Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1347847
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MARCH 2021 NEWS Sheet 2 30-Aug 3-Sep 7-Sep 11-Sep 15-Sep 19-Sep 23-Sep 27-Sep 1-Oct 5-Oct 9-Oct 13-Oct 17-Oct 21-Oct 25-Oct 29-Oct 2-Nov 6-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov 27-Nov 1-Dec 5-Dec 9-Dec 13-Dec 17-Dec 21-Dec 26-Dec 30-Dec 3-Jan 7-Jan 11-Jan 15-Jan 19-Jan 23-Jan 27-Jan 31-Jan 4-Feb 8-Feb 12-Feb 16-Feb 20-Feb 24-Feb 28-Feb 4-Mar Sheet 2 30-Aug 3-Sep 7-Sep 11-Sep 15-Sep 19-Sep 23-Sep 27-Sep 1-Oct 5-Oct 9-Oct 13-Oct 17-Oct 21-Oct 25-Oct 29-Oct 2-Nov 6-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov 27-Nov 1-Dec 5-Dec 9-Dec 13-Dec 17-Dec 21-Dec 26-Dec 30-Dec 3-Jan 7-Jan 11-Jan 15-Jan 19-Jan 23-Jan 27-Jan 31-Jan 4-Feb 8-Feb 12-Feb 16-Feb 20-Feb 24-Feb 28-Feb 4-Mar cases Recovered Deaths eration, as children will invari- ably learn and model their be- haviour from the adults around them. The reality is that time passes equally for everyone." Full circle Ironically, with older people being the first to be vaccinated while the virus keeps unrelent- ingly spreading in the commu- nity – especially among people from younger age groups, hos- pitalisation and the deaths are also bound to increase among the latter. In fact by the beginning of Feb- ruary, the number of people aged 85 and over admitted to hospital with COVID-19 had plummeted by 80% according to preliminary data from a Mater Dei Hospital study. Over 85-year-olds were the first to be inoculated by the virus. Studies in Israel also found that COVID-19 hospitalisations of over 60s fell by more than 30% after that cohort received the first of two vaccine shots. In such a situation the percep- tion that COVID-19 is main- ly a threat to old people may backfire, as younger age groups who previously downplayed the risks, become more exposed to danger. This may well evoke a scenario where younger people, particularly those with underly- ing conditions, will be increas- ingly the ones to bear the brunt of the third wave along with old- er categories which have still not been vaccinated. Still, the spread of the virus particularly of more infective and potentially vaccine resist- ant strains may well put every- one in danger. The mixed messages by the State, which in January had promised a quick return to nor- mality by May, only to reintro- duce restrictions after a night- marish surge in the past days, has clearly increased the sense of uncertainty weighing on old and young alike. The danger now is that just as COVID-19 initially solidified social bonds in the face of an unknown external threat, the longer the pandemic drags on, the greater the sense of help- lessness in the face of rising numbers of infections becomes. The precious bond between the old and the young may well be another casualty of this damp- ened national mood. youths vs. Scared old people? Historical number of cases registered in pink Spike in active cases in October 2020 Third wave in January 2021 All cases Recoveries Active cases Deaths