Until now, there have been 140 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and three million deaths, which make it the third deadliest pandemic in human history.
Although three million deaths is a huge number, the cost of the pandemic in terms of human lives is much greater and is difficult to calculate and comprehend.
Its impact on non COVID-19 patients who had the misfortune of falling ill or needing emergency care in the middle of a pandemic is dramatic.
According to a recent study conducted by Britain’s NHS, in the first three months of the pandemic, scheduled hospitalisations declined by 1.4 million. Emergency referrals of patients who were believed to possibly have cancer declined by 280,000 and 25,000 diagnosed cancer patients did not begin their treatment.
Although three million deaths is a huge number, the cost of the pandemic in terms of human lives is much greater. Its impact on non COVID-19 patients who fell ill or needing emergency care in the middle of a pandemic is dramatic.