As we’ve probably found out by now 2020 hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts. Starting with Kobe Bryant’s death to this spreading virus causing thousands of people and communities to panic. The Coronavirus which started in Wuhan, China has spread throughout the world and has reached the United States in great numbers

By George Angelidis

Just the other day the United States surpassed Italy and China for the most confirmed cases of Coronavirus. It is currently at 130,000 cases with about 2,300 deaths. Hospitals are overwhelmed. New York, where I currently live has the bulk of the cases as there is so much diversity here leading to more and more people coming in contact with someone that has the virus. New York state is currently at about 60,000 cases with the death toll reaching 1,000. These numbers are sadly only going to increase as the days and the quarantine continues.

The city has shut down, businesses have been shut down, very few restaurants are open and some supermarkets are practically empty of essential goods. Some very lucky people are able to work from home, but for the rest of us it’s a real struggle during this pandemic. This has affected the stock market greatly, as we saw the biggest drop in the stock market in a single day in a very, very long time. There are 3.3 million people that are now unemployed, yes that’s right 3.3 MILLION.

The situation, at least to me feels weird, I walk in the street and see very few people, a sight that is simply not New York like. There is always motion no matter where you go in New York, especially Astoria. For a New Yorker to start small talk with a random other New Yorker is very rare, that is what’s happening nowadays when I go out for some fresh air. The people are suffering, throughout the world, I pray for everyone to be healthy and to fight this as much as possible. Lastly, a travel ban was just put into place today actually for the next two weeks. I’m not sure how many people are going to abide by this but only “essential travel” is allowed in New York.

This crisis also took away something that millions of people are in love with, football. My weekends feel so empty without football, and without AEK. It’s just an odd, odd time I can’t wrap my brain around what is happening. You cherish life in moments like this, from nothing the world is standing on its head and fighting for survival on a daily basis. Crazy. The only thing we can do is continue to fight, and be patient, this will be over eventually. We will get our football back and our lives will once again begin… Be strong my heroes!