs our Knights and Dames about the followings:
Europe continues to break records with daily increases in numbers of cases and of deaths due to COVID-19.
Other numbers are also of concern:
- about 24 million students are missing out on face-to-face lessons,
- 400 million jobs have been lost so far,
- 26% of companies in the world have already closed or are about to close definitively very soon,
- tourism fell by 42% worldwide,
- 40% of flights have been cancelled, with airlines losing more than 300 Billion US Dollars,
- world trade fell by 9.2%,
- the unemployment rate is the highest since World War II.
The cost of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently around 16 Trillion US Dollars, whilst we are no way nearing the end – who will pay for all this?
Either we take drastic measures to curb the virus, or these numbers above can only be the beginning.
The COVID-19 virus has left most of humanity under tension.
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? If you have, you will probably have to wait a while longer to be able to act positively act upon them.
- If you intend to stay in shape, you will have to wait until the virus is better controlled to be able to take an active part in sports and keep fit.
- If you decide to save more money, have an increase in salary or get a new job, then most likely you will have to wait until the resumption of economic activity.
- If you decide to travel, once again the pandemic needs to be better controlled to do so without risk.
- If you want to start a new family, it is recommended to wait for better winds.
We are currently at the peak of the 2nd wave of COVID-19 around the world, with hospitals and ICUs on the verge of being overwhelmed. Our lives are paused one way or another until as many as 70% of the world’s population is either vaccinated or has been contaminated.
You have a decision to make in your approach to COVID-19, depending on which of the two options suits you better.
Stay safe and keep healthy!
13th January 2021
