The World Health Organization reported that, globally, as of 3.33pm on Saturday, June 12, there had been 174,918,667 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,782,490 deaths reported.
As of June 9, a total of 2,156,550,767 vaccine doses had been administered, it reported on its website.
There were 3,243,700 confirmed cases reported in the Western Pacific.
In contrast, by region, in the Americas, the number of confirmed cases was 69,331,998 and in Europe – 54,938,606.
The staggering numbers confirm how dangerous this virus is and the extent of the pandemic.
As our numbers continue to come out daily, we are reminded about the impact of the virus on our nation, and subsequently on our economy.
We are reminded about the sacrifices we must make to contain it.
As the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong reminds us often, we are at war.
He also reminds us about the fact that the virus cannot move if we do not move.
It will only move if we move. So you know what needs to be done.
In the face of the constant breaches we read about, and cases before the courts, we must remind ourselves about the sacrifices made by our frontliners and the suffering of many people around the country.
There is the notion that our frontliners are paid to do what they are doing. Fine.
However, we should acknowledge the fact that many of our frontliners are putting their lives at risk daily. They have been away from their loved ones, some for months on end.
This virus knows no boundaries. It knows no demarcation line and does not differentiate in terms of ethnicity, gender and religion. It will cut through any barrier if we are not careful.
It will infect us if we are complacent.
It will kill people if they are not vigilant.
The pandemic has inched out great suffering around the world.
It has impacted nations, attacked economies, jobs, and separated families like never before. It has basically changed the way we do things. We are now forced to live the new normal.
There are many reasons why we must adhere to COVID-19 safety advice.
Thousands of Fijians who are staring at a bleak future expect us to adhere to physical distancing rules.
They expect us all to fight the virus so they can at least get back on their feet.
They expect us to stay home if we do not need to go out in public.
So please, let’s be considerate, for ourselves, our loved ones, and for the greater good of the country.
Let’s assist our frontliners to fight this war.
