TODAY is the last day of the month of May. Around the world, May has been a notable month for various reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States death toll reached and exceeded 100,000 Thursday, the most among all countries in the world.
In South America, Brazil became the latest epicenter of COVID-19 with over 25,000 deaths. From Mexico to Peru to Chile, health officials reported rising cases. Latin America has now overtaken Europe and the US in the number of new daily infections.
In the news in Asia this week was India as it reported a record 6,387 new cases in one day. Early this month, South Korea had been cited for its success in containing COVID-19, but this week, it reported 79 new cases to raise its total to 11,344, the largest increase in new cases.
As of May 28, there were 5,803,416 cases confirmed in over 227 countries and 26 cruise ships. Of this total, 359,791 died and 3,044,378 remain active cases.
The top ten in COVID-19 cases and deaths as of May 28 were: US, 1,758,422 cases, 102,917 deaths; Brazil, 438,812, and 26,764; Russia, 379,051, 4,142; United Kingdom, 269,127, 37,837; Spain, 237,906, 27,119; Italy, 231,732, 33,142; Germany, 182,445, 8,570; Turkey, 160,979, 4,461; India, 158,333, 4,531; and France, 149,071, 28,662.
The Philippines is No. 43 in the list, with 15,558 cases and 921 deaths. In our part of the world, Southeast Asia (SEA), we are next to Indonesia, which has 24,538 cases and 1,496 deaths. Below us in SEA are Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, and Laos.
These statistics are bound to change in the coming weeks and months, as various countries make their respective decisions on how and when to lift the restrictions on the movements of their people, so that business and government can slowly return to normal.
The virus will cease to be a danger when the vaccine and cure are discovered by scientists working around the world today. Until then, every person will have to rely on his own resources and actions to avoid infection – through social distancing, face masks, and personal hygiene. Each person will have to make his own decision on such matters as working close to another in an office or factory, taking mass transportation, going to church and attending other mass gatherings, or opting to continue staying at home.
We pray that we will survive this period of uncertainty which could last months or even years.
