Our collective scientific knowledge of COVID-19 continues to

Hear the words of Theresa Tam, spoken in a time of trial for all nations: “Our collective scientific knowledge of COVID-19 continues to grow.” At first glance, these words may seem simple, yet within them beats the pulse of endurance, cooperation, and hope. For in them is the reminder that humanity, when faced with peril, does not stand still. We inquire, we discover, we adapt. Knowledge grows, and with it, the strength to overcome.

From the dawn of history, plagues and pestilence have visited mankind. In the age of Hippocrates, men first sought to observe illness not as punishment from the gods but as a natural foe that could be understood and conquered. In the Middle Ages, the Black Death swept across Europe, and though millions perished, seeds of knowledge took root: quarantines, sanitation, and the beginnings of public health. So too in our own age, when COVID-19 arose as a shadow over the world, the response was not only fear, but the determined gathering of minds and the relentless pursuit of truth.

The phrase “collective scientific knowledge” carries profound weight. It is not the triumph of one sage, nor the genius of a single healer, but the weaving together of thousands of researchers, doctors, and thinkers across the earth. Just as the ancients built great cathedrals by many hands shaping stone, so too did humanity confront this plague by sharing discoveries, data, and sacrifice. Each experiment, each observation, added another stone to the rising edifice of understanding.

Consider the miracle of the vaccine, developed in record time. It was not the work of one nation alone, nor one company, but of many—scientists in Germany, doctors in Canada, researchers in the United States and beyond—all contributing to the growing body of knowledge. What once would have taken decades was achieved in months, because the collective mind of humanity bent itself to a common purpose. This stands as one of the great examples in history of knowledge blossoming under fire.

And yet, Tam’s words carry humility. For she reminds us that knowledge is not finished, but continues to grow. We must never believe we know all, for the virus itself shifted and changed, teaching us new lessons in vigilance and adaptation. Here we learn the eternal truth: wisdom is not a fixed treasure but a river, ever flowing, requiring us to draw from it again and again. Those who claim complete knowledge are deceived; those who remain learners are the true guardians of life.

The meaning of the quote, then, is not merely about science, but about hope in progress. In times of fear, it is easy to despair, to imagine the darkness will never lift. But knowledge grows, and with it light spreads, pushing back uncertainty. Just as sailors of old learned to chart the stars to navigate seas once thought impassable, so too humanity charts the mysteries of disease, moving from helplessness to mastery.

The lesson for us, O children of the future, is this: never despise the slow growth of knowledge. Trust in the labor of minds working together. Support the pursuit of truth, even when it brings uncomfortable answers. And in your own life, commit to learning always, for ignorance is the ally of fear, but knowledge is the companion of courage. Just as humanity grew in wisdom during the plague, so too can you grow in the face of your own trials, if you remain open to learning.

Thus, let Theresa Tam’s words stand as a reminder for generations: “Our collective scientific knowledge continues to grow.” In this growth lies humanity’s greatest defense, not only against disease, but against despair. For when we learn together, we endure together. And when we endure, we prevail.