#EndCovidForAll

TIM COSTELLO: There are some fundamental things all humans on this planet share. We all breathe air. We all talk to one another, laugh, hug one another. Humans all sneeze. Humans love to dance together – far better than dancing alone. But COVID-19 has changed the way of being human. The things that we would normally do mean we put others at risk. And physical distancing – absolutely necessary – tragically has become social distancing: humans scared to hug, to dance, to laugh and talk together.

Well, it’s important to physically distance – that’s why our shopping malls are closed, and our churches, and our football games – just to be life-saving good citizens to others. But how do you physically distance in a slum? Whether it’s in Brazil or in India – 60,000 infections a day now in India, it’s rushing through the slums. How do you physically distance when you’re in the Rohingya Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazaar – I’ve been there – ten families sharing one pit toilet, walking huge kilometres just to get water, how do you wash your hands and physically distance?

That’s why ‘End COVID For All’, which particularly marks World Humanitarian Day on August the 19th, is so important. It’s to recognise that everyone – the most vulnerable and poor – are God’s children, with great dignity. COVID doesn’t end for any of us until it ends for all of us, until it ends for them too. Yes, our national borders need to be shut, but not our hearts – that would close down our humanity.

In ‘End COVID For All’, we’re inviting you to join a whole lot of people to say: “We are thinking of others.” Here is the mask that I’ll be wearing – #EndCOVIDForAll – you can go online and get a filter mask, a virtual mask, and take a picture of yourself and share it. ‘End COVID For All’ is about all of us literally being in this together. It doesn’t end for any of us until it ends for all of us.