On the occasion of the first national day in memory of the victims of the coronavirus epidemic, today the flag of the institutional headquarters of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Rome is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the Italian people.

The day of 18 March was established in Italy to commemorate the over 100,000 victims of the epidemic. One of the most dramatic images of the Covid-19 pandemic dates back to 18 March last year, with the column of military trucks leaving the city of Bergamo with hundreds of coffins awaiting burial.

The Order of Malta reaffirms the commitment of its doctors and volunteers to tackle the coronavirus epidemic worldwide.